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Sensational Spa: Something for every traveller at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi’s ELE | NA The Spa

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OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi elevates tropical island living through smart services, playful design, and invigorating experiences. A 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé International Airport brings you to this newly opened, four-star resort. In the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, ‘Aila’ means family and ‘Fushi’ means island. In essence, the family island.

The resort features a sprawling multi-level spa, one of the largest in the Maldives. A haven of relaxation and wellness, ELE | NA The Spa is hidden amidst lush foliage and beautiful palm trees. You will be welcomed with a cleansing Aaram Tisane brewed with detoxifying herbs and spices. Delicate frangipani flowers and fragrant oils envelop you in blissful calmness.

ELE | NA, an acronym for the Elements of Nature, taps into the elemental energies for a healing spa experience. From traditional massages to a fully equipped hair and beauty salon — there’s something for everyone, be it families, couples, solo travellers, or millennials.

Creative Community Spa Xperience

How about a fun spa afternoon with your pals? Something refreshingly different? Try our community spa at ELE | NA – it is unlike anything else in the Maldives.

Woven around the elements of nature, every experience connects you with the tropical landscape and community at Ailafushi island. Learn about holistic wellness and sustainable spa practices in small groups.

Your 100% sustainable, nature-inspired spa journey unfolds in a beautiful garden.

  • Discover your element – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. Based on your element, we will build a spa journey for you.
  • Calm yourself with sound therapy. Choose from a Tibetan singing bowl, a Tibetan singing bowl with water or sand, and a hypnotic drum rhythm (Boduberu drumming).
  • We mix, pound, and whip natural elixirs using three fresh and organic components, tailored to your element.
  • Lie back on the community garden spa beds and let our certified therapists massage you into a state of blissful relaxation. Treatment options include natural facial, natural face and neck lifting treatment, back, neck and shoulder massage, scalp and hair booster, and floating feet.
  • Complete the experience with a sustainable beverage from the Xperience Juice Bike.

This curated spa journey connects all five senses, leaving you re-energised and refreshed.

Authentic Maldivian Xperience

If you’re keen on experiencing the local culture – then our indigenous spa therapies are a must-try! ELE | NA weaves island healing traditions into the spa experience. Inspired by the age-old knowledge of Dhivehi Beys (traditional healers), the brand has created signature rituals: Kaashi Naashi Therapy (Coconut Shell Massage), Veli Bon’Dli (Maldivian Sand Bundle Massage), and Bileh Holistic (Betel Leaf Massage).

Tranquil Oceanview Xperience

Tropical gardens, ethereal Indian Ocean views, and airy interiors in earthy hues invite you to linger in the spa complex. Calm the senses whilst cleansing the soul. The Tranquility Spa Zone includes an outdoor hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, a relaxation lounge, and refreshments. Enjoy complimentary use of these facilities on booking a spa treatment.

Nourishing Medi Spa Xperience

Get a radiant glow while holidaying in the Maldives – ELE | NA’s dedicated medical spa therapist will design the best approach to healing your skin. Test your skin’s hydration level and find noticeable improvement after a medi spa therapy session. Leave Ailafushi feeling and looking fabulous.

Fun Juice Bike Xperience

Your Instagrammable moment! A first in the Maldives, there are two juice bikes parked in the spa garden loaded with colourful treasures: papaya, pineapple, watermelon, lemon, muskmelons, dragon fruit, and grapefruit. Blend your favourite tropical fruits and enjoy the refreshing beverage in the fruit shells. An all-natural experience!

Culture

Milaidhoo Maldives invites guests to discover real island living in Kihadhoo

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Milaidhoo Maldives, a boutique luxury resort situated within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, has unveiled its latest signature offering – the Local Island Tour – a meaningful and intimate cultural experience that provides guests with a genuine insight into everyday life in the Maldives.

Nestled amidst the natural splendour of Baa Atoll, celebrated for its vibrant marine biodiversity and unspoilt local islands, this new experience extends beyond the boundaries of the resort. Guests are invited to journey just 15 minutes by boat to Kihadhoo, a serene and authentic island where tradition, community and simplicity remain firmly embedded in daily life.

Upon arrival, visitors are immersed not only in a new landscape but in a slower, more deliberate way of life. Much like the ethos of Milaidhoo, where barefoot luxury is designed to encourage presence and connection, Kihadhoo exudes its own quiet charm – a lifestyle shaped by nature, calm and community. Along its sandy paths, occasionally crossed by a scooter or two, time appears to slow down. It is a place grounded in authenticity and understated beauty.

The experience is personally guided by Ali “CR” Niushad, a Kihadhoo native and esteemed member of the Milaidhoo team. Acting as both host and storyteller, CR offers guests the rare opportunity to experience the island not as tourists, but as warmly welcomed friends. The visit begins with a traditional greeting from local flower girls dressed in Maldivian attire, setting the tone for an encounter steeped in culture and sincerity.

As the tour unfolds, guests are met with the everyday sights and sounds of the island: children waving in the distance, neighbours exchanging greetings, the rhythmic sweep of a broom, the gentle clatter of cooking utensils, and women gathered in joali seats, softly conversing in the afternoon light. A walk through Kihadhoo reveals vividly painted doors on homes – reminiscent of the colourful doors of Milaidhoo’s own villas – reflecting the island’s quiet charm and creative spirit.

