At Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, the island is not simply the setting for the guest experience. It is the experience itself. Set within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), Machchafushi, meaning ‘Fish Island’ in Dhivehi, is defined by its relationship with the surrounding ocean, the life that inhabits it and the traditions that have shaped its identity.

Once a secluded, uninhabited island, Machchafushi has evolved while retaining its connection to the natural environment and cultural character of the Maldives. Today, its award-winning house reef, five times the size of the island, creates an underwater world inhabited by more than 1,000 species of reef fish and more than 200 varieties of coral. Beyond the reef, the waters of South Ari Atoll offer year-round opportunities to encounter whale sharks, manta rays and other marine life, while the 52 metre Kudhi Maa shipwreck has become a thriving underwater habitat of its own.

This sense of place forms the foundation of The Machchafushi Universe, a sensory expression of the island that invites guests to experience Machchafushi through sight, sound, fragrance, touch and flavour. Here, the senses are not experienced in isolation. The colour and movement of the reef are accompanied by the rhythm of the ocean, the feel of warm water against the skin and the salt carried by the breeze. Later, the flavours of the sea and the wider island find their way to the table. Together, these impressions create a deeper connection with the destination.

“Machchafushi has always had a character of its own. It comes from the environment around us, from the marine life and the reef, from the Banyan Tree and the traditions connected to it, and from the people who bring our experiences to life. The Machchafushi Universe gives us an opportunity to bring these elements together and allow guests to experience the island in a more meaningful way, through all of their senses,” said Francesco Pompilio, Cluster General Manager, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

The experience begins with what can be seen. Beneath the surface, coral gardens come alive with reef fish, turtles, stingrays and reef sharks, while the Kudhi Maa shipwreck rests between 52 metres beneath the surface, its structure now covered in coral and inhabited by glassfish, trevally, snapper, lionfish, batfish and groupers. Around the atoll, encounters with whale sharks and manta rays offer a different perspective on the scale and diversity of the marine environment.

Above the water, the island reveals another landscape. The more than 200-year-old Banyan Tree, known as the Ummeedhu Tree in Dhivehi, meaning ‘Wish Fulfilment’, stands at the heart of the island, its roots reaching deep into the earth and its branches extending towards the sky. The changing light across the lagoon, the movement of birds through the vegetation and the shifting colours of the ocean create a visual landscape that changes naturally throughout the day.

Sound gives the island its rhythm. Along the shoreline, waves move across the reef, birds call from the vegetation, and the breeze moves through the palms. Beneath the surface, the soundscape becomes quieter, shaped by the movement of water, the rhythm of breathing and the subtle sounds of a living reef. A snorkel across the house reef or a dive to the Kudhi Maa becomes as much an auditory experience as a visual one, bringing guests into a world where the sounds of the island recede and the ocean takes over.

The human rhythm of Machchafushi adds another layer. The preparation of a Thai dish at Suan Bua, the movement of a traditional wellness treatment and the unhurried pace of service create their own sounds across the island. Together, they form an understated soundtrack to a place shaped as much by moments of stillness as by discovery.

Fragrance carries the character of the island on the breeze. Salt air and sea spray accompany the shoreline, while coconut, coastal vegetation and the earth beneath the island offer subtler notes further inland. The scent of freshly prepared ingredients emerges from the kitchens, while at SPA Cenvaree, natural aromas meet the traditions of Thai wellness through essential oils, botanical ingredients and traditional Thai treatments.

Touch offers perhaps the most immediate connection with Machchafushi. Bare feet meet warm sand, cool water moves across the skin and the gentle resistance of the sea changes with every stroke. Entering the water for a snorkel or dive creates a physical connection with the underwater world, from the sensation of descending through the water column to the changing currents around the reef. Kayaking and paddleboarding offer another way to experience the lagoon, allowing the surface of the water to become part of the journey.

