Featured
Gift your ultra-cool dad a bucket list stay at Kandima Maldives
This Father’s Day, treat your oh-so kool father with a well-deserved vacation at Kandima’s 3 km long island (desti)nation. With lots of oh-so fun experiences, multitude of dining options and space to play in, your dad will be in for a seriously fun time.
Let this Father’s Day be all about bucket list experiences. Go all out and surprise him with an action packed Big Game fishing, parasailing or underwater exploring sea bob experience at the Aquaholics. Is your dad a newbie to diving? You can gift a once in a lifetime experience of Discover Scuba Diving in the pristine waters of the Dhaalu atoll. Even better, you can adopt a coral frame for your family to bring your own contribution to conserve the ecosystem.
If your dad needs some serious foodie indulgence filled with some oh-so kool experience, then Kandima’s signature destination dining experience is a must. With 10 dining options, your dad will be spoilt of choice! Does you dad enjoy cooking? There are exceptional Maldivian cooking classes and even sustainable cocktail making classes to keep him up with the trends!
Designed as an ideal space for the cool families to reconnect and indulge in endless fun, all fathers at the resort will finally get to enjoy some family time. From ultra-special family movie nights, bucket list floating breakfast to private island experience such as the Castaway Island experience, no shells will be left unturned to spoil your dad!
That’s not it! Kandima got more in store for you! Pamper your dad at the award winning esKape spa and let him relish in pampering signature massages; Maldivian Ocean Dream Massage, Paradise Me or Sea Coconut Secret which combines a blend of specialised techniques and organic luscious Maldivian coconut oil to bring relieve to his tired muscles. In need of a break from the humdrum of life? Kandima offers yoga and meditation also to soothe the body and soul.
Always wanted to learn to play tennis? Then Kandima is the place for you. Fathers can perfect their service at our unique tennis courts overlooking the unique blue landscape. Kandima has got the fitness freak dads covered too with Kandima’s state-of-the-art fitness facilities at Burn studio with its own private swimming pool, fitness pavilion, tennis, badminton and beach volleyball courts and a football field.
Feeling creative? Dads can express their artistic touch at Kandima’s Art Centre, where inspiration lies just a footstep away. After that, why not enjoy a relaxing cold beverage at Breeze Bar, open every evening with live music entertainment. What’s even cooler is that Kandima is one of the very few resorts in the Maldives which entertains 7 days a week! There’s surely no room for boredom at our game-changing lifestyle resort!
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.
-
Meditation1 week agoFour Seasons Kuda Huraa introduces ŪRJĀ, a new naturopathy wellness island
-
Honeymoon1 week ago10 ways Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is redefining the modern Maldives honeymoon
-
Cooking7 days agoVakkaru Maldives welcomes back Chef Jesper Koch for autumn culinary residency
-
Entertainment5 days agoIfuru Island Maldives to stage four nights of music and culture with Ripple & Friends
-
News1 week agoChavana Spa introduces personalised wellness journeys in Maldives
-
News1 week agoMandara Spa launches immersive wellness journeys across Maldives resorts
-
News7 days agoFootball stars, freestyle champions headline Kandima Maldives’ Summer Kamp 2026
-
Cooking5 days agoRiva enters new chapter with Mediterranean concept at JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll


