This festive season, white takes on a different meaning at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa. Far from frosty mornings and winter landscapes, the powder-soft sands of Thilamaafushi Island, turquoise waters and endless sunshine offer a distinctly tropical interpretation of a white Christmas.

From 20 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, the resort will transform into The White Isle, a festive celebration inspired by the natural beauty of the Maldives and the unmistakable joie de vivre of Le Méridien’s European heritage.

Rooted in the spirit of La Fête by Le Méridien, the programme brings a playful twist to cherished holiday traditions. From Santa’s arrival over the Indian Ocean and Christmas feasts to family adventures, island explorations and a glamorous New Year’s Eve beach soirée, the season invites guests to embrace the pleasures of island life.

Set on the natural island of Thilamaafushi in Lhaviyani Atoll, surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and thriving marine life, Le Méridien Maldives offers a refreshing perspective on festive travel, where days are made for exploration, afternoons linger a little longer and evenings bring new reasons to celebrate.

A Festive Season, Le Méridien Way

The festivities begin on 21 December with A Night to Shine, the resort’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Le Méridien Hub. A beautifully crafted gingerbread house, Christmas choir, live music, festive entertainment and seasonal treats bring the island together for a joyful opening to The White Isle.

On 24 December, La Fête de Noël brings the pleasures of the festive table to Turquoise. Seasonal favourites, international specialities, freshly prepared seafood and the theatre of live cooking stations come together for a Christmas Eve feast, complemented by an enticing array of holiday desserts and live music. The dinner is included for guests on Half-Board, Full Board and All-Inclusive meal plans.

Christmas Day brings a little extra magic as Santa makes his grand arrival across the turquoise waters, trading snowy rooftops for the shores of Thilamaafushi. With gifts, surprises and festive cheer, his visit promises a memorable moment for the resort’s youngest guests.

The festive spirit continues at The Family Kids Hub, transformed into a White Wonderland of imagination, creativity and island adventures. Young explorers can take part in coconut leaf activities, learn about the marine world through the Mini Marine Masters Programme at the Marine Conservation Hub, or embark on a Holiday Quest and Family Frosty Treasure Hunt.

As evening falls, the adventures continue with Kids’ Night Camping, featuring storytelling, stargazing and playful group games. Young astronomy enthusiasts can also venture into the wonders of the night sky through guided telescope sessions with the resort’s resident astronomer.

Midnight in White: A French-Inspired Beach Soirée

On 31 December, The White Isle welcomes 2027 with Midnight in White, a glamorous beach soirée bringing a touch of the French Riviera to the Indian Ocean.

The evening begins with cocktails at Velaa Bar + Grill before moving to the beach, where an all-white celebration awaits. A tempting array of seasonal specialities, live cooking stations, beachside barbecues and cocktails sets the scene for a night of culinary indulgence and spirited entertainment.

When the clock approaches midnight, guests gather beneath the stars for the countdown to 2027, raising a glass to new beginnings as the island welcomes another year of possibilities. A live DJ keeps the festive energy flowing into the early hours, with music and the unmistakable joie de vivre of Le Méridien.

A Celebration of Rozhdestvo Khristovo with Chef Dmitry Parikov

The festivities continue into the New Year with Rozhdestvo Khristovo on 6 January, as Le Méridien Maldives welcomes guest chef Dmitry Parikov for a special culinary collaboration honouring Orthodox Christmas traditions.

Bringing his signature creations and contemporary interpretation of traditional flavours to Thilamaafushi, Chef Dmitry will present a festive dining experience complemented by live entertainment, offering guests another occasion to gather around the table and savour the spirit of the season.

The Pleasure of Island Living

Beyond the festivities, The White Isle is an invitation to savour the good life on Thilamaafushi, whether travelling as a couple, gathering with friends or enjoying a family holiday.

The resort’s collection of 134 beach and overwater villas offers a choice of island retreats, including spacious two-bedroom villas designed for families seeking comfort and privacy. For larger gatherings and multi-generational escapes, the Three-Bedroom Thilamaafushi Villa offers generous indoor and outdoor living spaces, a private pool and direct access to the beach.

Days unfold at an unhurried island pace, with opportunities to kayak or paddleboard across the lagoon, snorkel alongside colourful reef fish and turtles, or venture further into the waters of Lhaviyani Atoll on a diving excursion.