This is not a traditional sightseeing excursion; it is an immersion into the heartbeat of island life. Guests enjoy fresh coconuts at a small, family-run café, visit the local school and community centres, and spend time in CR’s family home, sharing stories and perspectives. Each moment is organic, heartfelt, and grounded in sincere human connection.

In an era where travellers increasingly seek meaningful and mindful experiences, Milaidhoo’s Local Island Tour captures the spirit of slow travel: an invitation to pause, observe, and engage with respect and curiosity.

Experience Highlights:

  • Price: USD 95++ per person (minimum of four guests)
  • Inclusions: Return boat transfers, traditional island welcome, guided walk with CR, refreshments (fresh juice or coconut), visits to village landmarks, and a selection of homemade Maldivian snacks with tea or coffee

While Milaidhoo offers refined barefoot luxury that nurtures a sense of inner calm, Kihadhoo presents the soulful essence of Maldivian island life. Together, they create a compelling contrast – sanctuary and simplicity, elegance and authenticity.

This experience is more than a cultural outing. It is a return to the original purpose of travel: to connect, to learn, and to be changed in quiet, unforgettable ways.

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Cooking

From garden to gourmet: Dusit Thani Maldives celebrates local, responsible cuisine

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Widely recognised as a premier luxury resort in the Maldives, Dusit Thani Maldives is redefining the concept of sustainable dining. Central to the resort’s culinary ethos is a strong commitment to sourcing ingredients locally and responsibly, crafting exceptional, globally inspired dishes that reflect the natural abundance of the Maldivian archipelago.

Located just a short stroll from the resort’s kitchens, the organic Chef’s Garden thrives with fragrant herbs, edible flowers, vegetables, and fruits. Ingredients such as lemongrass, basil, papaya, and chillies are carefully hand-harvested at peak ripeness, ensuring that vibrant flavour and freshness are brought directly to the plate.

All fish featured on the resort’s menus is sustainably sourced from within the Maldives, provided by local fishermen who utilise traditional, low-impact fishing techniques. Wherever possible, produce is also procured from Maldivian farmers—an approach that supports island communities, reduces carbon emissions, and celebrates the rich biodiversity of the atolls.

“Our approach is rooted in a respect for the land and sea,” explains Executive Chef Olivier Portret. “Every dish reflects the story of the Maldives—not just its flavours, but its culture and its people. We want guests to experience something truly meaningful with every bite.”

Guests can enjoy these thoughtfully sourced ingredients across a variety of dining experiences, from fine Thai cuisine at Benjarong, to freshly grilled seafood served al fresco at Sea Grill, or even through interactive cooking classes led by the resort’s culinary team.

Through this garden-to-table philosophy, Dusit Thani Maldives offers more than exceptional cuisine—it fosters a deeper connection to place, purpose, and the planet. This commitment not only sets the resort apart as one of the finest in the Maldives, but also as a destination where sustainability and luxury exist in perfect harmony.

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Action

Ocean, culture, community: sustainable celebrations at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru & Dhawa Ihuru

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Single-use plastics continue to pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, with over 11 million metric tonnes entering the oceans each year. Since the Banyan Group began its efforts to eliminate single-use plastics in 2018, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru have led the way within the group—achieving a 75% reduction in plastic use, the highest rate across all properties.

This July, guests are invited to participate in a series of sustainability-focused activities designed to create meaningful impact:

  • 12 July: A community clean-up in Malé City in collaboration with CLEAN Maldives, bringing together locals, guests, and team members to reduce marine waste in urban environments.
  • 19 & 26 July: Marine litter snorkelling clean-ups around the house reef, removing plastic debris while protecting marine life and habitats.
  • 29 July: A recycled arts and crafts workshop at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in partnership with Feyran Craft House, transforming collected plastic into handcrafted artworks.

These efforts support the Banyan Group’s ‘Brand for Good’ sustainability targets, which include the complete elimination of guest-facing single-use plastics by 2025 and full elimination across operations by 2030.

Taking place at Dhawa Ihuru—recognised for having one of the best house reefs in the Maldives (Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards 2025)—the Rannamaari Dive Fest invites divers and marine enthusiasts to explore the famed Rannamaari Shipwreck, located just metres from the shoreline.

This immersive day features:

  • Guided dives to the shipwreck
  • Underwater treasure hunts
  • Marine conservation talks
  • Cultural experiences including local arts and crafts, Maldivian cooking classes, and spa rituals

The event pays tribute to the vibrant marine ecosystem that defines Dhawa Ihuru as a premier dive destination.

Observed on 26 July, Maldivian Independence Day commemorates the country’s emergence as a sovereign island nation. In celebration of this historic occasion, both Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru have curated three days of experiences rooted in national pride, community, and tradition.

  • 26 July: Guests may participate in a symbolic swim across the channel connecting the two islands, representing unity and freedom. The day continues with a Maldivian Culture Talk exploring traditions, language, and the significance of Independence Day, followed by a traditional Bodu Beru performance and beach bonfire under the stars.
  • 26–28 July: Three days of beachside “Fun Olympic Games” celebrate island spirit through friendly competition and laughter.
  • 25–31 July: Special dive and water sports promotions of up to 30% will be available. Offers include signature experiences such as diving the Rannamaari Shipwreck and snorkelling excursions with nurse sharks and stingrays.

The July programming forms part of the lead-up to Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru’s official 30th anniversary in September 2025. Each initiative reflects the resort’s founding philosophy: Embracing the Environment, Empowering People. Guests are invited to reconnect with nature, engage with Maldivian culture, and experience the true spirit of the Original Maldives.

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