Featured
All you need is love: Vakkaru Maldives unveils five romantic experiences for truly memorable Valentine’s Day
To celebrate the resort’s fifth anniversary and the Day of Love, Vakkaru Maldives has curated a dawn-to-dusk programme of its Top Five extraordinary experiences for those in love.
Start the day in your luxury villa, watching the sunrise as you enjoy a sumptuous floating breakfast in your private pool. Then head to the award-winning Merana Spa for a pampering His & Hers spa treatment. Your journey begins with an ultra-nourishing body scrub, followed by a blissful couple’s massage enhanced with essential aroma oils of your choice. At the end of the treatment, immerse yourselves in a silky milk bath as you enjoy a glass of Champagne and an exotic fruit platter. This is followed by a relaxing sound healing session, which helps create new neural pathways to build a stronger relationship and leave you and your partner with feelings of joy and gratitude for each other.
You and your loved one can spread your love and also do your bit for the environment by joining the resort’s coral propagation programme and adopting a coral frame. The frames are used to create artificial reefs for the myriad reef fish and invertebrate species that live around the island. Each couple will also receive an “adoption” certificate.
Before dinner, take in the magnificent Maldivian sunset aboard the Princess 54 luxury yacht as you cruise around the Baa Atoll while sipping Champagne and nibbling on delectable canapes.
Food is the definitely the way to the heart and to end your day of romance, Vakkaru has created five exceptional dining options to help you sweep your loved one of their feet.
Lovers can expect an impressive selection of international dishes at the live stations and buffet spread at Amaany’s Timeless Romance Buffet Dinner while enjoying live music by the beach. This special dinner is priced at US$145++ and guests on a Half Board or Full Board meal plan can enjoy it with a US$35++ food supplement.
Treat them to a movie and dinner date with a difference at the new Jungle Cinema. Sit back and savour the four-course Lobsterlicious menu paired with a bottle of premium Rose Champagne while enjoying your favourite stars on screen. Our Tryst in the Jungle experience is priced at US$1,200++ and also includes a unique floral setup at the cinema, one movie of your choice, a bouquet of roses and a romantic bed decoration in your villa on Valentine’s Day.
An exquisite feast awaits you on a secluded sandbank surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The Valentine’s Castaway Dinner, priced at US$2,500++ per couple, includes floral decoration on the private sandbank, a Mediterranean menu, a 12-rose bouquet, a bottle of premium Rose
Champagne, live music during the dinner, bed decoration in your villa and a 60-minute His & Hers spa treatment.
Enjoy an evening of love with the Romantic Seaside Rendezvous experience at Vakku beach for US$550++ per couple. The magical evening includes an oceanfront table setup with floral decoration, a lavish four-course set menu, a bottle of Rose Champagne, a red rose bouquet, and a romantic bed decoration in the villa on Valentine’s Day.
Or, sweep your loved one off their feet with the indulgent Suite Escape. Wow them with the award-winning four-bedroom Vakkaru Over Water Residence as the setting for your night of romance. Enjoy an hour of spa bliss, followed by an intimate candlelit dinner on the open-air deck overlooking the endless ocean views. The US$2,000++ per couple experience includes a four-course Mediterranean menu, a bottle of premium Rosé Champagne, a bouquet of 12 roses, a 60-minute His & Hers Spa treatment, and a romantic bed decoration in the villa.
Couples can also book the Idyllic Romance Package for an extended romantic Maldivian escape. Valid for a minimum stay of five nights, rates start from US$1,938++ per night in the Overwater Villa and include these top five benefits:
- One Floating Breakfast experience in the private pool for a couple / one time in-villa breakfast experience in Overwater Villa (without pool)
- Complimentary return seaplane/domestic transfers for the couple
- One Private Destination Dining Experience on the beach
- One 60-minute Signature Couple Massage at Merana Spa
- One 30-minute jet ski session by Splash Dive and Watersports Centre for a couple
For reservations and general information, visit vakkarumaldives.com or contact reservations@vakkarumaldives.com.
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.
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