Checking into Naladhu Private Island Maldives

Fly-and-flop this winter at Naladhu Private Island Maldives.

Naladhu Private Island Maldives has reopened with a sleek new look. Following a redesign by New York designer Yuji Yamazaki, the luxury resort is now ready for guests.

So what can they expect?

Well, the intimate resort boasts no more than 20 ‘houses’ all now fully renovated and served by a personal ‘Kuwaanu’, or butler.

Before you’ve even set-off for your holiday, the Kuwaanu will be stocking the with your choice of wine and bubbles and laying out the right-sized dive and snorkeling equipment. The butler service runs from unpacking and serving your morning coffee, to organising an island picnic and discussing your dining requests for the day with the chef.

Tales from the tub at Naladhu Private Island.

Dining at Naladhu Private Island is completely bespoke, from champagne floating breakfasts to ‘journey around the world’ dinners and midnight feasts on the beach.

There are two categories of ‘house’; ‘The Beach House with Pool’ enjoys direct access to the white sands of the lagoon, while ‘The Ocean House with Pool and Private Beach Cabana’ opens onto a terrace with ocean views.

Naladhu Private Island’s top suite, the two bedroom Beach Pool Residence, fronts onto 20m of private beach and soaks up both sunrise and sunset views.

Each house is named after a flower that can be found on the island, such as Sea Hibiscus and Pink Rose.

The resort has been refreshed by New York designer Yuji Yamazaki.

Yamazaki has made maximum use of the houses’ outside spaces; enjoy an ocean-side seat for breakfast or pre-dinner cocktails from the chaise longue overlooking the pool.

Fabulous facilities include a cinema under the stars and private yoga and fitness classes at the new Coconut Grove, as well as an island wine cellar, restaurant, bar, gym and spa.

The resort has also introduced new experiences including a snorkelling trail with an in-house marine biologist and sustainability manager in situ to point out some of the more than 2,000 species of tropical fish and corals and to explain the resort’s reef restoration programme. Naladhu Private Island is also soon to launch a plankton workshop. Back on dry land there are guided walks honing in on the flora and fauna of the island.

Twilight hues over the Beach Pool Residence.

Naladhu is working with Parley Air to reduce marine plastic pollution and recycle plastic waste. The resort has eliminated all single-use plastic and has put water and waste management systems in place, including a water desalination and bottling plant. All furniture pre-renovation was donated to the Maldives’ only hospital for mental health.

Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé atoll, Naladhu Private Island is 30 minutes by speedboat from the international airport at Malé.

During low season, one night's accommodation is US$1,900 for two people sharing an Ocean House with breakfast included. Bookings online.

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