Bandos Maldives has been recognised with the Traveller Review Award 2026 by Booking.com, marking another milestone in the resort’s long-standing commitment to exceptional guest experiences.

The Traveller Review Award is an annual recognition given to properties that consistently achieve high ratings through verified guest feedback. For Bandos Maldives, it reflects the resort’s strong service culture, attention to detail, and the team’s continuous efforts to create meaningful and satisfying holiday experiences for travellers from around the world.

Speaking on the achievement, Ismail Rasheed, General Manager of Bandos Maldives, said: “This award is especially meaningful to us because it reflects the voices of our guests. We sincerely appreciate those who took the time to share their experiences and feedback, as it plays an important role in helping us grow and improve. Their support encourages our team to continue delivering genuine hospitality and memorable stays for every guest who visits Bandos Maldives.”

The Traveller Review Award 2026 further reinforces Bandos Maldives’ position as one of the Maldives’ most well-regarded resorts, known for its welcoming atmosphere, authentic island experience, and heartfelt service

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, part of The Centara Collection, offers an island experience shaped by the rhythm of the ocean in the heart of South Ari Atoll. While the resort is widely recognised for its celebrated dive sites, award-winning house reef and rich marine life, another presence quietly anchors the spirit of the island.

Within the peaceful grounds of SPA Cenvaree stands a centuries-old banyan tree known locally as the Ummeedhu Tree, meaning Wish Fulfilment. With its expansive canopy and cascading aerial roots, the tree is regarded as more than a natural landmark. It is a symbol of continuity and reflection, standing as a silent witness to the island’s past and present.

Long before the island became a resort destination, the banyan tree stood rooted in the sands of Machchafushi. Today, the resort honours it as the spiritual heart of the island, inviting guests to pause beneath its branches and engage in moments of reflection and reconnection.

This connection is expressed through the Sacred Thread Ceremony, a contemplative ritual designed to offer guests a personal and meaningful experience. The ceremony begins with a quiet walk through the spa gardens, encouraging stillness and intention. Guests select a delicate golden leaf to represent a personal wish—whether for love, wellbeing, success, abundance or inner peace—and hold it alongside a wish card while visualising that intention fulfilled. The golden leaf is then tied to the banyan’s ancient branches, symbolising the offering of the wish to the tree’s enduring presence. The leaf remains there, carrying the quiet energy of the intention until the guest’s return.

Beyond the banyan, the island continues its natural rhythm. The surrounding waters form part of one of the Maldives’ most significant marine environments, known for year-round whale shark encounters and an extensive house reef that stretches beyond the shoreline. Yet amid the movement of the sea and the vibrancy of coral life, it is often the stillness beneath the banyan tree that leaves the most lasting impression.

Sustainability and heritage are integral to life on Machchafushi Island. Located within the South Ari Marine Protected Area, the island is committed to safeguarding both its marine ecosystems and its cultural identity. The banyan tree stands as a reminder that preservation extends beyond the natural environment to include traditions, stories and the deeper connections between people and place.

At Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, each day unfolds with moments shaped by nature and intention. From golden sunrises over the lagoon to wishes entrusted to ancient branches, experiences on the island are designed not only to be remembered, but to take root.

The Fari Islands Festival is set to return from 13 to 15 August 2026, bringing together Patina Maldives, Fari Islands and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands for a three-day celebration of creativity, culture, wellbeing and nature across the Fari Islands archipelago.

Following the success of its inaugural edition in September 2025, the festival will once again transform the two resorts into a shared platform for artistic expression, culinary exploration and holistic experiences. Designed as an immersive gathering rather than a conventional event, the festival invites guests to slow down, connect and engage with the islands through carefully curated moments shaped by place, people and creative exchange.

Conceived under the philosophy of The Home of Island Artistry, Fari Islands represents a vision where luxury, nature, craft and community coexist in balance. This ethos continues to underpin the 2026 edition of the festival, which blends cultural curiosity, environmental stewardship and mindful wellbeing into a programme that celebrates creativity in all its forms.

Guided by its defining motto, “One Festival, Every Sense,” the Fari Islands Festival unfolds across five interconnected pillars: Culinary Exploration, Creative Artistry, Body, Mind and Soul, Sonic Immersion, and Nature Amplified. Together, these pillars shape a journey that engages guests through taste, sound, movement, conversation and connection to the natural environment.

The 2025 edition established the festival’s scope and ambition, featuring poetry and spoken-word gatherings, live music performances, chef-led dining experiences, wellness rituals and guided encounters with the marine environment. Artists, chefs and collaborators from across disciplines activated spaces throughout the islands, creating a fluid programme that moved seamlessly from day into night.

Building on this foundation, the 2026 festival will continue to favour flow over fixed schedules. Guests can expect a balance of structured moments and open exploration, with experiences revealed progressively across multiple settings and times of day. This approach allows participants to move freely between moments of participation, observation and discovery, fostering a sense of personal connection and shared experience.

One of the highlights of the festival will once again be its concluding celebration at Fari Marina Village, where the closing night brings together flavour, sound and community. The marina will host a curated gathering of culinary expressions from both resorts, alongside local vendors and pop-up concepts, accompanied by live music that carries through the evening as guests move between kitchens, conversations and communal tables.

Reserve a stay at Fari Islands Festival at The Ritz Carlton Maldives or Patina Maldives.