Featured
Enjoy unforgettable October in Maldives with Soneva

Pioneering hospitality group Soneva has announced its spectacular October programme across its award-winning resorts.
At Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives, the exceptional holiday line-up is designed to delight guests of all ages – with one-of-a-kind family experiences, Michelin-starred guest chefs, rejuvenating wellness treatments, and a star-studded line-up of visiting experts through the ever-evolving Soneva Stars calendar.
As part of their dazzling October programmes, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani will also be celebrating 2022’s Diwali with unique festival of light-themed experiences for the whole family and special guest appearances – including renowned ‘curry queen’ Dipna Anand.
Soneva Fushi
Guests at Soneva Fushi this summer can dine with six exceptional visiting chefs from around the world as part of the Soneva Stars roster.
German chef Sascha Stemberg has been at the helm of his family’s Michelin-starred Haus Stemberg in Velbert, Germany, since 2015. Winner of the 2013 World Sushi Cup and ‘World’s Most Creative Sushi Master’, Pepi Aneveski, will be showcasing his refined sushi mastery.
Curry queen of the Indian cookery world and co-owner of the famous Brilliant Restaurant in West London’s Southall, Dipna Anand will be showcasing some of her grandfather’s Punjabi recipes during unforgettable Diwali dinners.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen is the executive chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote restaurant in Lancashire, England, while Chantelle Nicholson is one of the leading female voices in the UK’s hospitality industry.
Viktor Beley, brand chef of Moscow’s Uhvat restaurant, will be showcasing his original interpretation of traditional Russian cuisine.
In the realm of sports and fitness, six-time NFL Pro-Bowl player Terrel Owens will be hosting a series of workshops for Young Sonevians.
Former English professional rugby player Ben Cohen and his wife Kristina Rihanoff, a world finalist professional ballroom dancer, instructor, choreographer and author, will be helping guests stay in shape with their renowned fitness programmes.
The man behind the global fitness brand The Body Coach and ‘The Body Coach TV’ YouTube channel, Joe Wicks will be conducting workshops and training sessions for guests.
Todd Woodbridge is best known as one of the world’s greatest doubles players in history, while Brazilian former professional footballer ‘Naldo’ was named the best Bundesliga player in 2017 and was the first defender in Bundesliga history to top this category.
Olympic Swedish swimmer Therese Alshammar will be helping Young Sonevians perfect their stroke while having fun in the water.
With more than two decades’ experience as a fitness coach and therapeutic masseur, life-long ultra-endurance athlete Eduardo Sierra will be approaching acute and chronic pain conditions from a multifaceted toolbox combining acupuncture, soft tissue work, osteopathy and the latest functional neurology research at Soneva Soul.
At Soneva Fushi’s island observatory, guests can take a fascinating voyage across the heavens with visiting astronomer Dr James O’Donoghue. A planetary astronomer at the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), he’ll be hosting after-dinner stargazing sessions along with fascinating talks about astronomy throughout the day.
The Den at Soneva Fushi also has a fun-packed programme daily of experiences and activities for younger guests, including eco-friendly arts and crafts workshops, a range of water sports, DJing and mocktail-making classes for teens, movie nights and stargazing workshops, as well as special cooking classes for Diwali celebrations. Older children are also invited to connect with the world around them with the Soneva Academy’s immersive modular courses, from exploring the stars to learning about sustainability and the Maldives’ marine realm.
View the Soneva Fushi October Programme

Soneva Jani
Soneva’s exceptional line-up of visiting chefs will also be going to Soneva Jani in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll.
Sascha Stemberg, Pepi Aneveski, Dipna Anand, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Chantelle Nicholson and Viktor Beley will all be hosting exclusive dinners at the resort, including at So Engaging, the intimate chef’s table that seats just five guests.
Other unforgettable dining experiences during the October calendar include a Champagne sunrise breakfast on the sands of North Beach and a selection of succulent crabs and seafood at our award-winning, open-aired Crab Shack.
A mouth-watering selection of themed dinners showcasing the continent’s eclectic cuisine can be found at Asian Kitchen, while diners can explore the heavens with astronomer Dr James O’Donoghue at So Starstruck, the Maldives’ only overwater telescope.
A special Diwali celebration dinner with live entertainment will also be taking place on Soneva Jani’s South Beach during the festival of lights.
Helping guests stay active this October, fitness experts Joe Wicks, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff will be conducting their renowned workshops and training sessions.
Former professional football player Ibrahim ‘Ibou’ Ba will be hosting a Young Sonevians’ Football Club, while former professional tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska, known for making intelligent use of the court, will be teaching a series of tennis camps.
Younger guests can also make a splash with Olympic Swedish swimmer Therese Alshammar during a series of swimming sessions.
At Soneva Soul, visiting therapist and clinical chiro practitioner Dr Chet Collins, whose record for relieving and correcting persistent physical pain has resulted in an international reputation as ‘Dr Magic Hands’, will be helping guests find immediate relief and long-term solutions for their physical needs through a range of treatments.
Guests can also join Soneva Jani’s own yoga and meditation masters, Justin and Kamal, for yoga and meditation sessions and learn how to enhance overall wellbeing, stretch and strengthen the body, focus the mind and balance emotions.
The playful escapism of Soneva Jani’s luxurious 5.6-kilometre lagoon makes the resort irresistible to experience seekers. A range of complimentary non-motorised water sports, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling at the house reef are on offer. Or experience the ocean with complete freedom with some of the latest motorised tech, including eSurfboards and Flyboards, and learn to move through the water like a fish, on the surface and beneath the waves.
A haven for families, The Den at Soneva Jani features a daily roster of exciting, educational and engaging opportunities for both young children and teenagers to create meaningful moments at the barefoot hideaway. Inspired by childhood wonder, The Den is a two-storey awe-inspiring playground for the imagination – and now one of the largest children’s clubs in Asia. Featuring a zipline through a cascading waterfall; areas for music, Lego, dressing up and creativity; a soothing sensory room for toddlers and a hidden hangout for teens where mocktails and music set the scene; plus so much more – there’s something for all Young Sonevians, both large and small.
Older children and teens can also join the Soneva Academy, which takes learning outside of the classroom with a selection of fascinating immersive courses, including the Marine Life of the Maldives, Mosquitoes and the Adventure of the Corbin, which follows the voyage of an ancient treasure galleon.
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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