Spa Ayurveda – Four Seaons Landaa Giraavaru

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Garden Path to Spa

After my arrival at Four Seaons Landaa Giraavaru, in the Maldives, the first appointment on my schedule was a complimentary visit with an Ayurveda Doctor at the Herb Garden Spa to discuss recommendations for a healthy balanced life. Riding my bike around the sandy paths, right turn to mosey through a narrow lane decorated with gently lapping prayer flags lining the perimeter of the jungle garden. It was quiet and calm and as I neared a small garden room, I heard a soothing ommm, ommm resonating amid the towering palms. Sandals off, I dipped my sandy toes into the stone water bowl filled with flower petals and tiptoed into the spa. I was met by one of the expert physicians on staff at the Spa Ayurveda, he was dressed in elegant flowing white Indian Paithani tunic.

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Spa Garden Pavillion

We strolled to one of the tranquil garden rooms, set within the vast Herb Garden. I resisted the impulse to photograph my session. Be mindful, my brain whispered, pay attention. I have to say, it was a bit daunting to sit quietly and listen to the soft Ommmm chant while the Doctor took my pulse and rested his head near my wrist for a few minutes.

The ancient practice ‘Ayurveda’ – the Indian “science of life” – is one of the world’s most comprehensive approaches to healthy living. It works by bringing balance to our vital energies – or doshas – through an individually tailored combination of treatments and exercise, as well as diet and lifestyle modifications. With a focus on treating illness, preventing disease and enhancing physical, mental and spiritual well-being, Ayurveda teaches us to live with insight and balance. Set within the Herb Garden, lulled by gentle breezes and healing aromas, the Ayurvedic Retreat is an enclave of ancient knowledge and infinite well-being.

The Doctor observations were spookily uncanny, although I am mindful of my diet i.e. almost everything I eat is organic, I avoid sugar, he was prophetically accurate in describing my two minor health matters. He mentioned no shellfish, I confessed I had enjoyed fresh lobster for three nights, how could I resist?!  I always enjoy lobster on New Year’s with bubbly…as I know I should avoid it, but fresh lobster was an irresistible temptation in the Maldives.

The Spa Ayurveda offers a full roster of treatments and one can also enjoy various Ayurvedic Immersions, Explorations, or Absorbing treatments. There is a wide variety of detoxification treatments, including five therapies in Sanskrit, panchakarma uses a series of five elimination treatments to help remove deep-rooted stress and illness-causing toxins from the body while balancing the doshas (the energies that govern all biological functions).

Ayurveda largely focuses on prevention, meaning one doesn’t have to be ill to benefit from a consultation with one of their ayurvedic physicians. Although some ayurvedic treatments may be taken without prior consultation, the spa highly recommends that Spa guests avail themselves of the complimentary 30-minute consultation offered to all Resort guests. The spa physicians consider the unique needs of the individual to recommend treatments, oils, herbs, food and activities based on individual dosha types. In addition, dosha-specific food labelling is available on all restaurant menus and throughout the breakfast buffet. Many guests come specifically for these treatments. One key note is that a family can visit and if a parent is participating in the series, the menus are clearly marked with your dosha food type, thus an entire family isn’t limited to a suggested diet.

Named “Best Holistic Hideaway” by the Condé Nast Traveller Spa Guide 2016 and “Best Innovative Spa Concept” in the Gala Spa Awards 2016, The Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat merges medically accredited therapies with ancient holistic sciences in a three-acre setting that stretches from the heart of the island to the middle of the lagoon. Ten open air pavilions including three dedicated to Ayurveda, offer bespoke wellness experiences that pulsate with life and wisdom, purity and health.

The Spa offers acupuncture, luxurious facials, has a Rossano Ferretti hair salon, yoga, tantric traditions and body treatments.

Each day, as I biked around the island, I explored the Yoga Energy Trail, following the 15 signposted stations around some of the island’s most scenic vantage points – from ‘tree pose’ overlooking the lagoon (complemented by the oxygen-absorbing and serotonin-balancing benefits of the sea breeze) to ‘hanging firefly’ beneath the island’s largest Banyan tree (surrounded by the deeply calming properties of the dense jungle greenery.)

Explore the Yoga Energy Trail alone or on a guided 75-minute group class. The asanas have been chosen to improve balance, strength, agility, flexibility and tone, while immersion in the sights, sounds, smells and feel of the surrounding nature further stimulates soul and senses, a thoughtful balanced program.

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Spa Yoga Pavillion

Yoga Pavilion Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

This is truly a unique venue whether you are interested in traditional massage therapy or taking a deeper look into an ancient practice…. And no, I didn’t order lobster again, waiting until New Year’s Eve! I am trying the Turmeric cleanser though.

Yoga Energy Trail Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

At turndown, staff also leaves a bedtime Manipura blessing on your bed, a card explaining the Manipura Chakra, which is the center of vitality. It controls our energy balance to strengthen and consolidate our health. Gentle reminders to let go before you sleep.

