Beyond The Beach: How JOALI Maldives Offers Younger Guests A Deeper Look into Culture, Nature and Sustainability
Going above and beyond just finger painting and babysitting, this luxe resort promises to keep your little ones engaged and amused throughout your stay
With its undeniable reputation for romance, at first glance the Maldives might appear as a destination catered exclusively to honeymooners. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find that many of its most luxurious resorts come catered to families, attracting the once newlyweds-now-parents looking to relive the magic and make more memories with tiny toes in tow. That’s most certainly the case at JOALI Maldives, which has been upping the playful ante with its new Summer Camp.
While there are a few luxury resorts in the Maldives that remain adults-only, JOALI, which sits pretty in Raa Atoll, is a place where tots are welcomed with open arms. Curated by its Muramas Kids Club which, as you would expect, is possibly the most stylish kids club you can find, the Summer Camp enlists only the best of the best to entertain young explorers including a resident artist, marine biologist, astronomer and chefs, while visiting practitioners are also invited to the conduct one-off workshops. While the camp is aimed at kids aged four to 12, the resort also hosts art workshops for teens, whose parents can convince them to trade screen time for something a little more creative.
Art here takes centre stage, welcoming international names to produce personalised experiences such as pottery making, pebble painting, photography (little ones can also design unique photo frames for their favourite snaps) and marble art, a spontaneous activity that involves rolling paintcoated marbles across paper. This year’s agenda saw the likes of French artist and boxer Emmanuel Deschodt and Gabriela Noelle, a Cuban-American creative based in Miami joining the fun. Upcoming camps can expect plenty more where that came from – the camp is set to be a recurring event, so be sure to keep an eye out for 2025 dates.
That said, the activities on offer are as diverse as they are varied, with an overarching aim to educate young minds on the importance of becoming a protector of the planet. As such, they can get involved with everything from eco-activities like tree planting and organic gardening in the Chef’s Garden, as well as workshops on reducing plastic waste and conserving energy.
Other highlights include stargazing with the resident astronomer, who assists in identifying stars and planets, a scavenger hunt with a marine biologist, cooking classes and immersive cultural shows which involve everything from learning Dhivehi, practising local dance steps and mastering palm leaf weaving. Oh, and if you’re looking to tire your little ones out before dinner, be sure to enlist them in the daily padel and yoga classes.
Speaking of dinner, while there are plenty of spots to enjoy a romantic meal for two, we highly recommend an early evening soiree with the whole family inside the whimsical Manta Treehouse. Created by South African artist Porky Hefer and inspired by the Maldives’ remarkable population of over 5,000 manta rays, it is an experience no-one will forget in a hurry. And there’s an ice-cream parlour to head to for a second dessert afterwards too.
For more information visit joali.com.
From Harper’s Bazaar Junior’s Autumn/Winter 2024 issue
Images Supplied