For curious minds of all ages, the Marine Conservation Hub offers insight into the underwater world surrounding the island, while the resort’s hydroponic Greenhouse introduces guests to a more sustainable approach to growing fresh produce in the Maldives.

Back on land, a game of padel, a wellness ritual at the overwater Explore Spa or a yoga session offers another way to enjoy the island. As the sun begins to dip towards the horizon, sunset aperitifs, leisurely dining and astronomy experiences reveal a different side of Thilamaafushi after dark.

Your Festive Escape Awaits

To make the season even more inviting, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa presents its Festive Early Bird Offer, combining all-inclusive dining at selected restaurants with USD 100 daily resort credit to enjoy more of the island’s experiences.

Available for stays between 20 December 2026 and 10 January 2027, the offer invites travellers to exchange winter days for the warmth of the Maldives and celebrate the season with a distinctly Le Méridien spirit.

For more information or to book, please visit lemeridien-maldives.com or contact reservations.maldives@lemeridien.com.

Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is turning up the volume this October as The Whiskey Brothers bring their signature live performances to CROSSROADS Maldives for two evenings of music, energy and island entertainment.

Known for their engaging performances and distinctive musical style, The Whiskey Brothers will bring their sound to two of the destination’s vibrant venues, creating memorable evenings against the stunning backdrop of the Maldives.

The duo will kick off their performances at Hard Rock Cafe Maldives on 27 October 2026. Open to the public, including local residents, expats, and visitors, the evening invites music lovers to come together and experience the electrifying atmosphere of Hard Rock Cafe, where great music, dining and entertainment take centre stage.

On 28 October 2026, The Whiskey Brothers will continue their island performance at The Elephant & The Butterfly, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives’ signature beachfront restaurant. This exclusive performance is reserved for resort guests, offering an intimate evening of live music in a relaxed tropical setting.

The performances reflect Hard Rock Hotel Maldives’ commitment to bringing its iconic music-inspired DNA to life through dynamic entertainment, engaging experiences and vibrant island programming.

Located within CROSSROADS Maldives, just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives continues to celebrate the spirit of music, entertainment and island living.

Event Details:

• 27 October 2026 | 9:00 PM – 9:45 PM Venue: Hard Rock Cafe Maldives; open to the public, including locals, expats and visitors
• 28 October 2026 | 7:30 PM – 8:15 PM Venue: The Elephant & The Butterfly, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives; exclusive to resort guests

Kandooma Maldives has expanded what guests can expect from an all-inclusive Maldives holiday, with scuba diving, traditional sunrise line fishing, reef snorkelling, a sunset cruise and a spa treatment included in qualifying stays alongside 24-hour dining and drinks.

The 146-villa resort has transitioned to an experience-led all-inclusive offering under its new brand promise: Discover. Experience. Celebrate.

“We want family holidays to be easier, more enriching and considerably more fun,” says Andrew Drummond, General Manager of Kandooma Maldives.

“For us, all-inclusive shouldn’t just mean food and drinks. We want guests to be able to say yes to more of the Maldives. Go diving. Try traditional fishing. Get on the boom net at sunset. Get a massage and maybe join an activity they hadn’t planned. It’s about making it easy to get out there and enjoy the holiday.”

Recently named Leading Family Resort at the South Asian Travel Awards, Kandooma Maldives has designed the new offering to give guests more opportunities to experience the island and the South Malé Atoll, with many of the costs already taken care of.

All-inclusive stays are a minimum of four nights and include:

• 24-hour dining, with an extensive choice across participating island outlets
• One Sunset Splash Cruise per person, per stay
• One Group Reef Snorkelling experience per person, per day
• One Sunrise Fishing Trip per person, per stay
• One Scuba Dive per day for certified divers
• One 30-minute Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage OR 30-minute Foot Massage per person, per stay at Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala (Adults over 18 years)

Longer stays bring additional experiences and benefits, with selected inclusions resetting every four nights.

There is plenty more happening around the island too, with a changing daily programme of complimentary and bookable activities for adults and children.

A day at Kandooma can begin before breakfast, heading out onto the Indian Ocean as the first light appears on the horizon.

