News
Magical festive season awaits at Vakkaru Maldives
With the holiday season approaching, Vakkaru Maldives has announced an exciting array of events, exquisite dining experiences and holiday-themed activities for guests to enjoy when visiting the resort this festive season. Located in the heart of Baa Atoll on a secluded reef island with idyllic ocean views, powder-soft white sand and unique marine biodiversity, the resort is an ideal destination for a holiday in the sun.
From 23 December 2023, through 7 January 2024, Vakkaru Maldives will host a series of programming available to guests of all ages, with activities carefully designed to make the most of the festive season including fun-filled games, galas and live entertainment.
ISLAND NOEL: A Seaside Christmas Eve Celebration
This Christmas Eve, guests of Vakkaru Maldives can relish in a magical evening on the shoreline before Santa’s big arrival. The celebration starts with an island-style cocktail party on Isoletta beach followed by a lavish gala dinner surrounded by the waves on Vakku Beach, with heartwarming carols and live entertainment by a saxophonist duo, a four-piece band, fire dancer, DJ and more.
SANTA’S ARRIVAL: Christmas at Vakkaru
On 25 December, Santa will make a stylish arrival in paradise, bearing gifts for all the little islanders. Guests will meet Santa and the elves in the morning on Isoletta Beach, followed by exciting games, prizes and giveaways under the tropical sun. Later in the day, all tennis enthusiasts are invited to compete to become Vakkaru’s tennis star of the year in the Christmas Tennis Tournament hosted by the resort’s Resident Tennis Coach.
THE GOLDENEYE GALA: A Bond-style New Year’s Eve Soiree
The resort will welcome 2024 with a James Bond-inspired celebration, The Goldeneye Gala, that promises to bring the timeless allure of 007 and its undeniable glamour. The celebration starts with a cocktail party at Isoletta Beach, followed by a Gala Dinner at Vakku Beach, and a midnight
“Skyfall” of fireworks. The glamorous soiree will feature gourmet delicacies from around the world, an electrifying live band, and mesmerizing moves from fire and LED dancer, DJ and more.
ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS EVE: Gala Dinner
On the evening of 6 January 2024, guests can experience an enchanting Orthodox Christmas Eve at Vakkaru Maldives with a sumptuous buffet spread and live stations, set against the backdrop of a magical beachfront. Throughout the night, guests can enjoy live entertainment by resident performers.
Other holiday-themed offerings available to hotel guests include wreath making, coconut painting, wooden snowman crafting, Christmas card painting, and Santa sand art. Throughout the festive period, travelers will also have the opportunity to engage in various activities including wellness workshops, evening yoga, eco-friendly arts and crafts, treasure hunts, family-style beach Olympics, padel tennis tournament and more.
Beyond the holiday festivities, the resort also provides engaging experiences suitable for all age groups, including daily programs at Parrotfish Club and Coconut Club for young guests, tailored spa journeys at Merana Spa, invigorating sports at two flood-lit tennis courts and a padel tennis court, as well as exhilarating immersive excursions and watersports by Splash. For those seeking world-class wine experiences, the resort is home to one of the few hand-picked wine cellars in the Maldives, Vakkaru Reserve. The cellar features a collection worth US$700,000 extending to 680 labels from the Old and New World.
For further information on the line-up of holiday activities and events or Vakkaru Maldives, check the e-brochure or visit www.vakkarumaldives.com.
Culture
Sun Siyam Olhuveli celebrates Eid with beach fiesta and cultural performances
Sun Siyam Olhuveli marked the joyous occasion of Eid Al Fitr on 20th March 2026 with a spirited celebration that brought team members together in a lively showcase of unity, culture, and camaraderie. Set against the backdrop of the resort’s sun-drenched shores, the Eid Beach Fiesta transformed the Water Sports Beach into a lively hub of laughter, friendly competition, and shared moments, reinforcing the strong sense of community that defines the resort.
The celebration featured a series of engaging activities including classic beach games such as the wheelbarrow race, three-legged race, water bucket challenge, and the playful “Kukudu Koo” catch-the-chicken challenge, as highlighted in the event programme. These light-hearted competitions encouraged collaboration across departments, breaking routines and fostering meaningful connections beyond the workplace.

Eid in the Maldives is a time of togetherness and celebration, marked by communal prayers, festive meals, and gatherings with family and friends. Inspired by these traditions, Sun Siyam Olhuveli embraced the spirit of Eid through shared joy, cultural moments, and meaningful connections.

As part of the evening festivities, key team members took to the stage at the Lagoon to perform traditional Boduberu, offering guests an authentic cultural experience and marking the celebration with rhythm, energy, and island spirit.

