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Sail Maldives yacht rally… Biggest sailing event in the Indian Ocean!

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Maldives.net.mv – Entries are now open for the first edition of the Sail Maldives yacht rally – one of the most exciting events the Maldives has ever seen – and organisers are inviting potential sponsors to get involved.

The whole country is gearing up to welcome participants from around the world. It will be the largest mass-participation event in Maldivian history, with Maldivians across the length of the entire country getting involved.

Sail Maldives will also help to propel the Maldives into the international yachting scene – a lucrative luxury tourism sector which has been somewhat side-lined until now in the Maldives.

The event is being covered by the international media, which gives Maldivian businesses a unique opportunity to showcase their brands to a global audience. As such, Sail Maldives is inviting Maldivian businesses to discuss sponsorship options with them.

The event already has the support of Maldivian authorities including the police, customs service, immigration and coastguard, without which this event would be impossible to coordinate.

sail-maldives-1The north-to-south rally, which takes over a month to complete, commences on 20th January 2017 at Uligamu in Haa Alif Atoll. Participants will stop at various islands along the way and there will be scheduled stops at checkpoints including in Baa Atoll before the vessels continue south, crossing the equator via the Zero Degree Channel. The rally concludes in Addu Atoll.

Sail Maldives participants will be chartering one of the ancient Spice Routes used by traders since as long ago as 2,000BC. As such, the Maldives has a rich history of welcoming seafarers as well as celebrating its own unique island traditions. This is something reflected in the Sail Maldives programme. Each checkpoint the participants stop at is hosting a festival, which includes bodu beru and other cultural shows.

This will give everyone taking part in Sail Maldives a unique opportunity to experience the ‘true’ Maldivian culture.  And importantly, it also gives Maldivians on islands across the country a chance to directly benefit from this event, with rally participants depending on services such as grocery supplies, laundry services, mechanical repairs and boating equipment. In addition, the rally is anticipated to attract an influx of spectators who will be in demand of guesthouse and resort accommodation along the rally route.

Organised excursions will be laid on for rally participants including snorkelling trips and scuba diving. Marking the conclusion of the rally, the Ocean Festival in Addu City will include beach games, and the official launch of Beach Golf in the Maldives.

 The rally will take around 45 days. It is being organised by a Maldivian company which specialises in bespoke travel and tourism services, Luxury Collections, in cooperation with the local authorities and island communities.

sail-maldives-1Luxury Collections CEO & Founder, Adeel Ahmed, said: “This is going to be the biggest mass-participation event in the Maldives, involving people from north to south of the Maldives. It’s a unique opportunity for small and medium-sized business owners in the Maldives, as well as larger corporations, to get involved.

“People on islands along the route, such as grocery store owners and mechanics; they can all benefit from this. And we’re inviting companies to take the unique opportunity to sponsor us, thereby getting their brand seen by an international audience as well as the local audience.

“It will also open a window into a world which most foreigners don’t usually get to see; our rich Maldivian culture. We have a unique culture and identity which we are proud of and happy to share with the rest of the world. Maldivians are known for their friendliness and warmth and we are looking forward to welcoming participants from all around the world.”

Sarah Harvey, Director of PR & Marketing, added: “Sail Maldives is an incredibly exciting project for everyone to get involved with. We’ll not only be making history, but also this is a very lucrative sector of the tourism industry which is ripe for development. There are all kinds of new opportunities for all sectors of Maldivian society to get involved, whether as a sponsor, a goods and services supplier, a performer, or as a spectator!”

For more information visit www.sailmaldives.net

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Photo courtesy Sail Maldives

 

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Summer of connection, discovery at Jumeirah Olhahali Island

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Jumeirah Olhahali Island invites guests to experience a summer unlike any other – one that celebrates connection, creativity, and discovery across the shores of North Malé Atoll in the Maldives. From May through August, the all-villa retreat introduces an inspired seasonal programme where every generation can create lasting memories through immersive dining, shared adventures, and revitalising wellness rituals.

A Season of Flavour

A highlight of the summer season, the resort will host an exclusive culinary residency from 7 to 12 June in collaboration with restaurant Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, the celebrated Indian dining destination from Jumeirah Al Qasr in Dubai. For six evenings, 35 guests can enjoy an intimate, flavour-rich tasting experience spotlighting both beloved and lesser-known regional Indian dishes, reimagined with a modern twist.

The summer calendar continues with vibrant dining occasions, including the Eid International Market Night on 6 June and an Omakase Coffee Series from 6 to 10 June.

Beyond these highlights, guests can also embrace the island’s broader dining journey, whether savouring wood-fired pizzas with toes in the sand at Shimmers, discovering Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei plates at Kayto, or indulging in destination dining with beach barbecues, floating breakfasts, and private sandbank picnics.

Adventures for Every Generation

Families are at the heart of the island’s summer programming with a joyful mix of opportunities to reconnect through movement, exploration, and play. Returning favourites include the Olhahali kite festival (9 June, 15 July, 6 August), which fills the skies with colour and delight, and Kids’ Summer Olympics (6 June, 4 July, 21 July, 11 August), adding a playful sense of camaraderie with water polo in the Shimmers pool. New additions like the mini badminton tournament (3 June, 18 June, 8 July, 20 August) and weekly penalty shoot-outs (Tuesdays in June) bring plenty of friendly competition.

Younger guests can take part in lifeguard-led swimming classes throughout August from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, providing a fun way to build confidence and skills in the water. Meanwhile, teens and adults can opt for guided watersport camps led by seasoned instructors, mastering the waves with knee boarding, water skiing, and wakeboarding lessons.

