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Introducing Maamunagau Wellness Journeys

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As an eventful year comes to an end, between New Year’s resolutions and tying up all ends for 2022, self-care and well-being are of the essence. InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has created a diverse offering of wellness journeys, evolving around their visiting wellness practitioners from December 2022 to April 2023.

Over the last few years, InterContinental Maldives has welcomed guests to the private island, not just to enjoy the tropical climate, excellent food, and guest service, but also to unwind, relax and centre. With an ever-changing offer of visiting practitioners, the resort’s wellness menu is extensive and diverse, answering to different guests’ preferences and needs.

Over this year’s Festive Season at Maamunagau and the beginning months of 2023, seven different Wellness Journeys are on offer, inviting guests on a holistic self-healing journey during their stay. From ‘De-Stress’ and mindful ‘Sleep Well’ journeys, more body focussed ‘Detox’ and ‘Metabolism Booster’ programmes, to a muscle relaxing and recovering ‘Sports Athletes’ programme, guests can choose their pace and individualise their journeys to their needs and focus points.

Starting from December 2022 until early 2023, Joao Santos and Rajeshwari Amol Nerukar will be on the island, to extend their practices to Maamunagau’s guests. Joao focusses on body treatments such as Dry Massages, which is a rather exquisite performance, that surpasses traditional massages. He will also be treating guests who choose to book the ‘Metabolism Booster’ or ‘Sports Athletes’ programme. Together with resident Fitness Trainer Rohit Vijay Tandel, they will take on guests who look for physical optimisation, body recovery, and mindful grounding.

Rajeshwari, focussing on the art of healing, bases her treatments on finding calm and peace within, aiming to heal emotional trauma and distress. She offers wellness journeys that focusses on de-stress and better sleep, through a combination of yoga, Ayurveda, sound healing and breathwork.

Sunitha Narayana is the resident Yoga, Reiki Master and Wellness Guru at Maamunagau, and will be one of the driving forces behind the programmes and fusing her yoga flows and breathwork with the visiting practitioners’ ways of wellness.

“A wellness journey is perceived differently by each individual and while we, the wellness practitioners, can give suggestions and guidance, every guest needs to have the space to find their way to mindfulness and wellbeing. Here at Maamunagau’s AVI Spa, we love to incorporate crystal and sound bowl healing in our treatments. This is of course not for everyone, but I love to introduce my guests to those alternative wellness techniques and be part of their journey to explore their bodies and mind. I am very excited to bring all our synergies together to curate unforgettable and beneficial wellness journeys for our guests and to accompany them on their path to wellness,” she says.

Picking up on the Crystal theme at AVI Spa, visiting practitioner Kanlayanee Marrthuean ‘Jang’ teams up with Sunitha to offer the ‘Crystal Wellness’ Journey, that includes everything from Gemstone Facials, to Chakra Balancing, Reiki and Crystal Sound healing to Crystal Foot Reflexology. Jang is in residence during March and April 2023, offering additional emotional release treatments for the whole body.

For guests who wish to start into the New Year refreshed and renewed, the AVI Spa team has also put together a thoughtful ‘Anti-Ageing’ programme, that encompasses the whole body, including facial and eye treatments. This programme is available throughout the year and can also be customised as required.

How to book

Guests staying at InterContinental Maldives can between December 2022 and April 2023 can embark on these different Wellness Journeys during the practitioners visit at the resort. Prices for the Wellness Journeys start from USD 850 ++. Rates for stays in December start from USD 2585 ++ per night in a Water Pool Villa, including breakfast for two. Compulsory Festive Gala Dinners on 24 and 31 December 2022 will be applicable to all guests.

For more information, please visit www.maldives.intercontinental.com or contact us directly at reservations.icmaldives@ihg.com.

All prices are quoted in USD, subject to a 10% Service Charge and 12% GST until 31 December 2022 and GST 16% from 1 January 2023. USD 6 Green Tax per person, per night, applies for stays.

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World Travel Awards honours Kurumba Maldives for family excellence

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Kurumba Maldives has been named the 2025 Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort by the prestigious World Travel Awards, a testament to its continued dedication to delivering stylish, family-friendly holiday experiences that harmoniously blend comfort with timeless elegance.

Nestled on a private island in the North Malé Atoll, just a 10-minute speedboat journey from the capital, Kurumba offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere ideal for families seeking a memorable tropical retreat. With spacious family villas and a wealth of activities, the resort is thoughtfully designed to foster meaningful connections and lasting memories.

Guests are invited to enjoy a wide array of experiences, from exhilarating water sports such as snorkelling and kayaking to cultural encounters, guided underwater dives, football clinics, and tennis coaching. Curated family activities—including beach games and cooking classes—add to the resort’s charm, all set against a backdrop of chic tranquillity.

For adults in search of relaxation, the resort’s spa provides treatments inspired by the island’s natural surroundings. Meanwhile, younger guests are kept thoroughly entertained at the Kids’ Club and Teen Lounge. The Kids’ Club offers an imaginative line-up of activities such as Jungle Yoga, Splash Time, Pizza Picassos, Rock Stars Painting, and Kings & Queens Crown Making. Children can also explore coconut bowling, herbalism workshops, junior mixology, and outdoor pursuits like beach clean-ups and Olympics. Evening fun includes mini discos, film nights, and marine-life presentations, ensuring a full day of excitement and learning.

