Joali

a large but stylish modern resort

Joali is a large and reasonably high quality beach resort in the Maldives.

The resort is one of the most remote in the islands, being pleasantly far from the main airport and with virtually no human habitation within a 10km radius, which is surprisingly unusual in this heavily populated nation.

The resort is centred around the small sandy Muravandhoo Island, which is only around 300 metres in diameter, so the guest density is really on the high side

Joali has an unusual architectural design, with large heavily carved wood feature walls in the rooms.

The island has unusually child-friendly facilities, including a treehouse, spa for kids, junior cookery school and ice-cream shop, plus treasure hunts and storytelling sessions around the campfire.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Joali is in a total of 73 units in a bewildering range of specifications.

The following rooms are set on the island itself …

• Beach Villa
• Luxury Beach Villa with Pool
• Four Bedroom Beach Residence with Pool
• Family Beach Villa with Two Pools
• Two Bedroom Beach Villa with Pool
• Three Bedroom Joali Beach Reserve
• Five Bedroom Joali Beach Reserve

These rooms are set out over the shallow lagoon and are accessed via a network of boardwalks …

• Water Villa with Pool
• Luxury Water Villa with Pool
• Sunset Water Villa with Pool
• Sunset Luxury Water Villa with Pool
• Three Bedroom Ocean Residence with Two Pools

Activities

Joali offers a wide range of activities, not all of which are included in the room rate …

• Marine safari
• Island picnics
• Diving
• Snorkelling
• Kayaking
• Paddle-boarding
• Windsurfing

Tuition is available for all watersports.

The Maldives are most commonly visited as a stand-alone destination.

The main airport on Malé is widely connected to locations including India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Istanbul and major airports in Southeast Asia, as well as direct charter flights from Europe.

When combined in trips with other countries, the most popular options are India and Sri Lanka. Countries in Africa are rarely combined because there are so many great beaches over that way and the flight connections via Dubai are rather arduous and inconvenient.

Seasonality

The best time to visit the Maldives is generally considered to be during the Nov-Apr dry season, although conditions are relatively constant and it really is feasible to travel at any time of year.

This coastline is classified as having a tropical monsoon climate, with two clearly defined seasons …

During the Nov-Apr dry season (northeastern monsoon) the daytime temperatures are marginally higher at around 31C/88F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are around 26C/79F. Rainfall is highly variable and relatively unpredictable, with Jan-Mar potentially dropping to around 75mm (3”) per month and the shoulder season months of Nov-Dec and Apr potentially rising as high as 200mm (8”) per month. Sunshine is typically up around 8 hours per day (around 70% of daylight hours). This period is high season in the Maldives, so you need to book early to get accommodation in the best resorts and the prices are at their highest.

During the May-Oct wet season (southwest monsoon) the daytime temperatures are marginally lower at around 30C/86F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are around 25C/77F. Rainfall is typically quite high, at around 200mm (8”) per month, with more pronounced and frequent storms. The amount of precipitation varies considerably across the island group, with more southerly atolls typically receiving up to twice as much rainfall as the north. Sunshine typically drops to around 6.5 hours per day (around 55%% of daylight hours). The main downside during this period is the chance of high winds, blowing in from the southwest, especially centred on May, when the monsoon winds change direction. Of course this does also make it the best time for surfing and advanced wind-surfing. This period is low season in the Maldives, so booking early should be less important and there should be some good value to be found at most resorts.

Getting there

The vast majority of visitors arrive into the Maldives through Velana International Airport, on the island of Hulhulé, which is adjacent to the capital Malé.

Kudadoo is located in the west of the Lhaviyani (Fadiffalu) Atoll, 150 km north of the main airport in the Maldives.

It is reached by means of a 30 minute sea-plane flight from Malé, with flights usually connecting promptly with international arrivals. The plane lands in the lagoon close to the island and taxis right up to the jetty.

most visitors combine lodges on at least two different islands