News
Spotlight on Maldives with 2024 Surfing Legends Series at Kandooma

Together with partners, The Perfect Wave, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is delighted to announce the return of the Surfing Legends Series to the private island paradise. Attracting former World Champions Barton Lynch and Pam Burridge, and ex-pro Ace Buchan, who will share their stories, secrets and coaching tips in their exclusive surfing programmes.
Take advantage of the knowledge on offer and polish up your surfing skills with a series of special Surf schools to choose from during the surfing season in the Maldives.
“Many of the surfers who join us for the Surfing Legends Series have non-surfing friends and family, so we can ensure they are well looked after too. The island Kandooma has so much to offer in terms of great food, activities, relaxation, watersports and even a Spa,” said Ben Horvath, Business Development & Marketing Manager, The Perfect Wave.
“Surf, hang out and learn from some of the greatest surfers of all time. There’s no better place to do it than the home of Kandooma Right in the Maldives.”
Take your pick of your favourite Surfing Legend from a choice of three greats this season.
Aussie Barton Lynch whose exemplary career included 17 World Championship victories to become one of the most successful professional surfers of all time. He is now one of the most sought after coaches, an expert commentator and loves to surf more than anything. Barton will host a seven night camp 27 April to 4 May, 2024 starting from US$4,250 per person (based on twin share 1 surfer/1 non-surfer occupancy) staying in a Beach Villa. Barton will be hosting exclusive dhoni (Maldivian boat) trips to nearby waves including lefts such as Tucky Joes and fun rights like Quarters and Riptides. At Kandooma-fushi, your private island home for the week, your villa is positioned just steps away from the beach and a private world-class right hand point break wave called Kandooma Right.
The Barton Lynch Surf Week package includes:
- Accommodation in a Beach Villa (twin share basis one surfer/one non-surfer)
- Shared speedboat transfers airport-Resort-airport
- Daily Buffet Breakfast at Kandooma Cafe
- Surfer Pass
- Dhoni transfers to nearby waves
- Food & Beverage package, from US$65 per person per night (Optional extra)
1990 World Surfing Champion Pam Burridge and her husband the legendary surfboard shaper Mark Rabbidge will host a week of coaching at Kandooma. Offering tips in and out of the water over seven fun-filled days 9 – 16 June 2024, Pam and Mark’s programme is designed to help you improve your surfing in the user-friendly breaks on the doorstep to Kandooma Maldives, but do note that this one is not for absolute beginners or those learning to surf!
The Pam Burridge Surf Week packages start from US$2,962 per person (based on two surfers sharing a room) and includes:
- Accommodation in a Beach Villa (twin share basis) (note other room types are available)
- 6 days coaching from Pam and Mark
- 7 day Surfer Pass
- Shared speedboat transfers airport-Resort-airport
- Daily Buffet Breakfast at Kandooma Cafe
Ace Buchan hails from the Australian Central Coast where he grew up surfing. Ace invites you to join him and his family for a week at Kandooma, surfing the perfect waves 31 May – 10 June, 2024. This week of surfing fun is tailored to surfing families but everyone is welcome, whether you are a passionate everyday surfer looking to experience the rippable walls of Kandooma Right, a pre-teen grom or gromette perhaps going for your first overseas surf trip with your family, or a Mum or Dad looking to improve your skills and share some waves with your kids. Ace Buchan Surf Week packages are yet to be released with options for Beach Villas, two-storey Beach Houses and the 2-bedroom Family Beach House and will include access to nearby breaks via a dedicated Dhoni (boat). Add to that surf lessons, photo and video packages, movie nights with all the family and opportunities to learn more about Maldivian culture.
Surfers can expect some great action in the water. Kandooma Right breaks just a stone’s throw away from the Resort. It’s a fast breaking right with two take-off spots and a great barrel. This wave is exclusively for Kandooma Resort Maldives guests with Surfer Passes. Nearby waves include: Tucky Joes / Boatyards which is a fickle, but freight-train of a left hander that provides a long, perfect but intense ride. Riptides is a right hander breaking for 150 metres on a reef in the middle of a channel. Sometimes there are very strong currents, evident in the naming of this beauty so watch the conditions! It’s a great wave for long- and short-boarders as well as low intermediate surfers. Quarters is a short boat trip away, this wave has two sections. The outside is fat, slow and meandering, ideal for long-boarders and even beginners, while the inside is a really terrific, fast little right hander. On a good day it delivers perfect barrels.
