Naladhu Private Island Undergoes Revamp

Naladhu Private Island, the exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives, has closed for six months for a complete renovation and is due to relaunch in November with an impressive new look and feel.  Home to just twenty keys, Naladhu offers the ultimate privacy and seclusion for the most discerning guests. The resort is being redesigned by New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki, with new sleeker furniture throughout and a lighter colour palette creating a modern colonial South East Asian look.

The resort will undergo a total redesign with all the public areas and accommodation receiving a makeover. Included in the renovation will be the resort’s top suite, the two-bedroom pool residence, which will reopen with its own 20m private beach, Sleeping up to six guests, this vast space guarantees both privacy and quality time with loved ones. The Residence benefits from both sunrise and sunset views, with its pool and large deck facing the ocean, along with loungers, al fresco dining area and a swing, and its new private beach offering direct access to the lagoon.

The resort’s two categories of ‘houses’, each with 300 sqm of living space, are surrounded by tropical vegetation and invite a total immersion in nature. The beach house with pool has direct access to the white sands and lagoon, whilst the ocean house with pool and private beach cabana has a large terrace with panoramic ocean view, in addition to its own dedicated cabana, where guests can relax on their superking-sized day bed and enjoy drinks, snacks or lunch served by their butler, to be known as a Kuwaanu.

Yamazaki has focussed on maximising the number of spots around the houses where guests can have a moment of pause, ranging from ocean-side seating for breakfast to pre-dinner cocktails on the chaise longue overlooking the pool. The restaurant, bar, wine cellar and gym are among the public areas being revamped.

The guest experience at Naladhu will be totally bespoke.  A butler service is offered Naladhu-style by a Kuwaanu, meaning ‘storyteller/guide’ in Dhiveli. The Kuwaanu will be at their disposal twenty-four hours a day, both as their guide and to provide services ranging from unpacking or serving early morning coffee to organising a private island picnic.  The resort will also be introducing some new experiences, including a snorkelling tour with the in-house marine biologist to see some of the 2,000 species of tropical fish and sea mammals and to understand more about the coral conservation programme.

The resort will be expanding their no-menu dine anywhere concept, enabling guests to choose their favourite dishes and dining spots round the clock – whether it’s in the living room with views over the lagoon, a champagne floating breakfast in the pool or moonlight midnight snacks on the beach.  The chefs are experienced in cuisines from around the globe ranging from Arabic to Italian, French to Sri Lankan or Japanese to Indonesian.

As part of the sustainability programme, Naladhu has started working with Parley Air to reduce marine plastic pollution. They will recycle plastic waste and all single-use plastic has been banned on the island.  In addition, all the resort’s old furniture has been donated to the Maldives’ only hospital for mental health.

Naladhu Private Island will be renewing its focus on wellness with a new dedicated spa treatment area including a double treatment room and bathing and changing area and the introduction of a resident Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist. Guests are offered the opportunity to focus on their nutrition to help overcome stress, sleep issues and unhealthy eating patterns as well as helping with immunity, digestion, weight management, hormones, skin and blood sugar balance.

Naladhu Private Island’s General Manager Giles Selves said: “This substantial investment will ensure that Naladhu Private Island continues to be one of the most exclusive private islands in the Maldives. The resort already has a significant number of repeat guests, and I have no doubt the new-look Naladhu will entice many new travellers to experience the privacy, seclusion and bespoke personalised service that it’s renowned for.”

Located in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu is just 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport.