Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas are located on the Baa Atoll in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Located on the island of Kihavah on the Baa Atoll in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas are surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and pure white sands. The island’s pristine nature has been meticulously preserved, and the resort is home to 80 beach and over water pool villas and residences, an award-winning underwater restaurant, and the Maldives’ only over water observatory.

The luxurious sanctuary is also home to the world-class Anantara Spa, which offers outstanding ocean views, a quiet ambiance and the calming atmosphere of marine life. It has six over water treatment suites, indoor and outdoor showers, a steam room, and an over water relaxation deck with a cold plunge pool. The spa’s treatments marry time-tested techniques from the East with pure indigenous treatments. Anantara General Manager, Giles Selves, shares insider tips, splurge-worthy services to try, and more:

Why You’ll Love It: It offers spa experiences that balance ancient rituals with modern aesthetics.

Key Features: Anantara Spa comprises an overwater relaxation deck with two plunge pools and six over-water double treatment suites where the scent of oils, soothing fabrics and sunbaked timber combines with the natural elements to deliver a peaceful and relaxing ambiance. Treatment rooms feature either a scenic bath tub, Thai massage area or steam shower, while the signature characteristic of each room is a small glass panel under the treatment bed, inviting guests to watch the newly transplanted ocean coral bed below. Additional treatment rooms include a Shirodhara Treatment Room and the Cocoon Medi-Spa. Spa facilities also include a boutique offering Anantara and Elemis products and a hair and mani/pedi salon.

Bonus: With every Anantara Spa treatment, a foot massage is included.

Insider’s Tip: Repeat guests often return to Anantara Kihavah because of resident physiotherapist and myofascial release expert, Dome Srisawat, a Thai national with over 16 years’ experience working in Asia and the Middle East. He’s treated an A-list of people, ranging from politicians to Hollywood celebrities, including former Prime Minister of Jordan Abdullah Ensour, Richard Gere, Uma Thurman and football player Pelé.

His unique therapeutic treatment features a combination of myofascial release, physiotherapy and hot stone massage. Myofascial release helps to increase range of motion and relieves chronic pain in tight and knotted connective tissue that supports and stabilises muscles and other internal organs. Once released, there is an increase in blood flow back into the affected tissue area helping to alleviate pain.

A guest receives the Anantara Kihavah Spa Ayurveda Shirodhara Treatment.

Snacks Served: Hot and cold ginger tea are served prior to and after treatments.

Splurge Treatment: The exclusive Deluxe Spa Pool Villa gives travelers the ultimate relaxation spa experience with a dedicated spa therapist and unlimited daily spa treatments. Deluxe Spa Pool Villa guests will be pampered by the villa’s spa therapist, who is devoted solely to their relaxation and rejuvenation needs. Without leaving the privacy of their villa, guests can now enjoy limitless personalized spa treatments, meditation practices and private water aerobics every day from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.—another first in Kihavah’s expansive repertoire as a luxury leader.

The enhanced villa features an indoor, en-suite spa room. Guests can also enjoy their treatments outside on the private poolside terrace, as they’re lulled by the sounds of the ocean. Anantara’s spa menu offers more than 25 signature treatments for guests to choose from, including the deep tissue and hot stone massages, reviving facials, and invigorating body scrubs and wraps. Essential manicures and pedicures complete the spa journey.

The Essence of Kihavah Signature Experience for two rejuvenates the body from head-to-toe, using coconut’s therapeutic benefits in each step of this pampering journey. The side-by-side sequence comprises a Coconut and Lime Polish, Coconut and Ginger Cocoon, and concludes with a Kihavah Aroma Massage using Anantara’s signature coconut oil.

Unique Treatment: Anantara Kihavah hosts a variety of wellness practitioners each year. Until April 20, 2019 guests will be able to book private healing sessions with visiting holistic wellness practitioner Muayad Najemeddin. Muayad is also a certified reiki, yoga teacher and massage therapist. During the treatment, guests will realize a deep sense of self-connection and healing with Tibetan Singing Bowls Therapy. Tibetan singing bowls resonate in distinct frequencies, tones and vibrations, promoting relaxation and healing. Crafted only during the full moon to harness the energy of the Universe, these spiritual bowls are a blend of eight metals: zinc, copper, gold, silver, tin, iron, lead and mercury.

Based on a Nepalese healing philosophy, Muayad uses a combination of Tibetan sound therapy, Reiki and massage to create bespoke healing experiences to help guests find balance. Individually the seven chakras resonate to the sound and vibration created from drumming lightly against the rim of each singing bowl. The resultant sounds become vibrational healing waves moving through and around the body, working with the chakra centers to heal and energize. Each vibrational treatment is an activation and inspiration of guidance and energy. Guests feel the sound of the singing bowls as much as they take it in with their ears.

Insider’s Favorite: Cocoon Medi-Spa’s Cleopatra 24-carat gold facial is designed to enhance elasticity, reverse cell damage, improve circulation and regenerate natural collagen. This one-hour treatment is the queen of luxury facials and includes microdermabrasion, LED red light therapy and a 24-carat gold leaf mask rich in concentrated hyaluronic, collagen and peptide ingredients. This superb pick-me-up facial delivers an amazing luminous glow.