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Seaside Finolhu serves up an ace for tennis lovers via LUX Tennis partnership

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While Seaside Finolhu recently completed an extensive transformation process that will accentuate its image as a design-led luxury destination, the resort retains a steadfast commitment to its well-established character as an island playground.

This was recently underlined when the Maldivian resort announced an exciting new partnership that will see LUX Tennis oversee coaching programmes and all other tennis-related activities at Finolhu.

The splashes of vibrant colours and bold shapes of Finolhu’s new Kaleidoscope design concept have been carefully chosen not only to emphasise an aesthetic style but also to highlight the fun and playful nature of the resort.

From diving and fishing to tennis and even a state-of-the-art indoor golf studio, Finolhu offers its fun-loving and adventurous guests a wide selection of activities to keep them entertained.

To ensure it delivers the finest experience possible, Finolhu has also initiated a number of strategic partnerships and now tennis lovers of all playing levels can enjoy world-class coaching and personalised tennis programmes at the resort thanks to Finolhu’s newest partnership with internationally-renowned tennis coaching specialists LUX Tennis.

Founded in Spain in 2017, LUX tennis specialises in managing tennis-related activities and providing customised coaching programmes at luxury resorts around the world.

Combining extensive experience of professional tennis coaching with a commitment to understanding the specific needs of each player, LUX tennis focuses on fun activities designed to challenge serious players and ensure that newcomers develop a lifetime love of the game.

With its highly-experienced current or former ATP level coaches, LUX Tennis can customise its programmes to suit beginners considering taking up the game, amateurs looking to improve their skill set or serious players wanting to compete in tournaments.

Through its partnership with LUX Tennis, Finolhu is offering a choice of tailored tennis coaching, practice programmes and fun events designed to inspire and challenge guests of all ages and abilities to improve their skill set during their holidays.

Whether looking for intensive coaching or just wanting to pick up some new techniques, guests can choose to join private one-on-one or group sessions with a professional coach, while LUX Tennis will also be providing a choice of fun-filled clinics, games, exhibition events and tournaments on Finolhu’s palm-fringed court.

All tennis-related activities on Finolhu will be overseen by LUX Tennis’s assigned coach, John Zibin.

A native of Canada, John speaks English, Spanish and Italian. His tennis career includes playing for the Brock University Varsity Tennis Team, while he is also an Ontario Tennis Association Rookie Tour Champion and an Intercounty Tennis Association Champion.

John’s professional coaching career dates back to 2009 and includes experience as a Certified Tennis Instructor at Davisville Tennis Club and Parkway Valley Tennis Club of the North York Tennis Association, Toronto, Canada.

Speaking about his role in the partnership between Finolhu and LUX Tennis, John expressed his feeling that it is an extremely good fit for both parties.

“With LUX Tennis offering a top-class tennis programme and Finolhu offering top-class guest service, visitors are in for a treat and should expect nothing short of a wonderful experience both on and off the court,” he said. said.

“I am definitely looking forward to seeing smiling faces and satisfied families.”

Finolhu was opened in June 2016 and consists of four islands with long beaches. It has 125 beachfront and overwater villas — more than half with private pool — and four restaurants.

While popular with honeymooners, the extensive resort is also very family-friendly, with a kids’ club, plenty of activities and famous for its entertainment.

Owned and managed by Seaside Collection, a Europe-based hotel group with an exclusive portfolio of high-end resorts and city hotels, Seaside Finolhu Maldives is a luxury island resort.

“Finolhu”, which is a direct translation of “sandbank” in Dhivehi is located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives.

To find out more about LUX Tennis, visit www.luxtennis.com. For bookings and more information about Seaside Finolhu, visit www.finolhu.com.

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Simply summer at Milaidhoo: Invitation to slow living in the Baa Atoll

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In a destination often defined by excess, Milaidhoo Maldives offers a different summer narrative: one of restraint, rhythm and rare stillness. Introducing Simply Summer, a seasonal escape that celebrates the art of slowing down within the UNESCO-protected waters of the Baa Atoll.

An intimate island sanctuary, Milaidhoo is designed for travellers who value time as the ultimate luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly, beginning with relaxed oceanfront breakfasts and shaped entirely by choice, from sunrise yoga and snorkelling in pristine coral gardens to long, private hours spent within the calm of one’s villa. Evenings are defined by elegant à la carte dining, inspired by seasonal flavours and served with effortless grace.

The Simply Summer offer enhances this experience with considered privileges rather than excess. Guests are invited to explore the Maldives’ natural wonders through manta ray encounters in the legendary Hanifaru Bay, indulge in restorative rituals at the overwater Serenity Spa, or discover the atoll through curated island adventures, all with exclusive seasonal savings.

A chilled bottle of Ruinart Champagne awaiting guests in their villa sets the tone on arrival, while flexible early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) ensures that time is never hurried. Dining remains a central pleasure, with daily breakfast and à la carte dinners at Ocean Restaurant, complemented by generous dining credits across the island’s culinary venues.

Available for stays from 1st May to 31st October 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights, Simply Summer is an understated invitation to experience the Maldives at its most refined, quietly luxurious, deeply personal and guided by the gentle pace of island life.

