As part of JA Manafaru’s evolution towards wellness, the private island resort in the serene Haa Alifu Atoll will soon launch five distinct wellness retreat packages as an added option for guests to partake during their dreamy Maldives vacation.

Since the first announcement of the developing wellness initiatives last year with the launch of the acclaimed Wellness Your Way menus on 16th October 2023, World Food Day, the resort has proudly committed to ensuring guests have choices around wellness. The new retreat packages were curated by offering guests’ a la carte choices of treatments and activities within the package inclusions. The carefully selected menus allow guests to choose the treatments that suit their own personal style while being confident that they will contribute to their wellbeing journey’s results.

JA Manafaru is also mindful that the field of wellness travel is wide and varied, and that those who are wishing to dip their toes into a little wellbeing can be overwhelmed and apprehensive of investing time and money into an intensive program. So, they have created a Taste of Wellness package, offering a two- or three-day program, whereby guests can dip their toes in and test the waters. For people who are looking to commit to gaining results on a five, seven- or ten-day’s journey, the resort offers specific programs to guide guests along a path with packages to “Detox and Reset,” follow a “Mindful Journey” or to enjoy “Active De-Stress.

However, the resort is immensely proud to announce their most unique retreat package, JA Signature Culinary Journey. Since the launch of the Wellness Your Way menus, the resort has observed that many guests have chosen to stay at JA Manafaru because of the menus. The F&B and culinary teams have noticed an increase of guests who are wanting to change their dietary lifestyle or who have in fact been advised to by their doctor. This led to the creation of this special retreat package. The JA Signature Culinary retreat offers guests a chance to effortlessly follow their new diet with naturally nurturing cuisine and reset their system with specialised treatments while being supported by the JA Manafaru’s team. To further elevate the guest experience through this package, several culinary classes and workshops were included so that the long-staying guests will continually enjoy their wellness journey during their stay, ensuring they have all the tools with culinary learning for long term healthful habits.

Both the JA Signature Culinary Retreat and the Detox and Reset programs includes Epi-Genetic testing. This non-invasive testing is offered in partnership with Cura Pura clinic in Portugal and Cell Wellbeing Laboratory in Germany. Hair testing has been used since the 1800’s but modern technology has allowed JA Manafaru to collect samples from guests on the island and electronically send the data to the laboratory in Germany for analysis. A 36-page report is subsequently generated which offers an insight into the best foods for the individual to eat as well as foods to avoid. To ensure a full understanding of the results, the guests will have a video consultation with the experts at Cura Pura clinic, led by Dr. Rui Loreiro, a recent visiting practitioner at JA Manafaru.

Moreover, the resort team will create personalised meal plans for the retreat guests to enjoy during their journey. Meal planning is available for all retreat guests and guests following other retreat plans or simply on vacation can sign up for our optional Epi-genetic testing service.

All guests partaking of retreat programs will receive special inclusions such as daily morning lime ritual and evening detox elixir, villa aromatherapy of their choice, a Wellness Your Way tote bag, bamboo and glass water flask and personal journal to record their wellness journey, among others.

JA Resorts & Hotels Brand Consultant for Wellness and Spa, and long-time wellness expert in the Maldives resort scene, Victoria Kruse, says “It is a joy to be a part of the evolution of wellness at JA Manafaru, and I am fortunate to have experts such as our Director of Spa, Rita Gupta and Executive Chef, Moosa Nazeeh at the resort who have made all of these excellent wellness programs come about. I am personally extremely excited about the culinary retreat however, as someone who both has celiac disease, and must remove gluten from my diet, and chooses to follow a keto lifestyle, I know firsthand how challenging the first steps are in a new eating plan. I feel confident that we can guide our culinary retreat guests and make this process less stressful and in fact enjoyable. Not to mention helping guests on their path to mindfulness, detoxification, and actively de-stressing”.

These retreat programs are made possible, in part by the Wellness Your Way menus that are available in each of the island’s five dining outlets, as well in the In-villa Dining — offering separate menus for a variety of eating lifestyles. Whether guests follow a vegan/vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free or low carb lifestyle, they can turn to their menu pages and order with confidence from a wide variety of dishes made from specially sourced ingredients including JA Manafaru’s homegrown fruit and vegetables.

The resort will welcome guests for retreat programs starting from 1st May 2024 with an introductory pricing available until 20th December 2024. The Wellness Your Way retreat packages brochure can be downloaded here.