JOALI BEING: Into The Blue

Dotted in the depths of the Indian ocean, in and amongst aquamarine atolls and untouched swathes of sand, the Maldives are indisputably well-placed for an off-grid escape. New hotel JOALI BEING is tapping into this and more, providing the country’s first bespoke wellbeing retreat, with Immersion Programmes tailored around mind, skin, microbiome and energy.

Located on the island of Bodufushi in the Raa Atoll, JOALI BEING is sister to nearby JAOLI, the design-focused hotel founded by Esin Gural Argat in 2018. “When JOALI opened, I knew I wanted to create a world-class, nature-immersive wellbeing retreat on a nearby island,” says Esin who turned to design studio Autoban to bring the concept to life. “At JOALI BEING, wellbeing is so much more than just an expression – it is a way of life, of being. Our aim is to offer a transformative and purifying stay through the shedding of all unnecessary excess, reconnecting with one’s self and one’s surroundings.”

The experience begins before arrival, with a pre-consultation to establish individual requirements and goals, while, on arrival, an Intelligent Movement Analysis and Integrative Health Assessment determines the final programme. JOALI BEING means business, with each programme designed in partnership with Professor Gerry Bodeker, a Harvard-trained expert on traditional and integrative medicine, who chairs the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute. “As an example, Immersion Programmes can be tailored towards strength and vitality, mental clarity and wellbeing, hormonal balance, women’s health, digestive and weight rebalance, restorative sleep, as well as movement and alignment for good health and immunity.”

The hotel’s biophilic design takes cues from its tropical surroundings, with curved walls and soft arches crafted from wood and stone with a neutral colour palette of sands, aquamarine blues and coral pinks. From the striking curvilinear Seckin Pirim-designed arrival lounge and the thatched, indoor-outdoor bedrooms to the immersive herbology centre (AKTAR) and sound therapy hall, everything is designed around awakening.