Receive world class coaching tips and when you’re not riding a wave, eat and drink like a king. Chill out, take it easy and bask in the sun or experience one of the many activities at Kandooma Maldives. And when those tired muscles beg for respite, it’s good to know the Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala has a massage treatment designed especially for surfers.
For surfers the 2024 Surf Legend Series at Kandooma is one not to be missed. Book early to avoid disappointment, as numbers are strictly limited to ensure the best possible experience for participants.
For information about the Surfing Legends Series, visit https://www.perfectwavetravel.com/surf-trips/legends/
Featured
Elevated wellness: Aerial Yoga launches at Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives

In celebration of International Yoga Day and the 2025 theme, ‘One Earth, One Health,’ Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives expanded its wellness offerings with the introduction of Aerial Yoga. Launched on 21 June 2025, this new activity is now available at the resort’s open-air Blue Fit Platform.
The launch event brought together resort guests, wellness enthusiasts, and team members in a shared experience that emphasised the connection between movement, mindfulness, and nature. Aerial Yoga allows participants to perform yoga while suspended in high-density tricot fabric hammocks, offering support through a combination of balance, breath, and flow.
Designed to provide more than just physical lightness and support, Aerial Yoga helps decompress the spine, improve circulation, and build core strength—all while overlooking the serene waters of the Indian Ocean. Sessions are offered as private or group classes, conducted by certified instructors and tailored to suit both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Hassan Adil, General Manager at Sun Siyam Olhuveli, described the initiative as a meaningful addition to the resort’s wellness programs. He noted that the introduction of Aerial Yoga goes beyond being a new class, representing a celebration of holistic living in harmony with nature. Adil emphasised the aim of fostering deeper connections between the body and the earth, offering guests the chance to explore inner wellness from a unique vantage point—suspended, supported, and surrounded by the tranquility of the Indian Ocean.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli remains committed to holistic living, continuously enhancing its wellness experiences to align with global health awareness. By creating spaces where guests can recharge, move freely, and reconnect with themselves, the resort encourages natural, mindful living.
News
JW Marriott Maldives & Resort, Korres launch sustainable summer

This July, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa invites guests to reconnect with the ocean through mindful travel as it launches a meaningful new collaboration with Greek skincare brand KORRES. Set on the secluded island of Vagaru in Shaviyani Atoll, the multigenerational retreat continues its commitment to sustainability with reef-safe sun care and immersive, conservation-led experiences—extending the spirit of World Oceans Day and its 2025 theme, “Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us.”
A Mindful Partnership for Skin and Sea
In partnership with KORRES, renowned for its natural formulations and sustainability ethos, JW Marriott Maldives will provide guests with reef-safe sun protection thoughtfully curated for both personal wellness and environmental care. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary KORRES Yoghurt Sunscreen Emulsion SPF 50 and Yoghurt Sun Care for the Face SPF 30s. These formulations are free of reef-damaging chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, known contributors to coral bleaching.
Infused with natural Greek yoghurt and crafted for sensitive skin under the tropical sun, these products reflect a mindful approach to sun care. Through engaging touchpoints, ranging from educational displays and hands-on product stations to guided exchanges with resort staff, families are invited to learn, explore, and make informed, gentle choices for both skin and sea.
Elevated Experiences, Grounded in Purpose
To encourage island-wide participation, KORRES testers will be available at key guest areas including Horizon Pool, Pool 18, and the beach cabanas. Guests may also exchange their personal chemical-based sunscreens for a complimentary KORRES alternative. This initiative seamlessly blends elevated guest service with a commitment to environmental responsibility.
For Elite members, a thoughtful surprise awaits during evening turndown service with curated KORRES sun care products, offering guests a subtle touch of conscious luxury, woven into the resort’s intuitive guest experience.
