Family
Soneva’s ‘egg-cellent’ Easter for whole family in Maldives
This Easter, Soneva has created fun-filled calendars of experiences, dining, children’s activities and so much more for an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives.
Guests can expect more chocolate than they know what to do with, searching high and low across the resorts for hidden wooden eggs, Soneva Fushi’s much-anticipated football camp with sporting legend Mikael Silvestre, and private stargazing sessions with award-winning astronomer and science communicator Lars Lindberg Christensen.
For younger guests Easter-themed activities have been planned by the Den Teams, while Oppidan Education will be offering opportunities to learn and study outside of the classroom at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.
Soneva Fushi (March 29 – April 7)
This year, the six-day Young Sonevian’s Football Camp will take place twice (March 26-31 and April 3-8).
The camp, led by former Manchester United and Arsenal player, Mikael Silvestre, gives budding football fanatics a chance to hone their skills, and learn more about the beautiful game.
Friendly matches will be incorporated at the end of the day to test out newly learned skills and strategies.
The yearly Easter Egg Hunt will see family members of all ages team up to search the island of Kunfunadhoo looking for hidden wooden eggs which can be exchanged for real chocolates. The person who finds the most eggs will be awarded a special prize.
Other children’s activities include making Papier Mâché Easter Eggs, their own egg collecting baskets, Easter-themed cupcakes and masks. They can also take part in an Egg-athon, an Easter Picnic, and a special Den Easter Egg Hunt.
The night before Easter Sunday, a Food Journey will take guests from the over-water Bar(a)bara to Mihiree Mithaa. The culinary adventure past different food stalls, with entertainment along the way, culminates with a Gala Dinner beneath the starry skies.
When it comes to learning outside of the classroom, Soneva makes sure its young guests are always engaged.
Oppidan Education, the UK-based experts for all things learning return to organise summer camp workshops and activities for children on the island. Best suited for children aged seven plus, the group workshops take place every day from 10.30am to 12.30pm and are complimentary.
Oppidan’s mentors are also experienced in helping boost the confidence of children and teens, as well as helping them with their studies. Private one-on-one tutoring and mentorship sessions are offered at an additional price.
Exclusive dinners are set to take place at Once Upon a Table, the intimate chef’s table at Out of the Blue. Cédric Vongerichten (March 25 to April 4), is the Chef de Cuisine at Perry St. and the French-Indonesian restaurant, Wayan, both in New York City, he is also the co-owner of Vong Kitchen and Le Burger, in Jakarta.
Alberto Faccani (March 30 – April 13), the owner and Head Chef of the two Michelin-starred Magnolia, brings his dynamic, self-taught style of cuisine that blends styles, forms and tradition back to Soneva Fushi.
For a taste of Thai cuisine guests should not miss Dylan Jones (April 1-10), who is one half of the dynamic chef duo at the helm of Bangkok’s Bo.lan.
When the sun sets, guests can explore the night skies through the lens of the state-of-the-art telescope with Lars Lindberg Christensen, the award-winning astronomer.
Soneva Jani (March 29 – April 7)
The Den team’s bunny-inspired activities include the Easter Egg Hunt around the lagoon and on the main island of Medhufaru.
Everyone is invited to join in the search for wooden eggs (three eggs can be exchanged for one chocolate egg), with the winner taking home a special prize.
There will also be Easter Egg and Face Painting, as well as Chocolate Easter Egg Decorating with the resort chocolatiers. There will be scavenger hunts, picnics, and a special Easter Disco Party with an entertainer.
Oppidan Education will also be at Soneva Jani over Easter, offering the same complimentary group workshops and private one-on-one tutoring and mentorship sessions for an additional price.
When it comes to dining, visiting chef Cédric Vongerichten (April 2-3) will be hosting an exclusive lunch and dinner at the Crab Shack after he completes his dining experiences at Soneva Fushi.
The resort’s Sommelier team have put together a Truffle and Caviar Wine Pairing, an Organic Wine and Cheese Pairing, and an exclusive Sunset Champagne Tasting out in the middle of the lagoon.
For budding mixologists, the Private In-Villa Sunset Cocktail Classes are not to be missed. The Easter Dinner on North Beach will have guests dancing the night away to tunes spun by a DJ.