The teen programme adds further appeal, combining adventure and creativity. Highlights include coral restoration and reef clean-ups, underwater photography, Dip & Paint workshops, and a range of sports like futsal, rugby, and 3-on-3 basketball. Additional entertainment such as VR gaming, karaoke, billiards, and sunset fishing ensures a dynamic and engaging experience for older children.

Kurumba’s design reflects a commitment to detail and elegance, with stylish dining venues and thoughtfully designed recreational spaces creating a seamless family escape. Known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant reef, the resort offers the perfect setting for families to unwind, bond, and discover the wonders of the Maldives together.

“This award is an incredible recognition of what we strive for every day – crafting meaningful moments for families,” said Morten Junior, General Manager. “It’s not just about the resort; it’s a celebration of the joy, connection, and memories shared by the families who stay with us. We are deeply grateful to the World Travel Awards and to our wonderful guests for believing in our vision.”

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Sustainability in bloom at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives’ newly transformed Spice Garden

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Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has unveiled its newly reimagined Spice Garden, a vibrant embodiment of sustainability, sensory exploration, and culinary innovation. Under the expert care of in-house horticulturist Zabih and the culinary guidance of Executive Chef Frank, the revitalised garden has become central to the resort’s garden-to-table ethos, shaping the evolution of the guest dining journey—most notably reflected in the enhanced Lazy Lunch menu.

Set within the resort’s grounds, the Spice Garden has undergone a significant transformation into a flourishing haven of organic herbs, spices, and edible plants, many of which now appear on the menu just hours after being harvested. This abundance of fresh, homegrown produce has redefined the resort’s culinary landscape, with seasonal ingredients and authentic flavours now taking pride of place, particularly in the Lazy Lunch offering.

The new direction has allowed for even greater incorporation of local harvests into the menu, with freshly picked herbs and vegetables enriching the taste and nutritional value of each dish. This approach also grants the chefs the freedom to adapt the menu according to the changing seasons, continuously presenting guests with something innovative and exciting.

To bring guests closer to this philosophy, Alila Kothaifaru has introduced a complimentary Spice Garden Walk, led by horticulturist Zabih. With his deep passion and careful stewardship, the garden has become a sensory-rich learning environment. Guests are encouraged to touch, smell, and taste a variety of tropical herbs and spices while learning about their origins, culinary uses, and environmental significance.

Zabih views the garden as an invitation to reconnect with nature, offering guests an experience that engages all the senses and fosters a deeper appreciation for the ingredients behind each meal. The garden walk and Lazy Lunch, though distinct experiences, together offer a comprehensive exploration of the journey from soil to plate.

Seasonal menus continue to draw inspiration from the garden, reinforcing the resort’s dedication to sustainability, wellness, and the use of locally sourced ingredients. General Manager Thomas affirms this vision, highlighting the Spice Garden as a symbol of the resort’s commitment to meaningful guest experiences. He notes that it reflects a broader aim to blend sustainability with cultural authenticity, offering visitors a more personal and enriching stay.

Whether strolling through the fragrant pathways of the garden or enjoying a sunlit lunch featuring ingredients harvested mere moments earlier, guests are invited to savour the harmony between cuisine, nature, and place—making every bite a celebration of the island’s rich natural abundance.

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Mar-Umi at Kuda Villingili secures spot among world’s top wine restaurants

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Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has once again received the prestigious Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards, recognising the resort’s signature restaurant, Mar-Umi, for its exceptional wine programme and unwavering dedication to culinary excellence.

This accolade celebrates the efforts of the Mar-Umi team, who have carefully curated a wine list that complements the restaurant’s Nikkei and South American culinary offerings. The award, received for the second consecutive year, reflects the team’s commitment to delivering a refined dining experience that seamlessly integrates bold flavours with expertly selected wines.

Mar-Umi, inspired by the culinary traditions of Peru and Japan, offers an inventive menu of Nikkei and South American cuisine. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Lalith Sharma and Chef de Cuisine Ahmed Kamal, known as Chef Kimo, the restaurant presents South American dishes at lunch and Nikkei cuisine at dinner. The recent addition of a Teppanyaki experience further elevates the beachfront dining venue, combining expertly prepared dishes with engaging culinary showmanship.

The restaurant’s wine list is further enriched by an impressive range of sake, thoughtfully paired by Chief Sommelier Samantha Kumara, whose expertise enhances the overall dining journey at Mar-Umi.

Located along a tranquil stretch of beach, the restaurant offers panoramic views of the turquoise lagoon—an idyllic setting in which guests can savour artfully prepared dishes and cocktails from the Mar-Umi bar, created by skilled mixologists.

Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher of Wine Spectator, remarked on the significance of the award, noting, “A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery.” A total of 3,811 restaurants worldwide were honoured in this year’s awards.

Launched in 1981, the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards are the only global awards dedicated exclusively to restaurant wine service. They are presented in three tiers: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence, and the Grand Award, with 2,010; 1,704; and 97 winners respectively in 2025. Mar-Umi’s Award of Excellence recognises a wine list that showcases a well-considered selection of quality producers and a strong thematic alignment with the menu in both pricing and style.

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