Featured
Celebrate rebirth, renewal this Easter at JOALI BEING

JOALI BEING, the first wellbeing island retreat of its kind in the Maldives, has created an exciting programme this Easter to offer guests a week of experiences ‘to renew your spirit and revive your light’ and will once again be extending its offering to children for the school holidays.
Throughout the Easter season, JOALI BEING will have a range of new activities on offer for the whole family from 6th – 12th April 2023, based around folklore and cherished traditions.
Guests will also notice the robin will be used decoratively around the island through feathers, objects and imagery, as a symbol of rebirth, renewal and as a harbinger of spring.
Culinary experiences
To help create an unforgettable holiday experience for families this Easter, JOALI BEING will be hosting an array of culinary experiences, workshops and classes.
Unique culinary pop-ups will also be available, centred around fireside and grill charcoal cooking, all nourishing and bursting with flavour. Guests may also wish to ease inflammation and revitalise their internal health with Omega-3 rich foods through curated cooking sessions, led by JOALI BEING’s expert nutritionist.
For children, JOALI BEING will be offering a “Young Master Chef” cooking class throughout the Easter period. In these classes, young guests can learn easy culinary techniques, taste new flavours, and explore their creativity in the kitchen.
Wellbeing experiences and visiting practitioners
To help guests with their approach to wellbeing and skin-cell renewal this Easter, adults can learn to create all-natural skincare products with the use of herbs, flowers, and essential oils. Drawing on the traditional wisdom of apothecaries, JOALI BEING’s herbologists will teach guests how to make an organic facial scrub that supports skin-cell renewal.
Guided meditation with sound healing instruments is also on offer – these experiences are aimed at helping guests centre their mind and discover a sense of profound calm.
For something slightly more upbeat, exhilarating dance routine workshops will be available, combining a variety of styles and aimed to instantly lift any mood.
Outdoor exploration along the Sound Discovery Path is also available for children. Here, young guests can take an inspiring tour through JOALI BEING’s outdoor sound therapy oasis with a resident life coach.
While adults can take advantage of morning yoga at the Ocean Sala, JOALI BEING is also offering complimentary yoga classes for children throughout the day, during the Easter period.
JOALI BEING is also welcoming expert visiting practitioners this Easter, specialising in transformative healing, natural healing, sound healing and more. The practitioners will enable guests to take their wellbeing journeys to a new level, bringing them closer to experiencing the joy of weightlessness.
The following visiting practitioners will be at JOALI BEING during the Easter period.
Dr. Tara Swart Bieber – Dr. Tara Swart Bieber is a globally renowned PhD neuroscientist, Oxford University-trained medical doctor, professor at MIT Sloan, executive advisor and bestselling author on science and spirituality. Swart Bieber invites guests to maximise their stays by embarking on immersive experiences that will ready them to better re-engage with their everyday lives with renewed resilience and enable visitors to make better decisions and to think more clearly.
Javier De Prado Lizano – A master of craniosacral and Watsu therapies, as well as visceral manipulation and Osteothai techniques, De Prado Lizano will be inviting guests to experience a seamless merging of Eastern and Western healing traditions. De Prado Lizano’s transformative healing experiences include craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, Osteothai sessions, and Watsu.
Alexandra Demolling – An experienced naturopath and iridologist, Demolling will guide guests on a holistic pathway to mind and body balance using herbal and vibrational remedies to treat issues such as stress, inflammation, and food intolerances.
Active experiences and educational conservation talks
Adults and children alike can join a dolphin cruise, to marvel at the azure lagoons and magical sunsets, whilst pods of spinner and bottleneck dolphins leap around the boat.
JOALI BEING will also be offering snorkelling trips to both adults and children, led by the retreat’s resident Marine Biologist. SEABOB snorkelling will be available to adults, involving the world’s most advanced underwater scooter; and turtle snorkelling trips will be available to children to learn about the iconic creatures in their natural underwater habitat. Conservation and marine talks will also be led by JOALI BEING’s Resident Marine Biologist.
Other activities will also enable adults to explore the surrounding crystal-clear waters. These include the beloved Maldivian pastime of traditional sunset fishing, and parasailing. Parasailing at JOALI BEING is an experience like no other. Guests can observe spectacular views of the Gate of Zero, the Ocean Sala and the Island of Wellbeing from a completely new perspective.
JOALI BEING invites guests to reconnect with themselves and with the beauty of nature. Based on the belief that understanding is the key to creating and sustaining wellbeing, the island’s Learning Centre offers a series of educational workshops and experiential classes with wellbeing experts, culinary maestros, and herbalists. This distinctive wellbeing retreat is home to a total of 68 exclusive guest villas with pools, consisting of 33 beach villas and 35 water villas. With 13 categories to choose from, guests can opt for one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom villas and residences. JOALI BEING features unique transformational spaces that allow guests to immerse in elemental therapies and healing experiences. Nature is at the centre of life at JOALI BEING, with the retreat being completely committed to nature immersive and responsible travel – the pathway to true “weightlessness”.
Rates: JOALI BEING has villas from $2,675 per night based on two persons sharing a Grand Beach Pool Villa on a B&B basis. Wellbeing Programmes start from $1,693 per person based on a five-night programme. For further details and booking, please visit joalibeing.com. For further details and booking, please visit joalibeing.com.
For more information and bookings, please visit https://www.joalibeing.com.
Awards
The Nautilus Maldives honoured in 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Awards

