JA Manafaru

Water Villas

(30 Rooms- Room Size:110 sqm)
Occupancy: 3 Adults Or 2 Adults + 2 Child.

We take in the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and then notice glass-panelled floors allowing observation of the exotic marine life below. Rashid, our Host, points out a framed photograph on the wall. A local spear-fisherman. ‘Would you like to meet Mandhu?’ we are asked. Surprised, fascinated, our Beach House adventure has begun.

 

Ocean Villas

(17 Rooms- Room Size:110 sqm)
Occupancy: 3 Adults Or 2 Adults + 2 Child.

We trace the teak architecture with our fingers, meticulous carvings, local woods chiselled and etched with delicate detail. Naushad, our Host, taps the wood, knowledgeably. ‘This is Razi’s work’, she shares. A local artisan, Razi and his family have upheld the cultural heritage of the Maldives for generations. Our private space, testament to their tradition.

 

Beach Villas

(22 Rooms- Room Size:150 sqm)
Occupancy: 3 Adults Or 2 Adults + 2 Child.

The secluded retreat welcomes us, interiors juxtapose dark woods, grey stone and plant life, a breeze floating through the spacious open-air bathroom. Nature surrounds us at every turn. A personallyselected array of local fruits awaiting our attention, the gentle song of birds above, an island waiting to be explored.

 

Beach Suites

(12 Rooms- Room Size:225 sqm)
Occupancy: 3 Adults Or 2 Adults + 2 Child.

Resting in our cabana, overlooking the beach, we once again recount the delightful story that Fiona, our Host, shared with us. Volleyball is a popular past-time on the local islands, but teams had been predominantly male. This year, the ladies formed a group and hosted a local tournament. And guess who won.

 

Grand Water Pavilion

(1 Rooms- Room Size:350 sqm)
Occupancy: 4 Adults +2 Adults Or 2 Child.

An unending vista of the Indian Ocean viewed from our infinity pool, the sun bright above the intricate octagonal roof, three windows leading out from the sitting room and our two bedrooms over the water. Paradise. We have never experienced such dazzling beauty before. Each day, unimaginable. Each evening, sensational.

 

Grand Beach Pavilion

(1 Rooms- Room Size:600 sqm)
Occupancy: 4 Adults +2 Adults Or 2 Child.

Swimming races in the private pool. Spa treatments delivered in our personal massage room. A haven of calm, fun, decadence and warmth. One night, we sit bundled up watching a family film and as I turn I see the photograph on the wall depicting two local ladies, smiling, huddling under an umbrella. Together. Happy. Just like us.

Saffron

Dawn. The shimmer of orange, red, yellow. Heat rising over the indigo waters. Champagne’s golden effervescence mimics our excited joy. A breakfast both local and international, sweet and savoury, personalised and perfect. We toast the new day. We love.

Medium Rare

Tide at night. The ocean’s lullaby. Diamond pinpricks against onyx. Vallo’s warm chuckle from the outdoor kitchen. Mouthwatering scents carried on the breeze.

The Cellar

Jungle foliage. Then a wooden door surrounded by lava stones beckons. We open it, tiptoeing down into a secret underground chamber. We gasp. Thousands of bottles of the finest wines. Floor to ceiling. A hidden trove of taste and sensation. Stanley, the Sommelier, begins his fascinating story.

Four Corners

Hedhikaa. Traditional Maldivian snacks. Rich triangle pockets of flour, freshly caught tuna nestling with home-grown onions and peppers, dashed with local spice. A new discovery, tastes explored. A breakfast like no other. We giggle, guiltless and happy, sharing local delicacies at 7am.

Saltwater

Imagine. Close of the day. The sun slips candidly away. Laughter. Love. Vodka martinis and sublime tapas. Ahmed tells a story; it is about his daughter who passed into her final year. With a beguiling Maldivian grin, he says she is the first of his family to reach higher education. We settle back; somewhat reassured that life continues beyond this idyll.

Infiniti

Quietly. Slipping into water. Cool, refreshing, still. The calm of seclusion. Delicious sandwiches brought to tables. A community of special individuals. A space of pure pleasure.

