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By the time December rolls around, your diary is usually hanging on by a thread. The days get blurry between office deadlines, late dinners, and “quick” catch-ups that somehow turn into three-hour debriefs. You promise yourself you’ll slow down, and then suddenly it’s Christmas Eve and you’re panic-adding stocking fillers to your basket. Which is why the thought of pressing pause for a week or two in the sun and no sight of a to-do list, feels especially appealing right now.
This festive season, JOALI BEING, the well-living destination in the Maldives, is turning all the usual holiday expectations upside down. The theme is “A Lot Like Holiday”, and from December 20 to January 11, the island transforms into a space where classic Christmas traditions sit alongside signature mindfulness rituals, inviting guests to experience the Joy of Well-Living.
The holiday programme draws on the JOALI BEING’s Four Pillars of Well-Living: Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. But rather than following a strict regimen, you can expect experiences that feel uplifting, enjoyable, and grounding. The holiday tree lighting transforms a classic celebration into one where sea breezes replace the usual winter chill. Gingerbread house making turns into a joyful, easy-going activity for guests of all ages. And the Christmas picnic with curated hampers, fresh flavours, and oceanfront views sends the concept of “winter blues” running.
Some traditions, however, stay the same. Christmas isn’t really complete without a comforting sit-down dinner with the folks, and that’s exactly what the Christmas Eve programme delivers. New Year’s Eve turns things up just enough with sparkle, music, and a great spread.
If you want your holiday to include a head-start on your resolutions, the line-up of Visiting Experts will do the trick. With workshops and seminars led by visionaries in various fields, including two-time Premier League champion Dimitar Berbatov, Power of Breathwork sessions with mindfulness practitioner Javier de Prado, and an in-depth look at innovative approaches to living well, working on yourself is going to be a walk in the park.
Families are woven into the experience through B’Kidult, which keeps the energy joyful and child-friendly. Expect activities like Laughing Boocha Mixology, a teen Beach Boot Camp, The Healthy Nice Cream Kitchen, and family pilates workouts.
Mindfulness rituals like cacao ceremonies, Qi Gong, sound baths, and stress management workshops will make your inner chaos take a seat. Foodies get their own joy through Japanese dinners, seafood nights, and hands-on masterclasses. And if “rest” for you also means movement, the island has you covered with dolphin cruises, semi-submarine trips, nature walks, coral conservation, and Muay Thai sessions.
Villas start from USD 5,706 per night for two guests in an Ocean Pool Villa on a B&B basis, and while the surroundings are undeniably luxurious, the real takeaway is how dialled-in you feel by the end of your trip. If you want to step into 2026 with a fresh outlook and an upgraded sense of self, JOALI BEING is the place to do it.
