Situated on one of the largest private islands in North Malé Atoll, One&Only Reethi Rah is a renowned favourite among celebrities and honeymooners – and for good reason. The ultra-luxurious resort boasts an impressively long and diverse list of guest activities, even by Maldivian standards.
If part of the allure of the island destination for you is the array of experiences on offer, but you can’t choose between a wellness-centric resort or one with an incredible water sport offering, never fear, because One&Only Reethi Rah - which means “beautiful island” in Dhivehi - has you covered. There is something here to satiate every taste and keep every member of the family enthralled.
Firstly, the sheer size of the 109-acre island means there’s ample space, freedom, and privacy to be enjoyed. The resort’s 3.7 miles of beautiful coastline is separated into 12 white-sand beaches, which creates plenty of stunning nooks for guests to explore at their own pace, and means each villa is afforded private sections of sand, sweeping ocean views and spacious private verandas.
Secondly, its 122 thatch-roofed villas (all with terrazzo bathtubs for two) are some of the most exceptional and spacious in the Indian Ocean. Divided into 90 beach villas and residences, and 32 water villas, they are equally gorgeous and can be considered self-contained sanctuaries. Every villa is traditionally thatched by local craftsmen and features a contemporary, Asian-influenced design blending elegance and style with natural beauty, using materials such as coconut shell, sea grass, silk, and mahogany.
HOLISTIC WELLNESS ESCAPE
Conveniently accessed via a 45-minute luxury yacht journey from Malé airport, or 15-minute private seaplane transfer, this idyllic resort is home to a blissful, award-winning One&Only Spa, personalised retreat programmes, renowned visiting practitioners, state-of-the-art fitness facilities as well as healthy superfood menus.
Harnessing rejuvenating therapies from East to West, experienced One&Only Spa therapists guide guests on a journey, combining ancient therapeutic rituals with modern day research. Eight private treatment villas boast spectacular ocean and garden views, while two over-water couple’s spa treatment suites offer an enticing private retreat. Here, guests are invited to extend their relaxation and enjoy the first Watsu pool in the Maldives, swirling vitality pools, outdoor steam and sauna, indoor crystal steam rooms, and stimulating ice fountains.
Adjacent to One&Only Spa, the resort’s Fitness Centre boasts state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with expert trainers and fitness professionals. The versatile space has both indoor and outdoor training areas, set against the backdrop of the exquisite Indian Ocean. Starting with thorough consultations, fitness tests and goal setting, the Fitness Centre offers all-encompassing health and body transformation programs that result in guests reaching their maximum potential whilst improving personal wellbeing.
AQUATIC WONDERLAND
One&Only guests with a penchant for adventure will have a hard time choosing exactly which activities to slot into their itineraries. All guests have complimentary access to a variety of water sport equipment, including canoes, kayaks, pedaloes, windsurfing boards, and perhaps most famously, its signature stand-up paddle boards.
Each One&Only resort offers a signature sport, and given Reethi Rah’s pristine aquatic surrounds, it’s no surprise its sport of choice is paddle boarding, with both inflatable and wooden options available. For those who prefer the privacy of their own villa and stretch of beach, there’s the option to rent their own paddleboard to be kept in their villa during their stay.
Thrill-seekers can take advantage of the power sports available at the Water Sports Centre and try their hand at water-skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding or eFoil surfboarding.
The island’s lagoon and house reef are home to a variety of marine life, and snorkelers can see, amongst other things, turtles, Napoleon wrasses, white-tip sharks, butterfly fish and the ubiquitous tuna. Those particularly interested in marine life can also head off in search of the local acrobatic spinner dolphins, join the resort’s Shark Safari to swim with reef sharks in their natural habitat or head out on an excursion to observe the world’s largest fish, the whale shark.
Guests are also encouraged to visit the specialist turtle rehabilitation centre at the resort, set up in partnership with charity The Olive Ridley Project to care for injured sea turtles. Rescued creatures are taken care of by the resort’s resident Turtle Biologist, before being released back into the wild once they reach full health.
The surrounding North Malé Atoll is alive with possibilities for those who wish to explore further afield. Day trips from the island include traditional hand line fishing from a traditional Maldivian dhoni, a luxury cruise aboard a privately chartered yacht, island picnics on a perfectly secluded sandbank, champagne sunset cruises, or big game fishing.
The Maldives is celebrated as one of the world’s best diving destinations and the ocean surrounding the resort is blessed with dozens of excellent dive sites, including one of the Maldives' best shark sites, as well as the 1988 wreck of the Hembadhu, and the Rasafari Protected Marine Area, which is for excellent turtle and manta ray viewing.
The resort’s PADI Gold Palm Dive Centre is run by professional PADI instructors, who conduct classes and organise regular diving and snorkelling excursions for all levels. A full PADI education programme is offered by a multi-lingual team, including regular Discover Scuba Diving sessions and a PADI program for children from eight years old.
ADVENTURE EPICENTRE
For those who prefer the feeling of dry land – or sand – under their feet, guests can choose between a huge suite of activities at the resort’s aptly-named clubhouse, Club one.
Here they will find beach volleyball, pétanque, badminton, football and table tennis, and bicycles for exploring the island. One&Only Reethi Rah offers two floodlit tennis courts, complete with a professional tennis coach.
Younger guests, aged 4 to 12, can play a variety of sports at KidsOnly, where a swimming pool, dining area and supervised playground give children ample space to have fun. For teenaged guests aged 13-17, they can join the fun at One Tribe where they can choose a tailor-made programme of sports and excursions at Club One, One&Only Spa and various other areas across the resort. Children ages 4 and below are also welcome at KidsOnly, if they are accompanied by a guardian.
DINING DELIGHTS
In keeping with the resort’s expansive offering, it is home to seven diverse restaurants and bars. Catering to all dietary requirements and tastes, and representing local and international cuisines, the gastronomical spread at One&Only Reethi Rah spoils guests for choice.
Whether its at the resort’s namesake outlet, Reethi Restaurant (French, Asian, Italian & Grill), Botanica with Matthew Kenney (plant-based garden-to-table cuisine), Tapasake (modern Japanese), Fanditha (Middle Eastern), or Rabarbaro (Italian/lunch), the quality of the food is matched by the serenity of the setting and sincerity of service.
There’s also the Beach Club for casual daytime beachside dining; Rah Bar, which features live music in the evenings and is open all day until late; plus an array of private dining options, including an intimate sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean or secluded beaches under the stars!