Highly recommend exploring Four Seaons Spa Ayurveda at Landaa Giraavaru.

Four Seasons Maldives Yacht Explorer

On my recent visit to the Maldives I was thrilled to go aboard the beautiful Four Seasons Explorer Motor Yacht. Embark on the ultimate marine odyssey aboard the luxurious Four Seasons floating resort, the Explorer is an intimate yachting experience. A luxurious three deck catamaran that embarks on 3, 4 or 7-night cruises. Plus leisure, surf or manta ray charters into the undiscovered Maldives. It sails between the enchanting garden island of Four Seasons Kuda Huraa resort and the pristine hideaway of Landaa Giraavaru in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Each August it plays host to surfing’s hottest invitation only event: The Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Championship Trophy.

For guests seeking a deluxe island cruise with a difference, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives offers wholly customizable luxury private charters on the country’s fastest and most luxurious livaboard. Book an all-inclusive private cruise for up to 22 guests for a minimum of three nights. Use the 128-foot yacht as a dedicated dive, surf or leisure vessel, to visit hideaway island villages and meet secluded communities, or to host breathtaking yacht parties in some of the most pristine and remote surroundings on earth.

The boat’s master chefs create custom menus for every meal, accented with your preferred selection of fine wines and spirits. Book the on-board spa therapist for relaxing therapies in tranquil island locations. Groups can also arrange exclusive snorkelling adventures in virgin waters guided by their very own marine biologist, while the boat’s expert dive team offers 12 specialty courses plus bespoke programs for anyone who wants to improve their skills — or just admire the supreme beauty of the Maldivian reefs. In addition, Tropicsurf guides can suggest a tailored surfing itinerary that takes in the secluded outer atolls, using sophisticated web forecasting to direct you to your perfect wave, for a piece of surfing nirvana.

The Cruise Director and his team organize daily programs—from island jaunts and fishing to water-skiing to wakeboarding. Savour a delectable beachside lunch or evening barbecue under a star-filled island sky. And if that’s not enough, cruising with Four Seasons Explorer also brings a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime adventures: bow-riding dolphins, spontaneous sunset snorkeling with majestic manta rays and elusive whale sharks in hidden hotspots known by the vessel’s knowledgeable team.

The Four Seasons Explorer offers ten well-appointed 215-square-foot  State Rooms, the luxurious 484-square-foot Explorer Suite, two bars, an air conditioned dining room, a lounge, a library and two sun decks, creating a level of luxury unrivaled in the Maldivian cruise industry. Services include twice-daily housekeeping, free wireless internet and same-day laundry.

Choose from 10 spacious State Rooms and the palatial Explorer Suite, all of which are bright and airy and include the luxury and style you expect from Four Seasons Explorer.

All cabins are air-conditioned, with an ensuite bathroom that features a bathtub/shower. Curl up on your sofa, select something from the refrigerated private bar or enjoy a movie on the flat screen LCD TV, all in the comfort of your State Room or Explorer Suite.

Explorer Suite – Enjoy spectacular scenery from the expansive panoramic windows of your elegant Explorer Suite. Showered in sunlight from expansive windows, the Explorer Suite boasts contemporary teak furnishings and cool, subdued fabrics. Enjoy your ensuite bathroom with a full bathtub, separate shower, WC and vanity. It is connected to a walk-in wardrobe.

State Rooms – Bright and airy, the intimate State Rooms provide picturesque views from large port windows. Unwind in the air-conditioned room with one king bed or two twin beds, a comfortable couch, a writing desk, a DVD/CD player, an MP3 cable connection, a refrigerated private bar, a telephone and an in-cabin safe.

On board, on land or in the water, Four Seasons Explorer offers a wealth of leisure activities, all supported by their signature service. From water sports and island excursions to relaxing spa treatments, the personalized cruises feature something for everyone.

WATER SPORTS Take to the waves with waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, fun tubes and kayaking. Smaller waves between January and March offer optimal conditions for wakeboarding and waterskiing. All watersports are available on request, subject to currents and conditions.

SNORKELLING During daily snorkelling excursions, guests can venture out with our marine biologist, take the plunge off the back of the vessel or snorkel off the beach at any of our numerous island stop offs.

FISHING Venture out by dhoni for some bottom-line fishing, fish from the back of Four Seasons Explorer each night or indulge in handline fishing off the vessel at sunset. Trawling by tender is available on request.

EXCURSIONS Savour gourmet Four Seasons cuisine on uninhabited islands, embark on an adventure with our marine biologist, cast yourself away on a secluded sandbank or visit remote villages for cultural experiences and souvenir shopping – even enjoy a game of football or rugby on a sandy beach.

There are quite a few Specialized Journeys –

A Tropicsurf  Surfari aboard the uber-cool Four Seasons Explorer is undoubtedly the world’s premier surfing cruise: five-star service and style, expert guides, chasing the best wave conditions, catching secluded swells, riding remote breaks and experiencing the Maldives vast and ever-changing awe-inspiring seascapes.

