News
Raising the Barre: Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort brings ballet retreat to Baa Atoll
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is bringing classical ballet to its shores with the launch of a new “Baa Atoll Ballet Retreat”. This exclusive retreat, featuring Royal Ballet-trained dancer Karis Scarlette, is set to grace the island of Fares from 6th to the 19th of November 2023.
The resort, which opened in April 2023, beckons sunseekers to indulge in the art of ballet and experience a classical touch in an upbeat island setting. Representing a shift towards holistic wellness that goes beyond the gym and spa, this event marks the first in a series of innovative retreats planned at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort this year, and beyond.
Echoing the balletic performances of marine life beneath the waves, Karis will introduce guests of all ages and levels to classical ballet, breaking the steps down and adding her own energy for an uplifting experience. Group classes and one-to-one sessions will take place in a dedicated dance studio complete with barres and mirrors. From pliés to pirouettes, group classes and one-to-one sessions will focus on perfecting posture, footwork and the all-important port de bras, or carriage of arms. Young dancers aged five and under can delight in the “Tutus & Twirls” class, blending storytelling elements and interactive props. Guests looking to connect with nature can join “Sunrise Serenity”, a revitalising session that combines stretching, mobility exercises, and mindful breathwork, set to the natural sounds of the island at dawn.
Enhancing the ballet programme, guests can pamper themselves with unique spa experiences, like the Tutu Tension Release Massage and Dancer’s Delight Detox Wrap, all accompanied by melodic ballet scores, at the resort’s AvaniSpa. They can also savour imaginative cocktails, including the Tutu Tini and Grand Jeté Gin Fizz, seamlessly transitioning from the barre to the bar. Additionally, they can indulge in enchanting, starlit dining concepts right on the sandy shores.

Karis Scarlette, the inspirational force behind this unique retreat, is a ballet dancer par excellence, whose expertise have attracted actors, models, singers and even British royalty. Her remarkable journey began at the age of two, and she honed her talents through training at the Royal Ballet School, gracing the stage of London’s illustrious Royal Opera House. In more recent years, Karis has turned her attention towards teaching, making the world of ballet inclusive and accessible to all.
Commenting on the retreat, Karis said: “I’m excited to partner with Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort to bring ballet to Baa Atoll. The contemporary, sun-soaked setting of the resort provides the most amazing, once-in-a-lifetime backdrop for guests of all ages and levels to enjoy ballet. My classes focus on movement, mobility and mindset and I cannot wait to use these techniques to encourage guests to discover their inner dancer.”
Wellness takes centre stage at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, offering guests a multitude of ways to embrace a healthy lifestyle, from sunrise sound healing and nourishing smoothies to unique vinotherapy massages at the AvaniSpa. In addition to the ongoing wellness retreat series featuring international experts, the resort boasts its own dedicated wellness team, including Dr. Aleena Simon, an Integrative Wellness Practitioner bridging Eastern and Western traditions; Ashna Hanma Hurbansee, a Wellbeing Therapist and cupping therapy specialist; and Rithik Aggarwal, an International Tennis Federation-certified coach renowned for his ability to transform beginners into accomplished athletes. The resort’s special opening offer for villas starts from USD 510 per night in a Beach Villa based on two people sharing and includes breakfast and lunch or dinner. Classes include Adult Ballet Basics for Beginners (USD 60pp), Tutus & Twirls: Ballet for Tots (USD 35pp), Kid-Friendly Ballet Basics (USD 35 pp) and Sunrise Serenity: Breathwork in Baa (USD 50 pp).
News
COMO’s Maldives resorts welcome festive season with culinary and wellness programmes
COMO Hotels and Resorts has announced its festive programmes for 2026 at COMO Cocoa Island and COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives, featuring Christmas and New Year celebrations, dining experiences, wellness activities, marine excursions and family programmes.
The two resorts will offer a series of events throughout December and into January 2027, with each property introducing its own programme of culinary experiences, outdoor activities and celebrations to mark the festive season.
At COMO Cocoa Island, located in South Malé Atoll, the celebrations will include themed dinners, cooking classes, sunset cruises and wellness sessions.
The culinary programme at the resort’s Ufaa restaurant will begin with a five-course Italian Christmas Eve dinner on 24 December, accompanied by live music. A Christmas Day dinner under the stars will follow on 25 December, while a steak and seafood barbecue is scheduled for 29 December.
Guests will also have opportunities to participate in Italian cooking classes featuring pasta and risotto, afternoon high tea at Faru Bar, and an Indian thali dining experience. Sunrise fishing excursions on 20 and 27 December will allow participants to catch fish that the resort’s chefs will prepare as a four-course meal, incorporating sashimi, Maldivian-style soup and coconut curry.
The resort will welcome 2027 with a White Soirée on 31 December at Ufaa, featuring live cooking stations, entertainment and a live band.
Beyond dining, COMO Cocoa Island will offer sunset cruises, guided house reef snorkelling, nurse shark excursions, night snorkelling and turtle expeditions. Family activities will include treasure hunts, coconut painting, island races and other beachside competitions.
Wellness will form part of the programme through COMO Shambhala, with visiting Japanese healing practitioner Yuki Nishikubo offering treatments incorporating acupuncture and Shiatsu from 16 November to 27 December. Additional activities will include yoga, Pilates, meditation, sound baths and breathwork sessions.
Guests will also be able to participate in sustainability activities, including guided tree planting, alongside kayaking, sunset fishing and outdoor cinema screenings.

