News
Hawksbill Turtle nests protected at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has taken steps to secure the nests of hundreds of eggs from a returning Hawksbill Turtle who has selected the western shores of the private island paradise as her nesting beach.
“We are thrilled to have discovered the nest which is a good indication that the turtles feel safe and welcome at Kandooma,” said Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.
“The Hawksbill Sea Turtles are critically endangered and it’s our responsibility to protect our environment, ecosystems and keep these beautiful creatures safe. Education plays a big part in what we do at Kandooma helping our guests to understand the journey and how precious the nests are.”
Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys Imbricate) have the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Status as critically endangered. The turtles are understood to live 30-50 years and range in size from 66 to 95cm at maturity. Maturity is not defined by age, it varies and depends on food availability. The turtles, carnivores, mate approximately every two years in secluded lagoons off their nesting beaches. They nest two to five times per season and in the Maldives with the warm Indian Ocean the females lay an average of 100 to 180 eggs per nest. The incubation period is approximately two months.
Mark explains that the turtles go from the water up the beaches to the vegetation line to nest. When nesting is not spotted in progress, shallow track marks left in the sand up to 85cm wide with the telltale symmetrical marks that the forelimbs make are a solid indication.
“Our team will now monitor the nests and as it becomes closer to the big day when the eggs hatch, the protective nets around the nests will be removed to allow the baby turtles to start their life’s journey. It’s pretty neat to see, albeit from a distance,” Mark said.
Mark explains that the Resort has some simple rules in place at the island regarding hatchlings including no bright lights, no loud noises, take care where you walk, and if you see a hatchling disoriented or heading inland, gently turn it around to face the sea and alert one of the staff. The nests are fenced to protect them from people stepping on the nest as it is soft sand from top to bottom. The hatched turtles have to climb out of the nest as they mimic swimming in the sea.
“Only 1 in 1,000 will make it to maturity. The turtles have many predators, among them humans, sharks, triggerfish and grouper, while discarded nets known as Ghost nets as well as erosion are also a threat,” adds Mark.
Located in the South Male atoll just 40 minutes from the airport by boat, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is a beautiful, natural island paradise. White sand beaches, swaying coconut palms and turquoise waters form the backdrop for leisure pursuits and some of the best scuba diving in the Maldives. Guests can choose from Garden and Beach Villas, two-storey Beach Houses and the popular Overwater Villas. Families are well catered for with a choice of 2- and 3-bed villas and the Kandoo Kids’ Club with its fun activities programme. Six food and beverage outlets ensure healthy appetites are satisfied and the flavours of the Maldives are explored. Guests seeking time out and relaxation will enjoy sun-loungers and hammocks dotted around the island. Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala offers a tranquil escape for body and mind.
News
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa introduces new island cycling experience
In a fast-moving world, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa invites guests to pause, reconnect, and embrace the essence of The Whole You. Rooted in the principles of mindfulness, the luxury resort. Tucked within the pristine Shaviyani Atoll, serves as a sanctuary where travelers can feel wholly present, deeply nourished, and spiritually renewed. As guests arrive, thoughtfully provided bicycles offer a gentle introduction to island life, allowing them to glide through lush pathways, breathe in the ocean breeze, and settle into a slower, more intentional rhythm of discovery.
Culinary excellence is woven into the island experience, with thoughtfully curated dishes inspired by global traditions. Whether enjoyed within the serenity of a private villa or set against sweeping ocean views, each dining moment is created with intention, offering nourishment for both body and soul.
The Spa by JW will take guests on a journey of healing, blending ancient wisdom with modern science. Treatments source natural elements designed to uplift mind, body and soul, ensuring guests leave their Maldives experience with a new energy for life.
From guided meditation sessions, yoga and more high impact fitness classes, activities at sea including exploring the wonders of the ocean at the nearby house reef, or grounding walks through the sand, the island is a natural wonderland designed to replenish and revive, every part of the island designed with intention.
The resort’s overwater gym, open-air pavilion, daily workout classes, yoga sessions and easy movement and breathing exercises will provide guests with numerous opportunities to relax and reconnect with their Maldivian surroundings.
Guests can explore the hidden spots and serene spaces around the island where secret spots and beaches are among the many which offer a gateway to tranquility, places where guests can feel at peace and reflect.
With one of the largest kids clubs in the Maldives, the Little Griffins Kids Club offers more than 100 activities, allowing even more time for parents to reconnect and rediscover the romance, all in the knowledge the little guests will be having adventures of their own, enjoying every moment.
From nature explorations to arts and crafts, there is a world of fun awaiting the children little ones while the grown-ups can have time as one with the best of JW Marriott service for the ultimate pampering.
Families find a plethora of things to do to create those lifelong memories as they bond through the magic of adventure. From fishing expeditions and snorkeling to dolphin cruises, these unforgettable experiences create togetherness with the best of memories to cherish for life, in the most meaningful moments.
The Whole You on Two Wheels: Mindful Discovery
The new Island Cycling Experience is the latest in the resort’s lineup of unique experiential offerings destined for feature stories, actively promoting health and shared adventure. Available daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, these stylish bicycles allow guests of all ages to glide through the resort’s winding paths, feeling the ocean breeze and connecting with the pristine beauty of the Maldivian landscape. Moving beyond simple transport, the bicycles offer a refreshing and mindful way for families to engage in purposeful activity, discovering the island’s hidden corners, serene spaces, and secret beaches that serve as gateways to tranquility, reflection, and quiet moments of personal grounding.