Dine at the three recently opened restaurants that are part of Soneva Jani’s Chapter Two.
Overseas by Mathias Dahlgren is a casual, overwater restaurant that serves plant-based and pescatarian dishes for lunch and dinner, with produce freshly picked from the organic gardens, or sustainably caught in the waters around the resort.
So Wild by Diana Von Cranach is a fully plant-based restaurant in the middle of the organic garden that revives historical recipes from around South East Asia and Indonesia. Ingredients are prepared using techniques like steaming, flash-frying, and dehydrating when they are not presented raw.
So Primitive is set around a central fire pit, putting the element of fire in the spotlight. Think roasting, grilling, searing, salt-crusted baking, and cooking in kettles and clay pots over coals.
Travel through the cosmos with private stargazing experiences with the resort’s resident Astronomer or hit the ‘gym’ surrounded by tall screw pines when you take on the Jungle Gym’s obstacles: balancing beams, monkey bars, rope climbs and rings.
In the realm of wellness, Soneva Jani’s Spa and visiting experts have much to offer. Visiting practitioner Hortensia Corredoira’s multi-pronged approach to wellness and healing combines traditional osteopathy and her deep knowledge of the body, muscles and bones, and the cranio-sacral system.
Soneva’s Spa team also holds regular yoga and meditation sessions, as well as lectures on Ayurveda, or guests can enjoy package treatments like the 90-minute Glowing Spa Package, which includes a Sodashi Marine Mineral Facial and an Express Manicure and Pedicure.
Soneva is a pioneering family of hospitality properties, offering holistic encounters in luxurious and inspiring environments – from world class resorts to outstanding natural locations.
Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand rebuke the traditional concept of luxury and instead promise the luxury of time, purity and solitude.
Every day, guests are encouraged to discover sandy feet, inspired minds and full hearts.
Combining luxury with a conscientious approach to sustainability and the environment, and proactively changing the nature of hospitality, it delivers intuitive service and meaningful experiences to the guests.
This Halloween, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives invites families to reconnect over a week of island celebrations. From 28 October to 1 November 2026, Friendly Spirits & Ghosts After Dark brings together imaginative children’s activities, Halloween evenings and time shared in the Maldives.
Home to a 150-metre swimming pool—one of the largest in the country —Kuda Villingili is among the best places to stay in the Maldives for families seeking space, privacy and experiences to enjoy together. Spacious one- to four-bedroom private pool villas provide space and privacy for multi-generational stays, complemented by eight restaurants, a dedicated Kids Club, spa and wellness experiences, watersports, surfing, tennis and pickleball. The five-star luxury resort in the Maldives is located just 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport.
Designed for young explorers, this year’s celebration introduces Kuda Fiyo & the Friendly Ghosts, an original island story that brings Halloween to life through imagination and discovery. Throughout the week, children can follow Kuda Fiyo on an adventure featuring creative workshops, themed games, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, cookie and cupcake decorating, mocktail experiences and a Halloween Party— giving families a collection of family experiences in the Maldives to enjoy together.
As the sun sets, Ghosts After Dark takes over with Halloween-inspired experiences for families, couples and friends. Guests can enjoy haunted cocktails at sunset, set sail on a themed sunset cruise, explore the house reef during guided night snorkelling, try their hand at Halloween mixology or settle in beneath the stars for an open-air movie night. A Halloween Buffet Dinner with seasonal dishes and live entertainment anchors the celebrations, while themed cocktails and mocktails are served throughout the week.
Beyond Halloween, families have the freedom to shape each day around what they enjoy most. They can discover the marine world together, dine across the resort’s restaurants, retreat to the privacy of their villa or spend an afternoon beside the expansive pool. With experiences for different ages and interests, there is space to come together as well as time to enjoy the island individually.
This Halloween, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers families the chance to reconnect, create new traditions and experience the season differently. Friendly Spirits & Ghosts After Dark brings together children’s adventures, evenings by the sea and the freedom of an island holiday.
Because the best family traditions are not simply celebrated—they are created together.
View Kuda Villingili’s Halloween 2026 brochure here. For more information about Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, please visit www.kudavillingili.com.
