At NOKU Maldives, healing is guaranteed, as the luxury of doing nothing is as cherished as the fine experiences on offer.
I look down and feel all giddy. Different thoughts keep racing through my head, and yet somehow, my heart remains absolutely calm, almost as if in a trance state. I squint harder, in a desire to spot a sign of life somewhere in the scrolls of infinite blue that sprawl beneath me. All I manage to see is endless turquoise waters that turn darker as you peer deeper, with occasional speckles of golden sand, emerald forests, and milky white whirlpools breaking into frothy waves.
To see something that looks like it jumped straight out of a fairytale, they say, you have to go above and beyond. So here I am, gliding over the breathtaking atolls of the Maldivian archipelago in a seaplane for the first time, to see it in its full glory. This is my second trip to the Maldives. I have been flown down and speedboat-ed to four different resorts so far. But I have never come so far up north before.
The seaplane ride takes close to an hour, but the transfer to the Kudafunafaru Island in Noonu Atoll from the Trans Maldivian Airlines terminal in the capital, is a breeze. The pilots bring me back from my little ‘search’ adventure, as they announce that we are landing in next five minutes. I let the shadows and specks in the ocean be for now.
As soon as we splash-landed on the welcoming waters of NOKU Maldives, I hear drumbeats and claps. With big wide smiles on their faces, the staff welcomes us in — a few of them clad in traditional feyli (sarong) playing bodu beru, others singing and clapping to the rhythms of those big drums. With a beautiful frangipani garland around my neck and a refreshing welcome drink in hand, I begin my brush with laidback luxury at this elegant intimate retreat.
With only 50 private villas — 30 overwater and 20 beach villas — NOKU Maldives is a luxe boutique resort tucked in a barefoot island sanctuary that allows long sips of unhindered views of the atoll with a side of pleasant surprises. The crystal blue lagoon here reveals diverse marine life, while carefully curated cuisines and wellness treatments set you sailing on your journey to holistic healing. The idea is to let you get used to taking it slow and experience the beauty of doing nothing, while indulging you in calming comforts.
Embraced by luscious tropical greenery and enveloped by a peaceful blue lagoon, my spacious 175-m-sq Beach Villa has an understated elegance, designed to capture natural light and spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. Tender coconut water in a shell shaped like a turtle, a bottle of champagne, and a bowl of freshly cut local fruits and berries along with a personalised note wait for me at the table, as I take my sweet time to explore my home on the island.
Teakwood flooring are paired well with super-high thatched roof and dark wood interiors, and there are large glass windows allowing ample sunlight in. On one side, a full-size mirror rests against one of the white walls with waddling sea turtles painted on it. A super-sized king bed, lounge area, work desk, pillow menus, personalised bar with top brands, espresso machines, iPod docks, contemporary fittings complimenting the minimal, cool design that runs through the villa — you begin to relax the moment you put one step inside.
The en-suite bathroom features separate His and Hers wardrobes and vanities, an outdoor rain shower, luxe toiletries, and a giant roll top bath bang in the middle of it all, facing the ocean! Outside, there’s a generous sundeck (some come with private plunge pools) with lounge beds, outdoor table, and a hammock, opening out to the beach. Not to forget, each guest gets a cell phone that helps them stay connected with a dedicated ‘island host’ who is ready indulge at every whim!
NOKU takes pride in its food. Prepared fresh from locally-sourced produce and with a touch of Maldivian flair, international gourmet meals are the main show-stopper at the resort. There are only two restaurants and two bars on the island, but the menus change daily and cater to all dietary requirements, so you don’t have to worry about the lack of options. It is all the more impressive considering that the resort is in the middle of nowhere!
The ever-changing blues of the Indian Ocean are a permanent backdrop at the main restaurant, Palms that is perfect for casual nights. For a more fine-dine experience, pick their ‘under the stars’ Thari restaurant, where the menu features elements of the Maldivian, Thai, Japanese and Singaporean cuisines. The island is focussed on being plastic free, no plastic bags, straws or bottles to be seen.
Marine adventures are guaranteed here, thanks to a staggeringly special house reef. The Sub-Oceanic is the island’s five-star PADI diving centre with great fun diving trips and scuba courses on the menu, and 34 recommended diving sites. They also have an active coral garden project where they are trying to create an additional habitat for the underwater life and ecosystem.
I spend my days at NOKU taking idle strolls around the island reveals swathes of tropical green and powdery white, setting sail on the resort’s Dhoni to spot spinner dolphins, pampering myself at the NOKU Spa, practising yoga asanas with resident yogi Rakesh, learning all about the Maldivian cuisine during the masterclass with Chef Nathan, encountering resident grey reef sharks, sea turtles, rays, barracudas, sea anemones and more during snorkelling sessions, and feeding black-tip sharks every evening.
Wellness isn’t limited to the walls of the spa here. Healing is guaranteed, and it comes in waves, carefully wrapped in a myriad experiences. You learn to be able to find solace in doing nothing, and that’s probably the biggest win for NOKU. If there’s one word that could sum up my tryst with the luxury island life at this secluded boutique resort, it would be: sublime.
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