π΄ VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND
Your perfect Maldives getaway.
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π΄ PLACE: VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND
A beyond-luxury hideaway in the Maldives.
By Iona Paulet
Imagine a shell-shaped island emerging from the serene Maldivian sea, with porcelain white sand, flourishing with a pristine reef and lush vegetation - all this combined with the delights, possibilities and amenities of a world-class resort. Imagine an award-winning, beyond-luxury hideaway reserved exclusively for you.
NestedΒ inΒ theΒ collectionΒ ofΒ islandsΒ thatΒ formΒ theΒ NoonuΒ Atoll,Β aΒ 45-minute seaplaneΒ flightΒ northΒ ofΒ MalΓ©,Β VelaaΒ PrivateΒ IslandΒ MaldivesΒ isΒ comprised of only 47 villas, houses and residences which can accommodate up to 134 guests. Member of the Forbes Travel Guide, Virtuoso and a Serandipians partner, the island is a one-of-a-kind destination.
With four restaurants, including Faiy Restaurant in Velaa Wellbeing Village, three bars and a wine cellar, Velaa Private Island offers a magical fusion of both International and Maldivian cuisine.
Things to Do
Tavaru Restaurant has amazing Β views Β over Β Velaa Β and Β the Β beautifulΒ azureΒ watersΒ ofΒ theΒ MaldivesΒ areΒ furtherΒ intensifiedΒ by Tavaruβs Β menu Β celebrating Β Teppanyaki Β grill Β cuisine.Β Exclusive Β Japanese Β tasting Β menus Β combine Β a Β grandΒ theatricΒ showΒ withΒ culinaryΒ delightsΒ suchΒ asΒ theΒ Teriyaki BlackΒ CodΒ andΒ KagoshimaΒ A5Β Tenderloin.Β Everything experiencedΒ fromΒ theΒ highestΒ architecturalΒ building on a resort island in the Maldives.
Tavaru Wine Cellar has over 1,000 labels, the extensive wine cellarΒ housesΒ oneΒ ofΒ theΒ mostΒ exclusive wineΒ collectionsΒ acrossΒ SouthΒ AsiaΒ and includes treasured vintages from around the world.
A Wellness Oasis
All wellness offerings are gathered in the Velaa Wellness Village, with a Spa, a dedicated restaurant, and Yoga & Pilates pavilions. Velaa Spa offers a world of expertise and excellence, where cutting-edge technology meets the ancestral art of touch. ShowcasingΒ theΒ onlyΒ βsnow roomβ in the Maldives, the spa offers a synergy ofΒ therapies and products with six secluded double treatment villas suspended over the water.
A private island just for you to explore
Diving - Have access to diving boats, equipment and PADI certified Dive Instructors. Or, learn more about coral line adoption with a resident marine biologist.
Excursions - Two luxury yachts are available for big-game fishing, snorkelling tours, sunset dolphin-watching cruises and fishing trips. Two speedboats can also be used for traveling to other islands or a desert island experience at Orimasvaru.
You wonβt ever find yourself getting bored on the island. There is a lot in store for you: water sports & land sports such as catamaran, wakeboard, tennis and beach volley.Β
The resort even has its own Golf Academy: VelaaΒ GolfΒ AcademyΒ byΒ OlazΓ‘balΒ isΒ aΒ uniqueΒ golfingΒ experience that stretches over nine holes but offers numerous combinations. The golf course isΒ designedΒ byΒ José MarΓaΒ OlazΓ‘bal,Β renownedΒ forΒ hisΒ shortΒ gameΒ mastery,Β and managed by Troon, the leader in upscale golf course management.
Seize the buy-out opportunity to celebrate in complete privacy and host exceptional world-class events on Velaa island. EnjoyΒ someΒ ofΒ theΒ mostΒ exoticΒ diningΒ thatΒ MaldivesΒ hasΒ toΒ offerΒ or embark on a culinary experience somewhere unexpected β from an exclusive dinner on a secluded beach to an unforgettable adventure on a private island.Β
π΄ PERSON: Radka & JiΕΓ Ε mejc
Owners of Velaa
The Velaa Private Island owner is Czech financier JirΓ Smejc along with his wife, Radka, who both fell in love with the island after frequent visits in the early 2000s. Their passion project to own their own private island β and make it truly private β began in 2010 when Smejc acquired a 50-year lease from the Maldivian government. The aim was to build an ultra-private hotel that went βbeyond luxuryβ and offered many of the things that they felt fell short with other Maldives resorts. Along with prominent Czech architect Petr KolΓ‘r they managed to create a beautiful hotel as well as their own permanent home.
"You won't find golden faucets here. We stick to our motto: polite luxury," says KolΓ‘r, who had his own Robinson Crusoe concept when designing Velaa. "I always had this idea that our guests would find themselves stranded on a deserted island, and by coincidence, there is this unique resort."
Opened last December, this 43-villa Maldivian resort is the latest ultra luxurious property to debut in the world's most exotic archipelago. (Shortly before Velaa, LVMH opened Cheval Blanc Randheli in the same atoll, and later this spring, COMO will introduce Maalifushi in the Thaa atoll.) Velaa, which is the size of about 25 soccer fields, was built from scratch for $200 million and is designed to attract the world's most discerning travelers.
βFor the last few years, it has been a joy and privilege to make Velaa our special home. We invite you to come and share the dream with us.β
π΄ PRODUCT: RANAVAT HAIR SERUM
A modern-day Robinson Crusoe ritual
Moisturize, smooth, amp up shine, and define texture with this jasmine-scented hair serum. Any hair type can benefit from the conditioning blend of lotus water, sesame and sunflower seed oils, and a proprietary complex of powerful Ayurvedic ingredients, like vitamin Cβrich amla, fenugreek, and ashwagandha. The formula is clinically tested to reduce frizz for up to 72 hours, provide protection against heat styling, improve hydration, and help strengthen hair over time. Work it through just-washed hair to soften and detangle or use it on dry hair to smooth flyaways and edges, add shine, shape errant sections, and leave hair lustrous! Available on Goop, with our favorite wellness products. BUY HERE.
π§ WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
Your wellness fix in all dimensions.
πͺ PHYSICAL: Othership has landed. Visit the 90-person performance sauna in New York City's Flatiron District β one of the largest saunas in North America.
π EMOTIONAL: For those who yearn to live in the present moment, who seek reflection through heartbreak, comfort during times of loneliness, or guidance while healing, this book provides you with the words you need to read right now.
π MENTAL: AI for Good: Applications in Sustainability, Humanitarian Action, and Health, a team of veteran Microsoft AI researchers delivers an insightful and fascinating discussion of how one of the world's most recognizable software companies is tackling intractable social problems with the power of artificial intelligence (AI).
π SPIRITUAL: The Miracle Journal is more than just a daily journalβit's a life-enhancing tool blending journaling for men and women with powerful shadow work journal techniques and manifestation methods.
π SOCIAL: Picking up Pickleball in NYC. There are more and more social clubs and groups playing this sport together. Who is in?
π ENVIRONMENTAL: Saving Gracie needs your help saving the lives of 50+ rescue animals. By donating, you provide them with healthy hay and grain, clean and fresh water, 'Gold Standard' medical care, and upkeep and maintenance of pastures and facilities on Gracie's Farm. DONATE HERE.
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