The included Sunrise Fishing Trip gives guests the chance to try traditional Maldivian line fishing, a simple technique that has been part of island life for generations.

The experience is part of Kandooma Ways, which connects guests with the Maldives, its people and culture. It is as much about being out on the ocean as the island wakes up as it is about seeing what might take the bait.

Later in the day, guests can head back out on the water for the Sunset Splash Cruise. As the sun drops and the sky changes through shades of gold, orange and pink, the choice is simple. Climb onto the boat’s boom net and feel the splash and spray of the Indian Ocean, or stay completely dry on deck with a refreshing drink and watch the sun go down. It’s a Maldives sunset, Kandooma style.

Kandooma Blue is all about getting guests into, onto and around the Indian Ocean. The included daily group Reef Snorkel is an easy way to discover what lies beneath the surface. Guests can explore coral formations, swim alongside schools of colourful tropical fish and keep watch for other marine life along the reef.

For certified scuba divers, there is much more to explore. Kandooma has a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, with 28 dive sites accessible from the resort. Among them is renowned Kandooma Thila, approximately five minutes away by boat.

Depending on the site, season and conditions, divers may encounter colourful reef fish, turtles, rays and sharks while exploring reefs, channels, walls and thilas.

Certified divers staying on a qualifying all-inclusive package receive one scuba dive per day, making it possible to explore more of the South Malé Atoll throughout their holiday rather than limiting diving to a single excursion. 

Eat When You Want, Where You Want

Kandooma Table is about good food, choice and keeping things easy. As an All-inclusive resort, guests are not tied to the same restaurant for every meal, with dining available across multiple outlets around the island.

Kandooma Café is open 24 hours a day, covering everything from breakfast and leisurely lunches to late-night snacks, which is ideal for those with early morning departures and hungry guests arriving on the island late at night. 

The new Kandooma Beach Club brings a different flavour to island dining throughout the day. Mornings are all about casual bites and fun for tweens in the Arcade Zone, complete with billiards, ping pong, foosball and arcade games. Come lunchtime, guests can settle in for à la carte dining with beautiful beach views. And there’s another treat for all-inclusive guests: one dinner per person at Kandooma Beach Club is included for every four nights of their stay. By day, drinks are self-serve, think airport-lounge style, including beer on tap and wines by the glass. 

Bokkuraa Pool Deck offers casual poolside dining, while Baraveli Beach Bar is an easy spot for drinks and refreshments overlooking the Indian Ocean with your feet in the sand.

Then there’s the new Scoops Gelateria.

“No one is going to go hungry staying at Kandooma,” Andrew laughs. “We’ve even added a Gelateria because, really, who doesn’t love ice cream on holiday? And we’ve included soft-serve too.”

Guests can also upgrade their morning with a floating breakfast, served in the privacy of their villa pool. And for wine lovers, the new Wine Room offers premium wines by the bottle in addition to the all-inclusive wine selection served by the glass. Guests can choose something special for dinner or take a bottle back to their villa, with premium bottles charged to their room account.

Time to Slow Down

Kandooma Flow is the slower side of island life. Each qualifying guest can choose a 30-minute Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage OR a 30-minute Foot Massage at Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala. It’s a welcome chance to switch off after a day spent diving, snorkelling, swimming or exploring, or simply to make some time for yourself while on holiday.

Guests who want to linger a little longer can use their included 30-minute massage benefit to extend or combine with a paid treatment.  The Spa inclusion is strictly for adults (18+) only. 

Something Different Every Day

There is no need for two days at Kandooma to look the same.

The resort runs a changing programme of complimentary and bookable activities for adults and children, with plenty of opportunities to get active, head out on the water, join in with something social, try something new or simply spend the day at the beach.

Guests can pack their days with experiences or do very little at all. Both work perfectly well at Kandooma.

“We didn’t want families worrying about every extra cost or thinking about the bill at the end of their stay,” says Andrew.

“We want them to relax, try something new and make terrific memories. Go fishing at sunrise, discover the reef, dive somewhere incredible or have a massage. It’s their holiday, and we want to make it easy for them to enjoy it.”

That thinking is summed up in three words:  Discover. Experience. Celebrate.

The resort’s all-inclusive brochure can be found here or visit www.kandooma-maldives.com for more information.