At COMO Maalifushi, located in Thaa Atoll, the festive programme will focus on culinary experiences, family activities, marine exploration and wellness, culminating in a Tropical Gatsby-themed New Year’s Eve celebration.
The resort’s Christmas dining programme includes a Christmas Around the World five-course dinner across Madi, Thila and the poolside, accompanied by live music and entertainment.
Other culinary experiences will include a Noble Vines wine dinner on 27 December, featuring wines from several French regions paired with a four-course menu, as well as Japanese dining events involving sushi, nigiri, temaki, sake pairings and yakiniku.
The resort will also introduce a Fisherman’s Table experience on selected dates, allowing guests to visit a local fish market with a fisherman before having their catch prepared by the resort’s chefs. Champagne breakfasts, seafood dining experiences and a New Year’s Day beachfront lunch are also included in the programme.

On 31 December, COMO Maalifushi will host its Tropical Gatsby Gala Dinner on Madi Beach, beginning with cocktails and canapés before dinner, live music and dancing. A DJ performance and fireworks display over the water will mark the arrival of 2027.
For families, the resort’s Play by COMO programme will offer children’s activities, crafts, games, yoga and outdoor entertainment. Other experiences will include snorkelling excursions, sunset cruises, kayaking, water sports and family marine safaris led by the resort’s resident marine biologist.
Guests can also participate in coral planting activities on 27 December, while a padel tournament, traditional fishing excursions and water sports sessions will take place during the festive period.
COMO Maalifushi’s wellness programme will feature visiting practitioner Kimberly Rose Kneier from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Her sessions will incorporate acupuncture, Qi Gong, breathwork and traditional Chinese medicine. The programme will also feature sound healing, family wellness treatments and a complimentary yoga session on New Year’s Day.

Both resorts are offering festive accommodation promotions with savings of up to 25 per cent on room rates, subject to applicable booking conditions. Further details on the festive activities, dining experiences and reservations are available through the official websites of COMO Cocoa Island and COMO Maalifushi.
Cooking
OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI to host Diwali celebrations in November
Some Diwali memories are made at home; others begin when the family journeys somewhere extraordinary together. This festive season, THE OZEN COLLECTION invites Indian families to bring the warmth of their traditions to two private Maldivian islands, where time slows, celebrations feel personal and every generation can reconnect. On 8th and 9th November, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI will pair the familiar flavours and rituals of Diwali with the space, privacy and intuitive hospitality of an island escape.
At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, the festivities will unfold across the specially decorated Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine overwater restaurant. On 8th November, from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM, TRADITION INDOCEYLON will present an exclusive thali inspired by India’s diverse culinary heritage, complemented by time-honoured Diwali sweets. Vibrant lights, lanterns and floral décor will transform the setting into an elegant island celebration where families can gather, reconnect and share the rituals of the season at an unhurried pace.

At OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, SAFFRON will host The Festival of Lights on 8th and 9th November, from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Specially curated vegetarian and non-vegetarian Diwali thalis will reinterpret traditional Indian dishes with contemporary touches. A live chaat counter will prepare Dahi Bhalla and Aloo Tikki to order, while a festive welcome drink adds thoughtful notes of ceremony. Musical performances will complete an intimate evening created for generations to celebrate together, with privacy, ease and a genuine sense of occasion.
The celebrations are included within the resorts’ respective plans: the INDULGENCE™ Plan at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and the RESERVE™ Plan at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. For families imagining Diwali differently this year, the experience brings together festive dining, generous island living and the rare luxury of uninterrupted time together. Whether sharing a thali, passing cherished rituals to a younger generation or simply gathering without the rush of an itinerary, guests can celebrate a Diwali that carries the heart of India into the beauty of the Maldives.

THE OZEN COLLECTION, an exceptional brand from the Atmosphere Core portfolio, curates timeless sanctuaries set apart by an experience of Refined Elegance. Travellers can expect an abundance of sophisticated services blended with a grand sense of space and design and an enriching culture. The brand comprises two private islands in the Maldives, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI.
News
Centara unveils Festival of Lights celebrations across Maldives resorts
Celebrating Diwali in the Maldives brings a distinctive island perspective to the Festival of Lights, where cherished traditions meet the beauty of the Indian Ocean. Across four distinctive island resorts, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives invite guests to immerse themselves in thoughtfully curated celebrations that reflect the character of each island. From cultural experiences and creative activities to Indian-inspired feasts, Bollywood rhythms and beachfront evenings beneath the stars, each resort offers its own interpretation of Diwali. Whether discovering the artistry behind traditional festive customs, sharing a meal inspired by the flavours of India or gathering by the shore as the evening unfolds, guests can experience the warmth and spirit of the Festival of Lights in a setting shaped by the natural beauty of the Maldives.

Set within the tranquil waters of the North Malé Atoll, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives offers an elegant island retreat defined by refined beachfront and overwater living, spacious one two- and three-bedroom villas and residences, holistic wellness and a diverse gastronomic journey. From 07 to 09 November, the Festival of Lights brings an added cultural dimension to the island experience, with a curated programme of festive arts and crafts, family activities, Bollywood entertainment and cinema beneath the stars. Against the natural beauty of the lagoon, Diwali unfolds through moments of discovery and connection, complementing the resort’s distinctive approach to contemporary island living.
Designed around family discovery, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives brings an underwater-inspired world to life, with the Maldives’ first lazy river, a dedicated water park and splash zones offering a distinctive setting for island adventures. From family-focused beachfront and overwater accommodation, including villas with bunk beds, to the candy-themed Candy Spa, every detail is thoughtfully shaped around experiences for all generations. From 07 to 09 November, Diwali adds a vibrant cultural dimension to the island, with celebrations inspired by the artistic traditions and flavours of India. Rangoli creations, creative masterclasses, Indian-inspired dining, festive cocktails, Bollywood entertainment and a beachside fire show bring colour and shared moments to the Festival of Lights, creating a celebration for the whole family.

Surrounded by the rich marine life of the South Ari Atoll, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, offers an island experience shaped by its remarkable house reef, underwater discoveries and distinctive culinary offerings. From vibrant coral gardens and encounters with marine life to considered dining experiences inspired by regional flavours, the resort brings together nature, wellness and gastronomy in a setting defined by the Indian Ocean. On 08 November, Diwali introduces the traditions of India through henna artistry, rangoli, a cocktail-making experience and sunset yoga beside the sea. A specially curated Indian buffet dinner sets the scene for an evening of Bollywood rhythms beneath the Maldivian sky, bringing cultural expression and island living together for the Festival of Lights.

Set against the turquoise waters of the North Malé Atoll, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives offers an adults-only island experience defined by barefoot beachfront living, overwater villas and unhurried moments by the Indian Ocean. On 08 November, Diwali brings the rich culinary traditions of India to the shores of Waves Beach, where a specially curated beachfront biryani dinner features regional specialities, tandoori favourites and traditional festive sweets. As the evening continues, music and karaoke at Giraavaru Bar invite guests to gather and celebrate beneath the Maldivian night sky, adding a lively note to the island’s relaxed atmosphere.

Across the four resorts, Diwali becomes an opportunity to experience the traditions of the Festival of Lights through culinary, art, entertainment and moments of connection, each shaped by the character of its island setting. Whether shared over a festive meal, discovered through cultural experiences or celebrated beneath the stars, the occasion offers a distinctive way to experience Diwali in the Maldives.
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