Featured
Nova Maldives: bright new star in Maldives invites guests for ‘good soul days’

Pulse Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of its newest addition to its portfolio, Nova Maldives. A bright new star in the Maldives is born!
There are holidays and then there are good soul days
Located in the heart of the South Ari Atoll, just 25 minutes away by seaplane from the Velana International Airport, Nova is an all-natural island with soul that sparks joy and is designed for real connection with a modern all-inclusive community concept. Nova believes in a greater calling than simply a lifestyle holiday destination, it’s where people can live in the moment and immerse themselves into the spirit of the Maldives and the vibrant Nova community.
The island soul
The world-famous South Ari Atoll is one of the biggest atolls in the Maldives and is known for its spectacular diving sites and as a scuba diver’s ultimate playground with regular sightings of whale sharks, Manta rays, shark points and some impressive shipwrecks. Nova is located in the heart of the atoll, and the underwater world surrounding Nova and its incredible house reef is known for its breathtaking marine life – a nature’s playground for water lovers that gives a treat for the soul underwater. But here’s where the main attraction is – located near SAMPA (South Ari Marine Protected Areas) Nova is the ultimate destination for all avid divers and snorkelers. There are a few destinations in the world where in-season whale shark sightings are guaranteed – Nova happens to be one of them.
While at Nova, you are bound to encounter the magnificent Manta rays and the whale sharks throughout the year around the Nova waters as well as a plethora of colourful fish, eagle rays and various types of sharks. Swim or glide alongside the gentle giants of the ocean – a meditative, soul-filling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Your soul place
The all-natural island boasts 76 spacious over-water and beach villas with 10 categories designed for the ultimate stay, whether you travel with your significant other, solo, with loved ones, friends or family, each villa is designed with utmost care in contemporary minimalist design to ensure that your stay is a blissful one. Private terraces and endless ocean views? Check. Pared-back interiors awash with custom-made furniture and well-stocked fridges (generously replenished daily)? Check, check and check. Everything is built using natural materials to blend in perfect harmony with the lush tropical surroundings. With fast WiFi and surround sound TV, stay as connected as you wish or disconnect completely in the rainfall shower, king-size bed, and inspiring surroundings. Turn off your phone, kick off your shoes and relax. At Nova, nothing feels as good as taking the day at your own pace, especially with such a view.

Feed your soul
At Soul Kitchen, Nova’s relaxed all-day dining buffet venue, guests can savour the freshest flavours from around the world in a light and bright setting. Additionally, there are two à la carte restaurants: Flames, Nova’s Grill House, the go-to place for the most delicious and succulent grilled local fish, seafood and fine meat dishes, and the absolute foodie highlight, Mizu. The overwater Teppanyaki experience with live cooking stations, is where you can spoil yourself with a signature menu with fresh tropical flavours and seared ocean delights. Whatever your heart desires, Nova promises to not only deliver but make it just right – a love song to your soul.

Into the groove
Nova also brings together and offers a fluid range of experiences for its community to make real connections and moments they’ll remember for a lifetime. The soulful island is always brimming with activities whether it is pool parties at Solis Pool Bar, evening gatherings for communal snacks, DJs, and party nights at the main bar, Wink, our guests are never out of options for entertainment and part of a community that connects and experiences Nova and the Maldives together.

Rejuvenate your soul
Pamper your body, mind and soul at Eskape Spa, nested over-water with breathtaking views of the Nova lagoon. The spa at Nova will take you through a holistic wellness journey to reconnect and awaken your senses, by featuring four blissful treatment rooms with an indulging choice of organic oils, a Thai Sala and a yoga pavilion. The Nova wellness experts also offer a host of holistic spa rituals using luxurious organic products and tailor-made wellness programmes to the good souls at Nova to enhance their body’s and soul’s wellbeing and restore moments of mindfulness.

