Cheval Blanc Randheli: A Private Atoll Escape Elevated to Art

Floating on a secluded island in the Noonu Atoll of the Maldives, Cheval Blanc Randheli is an extraordinary expression of holistic luxury. Conceived by LVMH’s Cheval Blanc and reimagined by visionary architect Jean-Michel Gathy, Randheli offers rich, resonant spaces where Maldivian light, material detail, and high design converge. This isn’t a resort—it’s an immersive expression of place, time, and human touch, guided by an obsessive focus on detail and elegance.

Here, along crystalline lagoons and coral-swept beaches, guests are met by ambiances that feel at once deeply private and meticulously composed. From barefoot mornings in your villa to alfresco lunches on floating platforms, from in-villa artlining to exceptional gastronomy and signature Guerlain spa experiences—Cheval Blanc Randheli unfolds like a private atelier for the senses.

Island Setting: Wide‑Open Light, Sacred Solitude

Randheli is located within a crystalline lagoon of the Noonu Atoll, a deep-water atoll just north of the more frequented North Male region. The island—once a small fishing enclave—was cleared and reshaped to preserve the native jungle and corals. Over time, the palms and banyans have matured, and the reef has become a delicate ecosystem again.

What J-M Gathy achieved is rare: an island sanctuary where architecture recedes gracefully into the landscape. Villas peer through green canopies, while elevated walkways create shaded passages across the sand. At night, bioluminescent plankton trace the lagoon’s edge. Here, you are both in and of the place: inside an impeccably curated haven, yet anchored in elemental nature.

Villas: Intimate Sanctuaries on Water and Sand

Randheli’s villa collection is a critique of luxury—a restrained grandeur where scale, tone, and ease are fully calibrated. There are just 46 villas in six precise categories:

Beach Suite

Dispose of formalities and wake to sand beneath your terrace steps. Each Beach Suite offers:

Private direct access to the beach
Open-sided living rooms with shaded daybeds overlooking dune vegetation
A crystalline plunge pool and al fresco retreat, alongside an air-conditioned interior

Comfort here is unforced—a choreography of informal luxury, intimate elegance, and Maldivian light.

Interconnecting Family Beach Suite

Two beachfront suites combining master bedroom and guest suite via air-conditioned walkway. Ideal for families—each with its own pool, sofa lounge, and sunset-facing terrace.

Beach Villa

Generous standalone villas nestled among palms, offering:

Large living spaces with internal lounge and dining area
Sunken deck leading to a pool
Private gardens and spa nooks—spaces for relaxation, yoga, spa, all outdoors but coated with privacy

These villas feel like modern Maldivian homes, with scale and wander built in.

Overwater Villas (53 in total, including 4 two-bedroom units)

Elevated over the lagoon, each offers:

Panoramic ocean views through floor-to-ceiling glass
Private wooden deck with plunge pool, sun loungers, and direct lagoon access
Glass panel in-floor viewing of marine life
Spacious living/dining pavilion

Airy sanctuaries pairing sleek neutrality with the raw beauty of the atoll’s waters.

The Two-Bedroom Water Villa

Designed for families, with separate living spaces, a central outdoor deck, and dual plunge pools. It feels both expansive and personal—perfect for generations to gather.

Le Cheval Blanc Randheli Villa (Flagship 1,200 m²)

A singular masterpiece comprised of:

A generous master suite, two guest suites, plus kids’ bunk room
Majestic indoor living rooms, three bathrooms, glimmering decks with infinity pool
Glass walkways, roof terrace, biometric privacy—it is a private island retreat, with personalized staff, chef, butler, masseuse, around the clock

Radically expansive yet intimate—this villa pushes the envelope of island hospitality.

Design & Materiality: Subtle Opulence in Every Detail

Chef‑l’œuvre design is in the details—a woven tapestry of materials, light, and tactility that defines Cheval Blanc’s DNA at Randheli:

Palettes rooted in sand, driftwood, coral white
Local hardwoods, Mayan mosaic tiles, sculptural furnishings from local artisans
“Invisible” air-conditioning, in‑floor cooling, curtains sliding on ribbon
Lighting designed to trace patterns of day and night
Private libraries, art-lined halls, and objets chosen by the property curator

Time is slow here. The craftsmanship registers across every surface—craft scrawled into walls, shading, textures that feel lived‑in yet pristine.