On land, touch takes on a quieter character. Traditional Thai massage and wellness treatments at SPA Cenvaree centre on movement, pressure and balance, while beneath the Banyan Tree, the Sacred Thread Ceremony offers a more personal connection through a simple cultural ritual. In different ways, each experience brings guests closer to the island.

Flavour completes the sensory journey, reflecting the diverse influences that form part of Machchafushi’s identity. At Suan Bua, traditional Thai cuisine is presented through authentic flavours and techniques, while Mare Azzurro Italian Coastal Cuisine draws on the simplicity and character of Italian coastal cooking. The Reef presents an indulgent all day dining experience, with a variety of world cuisines served buffet style, from local Maldivian specialities to international favourites.

At Aqua and Coral Bars, classic cocktails meet island inspired signatures, adding another expression of the destination to the glass. Beyond the restaurants and bars, dining experiences bring cuisine into the island landscape, allowing the setting itself to become part of the occasion. From the waters surrounding Fish Island to the flavours served upon it, the connection between Machchafushi and the sea finds its way naturally to the table.

A first snorkel may reveal a turtle moving across the reef or a reef shark passing through the shallows. Further exploration brings coral formations, schools of tropical fish and the quiet presence of the Kudhi Maa. For experienced divers, sites such as Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock, Dhigurah Beyru and Maamigili Corner offer opportunities to encounter a wider range of marine life and underwater environments. Night snorkelling introduces yet another dimension, revealing a reef transformed after dark.

For those venturing further into the atoll, whale shark encounters offer a profound sense of scale. South Ari is renowned for year round whale shark sightings, allowing guests to experience these gentle giants in their natural environment. Manta rays, turtles, sharks and schools of tropical fish add to a marine landscape that is constantly moving and evolving.

Together, these experiences form a more complete expression of Machchafushi. The island is not defined by a single attraction, restaurant or wellness ritual, but by the relationship between its natural environment, cultural heritage, marine life and the people who bring the destination to life.

Machchafushi is, ultimately, an island that reveals itself gradually. Not through a single moment, but through the accumulation of sensory impressions that stay long after the experience itself has passed.

Soneva has unveiled the latest Soneva Stars calendar, seeing out the year with a line-up spanning space, sport, gastronomy, craftsmanship and wellbeing. Across Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, guests are invited to train, learn and interact with remarkable personalities who have spent their careers at the top of their fields.

Among the year’s headline residences is Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Peake will host talks, interactive sessions and stargazing experiences at Soneva Fushi from 19 to 29 December, sharing insights from his extraordinary career in space exploration beneath some of the clearest night skies on Earth.

The sporting calendar will welcome a series of internationally recognised athletes. A Premier League record goalscorer and former Manchester United striker, Andy Cole will lead football sessions from 25 October to 1 November, while former world No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis (25 October to 5 November) and current ATP star Karen Khachanov (12 to 22 November) will host tennis clinics and coaching experiences, giving guests a rare chance to train with players who have competed at the sport’s highest level. In September, Olympic medallist and world champion decathlete Leo Neugebauer will lead a session at Soneva Fushi’s outdoor gym as part of his residency.

In the world of wellbeing, Sarah Chapman, the facialist whose client list reads like a who’s who of the beauty world, will bring her treatments to Soneva Secret from 27 October to 5 November, offering guests the kind of skin expertise usually reserved for a waiting list.

The culinary programme features acclaimed chefs including Chantelle Nicholson (22 October to 6 November), known for her ingredient-led cooking and commitment to sustainable gastronomy, and champions of elevated Scandinavian dining, Niclas Jönsson (22 October to 6 November) and Fiskebar’s Jamie Lee (14 to 26 December), who will present special experiences throughout the season.

