JOALI BEING sits on Bodufushi Island in Raa Atoll, in the north of the Maldives. Getting there is part of the trip. Hosts holding a JOALI sign meet you in the arrival hall at Velana International Airport and take you to the private JOALI Lounge. From there it's a 40-minute seaplane flight to the island. Seaplanes only fly in daylight, so if your international flight lands after about 3:30 pm Malé time, plan a night near the airport and fly out the next morning.

There's no fixed timetable. You put your days together from what's on the island. The wellbeing offering is organised around four themes the resort calls its Four Pillars: Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy. Treatments and sessions take place in Areka and CORE, which are open to guests aged 12 and over. Areka is Wi-Fi free on purpose, so you leave your phone behind for treatments. The resort's spa programmes have won several awards, and a team of resident experts runs them. Visiting chefs and wellbeing practitioners also come through over the year for one-off events.

What sets this place apart from other Maldives wellness resorts is the focus on families. B'Kidult is a dedicated zone with activities, workshops and learning sessions for all ages, so kids aren't parked in a kids' club while the adults go elsewhere. A wellbeing menu is designed for 4 to 16 year olds. Some spaces stay adults-only so they keep quiet, and under-16s may need a parent's consent for certain treatments.

Food is taken seriously without being preachy. Ingredients are fresh, organic where possible, and sourced locally and sustainably, and the kitchen can trace where they come from. The island nutritionists work with the chefs on every menu, but the resort doesn't force you to eat healthily. Alcohol is served, including organic and biodynamic wines and spirits, and there are proper zero-proof cocktails too. You can go foraging in the Chef's Garden, do a tasting with the sommelier in the wine cellar, or try tea ceremonies at the SAI tea lounge with the resident Tea Sommelier.

The ocean side of the stay centres on the Raa Atoll Sea Turtle Care Centre, along with guided marine discovery sessions and hands-on activities for all ages. The water around the island is the classic Maldives turquoise, and the ocean villas open directly onto it.

The credentials are solid. The resort is a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel for four years running, and the MICHELIN Guide 2026 upgraded it from Two to Three MICHELIN Keys. FLOW won the Restaurant and Bar Design Award in 2022. One practical note: from 1 July 2026 the island runs on its own Island Time (GMT+6), one hour ahead of Malé.

What's included

- Accommodation in a villa or residence with private pool - Dedicated butler service - Personalised in-villa Wellbeing Bar - Airport meet-and-greet and JOALI Lounge access - Wi-Fi across the island - Access to B'Kidult multigenerational zone - Wellbeing menu for children aged 4 to 16

What's not included

- International flights - Seaplane transfers (unless included in a specific booking) - Overnight hotel near Malé for late arrivals - Spa treatments and wellbeing programmes - Cooking classes, wine tastings and destination dining - Alcoholic drinks - Day trips to JOALI Maldives - Travel insurance

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