Turquoise Heart, Maldives Ocean Retreat

Turquoise Heart is a wellness retreat on the island of Thoddoo in Alif Alif (Ari) Atoll, Maldives, built around yoga, breathwork and time in the ocean. It is led by yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator Maja Mika, and it suits anyone who wants a slow week by the sea in a small group of up to 11 people. No retreat or yoga experience is needed, and guests who come alone are welcome.

What to Expect

The week runs for eight days and seven nights, and it moves between movement, stillness and water. Daily yoga and guided meditation set the rhythm. One morning, yoga happens at sunrise on a sandbank with open water on every side. Another session is SUP yoga on the ocean.

The inner work is held in breathwork journeys, a cacao ceremony, sharing circles and a turtle wisdom meditation on slowing down. A sunset fire ceremony on the beach invites guests to release what no longer serves them. Each guest also receives a 60-minute massage.

The ocean time is a large part of the week. Guided snorkelling takes place on Thoddoo's house reef, a few steps from the beach, where sea turtles rest among the coral. There are also two excursions, one for manta rays and one for whale sharks. These are wild animals and sightings cannot be promised. The guides go where the animals live and keep the encounters ethical and respectful. A sunset cruise, free ocean time, a local island tour, a coconut workshop and a Maldivian cooking class round out the days.

About Maja Mika

Maja Mika is a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, author and retreat creator. Her path began in 2014, when she was studying Film Production and feeling anxious, exhausted and disconnected. A friend suggested a gym class, and in that hour her breath deepened and her mind stopped circling. Yoga became a lifeline through her hardest years, and she says the ocean found her too. She has spent over a decade gathering practices from around the world and now brings them together in small-group retreats built on safety, presence and real connection. She describes herself as a human being on a spiritual journey, like the people she guides.

The Setting

The retreat is based on Thoddoo, a small local island known for its fruit farms, friendly community and white beaches. This is not a resort stay. Guests live in an island home with a team looking after them, and the beach is close by. Every room has an ensuite bathroom and air-conditioning. Guests can choose a private room or share a twin room with a friend, a partner, or another solo guest matched by Maja.

Meals are full board, with fresh vegetarian food as the standard and local Maldivian seafood alongside it. Unlimited drinking water is provided, and other dietary needs can be requested at booking.

Guests fly into Velana International Airport in Malé (MLE). From there the group takes a ferry to Thoddoo, which takes around 1.5 hours, and the return ferry is included. On arrival day there are morning and afternoon ferries, so flights should land at least two hours before the chosen sailing. Many guests arrive a day early to start the week unhurried. On departure day there are an early morning and a lunchtime ferry back to Malé, so flights home should leave plenty of margin.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels. Yoga is taught with clear, step-by-step instruction so each person can work at a comfortable pace. Nervous swimmers are looked after, with life jackets and floats available and guides staying with them in the water. Sessions are in English.

Included are seven nights of accommodation, full board, the return ferry transfer, all sessions and excursions described above, a gift bag, the green tax and all local taxes. Not included are international flights, travel insurance and personal expenses, tips, and optional scuba diving or extra spa treatments. About six weeks before departure, guests join a WhatsApp group where questions are answered and packing lists are shared.