One of the Maldives’ Most Luxurious Wellness Resorts Debuts 8 Overwater Bungalow Residences
When Joali Maldives opened its doors in 2018, it quickly became one of the swankiest private island resorts in the region. So when its sister property, the wellness-centric Joali Being, opened in late 2021 on a neighboring island, it piqued the interest of Joali loyalists hoping to experience something a bit more immersive and permanent.
The Maldives has its fair share of global hotel brands, but Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat sought out to create a boutique resort experience that highlighted the joy of living and reconnecting with nature. With just 73 accommodations at Joali and 68 at Joali Being, each resort offers an intimate travel experience. A 45-minute seaplane ride from the island nation’s capital, Malé, Argat developed the first property on Muravandhoo Island, and Joali is on Bodufushi Island, just a 30-minute boat ride away, in the remote Raa Atoll.
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“When I first introduced Joali in 2018, I envisioned creating a luxury lifestyle brand with a soul,” Argat tells Robb Report. “The resort’s design and architecture, combined with the warm hospitality, intrinsically created a community feeling, resulting in over 35% of guests being repeat clients. They travel multiple times a year from around the globe with their families, making Joali their second home, which inspired me to launch Joali Island Homes, a rare opportunity to own your slice of Joali.”
With so many repeat guests and high demand for long stays, residential options seemed like the next step in Joali’s journey. Joali Island Homes, which are current suites that will be sold as homes, are located on Bodufushi. There are only eight homes ranging from one- to four-bedroom residences; there are overwater bungalows and four villas on the beach. The villas are currently for sale and prices start at $5 million for a one-bedroom residence, while the largest homes are expected to fetch up to $24 million.
The homes are similar in design to Joali’s unique style of architecture from Turkish firm Atölye4n and the international design studio Autoban. From the accommodations to the restaurants to the spa, the architecture highlights biophilic design principles with rounded structures, soft edges, thatched roofing, and a purposeful use of natural materials like wood and bamboo.
The residences range from just under 2,500 square feet to more than 18,000 square feet and highlight cathedral-like ceilings, curved linds, a soft color palette, and custom mosaic finishes. Water is a primary inspiration, and each residence, similar to Joali Being’s rooms, has a light color palette of soft turquoise, pale blue, and light pink seen, hues seen in the ocean and seashells. There are also cloud-like light fixtures and wispy curtains that give spaces an ethereal feel.
Each home has a private pool and hot tub, a large sundeck, an outdoor shower, and a high-tech home operating system that remotely controls lighting, temperature, and more. There are also floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the spaces with natural light and provide views of the beach or ocean.
The largest overwater bungalow is the four-bedroom Wellbeing Private Ocean Residence, which also has a private sauna, treatment room, and gym with Technogym equipment and a Pilates Cadillac reformer, while the largest beach-facing villa is the three-bedroom Wellbeing Beach Residence, which includes a cabana and private sauna.
You’re spoiled for choice with Joali Being’s amenities, which rival some of the world’s most sophisticated spas. Created in conjunction with a Harvard-trained expert, the resort offers wellbeing journeys crafted around four basic pillars: mind, skin, microbiome, and energy. You can opt for an immersive journey with the resort’s nutritionists, naturopaths, and mind and body movement specialists and consult with Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. There’s also a sound healing room, Watsu pools, a Himalayan salt room, a cryotherapy chamber, an herbology lab, and so much more. Or you can simply enjoy the more traditional spa offerings and the healthy cuisine.
Residents will also get special perks at Joali Maldives should they want to indulge in various restaurants or more adventurous activities.
Click here for more photos of the Joali Island Homes.
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