Featured
GoAir resumes Maldives flights with Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore direct service
GoAir on Sunday resumed its flight operations to the Maldives, as part of the Indian budget carrier’s winter schedule.
GoAir’s first flight this season landed at the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport Sunday morning.
Tourism minister Ali Waheed, Indian ambassador to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir and top officials of the airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) welcomed the crew and passengers.


Until January 31, 2020, GoAir will operate direct flights to Male five days a week from Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru.
- Mumbai – Male – Mumbai: GoAir’s direct flight G8 23 will depart from Mumbai at 9am and arrive in Male at 11.15am, every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. On its return journey, flight G8 24 will leave Male every Wednesday and Sunday at 12.10pm and on Thursday it will leave at 12.20pm to arrive in Mumbai at 3.40pm.
- Delhi – Male – Delhi: Flight G8 33 will take off from Delhii at 10.35am and arrive in Male at 2.15pm, and flight G8 34 depart from Male at 3.15pm and arrive in Delhi at 7.45pm on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Bangalore – Male – Bangalore: Flight G8 will take off from Bangalore at 1.10pm and arrive in Male at 2.40pm, and on its return journey flight G8 44 will leave Male at 3.45pm and reach Bangalore at 6.10pm every Wednesday and Sunday.
“The Maldivian capital known for its scenic white sandy beaches, azure sea waters and exotic, colourful coral reefs is a popular tourist destination. Malé is the throbbing, mercantile heart of Maldives. Yet its laid-back lifestyle on scenic beaches with fresh produce from the island is a hot favourite for honeymooners as well as families looking for a relaxing get-away destination,” a statement issued by GoAir read.
“Ahead of the upcoming holiday season the new flights connecting Male to Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore will aid travellers to enjoy all that this beautiful tropical island has to offer.”
GoAir operated flights to the Maldives during the last winter season.
Flagship carriers of the Maldives and India currently operate scheduled flights to and from major cities, including Bangalore, Trivandrum and Chennai.
Low-cost Indian airline SpiceJet operates daily direct connections between Kochi and Male as well as Trivandrum and Male. Another budget carrier, IndiGo also operate daily non-stop flights between Male and Kochi, as well as five weekly service from Mumbai and twice weekly from Bangalore.
GoAir’s winter service to the Maldives — to and from three of the major business and tourism hubs in India — is expected to help both the countries, and further boost tourist arrivals to the Maldives from India, which has become a major source market for the Maldives’ tourism industry.
Official figures show that 90,474 tourists arrived in Maldives from its closest neighbour last year, a nine per cent increase from the 83,019 Indian travellers that chose the Maldives in 2017.
That growth has continued this year as well, as the number of Indian tourists that visited the Maldives recorded a 105.1 per cent increase in the first nine months of the year to reach 115,507.
Maldives has also become a sought after destination by Bollywood stars.
Famous Bollywood stars who have vacationed in the Maldives include Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti Chopra, the Bachchan family, Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, and Sonakshi Sinha.
Featured
‘Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom’ comes to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef this festive season
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.
The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.
During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.
“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.
“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”
The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.
The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.
Awards
Sun Siyam Iru Veli earns top wedding destination honour at TTM Awards
Fresh from being named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2025, Sun Siyam Iru Veli was recognised as Best Wedding Destination at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026, held at Crossroads Maldives on 27 August. The award further reinforces the resort’s commitment to celebrating romance in all its forms.
Surrounded by turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches, Iru Veli provides a natural setting for couples seeking an intimate island retreat. Every villa features a private pool, while secluded beaches, private sandbanks and a 24-hour all-inclusive dine-around experience offer guests privacy and flexibility throughout their stay.
The resort hosts celebrations of different scales, ranging from barefoot ceremonies by the ocean to larger events encompassing the entire island. Dedicated wedding planners work closely with each couple to personalise every element, ensuring that both the ceremony and the wider stay reflect their individual story.
This flexibility extends beyond the resort’s wedding packages. Simple Romance, Grand Gesture and Sandbank Magic provide couples with a starting point, with each celebration customisable through décor, dining, wellness, entertainment and island experiences. For occasions requiring complete exclusivity, full-island buyouts allow the resort experience to be tailored around the couple and their guests.
The celebrations can continue beyond the ceremony through candlelit dinners beneath the stars, spa rituals for two, sunset cruises and time spent together across the island. These experiences enable couples to shape the occasion around their preferences, with personal moments unfolding throughout their stay.
“Every couple arrives with a different story and a different vision for their celebration. There is no template here. From intimate ceremonies for two to full-island celebrations with family and friends, our role is to create moments that feel completely personal. That is exactly what our team does. They listen first and then create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple. This award is a testament to the dedication and care they put into making every moment memorable,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
The annual TTM Awards & Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers to recognise achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry. Iru Veli’s latest award further strengthens its position among the Maldives’ leading destinations for weddings and romantic escapes.
Action
Chef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme
Niva Dhigali Maldives will welcome visiting chef Jake Norman and British pickleball champion Molly O’Donoghue for a curated programme of island experiences this November, bringing together dining and active wellbeing in the Maldives.
Norman began his culinary career making pizza in the markets of Guadalajara, Mexico, before working in several London restaurants, including St John, Ottolenghi and Sabor. He now leads the kitchen at Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where his cooking focuses on seasonal ingredients, live-fire techniques and Mediterranean influences.
On 18 November, Norman will host an exclusive dinner at Faru, presenting a menu that combines Mediterranean flavours with influences from Mexico and the Middle East, while incorporating ingredients sourced from the Maldives.
The shared dining experience will feature Indian Ocean produce, grilled dishes and smoky flavours, with a menu designed to reflect the setting and encourage guests to dine at a relaxed pace.
The programme will also include pickleball sessions hosted by British champion Molly O’Donoghue. A national champion in mixed and women’s doubles, as well as a European champion in mixed doubles, O’Donoghue first discovered the sport while studying in Australia. She has since competed internationally and worked to introduce the sport to players around the world.
At Niva Dhigali, O’Donoghue will conduct beginner sessions and advanced coaching, giving guests of different skill levels the opportunity to learn, play and develop their technique.
Located in Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali Maldives is surrounded by tropical vegetation, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The November programme, featuring Norman’s dining experience and O’Donoghue’s pickleball sessions, forms part of the resort’s approach to offering guest experiences centred on food, wellbeing and the island environment.
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