If you’re ready to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime wellness journey, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Velaa Private Island offers two luxurious ways to make it happen. In 2023, the resort, situated on a private atoll in the turquoise waters of the Maldives, unveiled the Velaa Wellbeing Village, adding another dimension to the resort’s impressive, overwater Velaa Spa. This new feature curates immersive, customized journeys that ensure every guest finds a personalized paradise. Here are four reasons why Velaa Private Island is the sublime self-care sanctuary of your dreams.
The Velaa Wellbeing Village
Hosting a range of wellness facilities, the Velaa Wellbeing Village is where many restorative journeys start at the resort. While an outdoor yoga pavilion and Faiy Restaurant — the eatery serves plant-based dishes and drinks centering around the concepts of “Detox,” “Fresh” and “Spa” — are welcomed entries, the centerpiece of the new village is the Eveylaa Wellbeing Center.
The treatment center’s name means “ancient” in the local Dhivehi language, reflecting its healing philosophy. The center is divided into two wings dedicated to Ayurvedic and osteopathic treatments, each providing unique spaces and services. Modern-day technology supplements the Ayurvedic, Eastern and holistic therapies, creating a perfect balance of old and new. The Ayurvedic wing features two couples’ treatment rooms, a traditional wooden Ayurvedic steam box and a hanging copper shirodhara stands above treatment beds to dispense warm oil.
In the osteopathic wing, you’ll find a traditional European steam room, modern treatment beds and a floating sensory deprivation pod.
An expert-led, customized approach
Your healing begins before you even set foot on the island with a 20-minute online consultation with one of the center’s resident doctors. These world-class experts bring decades of experience to the table as they help you select the best road to your wellness goals: Ayurvedic, osteopathic or the contemporary route.
Upon arrival, those who have opted for the Ayurvedic journey will have an hour-long in-person analysis with an expert to identify their dominant energetic body type to restore balance. This “prescription” is not a one-size-fits-all approach but a personalized plan that might entail morning hatha yoga, followed by a shirodhara therapy session (hot oil dripped on the center of the forehead or “third eye”), an herbal massage and sunset meditation.
An osteopathic treatment tackles total body healing through therapeutic manipulation of joints, muscles and connective tissues to improve mobility and alignment. This wing’s steam room and floating sensory deprivation pod relieve tension, and it culminates with a restorative one-hour massage.
The contemporary wellness experience is a successful merging of the old and the new. Trained general practitioners will run you through medical diagnostics (including taking a blood sample) to determine any food sensitivities and design a diet plan (with the guidance of a nutritionist) that begins, but does not end, during your stay. A blood analysis can also be shared with the Ayurvedic doctor, who can suggest beneficial treatments.
An InBody analysis then uses biometrics, such as muscle and fat distribution, to develop the ideal workout routine for your body, which can be tested in the village’s outdoor yoga pavilion among the palm trees and the air-conditioned indoor Pilates studio. This comprehensive tack ensures that every aspect of your wellness regime is taken care of.
Historic and high-tech treatments
Velaa Spa has always harnessed the technologies of the past and present to deliver results revolving around relaxation, regeneration and restoration. The Sense of Place experiences, for example, celebrate the spa’s extraordinary surroundings. They offer treatments inspired by the indigenous tribes of the Maldives. One ritual includes a bamboo scrub and a massage that uses bamboo tools.
Every facial created in partnership with Dr. Burgener Switzerland starts with a free skin analysis. These treatments often blend ancient techniques with the latest technology. The Intense Glow Facial is a prime example, using ultrasound waves, specialized lymphatic facial massage techniques and glycolic acid to give your skin a radiant glow.
A one-of-a-kind facility
As if the six double-treatment overwater villas weren’t enough to leave a lasting impression, the spa’s one-of-a-kind facilities surely make Velaa Spa stand out. The sanctuary boasts the Maldives’ only “snow room,” a space with compacted snow and ice that’s used to boost circulation when paired with time in the steam room or sauna.
Another unique feature at the spa is the Cloud 9 Sleep Pod. Viennese artist and perception researcher Sha created the ergonomic, reclining, multi-sensory pod that lives up to its name. The instrument’s soothing rocking motion leaves guests feeling like they’re drifting to the sky.