Evenings unfold under the stars with beach cinema nights, where families gather for outdoor movies, camp-style snacks, and laughter shared on the shores of the island’s pristine beaches.

Wellness in Rhythm with Nature

From sunrise yoga to curated spa journeys, the season also offers a renewed focus on well-being at the resort’s Talise Spa. From 16 May to 30 June, visiting practitioner Dr. Aradhana offers therapies rooted in naturopathy, including Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, shamanic cleansing, yogic detox, and therapeutic sound healing. Her approach blends ancient practices with modern healing techniques, guiding guests into deeper awareness and balance.

Daily movement is encouraged with 1-hour Technogym Bootcamps on Mondays and Thursdays, where panoramic views energise high-impact sessions.

Artful Moments Inspired by the Sea

At MURACA Art Studio, named after the Maldivian word for coral, families are invited to express their creativity in a wide collection of immersive art sessions. In August, a resident ceramicist will lead hands-on pottery workshops, inspiring creativity and mindfulness through tactile expression.

Bringing added ease to summer travels, the resort offers a collection of tailored savings and privileges for villa stays. The Jumeirah Escapes Offer includes up to 20% off private villas, with an additional 5% savings for Jumeirah One members, plus a perk of added benefits. For larger families, the Jumeirah Signature Escapes Offer features hotel credit of USD 200 or USD 400 when booking the resort’s two- or three-bedroom retreats. For more information or to reserve a summer escape, visit here.

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Angsana Velavaru unveils new wellness journeys with Shubhangi Chauhan

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Angsana Velavaru, a secluded island retreat in the South Nilandhe Atoll, unveils a new chapter in its guest experience this May with the launch of a curated wellness yoga programme – a purposeful and poised invitation to return to the essential of wellbeing. Rooted in the resort’s ongoing commitment to mindful, holistic travel, the offering marks a quiet evolution that creates spaces not only to unwind, but to reconnect with oneself in meaningful, grounded ways.

Designed with quiet intention, the new yoga programme blends classical techniques with contemporary needs. Complimentary morning and afternoon sessions guide guests through Sunrise Flow, Breath & Balance, and Hatha Yoga – practices that anchor the body and reset the nervous system. Each class is held in an open-air pavilions or beachfront space, where the movement of the ocean and the softness of natural light lend their own quiet support.

For those seeking more immersive practice, chargeable sessions explore deeper dimensions of stillness and release – from Pranayama and Yin Yoga to guided Meditation and Restorative Sunset Yoga. The programme is supported by trained instructor who focus not on performance, but on personal connection and presence. Private sessions are also available, offering tailored approaches for guests who wish to explore their practice more intimately – whether for physical balance or emotional clarity.

Wellbeing at Angsana Velavaru extends beyond the mat. Tucked within the island’s lush greenery, the award winning Angsana Spa offers a distinctive approach to bodywork and healing. Treatments are rooted in time-honoured Asian traditions and delivered with intuitive care. From soothing body polishes to tension releasing massages, each therapy is designed to restore energy gently and naturally. Warm, grounding hospitality and the spa’s contemporary design create an atmosphere of calm- where the body can soften and the mind can finally slow.

To mark Global Wellness Day from 13 to 15 June, Angsana Velavaru welcomes Shubhangi Chauhan, certified holistic wellness coach and founder of WITHIN, for a special guest residency. Her personal story – a transformative journey from physical burnout to deep self-discovery – now forms the foundation of global movement supporting mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Today, WITHIN is home to a team of 23 practitioners, offering coaching, emotional support, and mindset guidance across continents.

During her residency, Shubhangi will lead a thoughtfully curated programme featuring strength and breathwork sessions, yoga for flexibility and inner balance, and a Wellness Circle exploring mental clarity, nutrition, and community care. A signature session – a blindfold Free Flow Dance followed by Yoga Nidra – invites guests into a rare space of surrender and emotional release.

The collaboration reflects broader philosophy at Angsana Velavaru – that wellbeing is not about routine but rhythm. Not about escape, but return. And that sometimes, the most powerful transformation happens not in movements but in stillness.

At Angsana Velavaru, wellness is an experience of depth, presence, and purpose. Reconnect with your inner rhythm through yoga, discover healing through spa rituals and take part in a transformative wellness collaboration on an island made for renewal.

To learn more about Shubhangi’s residency programme and secure your place for Global Wellness Day, visit the resort’s website.

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Awards

TripAdvisor honours Ifuru Island Maldives in top 10% of hotels for 2025

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Ifuru Island Maldives has announced that it has been recognised as a winner in the prestigious Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2025, placing the resort in the top 10% of hotels worldwide.

This achievement celebrates businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travellers around the globe, having earned outstanding traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the past 12 months. Ifuru Island Maldives stood out by delighting guests with its warm hospitality, vibrant experiences, and the one-of-a-kind Exclusively Yours Premium All Inclusive concept.

“We are thrilled to receive this award, especially because it comes directly from our guests’ feedback,” said Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives. “Our passionate team pours their heart into creating unforgettable moments for every guest, and this recognition is a true reflection of their dedication and the magic of our island.”

Ifuru Island Maldives has quickly become a sought-after destination for travellers looking to connect, unwind, and celebrate life in style. With its unique Exclusively Yours Premium All Inclusive offering, guests enjoy a seamless holiday experience filled with culinary variety, curated entertainment, and a vibrant social lifestyle concept that brings people together. From spacious suites with direct beach access to immersive island experiences and warm, genuine service, Ifuru Island delivers exceptional value for money without compromising on quality or guest satisfaction.

Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards honour travellers’ favourite destinations, hotels, restaurants, and activities around the world. Winners are determined based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings over a 12-month period.

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