If there was a year to travel for wellness, 2026 would be it. From longevity retreats and spiritual journeys to digital detox camps and Naturopathy sanctuaries, travellers have been increasingly seeking vacations that rejuvenate the mind and body alike. During my recent sojourn to the Maldives, I dived deep into the latter: a dedicated wellness retreat on a private islet.
The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
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Special Arrangement
If I were to describe the island life in three words, it would be Calm. Unhurried. Peaceful. A philosophy that extends across the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, a quick 25-minute speedboat ride from Male airport. At the heart of their wellness-focussed offerings is Urja (meaning vitality in Sanskrit), an island dedicated to nurturing this very sense of calm that launched in December 2025. Helmed by naturopathy physician Anand Prayaga, Urja is rooted in naturopathic principles centred on the five elements, aka pancha mahabhutas: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Highlights include sound healing, anti-gravity yoga, yoga therapy, and a range of massages. Stay, in-styleKuda Huraa is home to 96 villas and suites, spread across the beach and over the lagoon.Choose from beach pavilions, garden pavilions, sunrise and sunset water villas, beach villas, and more.There are also speciality suites: sunrise and sunset two- and three-bedroom water suites, a family two-bedroom water suite, and the three-bedroom Kuda Estate.To experience their offerings, I head to Urja aboard a dhoni — a traditional ornate Maldivian multi-purpose wooden boat — which is a few minutes from the main island of the resort. A consultation with Dr Girinathan Santhisathram, wellness curator at Urja, leads to a relaxing hour experiencing a massage while looking at the emerald waters.