SURF CRUISES Surfaris are 7 or 10 days – shared or private charters – during July and August when surf conditions are at their peak.  Setting sail from Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa, surfing enthusiasts will visit rarely surfed breaks in the Outer Atolls, accompanied by two expert Tropicsurf guides, enabling the group to split in two based on wave preferences and personal ability.  It’s a recreational surfer’s dream – diverse yet reliable waves give the option to challenge oneself, hone skills, or simply cruise and enjoy the ride.  No experience is necessary either: it’s the perfect opportunity to learn.

Travelling with a non-surfing partner? There are plenty of parallel activities to keep them busy and ‘blissed out’ too: snorkeling, windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, water skiing, deep-sea fishing, island sightseeing, beach barbecues and deserted island massages.

WAVES Sophisticated web forecasting allows the team to accurately determine swell and wind forecasts. The complex bathymetry of the atolls means there are often hidden gems that others simply do not know about.  The result: surfers get to visit remote regions, ride pure and uncrowded waves, and experience the spirit and true freedom of surfing at its sublime and soulful best.

Enjoy five-star service on the high seas, with a fully equipped, five-Star PADI Dive Centre with nitrox, a stargazing telescope, a massage by a resident spa therapist and laundry service

The Maldives is renowned for its abundance of fish life, warm pristine waters and close encounters with pelagics such as manta rays and whale sharks.

As the country’s fastest-cruising live aboard, Four Seasons Explorer gives divers access to a wide variety of secluded hotspots, including exciting channel dives with sharks and rays, vibrant thilas, cleaning stations, wrecks and coral overhangs.

“INSIDER ACCESS TO THE ULTIMATE ‘SURF TOUR’ EXPERIENCE.”

Every August, Four Seasons Explorer plays host to the world’s most luxurious surfing event: The Surfing Champions Trophy (SCT).  With day passes for guests to enjoy all the action onboard, it’s a rare opportunity to share an exclusive ‘surf tour’ experience with six of the sport’s biggest names.

Launched in 2011 in partnership with luxury surf pioneers, Tropicsurf, the weeklong champions-only event pits the world’s finest wave riders across three thrilling divisions – single-fin, twin-fin, and triple-fin thrusters – in a unique showcase of skill and camaraderie. And with the World Surf League onboard in 2015, the SCT is now broadcast to a global world-tour audience, shining the spotlight on the Maldivian surf scene like never before.

The boutique, invitation-only event has seen the likes of Tom Curren, Taylor Knox, Mark Occhilupo, Dave Rastovich, Martin Potter, Damien Hardman, Sunny Garcia, Taylor Jensen, Fabio Gouveia, Rochelle Ballard, Layne Beachley, Taj Burrow, Bethany Hamilton, Travis Logie and many more enjoy the stunning Maldivian breaks and stylish surrounds of Kuda Huraa – host island to all the event’s competitors, judges and guests, resulting in a buzzing surf tour vibe.

A few VIP ticket-holders also have the opportunity to join the competitors on Four Seasons Explorer for all the ocean-sprayed, up-close-and-personal action as the contest unfolds.

DIVING COURSES Four Seasons Explorer is geared towards qualified divers. It is the ideal vessel on which to hone your dive skills, increase your underwater confidence and develop specialty skills in thrilling new areas.

DAILY DIVING SCHEDULE Divers can usually expect two dives in the morning and one in the afternoon, with the option of additional sunrise, night and wreck excursions. From May to November, the currents move large quantities of plankton through the atolls, attracting manta rays and whale sharks to the eastern side of the country. From December to April, the wind reverses, resulting in 100 to 130 feet of incredible visibility and consistent, near-perfect conditions.

Dive itineraries adapt to currents and conditions, seasonal marine visitors and the diving requirements of those on board. Every cruise aboard Four Seasons Explorer is unique.

SPA Four Seasons Explorer’s resident spa therapist offers natural therapies inspired by Asia’s ancient healing principles. Retreat to the private treatment area on the upper deck – curtained for privacy yet open to the refreshing sea air – or indulge in a massage at one of the secluded beaches visited during the cruise.

Treatment highlights include the restorative and deeply relaxing Indian herbal-oil massage and the hydrating and refreshing sun-soother wrap, with fresh aloe vera and toning lavender mist.

FACILITIES

Dining room

Bar and lounge

Alfresco dining deck with bar

Sundeck with massage area

Dive and water sports deck

Dive dhoni Azekara 2 – length: 17.3 metres (57 feet); width: 5.4 metres (17.8 feet); capacity: 14 divers and 3 crew members

DETAILED VESSEL STATISTICS

Decks: 3

Crew: 25

Capacity: 22 guests, 10 staterooms and 1 suite

Length:128 feet

Beam: 39 feet

Weight: 592 tonnes

Waterline length: 36.6 metres

Hull depth: 3.75 meters

Hull draft: 1.7 meters

 

Please let me know if we can answer any questions or reserve for you!