Amazon

Brazil. Gaudy nights in Rio. Giant bats against the night sky in Vera Cruz.Samba and favela. Amit shakes another cocktail and we share travel tales. We delve into our worlds, what brings us here, to this magnificent day. We look around, appreciating the tropical beauty, the shimmering pool, the magic of this moment.

Personalised Dining

Tonight. Twenty years celebrated. Happiness. Age. We made it. And here we sit, eating and drinking together on our own deserted island. Just the buzz of cicada, the lap of water, your eyes in mine, mine in yours.

Experience DE’ Spa

Sunlight filters through the banyan trees, caressing the quiet pathways that gently meander, like us, towards the circular central entrance of our destination. Already, we feel calm descend upon us. Walking through the Spa, each room beautifully designed, each contour carved, this healing space seems to beat with energy.

Authentic Maldivian traditions. Indigenous herbalism. The therapeutic wonders of Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Contemplation and regeneration drawn from all corners of the world. I choose to indulge in a Maldivian massage, and await my two hours of bliss.

Time has stopped. Warm green coconut oil trickles from the tips of toes to the reach of fingertips. Expert pace and pressure that comforts and calms. I drift into dreams of music, of joy, of stillness. Then I wake, as if steadily pulling back from another world. Tired, enchantingly so, I feel like I have not felt in many months. I feel whole. And I smile, sipping my nurturing herbal tea, taking my time.

Diving
The unchartered waters of the Haa Alif atoll can be explored with the guidance of the experienced, reassuring PADI 5 star dive team. The House Reef, with its gentle current and shallow depths, is the perfect place for non-swimmers and novice divers to gain confidence in the water. For more experienced divers and underwater photographers, exquisite local dive sites teeming with marine life await discovery.

With nine languages spoken, comprehensive and multilingual diving courses are offered for all diving levels. Complimentary snorkelling gear is also available.

PADI 5 star dive centre is open from 8.30 to 18.00.

 

Water sports

The VDWS certified water sports school offers non-motorised water sports including windsurfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling and catamaran sailing, as well as motorised activities, including jet-skiing, wakeboarding, mono-skiing, knee-boarding and water skiing.

Qualified, friendly instructors provide essential guidance and refresher courses.

VDWS certified water sports school is open from 9.00 to 18.30.

 

Fitness

Sea salt flecked hair tied back, the tennis game begins. Dormant spirits of competition rise and roam as we play for each and every point, extending, jumping, giggling. Though we haven’t played in years, the strokes are there, alive still, and I remember how much I enjoy this. More still after I win another game.

Fitness facilities include:

• Three swimming pools
• Beach
• State-of-the-art fitness centre (open 24 hours)
• Volleyball
• Tennis court
• Table tennis
• Pool table

 

PLAY

The day quiets, as do we. We saunter to PLAY, he to practice his golf swing, whilst I take to the library to read. Curled up with a good book, as the sun deepens and evening edges in, I feel as though we’ve finally come home.

A playground for children and grown-ups alike, offering an extensive array of recreational activities. While adults take advantage of the golf simulator and home theatre system, children can enjoy the video games room in the nearby Kids’ Club. The fitness centre is located within the complex. Additional features include a library, providing an assortment of books and magazines, as well as complimentary internet with printing, fax and photocopying facilities.

PLAY is open 24 hours and supervised from 7.00 to 20.00.

 

Kids’ Club

Children are VIPs at the Kids’ Club, known at Beach House Iruveli as ‘Turtle Club’. Their own little paradise has a private pool with mini-daybeds, a games room, a mini-climbing wall, a herb garden, a bungee trampoline for the older children and an extensive tailor-made programme of activities for their entertainment including cookery classes, crab hunting and pirate dress-up.

Open for children aged 3 to 12, fun and discovery never end.

Additional children’s resort facilities include:

• Babysitting service
• Playground
• Children’s menu
• Children’s cribs and high chairs
• Children’s bottle warmers
• Children’s baby monitors
• In-villa children’s amenities
• Kids’ Club is open from 9.00 to 18.00.