“Welcome to Six Senses Laamu! To make your stay most comfortable we have assigned one of our Guest Experience Makers (GEMs) to look after you during your holiday with us.”

These are the first two sentences guests hear when arriving at the private island of Olhuveli in the Maldives. A system is in place to ensure each guest is provided with unique “crafted experiences” as part of the brand’s core values.

The latest crafted experiences from the resort comes in line with two other Six Senses values of sustainability and pioneering wellness.

This time the newest arrivals to the island are a flock of 24 chickens from two neighbouring islands, and their reservation at the resort is made for a long stay. Before their arrival the flock was vetted by Raymond Rochester, a guest and visiting veterinarian. They were given a warm welcome by the resort hosts and upon arrival, in line with guests experience, they are assigned a Chicken Guest Experience Maker (Chicken GEM) available to help make their stay comfortable. Their accommodation is located at the newly built organic Kukulku Farm. Kukulku is the word for chicken in the local language of Dhivehi.

Resident Manager Frans Westraadt along with Sustainability Manager Megan O’Beirne supervised the preparation of the Kukulhu Farm. It includes a state-of-the-art chicken gym facility, a multi-level installation with terracing steps for exercise sessions and handmade nests that follow the fundamental philosophies of the Sleep With Six Senses programme.

In line with the resort’s zero-waste philosophy, the chickens’ meals are comprised of the best leftover organic food on the island, and in return the kukulhus provide guests with fresh, organic eggs. This is another clever addition to the highly nutritious and delicious meals offered at the various restaurants at the resort. Organic free-range chicken eggs contain one third less cholesterol, one quarter less saturated fat, two times more omega 3 fatty acids, and more vitamins when compared to eggs from caged chickens.

Similar to how responsible and caring the resort treats their chickens, the 10-member marine biology team of Six Senses Laamu has pioneered a wellness programme for the colonies of corals that inhabit the house reef around the island.

Seven hundred and forty carefully selected coral fragments of more than 10 different species from the house reef have been placed in a mid-water coral nursery. Just as it is the resort’s mission to help people reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them, these corals will enjoy some rest and relaxation until they are grown large and strong enough to be replanted on the house reef.

This project came into action in an effort to enhance the restoration process of bleaching effected coral reefs following the 2016 El Niño.

Reefs in the Laamu atoll were affected albeit fortunately less when compared to some other parts of Maldives which experienced bleaching of nearly 70 percent of reefs. According to field experts, the natural recovery process of mass bleaching events can take up to 15 years and the marine team at Six Senses Laamu is dedicated to creating the best environment to facilitate the recovery process.

The lucky corals which were chosen to be sheltered in the mid-water nursery have a higher chance of getting more food to coral polyps, the organisms living in them, due to the high water flow in the area. Every week they receive pampering and cleaning treatment from the marine team, and are given the opportunity to grow without the stress of possibly being eaten by the predators.

“Located in the one of the most isolated corners of Maldives, Six Senses Laamu is staffed by a responsible and caring team. Whether it is a kukulhu, a coral polyp, a green turtle occasionally coming ashore for nesting, or visiting guests from far away lands, the team will ensure everyone is given an all-encompassing, uniquely crafted experience,” an announcement by Six Senses read.

Six Senses Laamu is the only resort located in the Laamu atoll, which lies in the southern part of the Maldives. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the resort prides itself on its commitment to sustainable operations and development as outlined by Agenda 21 and Green Globe Benchmarking.

At Six Senses Laamu, most of the villas and facilities are built overwater. However, beach villas and on-land dining is an option. All villas offer a sense of privacy and seclusion, with an amazing view to the Ocean and Maldivian nature.

Six Senses Laamu offers a wide range of dining options, with cuisines from around the world, a swimming pool with a sunken bar, an ice cream parlour, an overwater wine cellar and a signature Chill bar. Many activities, excursions and options are available for everyone to enjoy, both overwater and underwater, in addition to the Six Senses Spa.