News
JOALI BEING invites multigenerational travellers to join exciting weekend of wellbeing experiences

JOALI BEING, the first wellbeing island of its kind in the Maldives, has announced the celebration of World Wellness Weekend on 20th, 21st, and 22nd September 2024. Guests are invited to take part in an extensive line-up of activities that will take place on the island during three consecutive days. The 8th annual World Wellness Weekend will be celebrated in 8,000 venues in 160 different countries this year. Every September, the World Wellness Weekend opens its doors to encourage people across the world to live a healthy lifestyle. The concept “September is the new January” inspires transformation after the summer period.
At JOALI BEING, transformative journeys await year-round where new beginnings transcend. Multigenerational guests are invited to participate in a range of joyful, wellbeing activities that are centred around the pillars of the World Wellness Weekend: Sleep and Creativity, Nutrition and Immunity, Movement and Vitality, Mindfulness and Serenity, and Purpose and Solidarity. Highlights include:
- Muay Thai: Chanel your inner warrior with Muay Thai boxing as you master the techniques of lower body strikes, and defences in a high-intensity workout.
- Movement Meditation: Embark on a transformative journey of inner peace and self-discovery, where every graceful gesture becomes a pathway to mindfulness and tranquillity.
- Yoga Marathon: Join an exhilarating, hour-long Yoga Marathon that immerses you in the art of Yoga, flowing through poses, breathwork, and finding balance amidst a community of like-minded souls.
- Beach Pilates: Rekindle your energy and ignite your happy hormones as you synchronise with the harmony of the ocean breeze and grace the nature around you.
- Functional Training: Indulge in a strength-boosting session that includes fundamental movements which improve your daily life and amplify your longevity.
- Yogic Breathwork and Yoga Nidra: Harness the ancient wisdom of pranayama to cultivate vitality, clarity, and a profound sense of inner peace, awakening your body’s innate capacity for balance and harmony. Yoga Nidra allows you to immerse yourself in a state of conscious relaxation where stress melts away, leaving you refreshed, renewed, and deeply connected to your inner calm.
- Walking Mediation: Every aspect of life can be meditative. Mindful walking is an excellent way of being grounded and integrating meditation into your daily life.
- Somatic Movement: An invigorating somatic movement class where you will unlock the secrets of fluidity and freedom through innovative techniques that blend mindfulness with physical expression, leaving you energized and empowered.
- Communal Table with Wellbeing Consultants: Dive into JOALI BEING’s Four Pillar wellbeing concept and Earth-to-Table cuisine with an expert team of resident consultants. Guests will have the chance to engage and learn holistic insights along with first-hand tips on nutrition and mindful eating, women’s health, healthy aging and longevity, gut health, sleep and mindfulness, yoga and breathwork, and so much more.
- Visiting Master Practitioner: JOALI BEING will host Dr. Leonard McGill during the month of September and the World Wellness Weekend. Dr. Leonard is the developer of Structural/Energetic Integration Therapy and a highly esteemed holistic physician with 30 years of experience. He focuses on transformative bodywork and pain relief, where guests can experience a powerful integrative approach to bodywork that addresses pain and musculoskeletal conditions such as neck, shoulder, low back, hip and knee challenges, and promotes overall wellbeing.
Designed to restore natural balance and facilitate personal transformation, the wellbeing offerings are woven around the Four Pillars of JOALI BEING – Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy. Families can indulge in the finest wellbeing facilities and unique transformational spaces, offering signature experiences such as Sound Healing and Watsu, whilst being grounded in the calm-inducing effects of nature. From exhilarating adventures and soulful relaxation to personalised nutrition and interactive learning, JOALI BEING creates wellbeing experiences tailored to individual lifestyles and goals. Culinary offerings are expertly curated with the help of the island’s nutritionists, offering a selection of flavours and cuisines with healthy and indulging dining options. JOALI BEING offers a range of daily activities for its guests to enhance their wellbeing, such as yoga, meditation, breathwork classes, mat Pilates, wellbeing conversations and health insights with resident consultants, functional training and mobility, HIIT workouts, sauna rituals, as well as tennis and padel tennis sessions. The herbology centre, AKTAR, offers workshops for guests to learn about the health benefits of herbs, essential oils and therapeutic teas, led by the resident Herbologist.
Guests of every generation can discover the best of nature and holistic wellbeing, guided by our expert team of naturopaths, herbalists, chefs, sound healers and fitness specialists. B’Kidult invites all guests to ‘be a kid again as an adult’ and experience the best of family vacations. The multigenerational zone is dedicated to wellbeing, sustainability and early learning that fosters a joyful environment. Daily activities include herbology sessions, botanical workshops, sound healing journeys, as well as kids-special fitness, yoga, Qi Gong, and sustainability initiatives. Guests can also enjoy marine adventures that explore the underwater world and an array of water sports.
JOALI BEING has villas from $2700 per night based on two persons sharing an Ocean Pool Villa on a B&B basis. Wellbeing Programmes start from $1,693 per person based on a five-night programme. For bookings and further information, please contact reservations.being@joali.com.
Culture
Milaidhoo Maldives invites guests to discover real island living in Kihadhoo

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

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

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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