In an increasingly fast-paced world, The Nautilus Maldives stands as a sanctuary where time slows and moments linger — a place that continues to capture the attention of discerning travellers. This haven of unhurried living has once again been recognised in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, as voted by readers in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
The accolade reaffirms the island’s quiet ability to enchant. With just 26 exclusive ocean and beach houses, The Nautilus offers complete privacy and a philosophy built entirely around individual freedom. Dining is available whenever a guest desires, and experiences unfold as inspiration strikes. A secluded sandbank transforms into a private dining room, and the Maldivian night sky becomes a stage for endless wonder.
“To be recognised again by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers is deeply meaningful,” said Adan Gomez, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives. “Our guests come seeking beauty, but what they discover and cherish is freedom — the freedom to design their own rhythm and to create moments that are theirs alone.”
At The Nautilus, luxury is defined as liberation. Guests may drift through the UNESCO-protected waters of Baa Atoll, indulge in a Solasta Spa ritual without time limits, or share vintage champagne beneath a canopy of stars. Each stay unfolds as a personal narrative — unscripted, unhurried, and unforgettable.
Now in its thirty-eighth year, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards remain among the most respected distinctions in global travel. The results, drawn exclusively from readers’ experiences and opinions, continue to represent one of the industry’s most prestigious marks of excellence.
Entertainment
Amilla Maldives embarks on ‘Around the World in Wonder’ festive journey

Amilla Maldives will host a festive season celebration titled ‘Around the World in Wonder’ from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, inviting guests to experience a colourful exploration of global culture, curiosity, and joy.
Drawing inspiration from Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, the celebration takes guests on a journey across continents, with each day dedicated to a different country and its unique flavours, music, and traditions. The journey begins and concludes in the United Kingdom, tracing a route through the Maldives, Spain, Italy, France, Argentina, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Brazil, the United States, and Singapore, culminating in a grand finale on New Year’s Eve.
Amilla’s 11th anniversary on 21 December will feature island-wide festivities, including guided tours, tree planting, coconut painting, Maldivian cooking demonstrations, and a cocktail and cake-cutting ceremony. On 23 December, the Tree Lighting Ceremony will adopt an Italian flair with a Venetian-themed celebration, complete with mask-making workshops, Viennese waltz, wine tasting, the Venetian Masquerade Ball, and a special ‘Treasure of the Sea’ dinner.
France will take centre stage on 24 December, featuring the Dance of the Can Can, gingerbread house making, mime face painting, a Christmas Eve buffet, and an aerial hoop performance. The following day, 25 December, will celebrate Argentina with the arrival of Santa Claus, a festive brunch infused with tango rhythms, dance workshops, magic shows, and a lively tango dinner performance.
The festivities will reach their climax on 31 December, with the Around the World in a Cocktail party leading into the spectacular Global Carnival Event. The evening will feature live performances by the Hamilton Band, complemented by bongo drummers, saxophonists, acrobats, and fire dancers. The grand countdown and after party will usher in 2026 with music, energy, and celebration.
Awards
Lily Beach Resort & Spa wins Leading F&B Resort at South Asian Travel Awards 2025

Lily Beach Resort & Spa has been recognised as the Leading F&B Resort at the South Asian Travel Awards 2025, held in Colombo. The accolade reinforces the resort’s position as a destination where culinary excellence is at the heart of every guest experience.
Central to the resort’s success is its renowned Platinum All-Inclusive Plan, a comprehensive concept that offers guests access to a range of premium experiences. The plan includes à la carte dining across several speciality restaurants, unlimited premium wines and spirits, French Champagne such as Taittinger, themed buffets, private dining experiences, and selected excursions. Designed to elevate each stay, it allows guests to indulge fully without additional charges.
Lily Beach offers an array of distinctive restaurants and bars:
- Lily Maa, the main restaurant, features extensive buffets and live cooking stations.
- Tamarind presents refined Indian-Thai fusion cuisine in an elegant overwater setting.
- AQVA serves light fare and cocktails in a relaxed beachfront atmosphere.
- Teppanyaki delivers interactive Japanese dining, combining artistry and theatre.
- Les Turquoise d’Aqua provides a fine dining experience under the stars.
- The Spirit Bar, set beside the ocean, offers a tranquil space for sundowners and late-night drinks.
- Vibes combines a family-friendly pool, games area, and evening entertainment.
The resort’s culinary achievements have earned it continued recognition. In 2024, Lily Beach received the Wine Spectator Award for its exceptional wine cellar and sommelier programme, further affirming its place among the world’s leading resort dining destinations.
General Manager Laurent Driole expressed pride in the achievement, noting: “This award is a tribute to the vision, dedication, and artistry of our F&B team. Every menu, drink, and moment is crafted to delight, and to offer our guests a culinary journey as exceptional as the Maldives itself.”
The award for Leading Food & Beverage Resort is seen as a reflection of the passion and commitment of Lily Beach’s entire culinary team. Under the leadership of Executive Chef Alessio Biondi and F&B Director Adam Shareef, dishes are prepared using the finest ingredients sourced globally, ensuring guests enjoy the highest standards of quality. Their commitment to creativity and innovation means that every visit offers something new—both for first-time guests and returning visitors.
Equally vital to this success are the service teams who bring warmth and personality to each dining experience. Their genuine care and hospitality create a relaxed, homely atmosphere that embodies the essence of Lily Beach—a place where guests feel welcomed as part of a community.
With this latest recognition, Lily Beach continues to define the all-inclusive luxury segment in the Maldives, combining world-class gastronomy, seamless inclusions, and authentic Maldivian hospitality to deliver experiences that remain both refined and heartfelt.
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