Connect with us

Featured

Two Maldives islands named amongst world’s best beaches

Published

on

Two islands in the Maldives have been named amongst the best beaches in the world.

To create this spectacular list of the world’ 50 best beaches, FlightNetwork — Canada’s largest online travel website — consulted with 632 top travel professionals, including journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies and had them vote on their favourites.

In this wanderlust-inducing list are two islands in the Maldives: Fulhadhoo and Dhigurah.

Listing Fulhadhoo’s beach in the 22nd spot, FlightNetwork described it as sitting on a little-known piece of paradise lost in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. This “snow-white sand beach” is surrounded by far more coconut palms than people, it added.

About Dhigurah’s beach, which is ranked at 34, FlightNetwork said: “With two-thirds of the island covered in lush green Maldivian forest and never-ending silky-smooth sand, you’ll feel like you’re starring in your very own castaway movie.”

Dhigurah beach. PHOTO/ TRIPADVISOR

An inhabited island, Fulhadhoo is located in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa atoll. A local village of some 250 people lies on the eastern part of the island, while the rest features a sort of a primeval landscape with palm trees, turquoise lagoons and snow-white sandy beaches.

With a few guesthouses offering travellers affordable accommodation options, Fulhadhoo is a great place for those who love snorkelling and free diving.

Dhigurah is located in the South Ari Atoll, about 20 minutes by domestic flight from the main airport. With more than 3 km of natural white sandy beach, it is considered one of the most beautiful inhabited islands in the Maldives.

With a population of about 600, Dhigurah has all the necessary facilities for human habitation, including a school, medical centre and a harbour. The population is concentrated on a small area in the north of the island, with the rest reserved mostly for fruit and vegetable gardening and natural vegetation.

Dhigurah is close to some of the most famous dive spots in the country such as Kuda Rah Thila, Manta Point and Reethi Thila. Guests staying in one of the guesthouses on the island can also get easy access to whale-shark watching locations in the South Ari Atoll.

The Maldives is known world over for its unique natural beauty, especially for its powder soft white sand beaches, turquoise waters surrounding the islands and palm trees. Over a million tourists visit these islands every year for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Main photo: Fulhadhoo beach. PHOTO/ FLIGHTNETWORK

Family

Kuramathi Maldives brings families together with fortnightly children’s programme

Published

on

Kuramathi Maldives has introduced the new Bageecha Kids Club fortnightly programme, designed to inspire creativity, nurture curiosity, and create memorable holidays for children. The two-week programme, which began on 25 August, offers a wide range of engaging activities for children of different ages and interests. Bageecha Kids Club aims to create lasting memories, build friendships, and enhance family holidays. With this initiative, Kuramathi Maldives continues its commitment to delivering enriching experiences for guests of all ages.

The pirate-themed club is specially designed for children aged 3 to 12 years and operates daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Families travelling with children under the age of three may request babysitting services at an additional charge, ensuring that younger guests are also well cared for during their stay at Kuramathi.

Week 1:

  • Monday – Art & Nature Day: Activities include a scavenger hunt, nature crafts, and fitness games. Children can build sandcastles on the beach, take part in pool activities, enjoy splash pad games, and explore watercolour painting.
  • Tuesday – Ocean Adventures: Young participants can enjoy reef crafts, pool activities, and an underwater wildlife masterclass, concluding with fish tattoos and aquatic-themed fun.
  • Wednesday – Sports Day: The day features mini-Olympics, children’s yoga, and beach volleyball, followed by pool time and a BBQ lunch.
  • Thursday – Pirate & Mermaid Day: Children create treasure maps, embark on a treasure hunt, and learn to make pirate hats and mermaid crowns. The day concludes with splash games and a film.
  • Friday – Superhero Adventure: Children design their own costumes, take part in beach games, and enjoy kite flying, before ending the day with a superhero disco.
  • Saturday – Tropical Explorers: The programme includes animal crafts, jungle walks, coconut bowling, and pool activities, followed by a cinema session with popcorn.
  • Sunday – Maldivian Culture & Heritage: Children are invited to learn Dhivehi phrases, craft miniature Dhonis, and practise traditional drumming. Palm leaf weaving and poolside activities round off the day.

Week 2:

  • Monday – Eco & Green Day: Children make bookmarks and recycled art, alongside beach games, pool activities, and a nature walk.
  • Tuesday – Underwater Wonders: Activities include underwater crafts, painting seascapes, a reef quiz, and laboratory time at the Eco Centre.
  • Wednesday – Beach Olympics: The day features yoga, beach activities, pool time, a BBQ lunch, dance and movement sessions, hydroponic gardening, and a mini triathlon.
  • Thursday – Creative Mind: Budding artists work on a group mural and nature journals, alongside pool adventures, water games, and a dance party.
  • Friday – Animal Kingdom: The schedule includes animal-themed crafts, a relay race, pool activities, board games, and a paper plane contest.
  • Saturday – Pirate Adventure: Children take part in crafts, pool games, and a treasure hunt, designing their own ship as part of the day’s activities.
  • Sunday – Adventure & Fun: The final day brings a dance competition, superhero quiz, memory games, an obstacle course, and relay races.

