It marks the eighth property that the Ongs possess in this coveted luxury destination, alongside its other properties including four of the Four Seasons hotels and a Six Senses resort. It’s also the billionaire’s baby – as described by the hotel’s staff – and he devoted a lot of time to building it. We got a first look of this high-profile opening, and here’s what it’s like.

Overview

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Located on the southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, the resort is around a 40-minute ride by seaplane from Malé International Airport. Arriving at the resort, we were greeted by a pleasant traditional Maldivian bodu beru (big drum) performance.

Each villa is allocated a curator – a role evolved from butler – who oversees the checking-in process after chauffeuring us to the villa. Ahead of the trip, the curator had learned about any food allergies or preferences for a more personalised stay.

Singapore-based design studio Eco-ID created the 81 overwater lagoon and beach villa types.

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The most expensive accommodation is the three-bedroom royal beach residence, which costs US$22,500 per night.

For a more authentic Maldivian experience, I opted for an overwater villa with a sunset view. It opens up to the ocean with an infinity pool, which is ideal for relaxing and view gazing (or taking Instagram photos) but not great for exercising, given its smaller size. It is equipped with a ladder to walk down to the sea, although staff suggest to keep your life vest on in the rainy season as the water can be quite wavy.

Interiors were conceptualised by Avalon Collective. Featuring an open plan, the room is comfy, practical and stylish. In earth tones and a pop of bright orange hints, the interiors are designed with Maldivian touches, from the woven carpet montage to ethnic details on furnishings.

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The bathtub and bedroom are divided by a lemon-yellow screen while the shower room is behind a separate wooden door. Stylish brass bathroom features by Kohler are matched with nourishing amenities from Dutch brand Moooi.

Dining

The resort has six restaurants and bars serving both international delicacies and local favourites. The main dining spot Cafe Umi – where breakfast is served – is Japanese inspired with a Maldivian twist and uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients from seafood to island-grown vegetables. Next to it are three other casual eateries: a pizzeria, a gelato bar and The Collective, which offers healthy wraps and salads anytime.

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The Lighthouse, situated at the tip of the island, is a must-visit for its delicious Mediterranean fare – and its Instagram-worthy scenery. The multi-floor structure mimicking a lighthouse boasts a 360-degree view of the Indian Ocean divided by the turquoise lagoon and deep ocean blue waters, and guests can get a bird’s-eye view of the resort. With a rich, Mediterranean decor as our backdrop, we enjoyed Spanish tapas and fresh salad.

My personal favourite was the eatery Fish Market where its Burmese chef excels at creating savoury Southeast Asian cuisines such as spicy Thai curry, Chinese steamed dumplings and crispy chocolate and date wanton dessert. For the main course, we were encouraged to pick a catch of the day and enjoy sea-to-table freshness.

For an ideal chill-out spot, nowhere is more perfect than the adult-only space The Retreat, where you can have a lighter breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and after dinner digestifs while lively DJ music plays. You can also go for a dip in the pool where you can freely do a few laps. The vibe feels like you’re relaxing in a country club but instead you are surrounded by the unbelievable Maldivian air and vista.

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Activities

No need to feel guilty about all the gourmet meals you will definitely consume; the property’s wonderful nature and diverse activities are there to keep you fit.

Its main beach featuring pristine, bone-white sands is perfect for a morning or sunrise run, and you can follow it up with a yoga class. The oceanfront gym has a private trainer on hand to assist with your work out; he showed me some magic deep stretching that made all my soreness and tensions go away.

The water sports centre is on the waterfront and offers snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-ski, kayaking and other various other water sports.

Following the resort’s Marine Biologist Maria Andersen on a snorkelling trip to a nearby island was a remarkable experience. We dove deep to learn about the biodiversity of Maldives’ natural treasures, as well as the sustainability challenges the paradise is currently facing.

Do not be surprised if you walk around the resort and spot some manta rays, all sorts of fish, as well as baby sharks and guitar sharks (if you’re lucky). A sizeable manta ray swam by my side while I was stand-up paddling in the lagoon.

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Spa and traditional Chinese medicine

Next to The Lighthouse is the hotel’s Avi Spa, which boasts the most tranquil surroundings and an insanely white sand beach. Laying on a bed facing the blue water under an ultra-high vaulted-ceiling treatment room, it’s hard not to relax and leave everything behind.

The next day, I ventured out to try its one-of-a-kind offering, the traditional Chinese medicine treatment run by Law, a Malaysian Chinese doctor from Australia. I had a warm breakfast – no cold food such as yogurt or iced coffee – before the consultation as suggested by Law.

Starting with the four processes of a Chinese medicine consultation – looking, listening, asking and feeling the pulse – he went on to explain the diagnosis.

Being Chinese, I was impressed by his profound knowledge in this mystical field and the practical interpretations for it to be applied into daily life: the importance of yin-yang balance and how food intake and our daily activities affect our equilibrium.

I was given acupuncture and tui na treatments. It sounds like an exaggeration, but I felt energy flowing through my organs and fingers during the session.

For children, the resort has a kids’ club, Planet Trekkers, which is a coveted space where toddlers and kids can enjoy extremely cosy surroundings, and it offers activities from creative painting to water games.

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Sustainability

The resort is near Baa Atoll, Maldive’s only Unesco biosphere reserve. The archipelago is home to the world’s seventh largest coral reef and houses more than 250 types of corals are and 1,200 species of fish.

The hotel worked with charity organisation Manta Trust to support the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, which aims to provide a safe habitat for the manta rays nestled within the resort’s lagoon.

It’s rare to see plastic in the resort. Partnering with Parley Maldives, the hotel focuses on reducing the environmental impact from plastics, and it recycles the resort’s plastics into usable products. Water is desalinated by the resort itself and housed in glass bottles; no straws are in any of its restaurants.

As consumers are getting more and more environmentally conscious, Maldives, while being a luxury paradise, is constantly trying to improve its sustainability. Knowing this made our time – laying under the sunshine facing the stunning Maldivian blue – feel less cruelty-free and more carefree.

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