News
JOALI Maldives announces Wonders of Ocean Festive programming for 2023/2024
JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive resort in the Maldives located in the Raa Atoll, invites guests to experience festive season on Muravandhoo Island with an underwater theme, visiting practitioners and unique lineup of daily offerings for the whole family on December 21, 2023 through January 10, 2024. The island will be transformed into a magical underwater world of vivid colours and lights throughout for an unforgettable holiday celebration.
“Each year during our festive season, there is a different type of magic at JOALI Maldives and we look forward to having our guests experience this with their loved ones and feel the joie de vivre or “Joy of Living” during this special time”, says Area General Manager Enver Arslan.
In addition to holiday celebrations such as a tree lighting ceremony, gingerbread house, visit from santa, and daily entertainment, the calendar of activities during festive season at JOALI will include:
- Culinary: Learn about mixology, whiskey and gin with various classes offered through festive season, in addition to Japanese, Levantine and holiday cooking workshops. JOALI will also feature Christmas and New Year’s brunch and gala dinners.
- Art Offerings: Enjoy ceramics and coral jewellery making at JOALI’s Art House
- Sustainability Focus: Guests can enjoy gardening workshops with the sustainability team, a coral nursery tour, talks with resident marine biologists, and more.
- For The Kids: With daily activities for kids of all ages, they will enjoy marine biology classes, stargazing, cooking classes, magic shows and art classes. Families can also enjoy Muramas Kids Club, discovering the true magic of the land through a number of tailored experiential opportunities, ranging from arts and crafts with sustainable materials, Maldivian language lessons, planting trees to understand JOALI’s corporate responsibility project, connecting with nature, and so much more.
- Wellness for All: From paddle board yoga and sound bowl healing to various yoga and meditation classes, daily wellness offerings during festive season are offered for all levels. For the whole family, JOALI will also host family fitness classes.
- Group Sports: Connect with guests by playing tennis, padel tennis, darts or taking part in JOALI’s Premier Football League together
JOALI will welcome visiting practitioner and renowned Kung Fu Master, Sifu Aniket. Master Sifu is a gold medalist with black belts in three different disciplines of martial arts and an expert in yoga and meditations. Sharing his knowledge and skills around the world, Master Sifu will be hosting a ‘Spirit of Martial Arts’ class during the festive season at JOALI, a comprehensive workshop on martial arts to increase stamina, strength, range of motion, and mind-body coordination, allowing guests to acquire self-defence skills while also reducing stress. Chef Nina Tarasova will also be joining JOALI Maldives as a visiting practitioner during the festive season. A pastry consultant, Chef Tarasova has more than 10 years experience in the culinary sphere, working in Russia and around the world conducting master classes and consulting for pastry shops and restaurants. Chef Tarasova will be hosting a dinner for JOALI guests.
Visitors during the festive season will enjoy JOALI Maldives’ 73 elegantly appointed and expansive guest accommodations with beach and over-water villas. Offering 11 different villa categories, guests may choose from one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom options, all of which come complete with a personal Jadugar, meaning ‘skilled magician’ in Dhivehi.
For further details and booking, please visit joali.com
Cooking
BUBBLE offers immersive underwater dining at Meyyafushi Maldives
Meyyafushi Maldives invites guests to discover an exclusive culinary destination nestled six-metres beneath the surface and surrounded by coral reefs and the vibrant marine life of the Maldives, BUBBLE offers an immersive dining experience where culinary excellence meets the wonders of the underwater world.
More than a restaurant, BUBBLE is a journey – one where guests can savour carefully curated menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner while watching tropical fish, sharks and other marine species glide past panoramic underwater views. Combining innovative gastronomy, elegant design and the natural beauty of the ocean, BUBBLE has quickly become one of Meyyafushi’s most captivating experiences.

