Featured
Magical Baros tale: Festive highlights at Baros Maldives
Baros is celebrated for its idyllic ambience, alluring comfort and endless bewitching experiences. While we prepare to welcome the festive season, our blissful island invites guests to “A Magical Baros Tale” journey from 22nd December through to 7th January 2023.
Baros guests can take their loved ones to celebrate this festive season with unparalleled gastronomic highlights, exhilarating excursions and the freedom to relax at your home-away-from-home; this holiday season will be a tale to remember.
With the season’s itinerary filled with our carefully hand-selected collection of the best experiences, every moment invites guests to a spellbinding adventure. Serenity Spa has prepared an array of alleviating treatments for guests anticipating moments to heal and unwind. Whether it is being pampered in the comfort of their villa, joining a group aqua yoga session or simply delighting in a festive glow treatment, there are endless moments dedicated to creating the most rejuvenating holiday for guests.
The outstanding culinary experience at Baros presents numerous activities for guests to partake in. Spark the holiday spirit with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Palm Garden, and watch as the festive soul takes over the atmosphere. Gather with family and friends on Christmas Eve cocktails, while the evening will be enlightened by a Buffet style Gala Dinner at Lime restaurant or the lavish Christmas Eve Gourmet experience at The Lighthouse restaurant serving a six-course set dinner meticulously prepared by Chef de Cuisine Pasindu and his culinary team.
In addition to the delectable culinary experiences accompanied by live music, guests can also take part in multiple cooking classes with our award-winning chefs, offering the secrets of our mouth-watering dishes. For an untethered journey at Baros, where the romance never fades out, guests are welcome to witness the sunrise paired with a decadent breakfast at a private sandbank or dine under the stars surrounded by nothing but the blue lagoons at our private Piano Deck.
With activities like diving and snorkelling at the coral plantation, guests can witness the marine life and participate in eco-friendly activities designed to preserve and protect the underwater beauty. The world-class Baros house reef is open day or night for those keen on exploring the mesmerising world. The Baros Dive and Marine Centre has prepared a plethora of activities for guests seeking the rush of adrenaline on water. From coasting on the waters on a catamaran to admiring the Maldivian seas as they set sail at sunset, sunrise or during the twilight hours to fish, there are boundless opportunities to be mesmerised at Baros this festive season.
Every moment at Baros is designed to transform extraordinary moments into lasting memories. With our traditional New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, the celebration of culinary delights and Gourmet Experience at The Lighthouse restaurant and an attractive lineup of a Maldivian live band and DJ performance, guests can say goodbye to 2022 and toast to 2023 in the most enchanting way – all night long.
“For this upcoming festive season, we have crafted an abundance of inspiring holiday experiences, exquisite culinary surprises curated by our award-winning chefs and served in timeless style, moments to unwind and heal, romantic moments, fun-filled underwater escapades and varied live entertainment that may bring our guests, families and friends together in joy and harmony,” comments Ibrahim Shijah, General Manager of Baros.
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.
-
Cooking1 week agoVakkaru Maldives welcomes back Chef Jesper Koch for autumn culinary residency
-
Entertainment6 days agoIfuru Island Maldives to stage four nights of music and culture with Ripple & Friends
-
News1 week agoMandara Spa launches immersive wellness journeys across Maldives resorts
-
News1 week agoChavana Spa introduces personalised wellness journeys in Maldives
-
News1 week agoFootball stars, freestyle champions headline Kandima Maldives’ Summer Kamp 2026
-
Action4 days agoRoyal Island takes Best Dive Resort honour at TTM Awards 2026
-
Cooking7 days agoRiva enters new chapter with Mediterranean concept at JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll
-
Action5 days agoDusit Thani Maldives named Best House Reefs at TTM Awards 2026


