After a full renovation, the iconic, adults-only resort reopens with a fresh aesthetic and new wellness experiences.

On a paradise island in South Malé Atoll, Anantara Veli shimmers in the blue like an ocean mirage. Rows of overwater villas branch from the island’s northern shores across a lagoon fringed by coral reefs. One of these branches is new, part of extensive renovations that saw the resort shut for several months and reopen in December. Other additions include new beach villas and wellness offerings to enhance the resort’s already extensive lineup of luxury experiences.

At first glance, it’s the aesthetic upgrades that are most evident at Anantara Veli. Across the entire resort, Tokyo-born, New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki, has introduced a lighter, brighter feel. In every space, his integration of organic patterns and soft hues has created a mood more in tune with the resort’s natural environment.

Modern-Japanese diner Origami and Cumin have been made-over with a breezy island look; creamy neutrals offset by pops of tropical colour. Over Water Villas have been refurbished in the same chic aesthetic, with a palette of whites accented by soft blues, browns, and natural wood and stone.

The new rooms: six Beach Pool Villas and six Deluxe Overwater Pool Villas are similarly styled, each with their own private pool and direct access to Veli’s turquoise seas. The former flow out onto the island’s sugary sands, while the latter rise up over the lagoon, offering unspoiled views to the horizon.

Beyond updates to the resort itself, Veli welcomes immersive new luxury experiences. A Moroccan hammam joins the long list of wellness amenities at Veli, with lavish treatments that draw on traditional healing. Balance Wellness by Anantara continues to offer multi-day retreats – Ayurvedic treatments, nutrition, meditation, fitness, yoga, and more. And if you’re seeking full immersion, a new Wellness Villa experience features in-villa light, sound and scent therapies and an array of wellness extras.

Naturally, in the Maldives, ocean experiences are the most memorable of all. Offering unique, once-in-a-lifetime activities, Anantara Veli takes you on unforgettable journeys across and beneath the waves – snorkelling with nurse sharks, diving with turtles, dolphin spotting, big-game fishing, surfing Maldivian breaks.

With some of the world’s best dive spots here, you can enjoy the perfect environment to learn to scuba dive. At Anantara Veli, even beginners can enjoy diving, with the Discovery Programme that explores the house reef. For the more experienced, there are PADI-certified courses: Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, or Dive Master, plus speciality courses to bring you farther and deeper into the Maldives’ extraordinary dive spots.

When you’re not out in the big blue, Veli’s expansive waterfront pool provides the perfect spot for sitting back and admiring it. Soak up the sun or drift the day away. Relax on a lounger with a hand-mixed cocktail from Dhoni Bar and drink in spectacular views. Welcome evening with a sunset dip right where the sea meets Veli lagoon.

Click here to experience the new Anantara Veli Maldives Resort.