The Soneva Stars calendar runs even deeper. Astronomers Dr James Gilbert and Dr Lars Lindberg Christensen amplify the resorts’ celestial programme, while glass artists Adam Holtzinger and Susan Špiranović lead a residency at Soneva Fushi’s glass studio. Enhancing the wellbeing offering, guests can work with osteopath Hortensia Corredoira, East Asian healing specialist Alexander Scrimgeour, performance coach JP Liendi, Bodyism’s Nathalie Schyllert and wellbeing expert Richie Norton, alongside football freestyler Marcel Gurk, across residencies running through to the end of the year.

“The most memorable moments unfold through the power of human connection,” said Neil Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Soneva. “With Soneva Stars, our guests train with Andy Cole, sit with Tim Peake to find out what it’s truly like up there and get a fresh taste of the ocean’s bounty with Jamie Lee. These experiences spark conversations and memories that stay with them long after they leave.”

No two Soneva Stars seasons are ever the same. Each residency is an expression of Just What Matters: meaningful connections, new perspectives and moments of genuine wonder and discovery.

Guests can explore the full Soneva Stars calendar to book remarkable experiences.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, invites guests to celebrate Mid-Autumn as it unfolds into Halloween with Rise of the Phoenix, a week-long island celebration from October 26 to November 1, 2026.

Inspired by the mythical Phoenix and its journey of transformation, resilience, and renewal, the resort reimagines Halloween through the colours and natural beauty of the Maldives. Phoenix feathers emerge through tropical greens evolving into warm autumn colours, setting the scene for a programme of family discovery, gastronomy, creativity, wellness, and ocean experiences. Born from fire, the Phoenix becomes the thread connecting the week, as feathers, flames, and nature transform the island into a world of imagination.

Halloween Science and Discovery with TheDadLab

At the heart of the family programme, Sergei Urban, visionary creator of TheDadLab, returns to the resort for an exclusive Halloween residency. Known for turning science into playful, hands-on discovery, Sergei will bring the spirit of the Phoenix to life for young guests through a series of interactive experiments at Ritz Kids.

From October 28 to 31, a different laboratory opens each afternoon, from the Candy Lab, exploring the science behind favourite Halloween sweets, to the Haunted Lab, transforming science into a friendly graveyard of ghosts, wiggly worms, and spooky surprises. Designed for children ages 4 to 12, the experiences invite families to discover Halloween through curiosity, imagination, and learning through play.

Beyond TheDadLab, younger guests follow the Phoenix across the island through a rich calendar of family experiences, from floral pumpkin carving and mystery treats to creative workshops and the long-awaited Phoenix Gala Fashion Show.

Three-Michelin-Starred Excellence Arrives in the Maldives

The island’s culinary scene rises alongside the Phoenix with the arrival of Chef Jean-Philippe Blondet of the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London. For two exclusive evenings, the acclaimed chef brings his contemporary French haute cuisine to the Maldives, defined by distinctive flavours, exceptional ingredients, and unexpected twists.

On October 28, The Art of Savoir-Faire takes over La Locanda for an intimate Michelin Table by Chef Blondet, presenting his signature cuisine through a refined set menu inspired by the culinary philosophy that has earned Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester three Michelin stars. The following evening, A Dialogue of Flavours unfolds at Summer Pavilion, the resort’s four-star Forbes Travel Guide-rated Cantonese restaurant, where Chef Blondet joins Chef David for an exclusive four-hands dinner.

French refinement meets Cantonese artistry through a collaborative menu and interactive culinary moments, creating a dialogue between two distinctive culinary expressions in the lantern-inspired ambiance of the overwater restaurant.

The Rise of the Phoenix

Across the week, guests are invited to join a collection of experiences inspired by movement, nature, creativity and renewal. They can explore the island’s underwater world through coral planting, reef discovery, and snorkelling; reconnect through restorative yoga and spa rituals; or embrace creativity through seasonal workshops. The celebration culminates on October 31, when guests gather at Recreation Beach for the Phoenix Carnival, bringing together festive flavours and live entertainment in a vibrant finale. Against the Maldivian night sky, the Phoenix finally rises, completing its journey from embers to rebirth and marking a new beginning for the season.

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives.