News
Six Senses Kanuhura: Maldivian island life, reborn
Iconic Maldivian resort reimagined with bold design and multi-bedroom retreats on an incredible natural island
Six Senses Kanuhura is now open for bookings for stays from September 1 onwards. Home to one of the largest and most iconic natural beaches in the Maldives, the resort encompasses another two white-sand private islands, one for intimate desert island dining and the other for the ultimate castaway escape. Days are lived adrift, sun-soaked and sandy, surrounded by luminous waters. Time well spent under a gently swaying palm tree is interrupted only by the lure of food, fun, “me time” in the spa, or “we time” with loved ones or a passing turtle.
Six Senses has intentionally opted to reinvent a Maldivian icon, reimagining the existing resort and resources while continuing to protect the natural beauty of the island. What stays has been enhanced, from the Drift and Bottega dining outlets to the organic gardens, where a microgreens nursery mingles with the beauty of wild orchids. The 91 beachfront and overwater villas include 12 new Beach Retreats. These offer one to three bedrooms and private pools just steps from the ocean, spot on for families or larger groups.
Bryce Seator, General Manager, says: “Watching the island transform in the past few months has been an exciting journey, and we all look forward to revealing the new Six Senses Kanuhura. Following its long history, the island has been reborn, and the overall experience has been reinvented to bring the brand’s sustainability and wellness ethos to a new corner in the Maldives.”
Tropical island sophistication
Whether staying on the shore or perched on stilts over the tranquil lagoon, all accommodations offer a sophisticated yet charming style to combine elegance with feet-up comfort. Inspired by turquoise lagoon waters and lush tropical nature, the interior color palette includes marine hues and down-to-earth tones that fully blend with the natural environment. The design is purposely bold, polished over rustic, and resolutely eco-friendly: everything is crafted from local and sustainable materials. The villas and retreats feature large windows allowing natural light to enter throughout the day and draw the eye to the island’s lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The outdoor rain showers give a sense of bathing in nature under the expansive starlit sky.
The reinvented experience
Adventures and stories begin at Six Senses Kanuhura. Suitable for families, couples, or friends traveling together, there is an array of activities, on land, on the waves, and underwater, for everyone to enjoy. Younger guests from three to 11 years old can discover their creativity or more of the island and marine life at the Grow With Six Senses kids club, which offers fun and educational activities, such as treasure hunts, kids’ yoga, crafts, and upcycling. Families can opt for family cooking classes, watersports lessons, or private beach dining, spending quality time together. The Island Hideout is a place for teenagers to sit back, relax and enjoy games with their peers, in a space specially designed for them. Couples can enjoy romantic and intimate moments gazing at Lhaviyani’s famous sunsets at the new multi-deck Point restaurant and bar, or an “I do” moment during a private dinner on the beach under the stars.
This island escape will fit so snugly around everyone’s vacation hopes that there’s no need to escape each other after all.
Getting there
Six Senses Kanuhura is located in one of the most pristine corners of the Lhaviyani Atoll, 150 kilometers north of Male, a short 40-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport (MLE).
The Six Senses Kanuhura team is excited to welcome its friends, old and new, and celebrate the latest addition to the Six Senses family.
Awards
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives secures nine accolades at World Luxury Awards 2026
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives is celebrating nine accolades at the 2026 World Luxury Awards, including two prestigious Global Winner titles, recognising excellence across resort hospitality, leadership, wellness and gastronomy.
The awards reflect the resort’s philosophy of Connected Island Luxury, where personalised hospitality, restorative wellness, exceptional dining and meaningful encounters with nature come together to create memorable island experiences.
Among the highlights, The Spa at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives was named Global Winner for Best Luxury Island Resort Spa, while signature fine-dining restaurant FireDOOR received the Global Winner title for Best Sunset Views.
The resort also received recognition as Best Luxury Boutique Resort and Best Luxury Lifestyle Resort in the Indian Ocean, alongside Best General Manager for Raffaele Solferino.

Global Recognition for Wellness and Gastronomy
Perched above the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the resort’s overwater Spa offers a tranquil sanctuary for relaxation and restoration. In addition to its global title, it received two Indian Ocean awards: Best Luxury Boutique Spa and Best Luxury Oceanview Spa.
Meanwhile, FireDOOR’s global recognition celebrates its spectacular sunset setting overlooking the island’s house reef. Combining intimate fine dining with distinctive glass-floor features and panoramic ocean views, the restaurant also received Indian Ocean titles for Best Luxury Boutique Resort Restaurant and Best Luxury Waterside Restaurant.
Together, these achievements highlight the breadth of experiences that define Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, from restorative wellness to memorable moments shared over exceptional cuisine.