Maldivian Heritage: An Architectural Homage to Nature
Designed for guests to immerse in nature, the architecture of the water villas is inspired by the local environment itself, specifically by the Heron Birds local to the Maldives. Designed as a homage to these luck-bringing birds, the thatched roof has a tip that resembles the beak of the bird, and the composition is slightly slanted, to portray the heron bird dipping their head to catch fish in the water.
The water villas are constructed in the traditional local thatched style, immersing guests in a truly Maldivian paradise. Each of the 60 villas offer guests total privacy, for time alone or with loved ones, in addition to their being natural hideaways in the most spectacular setting.
Each includes a private pool and wooden sunbathing decks while the Duplex Overwater Pool Villas and single-story overwater pool villas are set on stilts overlooking the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, with a choice of sunrise or sunset views.
Guests in the Beach Pool Villas and Duplex Beach Villa can step out directly onto the white sands of the beach, with exclusive access bringing nature right to the door.
Awards
The Nautilus Maldives named to Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2026
The Nautilus Maldives has once again earned a place in Condé Nast Traveler’s The Gold List for 2026, standing as the only destination from the Maldives to receive this prestigious recognition. Curated by the publication’s global editors, The Gold List honours destinations that set new benchmarks in luxury and celebrates places that leave a lasting imprint on discerning travellers.
This latest distinction reflects Condé Nast Traveler’s continued recognition of The Nautilus’s singular character and its commitment to crafting unscripted, deeply meaningful journeys. The private island’s captivatingly free-spirited ethos, where moments unfold without hurry and guests embrace a world unbound by schedules, has long drawn admiration from international tastemakers and influential editors. The philosophy of Freedom Unscripted continues to define the island today, evolving through thoughtful craftsmanship and an intuitively personalised approach to luxury.
Since its debut, The Nautilus has emerged as a powerful voice within the ultra-luxury landscape. Its rise was first marked by its success in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, followed by further acclaim through honours such as Tatler’s Best Private Island Retreat and its earlier inclusion in The Gold List. With only twenty-six beach and ocean houses, the private island has since become an unexpected yet compelling benchmark for privacy, individuality and the art of unscripted luxury.
Today’s inclusion in The Gold List 2026 reflects not only sustained excellence but also the private island’s ongoing evolution. From pioneering marine conservation programmes and curating world-class Masters for Masters residencies to elevating its culinary, wellness and personalisation frameworks, The Nautilus continues to shape a new narrative of experiential luxury in the Maldives.
General Manager Adan Gomez shared, “We are honoured to be named once more in The Gold List. Very few resorts have the privilege of receiving this recognition twice in such a short time. It speaks to the passion of our island family and the trust of the guests who choose The Nautilus as their home in the Maldives. The Gold List recognises destinations that are truly exceptional. To be acknowledged again reinforces The Nautilus’s place among the world’s most inspiring luxury resorts. It is a moment of great pride, and a meaningful affirmation of our philosophy rooted in freedom, individuality and authenticity.”
As The Nautilus looks ahead, this accolade strengthens its resolve to remain a place where time slows, creativity thrives and every journey is curated entirely around the guest. A world shaped by them, and for them.
News
Serenity Spa at Baros Maldives introduces new rituals, multi-day wellness journeys
Baros Maldives unveils a renewed Serenity Spa menu this season, marking a thoughtful evolution of the island’s wellness offering. Designed for travellers seeking restoration with tangible results, the new menu positions Baros as a refined glowcation destination — where meaningful relaxation meets visible, lasting wellbeing.
Set within the lush heart of the island, Serenity Spa is reached by a winding sandy path, accompanied by birdsong, palms and the soft scent of tropical blooms. Here, wellness moves beyond passive pampering. Baros blends time-honoured Asian healing traditions with modern techniques, advanced skincare and potent natural actives, creating experiences that restore balance, enhance radiance and invite deeper rest.
Central to the new menu is a curated collection of island-inspired signature rituals. Baros Forest Therapy draws on the calming power of nature, combining grounding essential oils, guided inhalation, flowing massage, a mineral-rich mud mask and a soothing scalp massage to ease stress and reconnect body and mind. The Serenity Green Signature and Walk in the Garden rituals further reflect Baros’ forested landscape, using botanical actives, aromatherapy and intuitive bodywork for deeply sensory renewal.
Serenity Spa’s enhanced product portfolio brings together globally respected wellness brands. Natura Bissé introduces science-led facial and body therapies, while Aromatherapy Associates offers mood-enhancing massages designed to support sleep, relaxation and emotional wellbeing. Obsidian for Men delivers focused, mineral-rich treatments and Margaret Dabbs elevates hand and foot care into restorative rituals.
“Each product has been carefully selected for its efficacy and its ability to work in harmony with our nature-led environment,” says Tri Wardani, Cluster Director of Spa at Baros Maldives. “This allows us to offer treatments that are both sensorial and results-driven, without losing the calm, understated essence of Baros.”
Complementing the menu are two wellness journeys, offered over three, five and seven days. Each combines personalised therapies, advanced facials, daily movement practices and time in nature, designed to be experienced at a personal pace.
“This new chapter at Serenity Spa is a natural evolution of what Baros has always stood for,” shares Ibrahim Shijah, the General Manager of Baros Maldives. “It is about deepening the guest experience, with wellness that feels natural, intelligent and entirely in tune with our island.”
Please contact reservations@baros.com or +960 664 2672 for booking enquiries.
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