Dining: Six Distinct Culinary Realms

Cheval Blanc Randheli is not a place for casual meals—it’s a canvas for curated gastronomy. Chefs deliver artistry in settings that shift with seasons, palate, mood.

Le 1947

Named after legendary Château Cheval Blanc’s famous vintage, this flagship restaurant is Maldivian fine dining at its highest. Menus are precise, seafood-focused, artistic. Evenings are quiet rituals illuminated by the lagoon beyond.

La Bauhinia

A light‑filled restaurant built around an open kitchen and dramatic jungle courtyard. Presenting eclectic French-Asian cuisine in wet-weather inspired interiors, La Bauhinia balances ambiance with lighthearted flair.

Le Comptoir, Wine Cellar & Champagne Bar

Hidden behind a secret door, the Wine Cellar is a curated space for private tastings. Le Comptoir hosts daily lounging and sharing plates—seafood ceviche, artistic charcuterie—by day, or whisky flights and cigar when night calls.

The Sand Restaurant

Built within dunes, this beach venue offers barefoot lunch—Maldivian BBQ, grilled lobsters, salads served in the sun or shade, circular tables carved into the sand.

Le Surf

A private pontoon bar reached only by boat for calm afternoon drinks—martinis with coral views.

In-Villa Dining

Whether breakfast on your overwater deck or sushi tasting on sand, anticipatory culinary service delivers wherever you desire it. Menus are personal, ingredients refined.

Signature Moments

Chef’s table dinners in private villas, reef-to-table feasts, pop-ups like Japanese teppanyaki in a stilted deck—most can be arranged as bespoke celebrations.

Wellness: Guerlain Spa Elevated

Randheli’s spa is a mastery of solitude, ritual, and beauty. Designed by AGV Architects in a lagoon-edge pavilion, the Spa includes:

Seven treatment pavilions looking over water
A serene Guerlain Tea Lounge, vitality pool, sauna, hammam
Fully personalized wellness journeys: marine facials, night‑time massages to gentle lagoon breezes
In‑villa spa services available 24/7

The ritual is artfully orchestrated—every stroke, scent, sound designed to echo the place and offer transcendence.

Activities: The Atoll as Studio for Experience

Here, the horizon is your horizon—not guided by standard excursions but choreographed around your interests:

Marine Journeys: snorkeling, reef education, resident biologist led reef dives
Water Sports: kayaking, wing-surfing, hydrofoil, including night paddling among plankton
Land Discovery: island farming visits, Maldivian cooking classes in chef’s outdoor kitchen
Wellness: sunrise yoga on sand platforms, moonlight meditation on jetty
Art & Culture: Mah-Jong nights with curators, book salons with artists, private screenings
Marine Conservation: coral planting, turtle release events, tide‑pool workshops

Whether you want adrenaline or calm, the atoll offers its shape and its soul.

Personalized Service: Quiet, Intuitive, Devoted

Service at Randheli is whisper-quiet mastery. Each guest receives:

Personal villa ambassador for everything from flowers to snorkeling logs
Seamless pre-arrival planning, including named menus, flowers, and pillow preferences
GMT-trained staff delivering micro-moments—a fresh coconut on return from dolphin cruise, chilled lavender towels greeting your spa journey, candles lit at dusk
Skills-based teams: chefs, spa, marine experts, diving guides—each discreet, caring, informed

There’s no checklist. There’s anticipation.

Environmental Engagement & Responsible Luxury

Today’s Maldives is vulnerable—Randheli embraces conservancy wholeheartedly, from architecture to practice:

50% of the island left wild, with only 25% built
Coral nursery planted by guests and team, including custom reef zones
100% reverse osmosis water production; no single-use plastics
Local hiring: 98% Maldivian crew, with full tuition and leadership programs
Organic island farming: herbs, fruit, flowers, even spinach and microgreens in villas

Rarely does ultra-luxury feel so accountable—it’s woven into the ethos.

Cheval Blanc Randheli: A Living Poem

Cheval Blanc Randheli is not a destination to be consumed—it invites living. Days unfurl in private beaches, private boats, private meals. Nights lull to a quiet drift on the water’s edge. It is deeply human, quietly exacting, and wholly singular.

For travelers seeking enduring memory—not content tick boxes—this is one of the few places built for the soul. A resounding moment of calm, luxury, and artistry in Maldivian blue

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Randheli Island, Maldives | Cheval Blanc Randheli