Celebrating the People Behind the Experience
For General Manager Raffaele Solferino, who has been part of the resort’s journey since pre-opening, the awards are a testament to the dedication of the island team.
“To receive nine World Luxury Awards, including two Global Winner titles, is an extraordinary honour and a wonderful recognition of our team’s passion and commitment,” said Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives.
“What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that it celebrates the complete guest experience. We believe true luxury goes beyond beautiful surroundings; it is about genuine connections, thoughtful hospitality and creating moments that stay with our guests long after they leave. As we approach our tenth anniversary in 2027, these awards are both a celebration of our journey and an inspiration for the next chapter.”

A Decade of Island Hospitality
Since opening in 2017, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has established a distinctive identity built around contemporary island luxury, personalised service and a deep connection with its natural surroundings.
As the resort prepares to celebrate ten years of welcoming guests in 2027, the nine World Luxury Awards provide a fitting recognition of its achievements and continued commitment to creating extraordinary island experiences.
News
ananea Madivaru Maldives unveils personalised island concierge experience
From 1 November 2026, ananea Madivaru Maldives will introduce its new Island Concierge Programme. A more personal and relaxed approach to island hospitality built around one simple idea: Here, you’re never just a villa number.
Rather than adopting the formality of a traditional butler service, the Island Concierge becomes each guest’s personal connection to the island, someone who knows their journey, remembers their preferences, anticipates their needs and helps them discover the resort naturally.

From the moment guests arrive, their Island Concierge becomes a familiar face throughout their stay. They personally welcome guests on arrival, connect with them over breakfast, assist with plans and experiences throughout the day, and return for a personal farewell at departure.

The concept is intentionally uncomplicated.
Less formality. More connection.

Island Concierges spend their time where guests are rather than behind a desk, around the beaches, pools, restaurants, bars and pathways of the resort. Whenever possible, they may even personally drive guests to dinner, spa appointments or activities, turning a simple buggy journey into another opportunity to connect.
They can assist with everything from restaurant recommendations and spa treatments to watersports, excursions, celebrations and the spontaneous island moments that often become the most memorable parts of a holiday.

The Island Concierge is also there to share the story of the island itself, its people, Maldivian culture, marine life and the fascinating realities of island living, from producing fresh water and electricity to caring for the beaches and surrounding environment.

“We don’t want to create another traditional butler or host concept,” says Pierre Edlund, General Manager of ananea Madivaru Maldives.
“We want something more natural and more human. Your Island Concierge is someone who gets to know you, remembers what you enjoy and helps make things happen without unnecessary formality. But ultimately, every colleague on our islands is part of the experience. The Island Concierge may be your personal connection, but the whole island is looking after you.”

Importantly, the philosophy extends far beyond the Island Concierge team.
At ananea Madivaru Maldives, every guest belongs to everyone. Whether a guest meets a chef, engineer, bartender, housekeeper, watersports colleague or leader, the philosophy remains the same.
Awards
Wellness by Mandara at Barceló Nasandhura named among world’s top 100 spas
Wellness by Mandara at Barceló Nasandhura has been named among the Top 100 Spas of the World 2026 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards, recognising the spa’s wellness services in Malé.
Located on Level 3 of Barceló Nasandhura, Wellness by Mandara caters to both international visitors and local residents, offering spa treatments and wellness services within the capital. Unlike spas located at island resorts, the facility provides an urban wellness option for guests seeking relaxation, physical recovery and regular self-care.
The spa draws on traditional Eastern healing practices and offers a range of treatments, including Mandara’s signature multi-hand massage therapies, ELEMIS facials, body treatments and specialised nail care packages.
Treatments are tailored to individual requirements by the spa’s therapists, with services designed to relieve muscle tension, support physical recovery and promote relaxation.
Trent Munday of Mandara Spa said the recognition reflected the team’s commitment to providing Asian spa therapies in Malé while serving both hotel guests and the local community.
Wellness by Mandara operates daily, offering treatments and spa packages to Barceló Nasandhura guests, Malé residents and day visitors.
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