Featured
Vakkaru Maldives continues to innovate with new guest experiences
There’s always something exciting going on at Vakkaru Maldives. In time for the festive season, the timeless island sanctuary in the pristine Baa Atoll has further enhanced its guest experience by adding two new exciting offerings – Jungle Cinema and Anguru Teppanyaki restaurant.
The Jungle Cinema certainly lives up to its name. It is located in a private spot in the centre of the island and is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. It seats up to 10 people and is ideal for a family, a small group of friends, or a romantic movie date night for a couple. There is a wide selection of movie genres to choose from, and two screenings are possible every night – the first one at 7.30 pm and the second from 9.30 pm onwards. A private movie screening in the Jungle Cinema includes free-flow soft drinks and popcorn, while for a more elaborate night out, guests can also opt for a movie night that includes a set menu dinner.
Complementing Vakkaru’s exciting dine-around journey, Anguru, the new teppanyaki restaurant and the resort’s sixth food and beverage outlet, is a deliciously interactive dining experience. In the old days, coconut shells were used for fire and cooking in the traditional Maldivian kitchen. The by-product was “coconut shell charcoal” or “anguru’ in the Dhivehi language that is then used for barbecues. The restaurant’s name also celebrates the island’s heritage as a coconut plantation, which is still home to 2,300 trees today.

The restaurant, housed in a gazebo with a thatched roof near the main pool, lets diners watch the talented chefs slice, dice and sear right before their eyes. Open for lunch and dinner, Anguru can seat 10 diners and serves an a la carte menu for lunch and set menus for dinner. The a la carte menu offers a sumptuous selection of sushi, maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi to start the meal. For mains, diners can select from a range of premium meats and fresh seafood, including Australian Wagyu, Angus beef, Maldivian Grade A tuna, Scottish Salmon, and Maldivian lobster. Mains are all accompanied by miso soup, teppanyaki grilled vegetables, Japanese pickles and signature Japanese fried rice. Flambe pineapple and ice cream stuffed with batter-fried profiteroles are some of the desserts on offer.
Set menus such as the Sunset Flair and Ocean Delight include sushi, sashimi, soups, mains and desserts. The extravagant Surf & Turf set starts with a seafood soup, assorted sushi, lobster popcorn, pineapple and Malibu sorbet. Next, the mains are fresh Maldivian lobster and Tajima Wagyu beef MB, pan-seared foie gras, baby vegetables, and vegetable fried rice. Finally, the orange macerated flambé crepes bring a sweet end to the meal.
Speaking about the new guest experiences, Iain McCormack, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives, said: “All our guests are evolved, luxury travellers. And at Vakkaru, we are always looking for ways to improve and elevate the experiences we offer to match and exceed their expectations. As a result, both Jungle Cinema and the Anguru Teppanyaki restaurant have been refined with singular attention to detail to deliver unique, exceptional moments to our guests.”
For more information, contact reservations@vakkarumaldives.com or visit vakkarumaldives.com.
Featured
Westin Maldives Miriandhoo introduces Family Fun Summer package
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Awards
Reethi Faru Resort recognised in four categories at 2026 Haute Grandeur Awards
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
Featured
Sun Siyam Olhuveli launches Coral Frame Adoption programme on Earth Day
To mark Earth Day, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, part of the Lifestyle Collection within the House of Siyam, launched its new marine conservation initiative, the Adopt A Coral Frame experience, during a morning event held on 22 April at Milano Beach on Dream Island.
The initiative forms part of the resort’s wider marine conservation efforts and is designed to give guests a direct way to engage with coral restoration while supporting the protection of the surrounding reef ecosystem.
During the launch, guests were introduced to the coral restoration process through a hands-on experience that explained how new coral growth can be supported through frame-based planting. Under the programme, guests are invited to select and adopt a coral frame, attach healthy coral fragments to it, and take part in placing it within the lagoon to help form a new reef structure.
The process begins with the collection of healthy coral fragments under the guidance of the resort’s marine biologist. These fragments are then secured to specially designed coral frames and placed in selected areas within the resort’s coral garden, where conditions are intended to support growth and marine biodiversity. Guests who adopt a frame will also receive updates on its progress, including photographs shared every six months.
The resort said the programme is intended to make coral conservation more accessible to guests while also highlighting the role of reefs in supporting marine life, protecting coastlines and maintaining ocean ecosystems.
Chaminda Upul, Group Sustainability Manager for Sun Siyam, said the initiative was designed to give guests an opportunity to contribute in a direct way.
“Earth Day is a reminder that even the smallest actions can shape something far greater,” he said. “With Adopt-A-Coral Frame, we wanted to create an experience where our guests can leave a positive mark on the ocean. It’s simple, it’s meaningful, and it stays with you.”
Hassan Adil, General Manager of Sun Siyam Olhuveli, said the resort wanted to create an experience that combines guest participation with long-term environmental value.
“At Olhuveli, we believe the best experiences are the ones that stay with you long after you leave. Adopt-A-Coral is our way of inviting guests to be part of something lasting, while caring for the natural beauty that makes this place so special,” he said.
Part of the proceeds from each coral adoption will go towards Sun Siyam Care, the group’s sustainability platform, supporting marine conservation and reef restoration efforts.
Through the launch of Adopt A Coral Frame, Sun Siyam Olhuveli is combining guest experience with reef restoration, reflecting a wider focus on environmental engagement within its island operations.
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