Joy Island Maldives, part of The Cocoon Collection, has expanded its leisure offering with the launch of Joy Arcade, the resort’s first dedicated gaming room.
The new facility has been introduced as an indoor entertainment space where guests can play individually or with friends and family, adding another activity to the resort’s programme beyond the beach, lagoon and outdoor experiences.
Joy Arcade features four gaming stations built around simulation and virtual reality technology. The line-up includes a three-screen racing car simulator, equipped with a force-feedback steering wheel and pedals; VR Moto, a motion-based motorcycle simulator that moves in response to the virtual terrain; a 9D VR Platform, featuring two motion pods and a selection of adventure, horror and flight experiences; and VR Gun Shooting, which combines a headset with a motion-tracked controller and an in-room leaderboard.
The racing simulator accommodates one player at a time and is recommended for guests aged eight and above, while VR Moto is recommended for those aged 10 and above. The 9D VR Platform can accommodate up to two players and is recommended for guests aged six and above, while VR Gun Shooting is designed for one player at a time and recommended for ages eight and above.
The arcade operates daily from 10am to noon, 2pm to 6pm and 9pm to 11pm. Walk-in guests do not need to make an advance booking, with passes available from the arcade desk during operating hours.
Guests can choose from one-, two-, three- and four-hour Play Passes, as well as an Unlimited Day Pass. Each pass provides access to all four gaming stations, with the duration determining the amount of playing time available. The resort advises guests to check with the arcade desk for current pricing and any rates linked to resort or stay packages.
Joy Arcade is open to guests of all ages, although younger players may require a parent or guardian when using motion-based equipment. Headsets, controllers and safety equipment are provided and sanitised between uses. The room can also be booked for birthday parties and other events, with private sessions, party host assistance and refreshments available for groups.
The addition expands the range of recreational facilities at Joy Island, which positions activities as a central part of its guest experience. The resort also offers tennis and padel, fitness and wellness sessions, excursions, diving and water sports, while its Kids’ Club, Kiddie Cove, provides supervised activities for children aged three to 12.
Its Dive & Water Sports Centre offers activities including scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Other experiences include dolphin cruises, fishing trips and marine excursions.
Joy Island is located in North Malé Atoll, around 40 kilometres from Velana International Airport and approximately 40 minutes away by speedboat. The resort has 151 villas, comprising 91 beach villas and 60 overwater villas, with accommodation options that include villas with private plunge pools. Interiors feature furnishings and design elements by Italian design company LAGO.
The resort also operates Oasis Spa, where treatments combine Eastern and Western wellness approaches, including Balinese massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy and couples’ treatments. Its fitness programme includes yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aqua fitness, gym sessions, beach volleyball and racquet sports.
Joy Island’s food and beverage offering comprises three restaurants and a bar. The Market serves international cuisine through buffet and live cooking stations, while Il Basilico focuses on Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizza. Palm Beach offers beachfront dining, including seafood and grilled dishes, while Rainbow Bar, located beside the swimming pool, serves drinks throughout the day. The resort also offers destination dining experiences, including sandbank picnics, lagoon dinners, beach dinners and garden dining.
With Joy Arcade, the resort is adding an indoor gaming component to an activity programme that already spans water sports, diving, wellness, excursions, children’s activities and racquet sports, providing guests with an additional option for entertainment throughout their stay.
Velaa Private Island will host Velaa Kids Week from 3 to 9 August 2026, bringing together outdoor activities, team challenges and sports sessions for young guests.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with Sharky & George, which specialises in activities and experiences for children. It has been designed to encourage creativity, curiosity and confidence through games and island-based exploration.
Activities will include outdoor adventures, interactive games, team challenges and opportunities to discover the resort’s natural surroundings. The programme will also provide children with opportunities to form friendships and develop teamwork skills during their stay.
World champion freestyle footballer Tobias Becs will join this year’s event, adding a sporting component to the programme. Becs will conduct sessions and demonstrations in which children can learn freestyle football skills, take part in physical activities and try new techniques.
His involvement is intended to introduce young guests to freestyle football in an accessible format, with sessions combining demonstrations, participation and play.
Velaa Kids Week forms part of the resort’s family programming and will offer a scheduled series of activities throughout the seven-day event.
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