Velaa Is Every Reason You’ve Wanted To Vacation In The Maldives

Imagine a day jet skiing between islands accompanied by a pod of dolphins, then getting in a round of golf before your stress-relieving Ayurvedic massage, heading back to your overwater villa to enjoy sunset cocktails then ending the evening with a gourmet meal overlooking the Indian Ocean. All right — they can’t always guarantee the dolphins. But the rest is a sure thing at your stay at Velaa Private Island resort in the Maldives.

After landing in the capital of Malé, Velaa guests are shown to a private airport lounge before taking a 45-minute seaplane ride to the island. On your flight you realize what makes the Maldives so special — perfect waters, beautiful small islands — before spotting a signature white tower on Velaa, which houses one of the resort’s restaurants and vertical wine cellar.

Learning your way around the island and everything it has to offer is a breeze — everything is connected to one circular main road that is easily walkable or navigated by the bicycle provided to every guest. Velaa means ‘turtle’ in the local Dhivehi language and Czech architect Petr Kolář designed the overwater villas and jetties on the island to resemble the body of the turtle when seen from above.

Deciding where you’ll stay on the island is the only tough decision you’ll have to make for this vacation. With 47 villas and residences provide a myriad of choices with no wrong answers. There are the overwater villas the region is known for — choose your preference for the sunrise or sunset side — and if you’ve never experienced one before this might be the way to go. But the Deluxe Beach Pool Villas should not be overlooked either. Your private backyard is surrounded by tall hedges with an infinity pool and section of the beach. From there you go through a small opening onto the full beach and can be in the ocean in under a minute.

For larger family groups there are four private residences, with their own kitchens, gyms and spa treatment rooms. But for ultimate seclusion — especially for newlyweds or couples who don’t plan on leaving the room very often — there is the Romantic Pool Residence that sits over the water away from the shoreline and is accessible only by boat. With its own pool, jacuzzi and sundeck you won’t need to head back to the island that often.

The majority of your dining during your stay takes place at the beachfront Athiri Restaurant which serves a wide range of International dishes — authentically cooked by chefs from 14 countries. You can choose places to sit here with the sand still in your toes or dipped in a channel of water that runs across different sections. The Avi Pool Bar and Lounge is connected and offers a great place for sunset or after dinner cocktails. The Cru Champagne Bar is also available for pre or post-dinner bubbles.

For more specialized dining there is the overwater Aragu Signature Restaurant led by Chef Gaushan De Silva, featuring European dishes with Asian touches. And to round out your dining experiences there is Tavaru — at the top floor of the white tower that is the tallest structure on the island — which serves Teppanyaki grill cuisine. Inside the building is the wine cellar featuring over 1,000 labels. Your sommelier will lead tasting here as well as procure your bottle from a small open elevator that circles around the walls while heading up and down.

There are two tracks for wellbeing on the island. The overwater Velaa Spa offers a wide range of western and Asian-style massages as well as facial, body and beauty treatments. For serious pampering there are multi-day programs for relaxation, rejuvenation and detoxing, which provide a series of different treatments over three or five days. Snow is one of the last things you’d expect to find in the area, but the spa has the only snow room in the Maldives along with a sauna and steam room — all facing the open water — to compliment any session.

The second track is Velaa’s Eveylaa Wellbeing Village where you can experience everything from a not-to-be-missed Ayurvedic massage to a full Ayurvedic body evaluation from a medical professional to set goals for your health that will last long after your visit. The center includes its own restaurant Faiy that features healthy and delicious dishes as well as yoga, pilates and meditation classes.

Jet skiing in the open waters of Indian Ocean between islands in the Maldives is a thrill — especially if you come across a dolphin pod that wants to join in for the ride. Other hi-tech water activities on the island include flyboarding, hoverboarding, e-foils and a jetovator and flyrider to zoom up into the air. For those who want to do without motors, there are also catamarans, windsurfing, pedal boats and kayaks available.

Velaa also has its share of underwater adventures. The island offers both diving and snorkeling — with lessons available for all levels from kids to more experienced divers including PADI certification. There is abundant coral — Velaa runs the largest coral restoration program in the Maldives — and reefs to explore as well as turtles and manta rays. A nighttime florescent snorkeling trip is also available.

And just when you think they couldn’t pack anything else onto one small island, Velaa features a nine-hole golf course and academy designed by two-time Masters winner José María Olazábal. Tennis, squash, climbing wall, volleyball and gym are also available — and you’ll also be burning calories with your bicycle rides around the island. And while Velaa offers so much to do — it’s also the perfect island to leave time not to do anything at all except relax and enjoy the beach and swim in the ocean. There’s a reason you’ve always heard the Maldives is a dream vacation — and Velaa has all the reasons why.