JOALI BEING, Bodufushi

JOALI BEING sits on Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, 40 to 45 minutes north of Malé by seaplane. It is a well-living island rather than a resort that happens to have a spa, and the whole place is organised around four pillars: mind, skin, microbiome and energy. On arrival you are assigned a personal consultant who shapes the stay around you.

Getting there

Seaplane, in practice. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so an international arrival into Velana after 15:30 means a night near the airport before you reach the island. Send us your flights before you book them. A speedboat or yacht is technically possible and takes six to eight hours, which is not a serious option.

Children and the 12+ rule

The island is designed as an adults-only retreat, and children under twelve are welcomed only during the resort's scheduled JOY of BEING Kids Retreat periods. Worth knowing separately: AREKA and CORE, the wellbeing and fitness halls, are for guests aged twelve and over regardless. B'Kidult is the multi-generational space that younger guests use. If you are travelling with children, ask us for the retreat dates first.

The villas

Sixty-eight villas and residences, every one with a private pool, a Jadugar butler, a Well-Living Bar, meditative instruments and a pillow menu. One quirk worth understanding: the Grand categories buy you more indoors but not more outdoors.

Above these sit two-bedroom villas, wellbeing residences and a four-bedroom at 491 m² indoors. There is one of each, so ask early.

Only four Sunset Ocean Pool Villas exist, against ten of the standard. And the standard Ocean, Sunset Ocean and Beach Pool villas each take two adults and one child only; for a second child you need a Grand category.

Eating

FLOW holds three kitchens under one roof: SU for pescatarian, Plantae for vegetarian and vegan, and B'Well for meat and poultry. Yutori is the Japanese restaurant. MOJO does global plates at lunch and Mediterranean at dinner, and is the one the resort points families towards, with MOJO Bar alongside it from morning to late.

SAI Tea Lounge is the one people talk about afterwards: 72 teas from 16 countries, with a Tea Master and Sommelier running ceremonies and tastings. There is also a wine cellar leaning organic and biodynamic, a Culinary Learning Centre for nutritional cooking classes, and destination dining that runs to a sandbank or the Turtle Treehouse.

Wellbeing

AREKA has 37 treatment rooms and transformational spaces. Within it: CORE, which the resort states is the largest fitness centre in the Maldives, fitted with Technogym; KAASHI for hydrotherapy and sauna rituals; SEDA, a sound therapy hall with an outdoor Discovery Sound Path; and AKTAR, a herbology centre running workshops on herbs, oils and natural cosmetics. There is an over-water meditation deck, and no wi-fi inside the wellbeing zone by design.

Who it suits

Couples who want a quiet island with a purpose to it. Anyone travelling for a reset rather than a holiday, and willing to build days around a programme. Honeymooners who would rather have a tea ceremony than a nightclub.

Who it does not

Families with under-twelves, outside the Kids Retreat dates. Anyone arriving on a late flight who cannot absorb a night in Malé. Anyone whose idea of a holiday is a long bar list, though there are DJ nights and the wine cellar is real. Drones are not permitted anywhere on the island.

Location

Bodufushi Island, Raa Atoll, Maldives

For current rates, villa availability and transfer costs, message our Maldives specialists on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours.