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Tropical-chic festive season at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi
Set in one of the Maldives’ largest crystal-clear lagoons, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is the ultimate destination for a picture-perfect festive holiday.
After months of unrest and uncertainty, this Christmas guests are invited to reset, reconnect, rediscover and relieve in the otherworldly Maldivian setting.
The resort has organised a host of fun and educational activities both underwater and on land to keep its discerning guests entertained for the most awaited season of the year.
From Michelin-starred tasting menus to countless interactive initiatives to preserve and protect our environment, from world-class wellness visiting practitioners to mood-boosting fitness programs, there’s no limit to what one can experience on the island this Christmas.
Reset mind, body
At Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, holistic and ancient wellbeing disciplines are combined with personalised treatments at the island-inspired Willow Stream Spa, exceptional fitness facilities, world-class coaches and new nourishing plant-based menus.
Those looking to develop a closer relationship with their inner self and the natural surroundings can join resident instructor Lamy for peaceful sunrise or sunset yoga sessions while fitness junkies can boost endorphin levels with the resort’s bespoke FIT programme, comprising of private personal training sessions and boxing lessons.
Tennis fans can release their inner Nadal on the island’s splendid court and improve their technique with the new private tennis clinics, while families can bond with a friendly match on the football pitch.
This festive season, gift yourself with peace of mind and embark on a journey of self-healing, emotional regeneration and personal discovery as part of the new visiting wellness practitioner series.
The series will continue throughout 2022 and will include world-renowned personalities from the worlds of fitness, holistic wellbeing, and aesthetic medicine.
Reconnect with nature
Built on an ethos of positive environmental impact, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi enables eco-conscious travellers to reconnect with the surrounding nature while also protecting and preserving it.
Home to the world’s first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation, the Coralarium, Fairmont Maldives recently launched the Turtle Ranger programme.
Budding marine biologists can learn how to track critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles from the resort’s very own Resident Marine Biologist, Sam Dixon, who spearheads the island’s environmental projects. Sam oversees the children release hatchlings into the ocean, care for nests, plant crucial new coral and snorkel one of the most biodiverse reefs in the world.
Ready in time for the festive, Fairmont Maldives will be the first Maldivian resort to host a Sustainability Lab. A hub of eco-education, the Sustainability Lab will turn plastic waste into bespoke souvenirs and unique products, educate guests and empower local communities, helping the resort achieve its goal of being the first zero waste generating resort in the Maldives and becoming the main recycling centre in the North Malé region.
Boasting some of the world’s most pristine beaches and mesmerising marine life, Fairmont Maldives provides guests with a vibrant setting for a wealth of adrenaline-filled activities: from canoeing the lagoon to paddle boarding, from jet ski to kayak, recharge and boost your mood with a menu of water-based, upskilling experiences.
Intrepid guests can go on exciting diving and snorkelling excursions, exploring the 9km house reef and crystal-clear lagoon (seasonal activity). Only a short boat ride away from the beach, they will be enchanted by manta ray cleaning stations – where gliding rays stop to be cleaned by tiny fish – swim with guitar sharks and reef sharks while rubbing shoulders with the 40 resident turtles and a variety of vibrant reef fish.
Rediscover your zest for life
Thanks to the extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences available at Fairmont Maldives, this festive season will be all about creating life-long memories.
Families can enjoy their favourite movies under the stars with a pop-up cinema experience at the Tented Jungle Villas – safari-style lodgings in the heart of the island’s jungle – or rekindle with their other half at the tranquil Willow Stream Spa.
Epicureans can feast on the mouth-watering creations of three passionate visiting chefs. Decorated with two Michelin stars, chef Mickael Viljanen will take over AZURE restaurant from 29th December to 3rd of January and serve up a 6-course tasting menu inspired by his awarded Dublin restaurant; the Greenhouse.
Acclaimed chef Alexandre Demard will bring to the island famed French delights, including his signature Onion Soup, topped with savory foamy cream, while diners at Onu Onu can taste the Thai-Balinese aromatic dishes of top female chef, Sojinda Tongtawin.
Culture vultures interested in discovering the local way of life can do so with carefully curated experiences by Fairmont Maldives.
Join the team for a fishing expedition as the sun disappears behind the water or hop aboard a boat with a picnic basket and snorkel-mask in hand, sailing to a deserted island for an otherworldly sandbank picnic.
Socially conscious travellers can visit one of the nearby inhabited islands and meet the local community to learn about their culture and experience their way of life (subject to local regulations).
Relieve
To welcome 2022 in style, the resort will host a tropical-chic masquerade party featuring music from the talented ABBA Tribute Band and a whole host of other sensational acts. A spectacular firework show will light up the beautiful Maldivian sky as the clock turns to midnight.
Thanks to the world-famous bespoke Fairmont service, state-of-the-art island facilities and thoughtfully designed packages, at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi guests can enjoy the most seamless and carefree of stays.
With the new all-inclusive Limitless Festive Season package guests can enjoy sumptuous daily buffet breakfast and lunch at the island’s vibrant dining hub, Raha Market, and sip non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks around the clock.
For dinner, guests are free to choose between a three-course meal at the beachfront Onu Onu – the vibrant social heart of the resort – or a three-course sushi feast at the Japanese restaurant, Kata.
The Limitless Festive Season package costs from $3326++ and can be booked until 30 November 2021 for stays between 21 December 2021 and 10 January 2022. For further information please visit https://www.fairmont-maldives.com/festive-season/
Divers from Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives recorded a whale shark sighting last month during a dive at Kandooma Thila in South Malé Atoll.
The encounter took place on 13 April during a guided dive led by Dive Centre Manager Ibrahim Shaan. The whale shark, estimated to be approximately six metres in length, is believed to be a juvenile aged between eight and 15 years. The animal remained in the vicinity of the divers for more than 30 minutes before leaving the area.
Shaan said the whale shark entered the dive site calmly, circled alongside the group and remained present for an extended period. He described the encounter as one of the most notable experiences observed at the site.
Whale shark sightings are considered uncommon in South Malé Atoll, where the species is not typically resident. They are more frequently associated with the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, one of the primary aggregation areas for whale sharks in the country.
The Maldives is regarded as a key destination for whale shark encounters due to environmental conditions including warm waters, nutrient-rich currents and seasonal plankton blooms. Whale sharks are filter feeders and migrate across large distances, often following food sources.
The sighting at Kandooma Thila is understood to be linked to broader migratory movement through the atoll system, with the animal potentially following plankton concentrations or feeding opportunities created by ocean currents.
Kandooma Thila is known for its coral-covered structure, current-driven conditions and marine biodiversity, factors which may attract larger pelagic species on a temporary basis.
Following the sighting, the resort has submitted photographs and video footage to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) for potential identification through its national database. Whale sharks can be identified through unique spot patterns located behind the gills and along their flanks.
The MWSRP’s Big Fish Network database has recorded more than 800 individual whale sharks in the Maldives, contributing to long-term research on migration patterns, population dynamics and species health.
Sharon Garrett, Director of Marketing and Sustainability at the resort, said the data collected would support ongoing research and conservation efforts. She noted that such information contributes to understanding seasonal movement patterns, assessing environmental conditions and informing marine protection measures.
The resort has also reiterated the importance of responsible interaction with marine wildlife. Recommended practices include maintaining distance, avoiding physical contact, refraining from flash photography and ensuring appropriate buoyancy control.
Boat strike incidents remain a recognised threat to whale sharks in Maldivian waters, highlighting the need for careful vessel operation in areas where marine life is present.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is located approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport and provides access to multiple dive sites in South Malé Atoll. The resort also operates a Dive Free programme, offering up to two complimentary dives per day for certified divers staying a minimum of three nights.
Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort has announced its “Eid in Harmony” programme for Eid al-Adha, scheduled from 27 to 29 May 2026, offering guests a series of curated experiences centred on dining, cultural elements and leisure activities.
The programme is designed to provide a structured yet relaxed approach to the celebration, with a focus on shared experiences and engagement with the island environment. According to the resort, the initiative aims to bring together cultural traditions and hospitality offerings within a resort setting.
A central feature of the programme will be the Eid al-Adha Feast, a dining experience presenting a selection of dishes prepared for the occasion. The event will be set in a themed environment reflecting elements associated with Eid.
The resort will also introduce an “Eid Gift with Purpose” initiative, positioned as a gesture aligned with the values of giving and reflection associated with the occasion.
In addition, guests will have the option to participate in a Guest Archery Competition, offering a recreational activity designed to complement the island setting and provide an alternative form of engagement during the celebration period.
Alongside the programme, the resort has launched an “Eid Island Escape” offer, which includes a range of inclusions for guests staying during the period. These include a 30-minute jet lag recovery massage, daily breakfast at Raha Market, dinner on a dine-around basis across selected restaurants, and a one-time floating breakfast experience.
In a statement, the resort’s management said the programme is intended to reflect the values of togetherness and reflection associated with Eid al-Adha, while offering guests opportunities to spend time with family and participate in shared experiences.
Through the three-day programme, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort is presenting Eid al-Adha as a combination of dining, leisure and cultural activities within a resort environment.
Reethi Faru Resort has received Green Globe certification, recognising its compliance with international standards for sustainable tourism.
The certification reflects the resort’s stated commitment to responsible hospitality, with a focus on environmental management, social responsibility and operational practices across the property.
Green Globe certification is awarded following an assessment based on established sustainability criteria and verified through independent third-party audits. The standard reviews performance in areas including environmental management, energy efficiency, resource conservation, community engagement and sustainable operations.
With the certification, Reethi Faru Resort joins a group of hospitality operators worldwide that have met Green Globe’s sustainability requirements and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to improvement in tourism practices.
In a statement, the management of Reethi Faru Resort said the recognition reflects the resort’s continued focus on preserving the natural environment of the Maldives while maintaining the guest experience. The management added that sustainability forms part of the resort’s daily operations.
The Green Globe standard includes more than 40 core criteria supported by over 380 compliance indicators, providing a framework for assessing sustainability performance in the hospitality sector.
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