Velaa Private Island serves up hospitality so tantalizing, even superyacht owners tender ashore to get in on the action.
This article was written by Julia Zaltzman. Photography courtesy of Velaa Private Island.
It sounds corny for a Maldivian resort to be shaped like a turtle, but at Velaa Private Island, anything goes. Velaa (which means “sea turtle” in Maldivian) is one of 71 islands in the Noonu Atoll, renowned for its coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
Around 20 superyachts visit the private island each year. Lying 187 kilometers north of the capital, Malé, it’s far enough away from the overpopulated resorts, yet conveniently close to Velana International Airport. For those seeking total privacy, a discreet jet-to-yacht experience can include a private buyout of the $200 million, 47-villa paradise.
I first catch sight of the island’s sprawling shape from my cozy seaplane window, the hum of the engine buzzing in my ears. The luminescent dazzle of the shallow reef wraps around a boardwalk loop that forms the turtle’s head. Four wooden jetties that lead to the arrival pavilions, spa, and signature restaurant, Aragu, make up the limbs. The Maldives has long been pigeonholed as a honeymoon destination where enamored couples go to rest, yet the list of activities available at Velaa works hard to kick that cliché out of bed.
Alongside the Maldives’ only covered full-sized tennis court (which transforms into a Cirque du Soleil ballroom for New Year’s celebrations), there are Padel, squash, and badminton courts. Table tennis, beach volleyball, and a climbing wall tuck neatly next to the country’s only nine-hole golf course designed by 2012 Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal. The island’s wellbeing village—a center for multi- day ayurveda, osteopathy, and medical programs—overlooks the immaculately manicured emerald fairway. From early gym risers to sunset yoga heads, it’s all catered for.
None of this is accidental. Velaa’s owner, Czech entrepreneur and financier Jiří Šmejc, set out to build the ultimate home on his own Maldivian island. That plan was foiled by the country’s tight administration, which only permits non-citizens to acquire land for the development of tourism. In a two-second pivot, he built Velaa and opened it up to those who can afford it. The result is an exclusive playground for the rich, where the billionaires go to get away from the millionaires.
As soon as my feet touch sand, I jump on my complimentary guest bike and enjoy a cycle of the 20-hectare island. It’s lined with bougainvillea, wild orchids, and intimately designed villas and private residences with superyacht-style amenities, such as ‘Nemo’ floor portholes, a 24-hour butler, and stepped access to the sea. The one outlier is the Romantic Pool Residence, which can only be reached by a dedicated boat.
On my early morning snorkels, I’m joined by blacktip reef sharks, clown fish, and wrasse. They’re drawn by the nutrient-rich waters, a by-product of Velaa’s coral regeneration program. After snorkeling come the watersports, from Jetovators and hoverboards to wakeboards and tube rides. Velaa’s 60-foot yacht Rania, an S60 Princess, is also available for charter.
Šmejc, who visits every three months, is a keen oenophile and has accumulated one of the most exclusive wine collections across South Asia, while the abundance of fresh produce that pervades my senses, from papaya to pumpkin, is farmed on the neighboring island of Vavathi.
And the spa? That’s home to the only snow room in the Maldives, proving you really can have it all at Velaa.
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