Simply Summer – Key Inclusions:

  • Daily breakfast at Ocean Restaurant
  • Daily à la carte dinner at Ocean Restaurant
  • USD 65 per person, per night dining credit (food-only) at other restaurants
  • 30% savings on manta ray snorkelling in Hanifaru Bay (group excursion)
  • 30% savings on selected treatments at Serenity Spa
  • 30% savings on curated group excursions and island experiences
  • Exclusive benefits when booking direct

Begin your Simply Summer at Milaidhoo.

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Excursions

Manta season experience returns as InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau announces 2026 retreat

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InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced the dates for its 2026 Manta Retreat, following the programme’s strong reception in recent years. The retreat will take place from 24 to 27 March 2026, coinciding with the Maamunagau manta season, when juvenile manta rays are commonly sighted in the resort’s lagoon just offshore.

The resort will once again partner with The Manta Trust, one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations, to co-host the retreat and offer guests an immersive, educational experience centred on marine conservation. The programme is designed for travellers seeking purpose-led experiences and a deeper understanding of manta rays within their natural environment.

Located on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and adjacent to a known juvenile manta ray aggregation site, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau provides direct access to key research and observation areas. During the retreat, guests will be able to participate in guided reef snorkelling, manta excursions led by The Manta Trust, coral restoration and planting workshops, and a series of educational sessions. Participants will also have the opportunity to adopt and name a manta ray as part of the conservation initiative.

The partnership between InterContinental Maldives and The Manta Trust has been in place since 2019. The retreat will be led by The Manta Trust’s base leader, Meral Hafeez, who will guide guests through manta ray encounters while sharing insight into the organisation’s ongoing research and conservation efforts in the surrounding waters. The programme offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work of the research team, including observing and recording manta ray behaviour.

In 2023, Maamunagau Lagoon was recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a priority conservation site. The lagoon continues to serve as a key research area for The Manta Trust, allowing guests to observe manta rays in their natural environment within close proximity to the resort. Certified divers are also catered for, with access to dedicated dive sites where manta ray cleaning stations can be observed, highlighting the complex marine ecosystems of the Maldives.

Beyond the retreat activities, guests can enjoy the resort’s overwater villas, unwind at AVI Spa, or explore its range of dining experiences.

The participation fee for the Manta Retreat is USD 1,550++ per night, per room, based on double occupancy, with a minimum stay of four nights. The package includes one manta ray research trip, guided house reef snorkelling, manta ray adoption, educational workshops, and accommodation in a luxury villa or residence on a half-board basis.

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Featured

Ten years of turtle conservation: Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Olive Ridley Project milestone

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Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, part of the boutique island resort collective Coco Collection, is marking ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), celebrating a decade-long commitment to marine conservation in the Maldives.

The partnership reached a significant milestone in 2017 with the opening of the Maldives’ first veterinary-led Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, pioneering specialised sea turtle care in the country. Since its establishment, the centre has treated and released 152 injured turtles, achieving a rehabilitation success rate of nearly 60 per cent. The facility plays a critical role in caring for turtles impacted by human activities, including entanglement in marine debris and ghost nets.

Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, the Olive Ridley Project leads long-term sea turtle research across the Maldives, collecting data on nesting activity, population trends and threats to marine life. This work contributed to the country’s first National Red List Assessment of Threatened Species, published in 2022. Supported by a network of citizen scientists, ORP’s Maldives research team has documented more than 45,000 sea turtle encounters nationwide. Over the past decade, Coco Collection has been a major contributor to this effort, recording nearly 3,500 encounters and reinforcing its position as one of ORP’s most significant research partners.

Guests at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu are invited to engage directly with these conservation initiatives through weekly marine talks, educational sessions led by the resort’s resident Marine Educator, and opportunities to witness rehabilitated sea turtles being released back into the ocean.

Commenting on the milestone, Siraj Waseem, General Manager of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, said that celebrating ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project was a source of pride for Coco Collection. He noted that what began as a shared commitment to protecting marine life has evolved into a long-term collaboration rooted in education, conservation and meaningful guest engagement, adding that the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre continues to grow in strength with ORP’s support.

Dr Martin Stelfox, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Ridley Project, said the decade-long partnership reflects a pioneering collaboration and significant progress in sea turtle conservation in the Maldives. He highlighted advances in conservation medicine and research achieved together, as well as the impact of inspiring guests and Maldivian interns to care for and protect the country’s marine environment.

Over the past ten years, the ORP Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu has hosted ten veterinary surgeons, each contributing to the development of sea turtle conservation medicine in the Maldives. Through the Sea Turtle Veterinary Trainee Programme, the resort and ORP have trained 29 veterinary professionals from 12 countries, helping to strengthen a global network of sea turtle clinical care across the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Alongside its conservation work, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to offer a wide range of experiences for guests, from water sports such as water skiing, surfing and parasailing to sailing, paddle-boarding and kayaking in the surrounding lagoon. Visitors can also explore Maldivian culture through curated Coco Experiences that highlight local island life and heritage. As the resort marks ten years of collaboration with the Olive Ridley Project, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to demonstrate how meaningful conservation efforts can coexist with memorable guest experiences.

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