At the heart of this culinary concept is Chef Shiv Negi, Culinary Director of Meyyafushi Maldives. With over two decades of international culinary experience across some of the world’s most respected hospitality brands, Chef Shiv brings a wealth of expertise, creativity and leadership to the resort’s dining. Having held senior culinary positions with renowned names including Oberoi Hotels, Taj Hotels and other international five-star properties, Chef Shiv is known for creating memorable dining experiences that blend innovation with authenticity. Throughout his career, he has successfully led multicultural culinary teams, developed award-worthy dining concepts and championed exceptional guest experiences.
“BUBBLE represents everything we love about dining in the Maldives,” says Chef Shiv Negi, Culinary Director at Meyyafushi Maldives. “The setting is naturally spectacular, but our goal is to ensure that the cuisine is equally unforgettable. Every dish has been thoughtfully crafted to complement the experience, combining premium ingredients, refined techniques and a sense of discovery that mirrors the underwater world surrounding our guests.”

The menus at BUBBLE celebrate exquisite flavours while drawing inspiration from the rich bounty of the Indian Ocean. Guests can expect beautifully presented dishes showcasing fresh seafood, premium meats, seasonal produce and contemporary culinary artistry, all paired with attentive service and breathtaking surroundings.

BUBBLE forms part of Meyyafushi Maldives’ growing collection of distinctive dining experiences, which include Mediterranean cuisine at Thaana, Asian specialities at Alif, the Raa Wine Cellar, and immersive culinary journeys designed to delight. Beyond exceptional dining, BUBBLE also provides a unique and memorable setting for life’s most cherished moments, available for exclusive private events, romantic underwater proposals, intimate celebrations, and even underwater wedding ceremonies, creating unforgettable experiences beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.
As one of the Maldives’ newest luxury island destinations, Meyyafushi redefines hospitality through unique and meaningful experiences and creating memorable moments for guests.
News
Wellness, connection and joy unite nine ELE|NA sanctuaries on Global Wellness Day
Nine sanctuaries. One powerful reminder that wellness belongs to everyone. ELE|NA came together for Global Wellness Day 2026, a day that saw nine sanctuaries across the Maldives unite under a shared vision of wellbeing, connection, and joy and welcomed cancer survivors as honoured guests to one of its sanctuaries for wellness activities, in partnership with the Cancer Society of Maldives, in recognition of Cancer Survivors Month.
#JoyMagenta: Global Wellness Day Theme
The theme for Global Wellness Day 2026, Joy Magenta, is a call to embrace wellness not as a duty but as a source of genuine joy. Vibrant, energising, and full of life, magenta reflects the spirit of a global community coming together to celebrate wellbeing in all its forms.
Global Wellness Day is an internationally recognised, non-profit social movement held annually on the second Saturday of June. The day has grown into one of the world’s largest wellness celebrations, observed across more than 130 countries and thousands of venues. Its guiding philosophy “One day can change your whole life” is an invitation for people everywhere to step back from the demands of daily life and ask themselves a simple, powerful question: How can I live better? Global Wellness Day champions seven foundational pillars of healthy living: drinking more water, walking, eating well, doing good, being in nature, giving up harmful habits, and spending quality time with loved ones. In an era of increasing stress, digital overload, and disconnection from self, days like this serve as vital reminders that true wellness is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

A Day of wellness Lived Across Nine Sanctuaries
From the moment the sun rose, ELE|NA’s sanctuaries came alive with movement, intention, and community. Guests and colleagues stepped onto yoga mats at sunrise, walked barefoot through resort gardens, and gathered at pool decks and spa beaches to begin the day with breath and presence. The energy was unhurried, purposeful, and above all, shared.
As the day unfolded, Aqua Zumba sessions brought laughter and vitality to the water. Workshops invited guests to slow down and create, blending natural ingredients, learning the art of healing, and discovering the quiet power of a tea ceremony. Families came together too, with children and parents side by side, making art and finding stillness in their own way.

By afternoon, the mood turned inward. Guided meditations, sound healing sessions, and mindful movement offered a counterpoint to the energy of the morning, a chance to absorb, reflect, and restore. Healthy food corners and detox stations wove nourishment seamlessly through the day, a quiet nod to the idea that wellness lives as much in what we eat as in what we do.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Sunset Yoga drew guests to the beach and poolside once more, a fitting close to a day that had moved, in every sense, from light to light. And as evening fell, colleagues gathered for their own dedicated sessions of sound healing and meditation, a reminder that the spirit of Global Wellness Day extends to every member of the ELE|NA and it’s extended community.

Honoring Cancer Survivors
In one of the most meaningful moments of the day, ELE|NA partnered with the Cancer Society of Maldives for Cancer Survivors Month, inviting cancer survivors to join one of its sanctuaries for wellness activities planned for the day. It was a gesture rooted in the deepest spirit of Global Wellness Day, that healing is not linear, movement is medicine, and that community is one of the most powerful forces in any wellness journey. To share these moments with survivors was a privilege, and a reminder of why spaces like ELE|NA exist: not just to pamper, but to restore, uplift, and embrace every person who walks through the door.
Awards
OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru secures top global ranking in Tripadvisor awards
OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels has announced that OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has been named a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice® Best of the Best Award Winner for 2026. Recognised among the top 1% of hotels worldwide, the resort was ranked No. 5 in Asia and No. 21 worldwide among Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best All-Inclusive Resorts.
Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Awards represent the highest level of excellence in travel and are based entirely on authentic guest reviews and ratings collected over the past 12 months. More than an industry accolade, the recognition reflects the experiences that travellers themselves value most and the destinations they cannot stop talking about.
Nestled within the turquoise waters of South Ari Atoll, OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has become one of the Maldives’ most sought-after barefoot luxury destinations. Guests are drawn to its intimate island setting, elevated all-inclusive offering, world-class dining, transformative wellness experiences and unrivalled access to the marine wonders of the Indian Ocean.
Surrounded by powder-soft beaches and crystal-clear lagoons, the resort delivers the quintessential Maldivian escape while offering something increasingly rare in luxury travel: a meaningful connection to place. From swimming alongside whale sharks and exploring a vibrant house reef teeming with marine life to unwinding at Navasana Spa, every stay is designed to foster a deeper connection to both nature and self.
Located in one of the few places in the world where whale sharks can be encountered year-round, the resort offers guests extraordinary opportunities to swim alongside the ocean’s largest fish in their natural habitat. The surrounding waters of South Ari Atoll are also home to manta rays, sea turtles, vibrant coral ecosystems and an abundance of tropical marine life, creating unforgettable experiences both above and below the surface.
In celebration of World Ocean Month, the award also shines a spotlight on the resort’s commitment to marine stewardship and conservation. Led by an on-site marine biologist, Chloe Mclanachan, the resort’s dedicated marine team helps guests develop a deeper appreciation for the Maldives’ extraordinary underwater world through guided snorkeling experiences, educational programs and coral conservation initiatives. These efforts reflect OUTRIGGER’s broader commitment to protecting the ocean environments that make its destinations so special.
The recognition comes as the resort continues to expand its wellness offering, introducing immersive experiences designed to help guests reconnect with themselves and the rhythms of island life. From restorative spa rituals and holistic wellness treatments at Navasana Spa to mindful moments inspired by the healing power of the ocean, wellness has become an integral part of the Maafushivaru experience.
“We are incredibly honoured to be recognised by Tripadvisor’s global community as one of the world’s leading all-inclusive resorts,” said John Allanson, GM of OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort. “Being ranked No. 5 in Asia and No. 21 worldwide is a tremendous achievement and a direct reflection of our team’s passion and dedication to creating exceptional guest experiences for everyone who visits our beautiful island.”
The recognition of OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort is part of a broader achievement across the OUTRIGGER portfolio. In addition to Maafushivaru’s Best of the Best distinction, Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards also recognised OUTRIGGER properties across Hawai’i, Fiji, Thailand and Mauritius, including resorts in Waikīkī, Maui, Kauai, Kona, Fiji’s Coral Coast, Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Samui, Phi Phi Island and Mauritius. Together, these honors reinforce OUTRIGGER’s growing reputation for delivering exceptional beachfront experiences in some of the world’s most iconic island destinations.
From the overwater villas of the Maldives to legendary surf breaks in Waikīkī, the pristine beaches of Fiji, the tropical shores of Thailand and the turquoise lagoons of Mauritius, OUTRIGGER continues to create authentic, place-based experiences that connect guests to the people, culture and natural beauty of each destination. The brand’s strong showing across Tripadvisor’s global rankings reflects a shared commitment to genuine hospitality, memorable guest experiences and a deep respect for the environments and communities that make each destination unique.
For more information and reservations, please visit the resort’s website.
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