The Bageecha Kids Club fortnightly programme provides children with the opportunity to experience creativity, fun, and cultural discovery, ensuring a memorable holiday for families at Kuramathi Maldives

Continue Reading

Celebration

‘A Season by the Sea’: Jumeirah Olhahali Island reveals holiday calendar

Published

on

Jumeirah Olhahali Island has announced its festive programme, ‘A Season by the Sea’, which will take place from Thursday 18 December 2025 to Wednesday 7 January 2026. The programme combines seasonal traditions with experiences designed for guests of all ages.

The celebrations begin on 18 December with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, where guests can enjoy festive treats and live music. The following day, children will have the chance to take part in a gingerbread house decorating workshop.

A range of wellness and leisure activities will be available throughout the festive season, including sunrise power yoga, Pilates by the water’s edge, and tennis sessions in the evenings. Holiday tournaments will add a competitive edge for sports enthusiasts. Marine activities will also feature prominently, with options such as the Ocean Wonders Christmas morning snorkelling excursion, Dolphin Quest cruises, and private nurse shark encounters.

Dining experiences form a central part of the programme. Guests can take part in themed events including an Oyster and Caviar Dinner, a Maldivian Sharing Beach Dinner, and a private Festive High Tea. Christmas Eve will be marked with a Gala Gathering followed by the Olhahali Oceanside Gala Dinner, with live music, performances, and a festive menu. On Christmas Day, the resort will host a Poolside Brunch featuring seasonal dishes.

New Year’s Eve will be celebrated with a soirée at the heart of the island, followed by the resort’s signature Gala Dinner at Glow, which will feature a specially curated menu and entertainment. The celebrations continue on New Year’s Day with a Beachside Brunch, and the week that follows will include events such as the Chef’s Table at Kayto, highlighting Nikkei cuisine, and Taste of India at Glow, showcasing Indian culinary traditions.

To complement the programme, Jumeirah Olhahali Island offers a range of villas suitable for couples, families, and larger groups. Options include one-bedroom overwater and beach villas with private pools, rooftop terraces, and direct ocean access, as well as two- and three-bedroom residences such as the signature MIRI Villa. These larger accommodations feature spacious living areas, multiple bedrooms, and infinity pools set over the lagoon or beach, designed to create a setting for shared celebrations during the festive season.

Continue Reading

Featured

Chinese National Day with festivities at Centara Resorts in Maldives

Published

on

Centara Hotels & Resorts is marking the Chinese National Day Holiday Week with a programme of celebrations across four of its Maldivian properties: Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives. Taking place from late September to early October, each resort is presenting a series of cultural activities, wellness experiences, and dining events designed for the occasion.

At Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, located within The Atollia and accessible by speedboat from Malé, guests are being offered a festive line-up that includes Chinese-themed dinners, poolside dim sum, and seafood feasts. The resort has also introduced a range of activities such as aqua aerobics, water polo, beach volleyball, craft sessions for children, and family games. Evenings feature cultural showcases, live music, karaoke, and outdoor cinema, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, a resort with a strong focus on families, has designed its holiday programme under the theme ‘A Holiday Full of Smiles’. With attractions such as a waterpark, lazy river, and dedicated kids’ zones, the resort has arranged Chinese breakfast corners, creative workshops, scavenger hunts, and beach games during the day. In the evenings, families are invited to enjoy beachside feasts, karaoke, themed dinners, and open-air cinema. Longan cocktail hours, ice cream specials, and seafood platters have also been introduced as part of the week’s activities.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, part of The Centara Collection, is combining cultural programmes with its focus on sustainability and natural surroundings. Between 28 September and 10 October, the resort is hosting sunrise yoga, coral planting, kite-making, lantern workshops, scavenger hunts, and storytelling sessions. Dining highlights include Asian street food nights, seafood barbecues, mooncake afternoon teas, and a floating lantern release under the full moon. Families are catered for with beach games, treasure hunts, and movie nights, while wellness enthusiasts can participate in spa workshops and treatments.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, an adults-only retreat located 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé, is offering a more intimate holiday celebration. Guests can experience themed dining with Chinese-inspired décor and a beach party under the stars, complemented by live entertainment. With its focus on couples and friends, the resort’s approach blends cultural flavours with a festive yet relaxed atmosphere.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.