Naladhu Private Island, the exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives, is due to relaunch in November with an impressive new look and feel, following a complete renovation during a six-month closure. The intimate resort is undergoing a total redesign. The public areas and accommodation are renovated and the resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Pool Residence, reopening with its own 20-metre private beach. Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu Private Island is 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé.
Home to just 20 ‘Houses’, 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 style. 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 receiving a completely new look.
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 oversized day bed and enjoy drinks, snacks or lunch served by their butler, to be known as a Kuwaanu. Each House will be named after an indigenous Maldivian flower or plant that can be found on the island, with each chosen flora growing alongside in the House’s garden.
The guest experience at Naladhu will be completely bespoke. The Kuwaanu, deriving from a storyteller in Dhivehi the Maldivian language, will be at guests’ disposal 24 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 introduce 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 jewel in the resort’s crown is the 600 sqm Two Bedroom Pool Residence. 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, alfresco dining area and a swing, and its new private beach offering direct access to the lagoon.
The resort will be expanding its 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. Led by new Peruvian Chef de Cuisine, Patricio Basombrio Cedano, the resort’s culinary team is 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 and recycle plastic waste. All single-use plastic has been banned on the island. Educating guests about the Maldives’ ecosystem and locale will also be a high priority when the resort reopens, including guided walks of the island to learn about the flora and fauna and private sessions with the marine biologist focused on the ocean and coral. In addition, the resort’s furniture from pre-renovation 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 with a bathing and changing area. A Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist will also be resident on the island. Guests will be offered the opportunity to focus on their nutrition to help overcome stress, sleep issues and unhealthy eating patterns, and their digestion, immunity, weight management, hormones, skin and blood sugar balance.