Guests joining the resort’s House Reef Snorkeling Excursion, guided by the resident marine biologist, will explore the breathtaking biodiversity of Shaviyani Atoll while engaging in meaningful conversations around reef preservation and responsible ocean practices. As a token of the experience, participants will receive a KORRES sunscreen to continue their journey with intention.
“Protecting What Sustains Us”
“We are proud to partner with KORRES this summer to offer our guests a reef-safe sun care solution that protects both their skin and the ocean that surrounds us,” says Mohit Dembla, General Manager of JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. “At JW Marriott Maldives, caring for families and the environment go hand in hand. Whether guests are snorkelling along vibrant coral reefs, unwinding by the water, or simply reconnecting with one another, these shared moments deepen their connection to nature and inspire a collective responsibility to safeguard our precious marine environment.”
This limited-time initiative, available throughout July while supplies last, builds upon the resort’s broader sustainability commitment. From incorporating organic, locally grown produce in its culinary offerings to implementing eco-friendly practices across all guest touchpoints, JW Marriott Maldives continues to set a benchmark of conscious luxury.
Guests are also encouraged to explore the JW Garden, cultivated with 100% organic fertilizer and maintained through a manual irrigation system. More than a source of fresh ingredients, the garden is a symbol of resort’s dedication to mindful living and stewardship of its natural surroundings.
As families create lasting summer memories on the island, they are invited to pause, engage, and wonder—sustaining what sustains us.
Honeymoon
Sun, sand, searches: Maldives tops charts for 2025 newlyweds

In an era where the quest for the perfect “romantic getaway” has surged by 83% in global Google searches year-on-year, the Maldives has been unequivocally named the top destination for newlyweds. According to new UK search and booking data from travel experts Travelbag, the island nation remains the most coveted long-haul honeymoon spot for 2025.
To determine where couples are heading to celebrate their nuptials, Travelbag’s specialists analyzed average UK Google search volumes alongside year-on-year booking trends from April 2024 to April 2025. The results highlight a clear winner, with the Maldives’ enduring popularity shining through.
Despite fierce competition from other idyllic locations, the Maldives holds the top rank with a staggering 19,200 average UK annual searches and a steady 5% year-on-year growth in bookings. This demonstrates the nation’s unshakable position as the quintessential honeymoon paradise in the minds of couples.
Here are the top long-haul honeymoon destinations according to Travelbag’s data:
- Maldives: 19,200 annual searches; 5% booking change
- Seychelles: 10,560 annual searches; 50% booking change
- Bali: 12,000 annual searches; 0% booking change
- Zanzibar: 8,640 annual searches; 86% booking change
- Costa Rica: 5,760 annual searches; 10% booking change
- St Lucia: 5,760 annual searches; -20% booking change
- Dubai: 3,840 annual searches; 30% booking change
- Antigua and Barbuda: 2,040 annual searches; 75% booking change
- Banff: 360 annual searches; 100% booking change
- Kyoto: 240 annual searches; 400% booking change
While destinations like Kyoto and Banff show remarkable growth in booking percentages, their search volumes indicate they remain niche choices compared to the mainstream appeal of the Maldives.
Danny Hugill, the designated Maldives destination expert at Travelbag, shared his advice for couples planning their romantic escape.
“The Maldives is the ultimate honeymoon destination, offering a mix of luxury, seclusion, and natural beauty,” he stated. “For a truly romantic and peaceful honeymoon, consider visiting between December and April, when there is plenty of sunshine and crystal-clear waters, perfect for relaxing on white-sand beaches and exploring vibrant coral reefs. At this time of year, temperatures range between 24°C and 31°C, so you’ll need to make sure you pack your sunscreen.”
Hugill also highlighted the diverse activities that await newlyweds: “Relaxation and romance take centre stage here. You can enjoy day-diving trips or head out on a glass-bottomed kayak together. But if you’re looking for something more exciting, there are plenty of watersports available on the islands, including water skiing and parasailing. You could even try a Maldivian cooking class to take some culinary skills back home with you.”
This latest data from Travelbag solidifies the Maldives’ esteemed status, proving that its unique blend of breathtaking scenery and luxurious intimacy continues to capture the hearts of couples worldwide, setting the standard for honeymoon destinations in 2025 and beyond.
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