“At Sun Siyam Olhuveli, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Celebrations like Eid Al Fitr are not only about honoring tradition but also about nurturing the connections that make our workplace feel like a community,” said Ahmed Shazeen, Director of Human Resource at Sun Siyam Olhuveli. “It is these shared experiences that elevate team spirit and create a positive environment where everyone thrives.”

As part of the Lifestyle Collection under the House of Siyam, Sun Siyam Olhuveli continues to champion a culture where meaningful experiences extend beyond guests to include its dedicated team members. The Eid celebration stands as a reflection of this ethos, where culture, connection, and a touch of playful energy come together seamlessly on island time.

To discover more upcoming events and experiences at Sun Siyam Olhuveli, please visit the resort’s website.
Culture
Fushifaru Maldives showcases Maldivian culture through Eid celebrations
Fushifaru Maldives marked Eid al-Fitr with a series of cultural experiences aimed at showcasing Maldivian heritage and community values, as part of its “Moments of Kindness” initiative.
The resort organised activities designed to reconnect guests with traditional island life, placing a focus on cultural authenticity and community engagement. According to the resort, the initiative sought to revive elements of Maldivian traditions and present them in an interactive format for both international visitors and the local community.

A key highlight of the celebrations was a dedicated Maldivian Night, which featured a live demonstration of Malayfaiy, a traditional communal cooking practice. The experience was complemented by shisha offerings and cooking demonstrations, providing guests with insight into historical culinary techniques and social customs in the Maldives.

The evening also included a Maldivian buffet showcasing a range of local dishes, giving guests the opportunity to experience traditional flavours in a curated setting.

Fushifaru Maldives stated that the programme aimed to create meaningful connections through shared cultural experiences, while preserving and promoting local traditions within a resort environment.

The Eid celebrations form part of the resort’s broader efforts to incorporate elements of Maldivian identity into guest experiences, aligning with growing industry emphasis on cultural sustainability and community-oriented tourism.
Family
W Maldives launches Easter celebration with kayak races and beach feast
W Maldives unveils Tropical Easter, a one-day island takeover on Sunday, 5 April 2026, that transforms the resort into a vivid playground of colour, creativity, and effortless luxury. Set within the luminous blues of the North Ari Atoll, the celebration reframes the traditional holiday through a distinctly Maldivian perspective, where powder soft beaches replace spring meadows and the rhythm of the day moves from sunlit play to starlit revelry. Crafted or a global audience of discerning travellers, the experience balances polished indulgence with the brand’s signature playful edge, inviting couples, families, and friends to celebrate Easter in a a way that feels both elevated and carefree.
The festivities begin with The Great Little Easter Quest at WET Deck, where younger guests embark on a spirited hunt for hidden treasures before channeling their imagination into an open-air painting session. Designed as a joyful expression of creativity rather than a conventional children’s activity, the experience unfolds within the resort’s social heart, surrounded by vibrant energy, turquoise views, and a sense of occasion that resonates across generations.

As the afternoon unfolds, Race The Blue shifts the tempo with a high-energy kayak challenge across the resort’s crystalline lagoon. Participants paddle through waters so clear they reveal the intricate coral gardens of the celebrated house reef below, transforming the race into a breathtaking encounter with the Maldives’ underwater wonder. The event captures the essence of Tropical Easter’s story, playful adventure grounded in the extraordinary natural beauty, offering guests a rare opportunity to engage with the lagoon as both playground and vista.
At sunset, the celebration culminates at FIRE Beach with The Easter Table, a sophisticated alfresco buffet that elevates the holiday meal into a stylish social ritual. Classic Easter flavours are reinterpreted with contemporary flair across interactive live stations and vibrant culinary displays, while music drifts through the warm evening air and the ocean glows just beyond the shoreline. The setting is at once intimate and electric barefoot yet refined, inviting guests to linger long after the final course as the sky deepens into night.

Beyond the day’s curated experiences, Tropical Easter also highlights the resort’s signature lifestyle allure, from overwater villas poised above luminous lagoons to world class snorkelling accessible directly from the beach. Whether seeking adrenaline, indulgence, or pure escapism, guests can chape the celebration entirely to their own rhythm, embodying the freedom and spontaneity that define the W experience in the Maldives.
Travellers inspired to extend the festivities can unlock the exclusive Stay 5, Pay 4, member offer by enrolling in Marriott Bonvoy, transforming a single extraordinary day into a longer island escape. The package offers a compelling reason to plan ahead and immerse fully in the season’s distinctive tropical celebration.

This April, Tropical Easter at W Maldives promises more than a holiday, it delivers a mood, a sun-drenched fusion of playfulness, style and sensory indulgence set in one of the world’s most captivating destinations. For those seeking an Easter that feels fresh, glamorous, and unforgettable, the answer lies where tradition dissolves into turquoise and every moment unfolds with a touch of irreverent luxury.
For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or connect with the resort’s team at reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.
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