Playful soul
Nova’s water sports and dive centre ‘Aquaholics’ boasts a world-class PADI aqua team and a resident Marine Biologist who are all equipped to provide a wide range of water activities, all set to give you the experience of a lifetime at any of the 40+ dive sites around the island within a 30-minute boat ride from Nova. Besides jet skiing, parasailing, waterski, wakeboarding, fun rides, kayak, SUP, kite and windsurfing and Topcat sailing, Nova guests can also engage in some community-filled activities like beach volleyball, tennis, football, and not to forget a state-of-the-art fitness centre. There is enough for the love of a physical soul too!

Nova cares
Environment protection and sustainability are at the heart of the Nova soul. The resident marine team is dedicated to leading coral adoption initiatives, and Nova also promotes a guest programme to support and protect nature initiatives. Using organic and biodegradable materials has further enhanced Nova’s commitment to save the sensitive reef structures and the nature within the island. Nova’s key values being responsible includes minimising its carbon footprint by reducing the islands waste and energy consumption. All water waste and glass are recycled, food composted, items responsibly packaged, energy saved through smart room controls and printed collateral radically reduced by the mobile app and interactive systems.
Nova nation
Nova believes in being part of the community and to be rooted in the Maldivian history and culture, creatively indulging in promoting local art forms and experiences for its guests. Nova guests will experience regular cultural interactions and performances of authentic Maldivian artists, savour Maldivian food, including food tasting and cookery classes, learn from local artisans and manufacturers or simply enrich their souls by a visit to the nearby cultural heritage village to immerse themselves in traditional island life.
Nova is geared up to bring playful and curious experiences into our everyday lives, and strictly abiding by respecting our precious environment by being responsible and smart, it promises to deliver a human connection that touches your soul.
Be it by lounging on the beach, partaking in some fun activities, or indulging in some downtime at the Spa – there’s only ONE thing you need to know about Nova. Here, at your soulful home, you decide what you want to do. Nova is about people taking the time to do what makes their soul happy. From the moment you step on the island, the only feeling you experience is pure joy, happiness, and soulful bliss!
Peek into the world of brighter possibilities, elevated encounters, and good soul days!
Book now from USD 545 all-inclusive, based on two soulmates sharing. Stay informed and visit Nova Maldives online: www.nova-maldives.com Don’t hold back, and get in touch with: hello@nova-maldives.com
Featured
Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives unveils ‘Love in the Lagoon’ underwater proposal experience

Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives has introduced ‘Love in the Lagoon’, an exclusive underwater proposal experience that redefines romance in the Maldives. Designed to make life’s most significant moments truly unforgettable, the offering invites couples to declare their love beneath the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
The experience features an underwater setting elegantly adorned to create the ideal backdrop for a proposal. Certified instructors guide couples through the dive, ensuring a safe and memorable experience suitable for both beginners and seasoned divers.
Adding a creative flourish, the ring presentation is thoughtfully arranged to enhance the occasion, while a professional photo and video team captures each moment, both above and below the surface.
The celebration continues with a private dinner for two — set either by the beach or pool — complemented by a bottle of sparkling wine to mark the beginning of a lifelong journey together.
Through ‘Love in the Lagoon’, Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives seamlessly blends adventure, sophistication, and romance to offer an extraordinary proposal experience unlike any other.
Drink
Liu Bolin and Maison Ruinart bring artistic alchemy to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has announced a landmark residency that brings together two cultural icons – acclaimed Chinese performance artist and photographer Liu Bolin, known as The Invisible Man, and Maison Ruinart, the world’s first established Champagne house and a long-standing patron of the arts. Taking place from 27 to 30 November, the collaboration will offer guests a rare opportunity to experience live performances, curated art exhibitions, exclusive Ruinart Champagne tastings, and immersive dining experiences, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldivian archipelago.
Renowned for his thought-provoking camouflage installations that explore humanity’s relationship with its surroundings, Liu Bolin will stage a live artistic performance on the shores of the Fari Islands. Continuing his creative partnership with Maison Ruinart, the collaboration reflects a shared dialogue between nature, culture, and craftsmanship, in harmony with The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ philosophy of meaningful connection through art and environment.
The residency opens on 27 November at the resort’s architectural showpiece, EAU Bar, with a Ruinart takeover featuring a bespoke bar installation and two large-scale artworks from Bolin’s Ruinart commission. The opening evening will include an intimate live rehearsal by the artist — a prelude to his main performance on 30 November — complemented by a Ruinart Hour Champagne reception with creatively paired canapés.
An immersive exhibition of ten artworks, including Bolin’s Reveal the Invisible series, will be unveiled at The Estate, the resort’s signature private villa. During the residency, guests will have the opportunity to join a salon-style conversation and participate in a creative workshop hosted by Bolin himself.
Across three days, the collaboration will present a series of champagne-led tastings and culinary pairings inspired by the intersection of art and gastronomy.
On 28 November, the Beach Shack restaurant will host an exclusive tasting of Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 and 2013, followed by a Ruinart Artist Dinner featuring dishes inspired by Bolin’s camouflage aesthetics. Menu highlights will include Fine De Claire oysters with salted cucumber and Oscietra caviar, paired with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Second Skin; Maldivian octopus with roasted cauliflower purée and passion fruit reduction, paired with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010; and Sea Bass with Japanese sea urchin, accompanied by Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2009.
On 29 November, guests will join Bolin at The Estate for a hands-on workshop painting Ruinart’s eco-designed second skins, followed by a tasting of Ruinart Rosé and Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009. The evening will continue at Summer Pavilion, the resort’s Cantonese restaurant, featuring an exceptional pairing of Ruinart Champagnes with refined regional dishes such as Chaozhou-cured abalone and sea cucumber, Hong Kong-style king crab, and the ‘Big Red Robe’ soft serve with crème brûlée.
On 30 November, the final day of the residency, guests will be invited to a reflective dialogue and book signing with Liu Bolin, followed by a final Ruinart tasting exploring Dom Ruinart 2010 and Dom Rosé 2009. The series will culminate in Bolin’s live painted performance during the resort’s signature Defining Moment ritual at EAU Bar — a performance to be immortalised in a photographic artwork for future exhibitions.
EAU Bar, framed by the forces of wind and sea, provides a fitting setting for Liu Bolin’s concluding performance. As the sun dips below the horizon, the resort’s Defining Moment ritual — a daily celebration featuring traditional Maldivian Bodu Beru drums and a fire-lighting ceremony — will form the backdrop for Bolin’s act of disappearance. Painted to merge seamlessly with the surrounding seascape, the artist will dissolve into the colours of the Indian Ocean, embodying his central message about the fragile relationship between humanity and nature. The fleeting spectacle will capture a suspended moment where art, landscape, and identity converge.
“The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has always stood as a destination for transformative experiences,” said Oscar Postma, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. “Welcoming Liu Bolin and Maison Ruinart to our shores elevates this vision, uniting contemporary art, cultural dialogue, and exceptional gastronomy in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural settings.”
Awards
The Nautilus Maldives honoured in 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Awards

In an increasingly fast-paced world, The Nautilus Maldives stands as a sanctuary where time slows and moments linger — a place that continues to capture the attention of discerning travellers. This haven of unhurried living has once again been recognised in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, as voted by readers in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
The accolade reaffirms the island’s quiet ability to enchant. With just 26 exclusive ocean and beach houses, The Nautilus offers complete privacy and a philosophy built entirely around individual freedom. Dining is available whenever a guest desires, and experiences unfold as inspiration strikes. A secluded sandbank transforms into a private dining room, and the Maldivian night sky becomes a stage for endless wonder.
“To be recognised again by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers is deeply meaningful,” said Adan Gomez, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives. “Our guests come seeking beauty, but what they discover and cherish is freedom — the freedom to design their own rhythm and to create moments that are theirs alone.”
At The Nautilus, luxury is defined as liberation. Guests may drift through the UNESCO-protected waters of Baa Atoll, indulge in a Solasta Spa ritual without time limits, or share vintage champagne beneath a canopy of stars. Each stay unfolds as a personal narrative — unscripted, unhurried, and unforgettable.
Now in its thirty-eighth year, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards remain among the most respected distinctions in global travel. The results, drawn exclusively from readers’ experiences and opinions, continue to represent one of the industry’s most prestigious marks of excellence.
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