Both are designed around wellbeing. Both are remote. But JOALI BEING and Six Senses Laamu have fundamentally different wellness philosophies and very different island characters. IMJ compares them.
When wellness is the primary reason for visiting the Maldives, the comparison almost always comes down to JOALI BEING and Six Senses Laamu — the two most purpose-built wellbeing destinations in the archipelago. They occupy very different positions, however. Comparing them requires understanding what 'wellness' means at each property, and which version matches what you are actually seeking.
JOALI BEING: Wellness as the Entire Concept
JOALI BEING opened in 2021 in Raa Atoll with a specific purpose: to be the Maldives' first dedicated wellbeing island. The resort's architecture, landscaping, programme design, dining philosophy, and daily structure are all built around a single intention — the renewal of the guest from the inside out. The concept draws on four pillars of wellbeing: mind, microbiome, movement, and energy. Treatments, practitioners, and personalised programmes are tailored to each guest's specific needs through an initial consultation.
Biophilic design is central to the JOALI BEING experience — the spaces are built to create a conscious connection between guest and natural environment. The food programme is oriented around the microbiome and personalised nutrition. The practitioners — from iridologists to breathwork facilitators to Ayurvedic doctors — represent a genuine depth of wellness expertise rather than a spa menu.
Six Senses Laamu: Wellness in a Wild Setting
Six Senses Laamu's wellness philosophy is rooted in the brand's global approach — a combination of Ayurveda, mindfulness, regenerative nutrition, and integrative medicine, expressed through a spa and wellness programme that is among the best in the Maldives. Unlike JOALI BEING, Laamu is not exclusively a wellness resort — it is a full-service luxury resort with world-class surfing, exceptional snorkeling and diving, a treehouse bar, and an island atmosphere that feels untamed and genuinely remote.
The wellness experience at Laamu is excellent but optional. Guests can do intensive wellness programming or arrive and spend the week exploring the reef, surfing the breaks, and dining at the overwater restaurant. This flexibility is part of what makes Laamu compelling — it serves wellness-focused guests and active adventure seekers equally well.
Location and Transfer
JOALI BEING is in Raa Atoll — 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, a remote but not excessively long transfer. The seaplane arrival fits the resort's sense of deliberate distance from the pressures of daily life. Six Senses Laamu is in Laamu Atoll — one of the most southern resort locations in the Maldives, requiring a one-hour domestic flight plus 30-minute boat transfer. The longer journey is part of the Laamu identity — you have genuinely traveled to the edge of the archipelago.
Villas and Design
JOALI BEING's 68 wellness suites are designed with biophilic intent — natural materials, abundant plant life, outdoor bathing and sleeping spaces, and an absence of the visual noise of conventional resort design. The villas are beautiful in a considered, purposeful way. Six Senses Laamu's 97 villas are more conventionally luxurious — well-appointed, spacious, and set in a natural Laamu Atoll context that includes treehouse villas, beach villas, and overwater villas.
Who Each Suits
Choose JOALI BEING if wellness is your primary purpose — if you want to arrive with an intention (reset, renewal, specific health focus) and be guided through a programme designed around it. JOALI BEING is the right choice for burnout recovery, pre-major-life-event reset, and guests who want the most considered, intensive wellbeing experience available in the Maldives.
Choose Six Senses Laamu if you want excellent wellness within a broader luxury resort experience — particularly if your travel party has different priorities (one surfer, one spa-goer), or if you want the wild, remote character of Laamu Atoll and strong marine activities alongside your wellness programme.
IMJ Wellness Recommendation
IMJ advises on the right wellness resort for your specific intention — and on the programme elements that will make the stay genuinely transformative. Message us: wa.me/9607522948
About IMJ Travels
IMJ Travels is a Maldives-based luxury travel consultancy curating immersive, mindful, and joyful journeys across the Maldives. Our team helps travellers choose the right island, villa, transfer style, and experiences through human-led planning and deep destination knowledge.
Meet the IMJ Team →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for a dedicated wellness retreat: JOALI BEING or Six Senses Laamu?
JOALI BEING is the more intensive wellness choice — an island entirely dedicated to transformation, with structured programmes, resident practitioners, biophilic design, and personalised immersion that goes considerably deeper than most resort wellness. Six Senses Laamu offers excellent wellness facilities within a more conventionally structured resort experience. For guests who want wellness as their primary focus, JOALI BEING is the clear recommendation.
How do I get to JOALI BEING and Six Senses Laamu?
JOALI BEING in Raa Atoll is reached by a 45-minute seaplane from Malé. Six Senses Laamu in Laamu Atoll requires a one-hour domestic flight from Malé to Kadhdhoo Airport, followed by a 30-minute speedboat to the resort. The Six Senses journey is longer and slightly more complex, which contributes to the resort's sense of remote discovery.
Is Six Senses Laamu good for non-wellness guests?
Yes — Six Senses Laamu is a complete luxury resort experience. The wellness and spa facilities are exceptional, but guests who are not specifically seeking wellness programmes can enjoy the resort equally through its marine activities (excellent surfing in season), beautiful villas, strong dining, and the extraordinary setting of Laamu Atoll.
