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Discover unmatched luxury: Soneva’s Winter Collection brings culinary stars, astronomical wonders, and elite sports coaching
Soneva, a trailblazer in luxury hospitality, has introduced its Winter Collection of exclusive experiences in the Maldives and Thailand. Focused on a spirit of discovery, the collection allows guests to enjoy gourmet dining from Michelin-starred chefs, explore the cosmos with acclaimed astronomers, gain insights from renowned sports figures, and delve into profound wellness experiences with leading practitioners.
In the Maldives and Thailand, the dynamic Soneva Stars programme ensures that each stay is unique. This winter, a roster of award-winning chefs will offer a range of culinary experiences and special menus. Among the featured chefs are Carolina Bazán, one of Latin America’s top female chefs and owner of Ambrosia and Bistro Ambrosia in Santiago; Tim Raue, a prominent German chef who leads his eponymous two Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin; Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman, the chef duo behind Stockholm’s Michelin-starred Adam/Albin; Sascha Stemberg, head chef at Michelin-starred Haus Stemberg; Paolo Casanova, chef at Michelin-starred Colani; Korean-American chefs and entrepreneurs Judy Joo and Esther Choi; Marcel Skibba, head chef of the three Michelin-starred Schloss Schauenstein and No.26 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list; British food writer and chef Ravinder Bhogal; Indian chef and consultant Ajay Chopra; Indian chef and television host Vicky Ratnani; award-winning food writer and author Chetna Makan; Chantelle Nicholson, chef and founder of the Michelin Green Star restaurant Apricity; Søren Ørbek Ledet, wine director, general manager, and co-owner of the Michelin-starred Geranium; Kevin Diedrich, owner and bartender at San Francisco’s Pacific Cocktail Haven; and Charles Duval-Leroy, champagne producer at the family-owned Maison Duval-Leroy.
Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in sessions with astronomers Petr Horálek and Armin Kleinböhl, as well as wellness experts Eduardo Sierra and Numthip Puntha. Sports enthusiasts can benefit from coaching by Olympic swimmers Therese Alshammar and Johan Wallberg, tennis players Agnieszka Radwańska, Garbiñe Muguruza, Jacco Eltingh, and Daria Sergeyevna, and football stars Peter Crouch, Graeme Le Saux, Michael Ballack, and freestyler Marcel Gurk.
Beyond interacting with these stars, guests can continue their exploration. At Soneva Fushi, highlights include customised in-villa wellness treatments, themed dining experiences at the Maldives’ first glass studio, and an exclusive residency by Korean chef Jun Lee from the two-Michelin-starred restaurant SOIGNÉ at Flying Sauces. In the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani introduces new Floating Kitchen journeys, truffle menus, and mobile cocktail tuk-tuks. Soneva Secret 2024 in the Makunudhoo Atoll offers a fully personalised winter stay with cosmic feasts under the stars, local craft excursions, and rare caviar and cheese experiences. Soneva Kiri in Thailand provides spectacular natural moments with visits to nearby rainforests, national parks, and secluded beaches. Each of Soneva’s island resorts will also feature festive celebrations and visits from Santa, culminating in a signature New Year’s Eve Journey with sumptuous dining, live music, and unforgettable entertainment.
This December, friends and family can celebrate the holidays at Soneva with The Residences. This elevated concept, featuring villas ranging from three to nine bedrooms, includes the services of a dedicated Villa Manager and Villa Attendant available around the clock, a private chef on call, and dedicated buggy service. Soneva’s Residences also offer complimentary services such as personalised dining, Soneva Soul wellness treatments, fitness and movement classes, and tennis coaching. Children and teenagers can enjoy daily programs at The Den, along with exciting watersports, wellness sessions at Soneva Soul, and island activities with British academic mentoring firm Oppidan Education.
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The Standard, Maldives brings Lunar New Year energy to Raa Atoll
The Standard, Maldives will mark the Lunar New Year this February with a week-long celebration that invites guests to swap urban festivities for the turquoise waters of the Raa Atoll. Taking place from 17 to 22 February, the programme will transform the island resort into a festive setting that blends time-honoured traditions with the brand’s playful and contemporary character.
Designed to move beyond a conventional island escape, the celebrations will open with lively visual touches, including jumping stilts and fortune cookies, setting the tone for a week where Maldivian tranquillity meets the spirit of East Asian culture. Throughout the programme, guests will be immersed in a series of experiences that combine culinary creativity, entertainment and cultural expression.
Food takes centre stage in the Lunar New Year offering, with a diverse line-up of dining events curated to engage all the senses. Highlights include an Asian Street Food buffet inspired by classic Chinese motifs, alongside more refined beachfront experiences such as five-course Crab Night and Lobster Night dinners at Kula Beach. Interactive elements are also woven into the programme, with Tangyuan Time at Joos Café inviting families to prepare traditional sweet glutinous rice balls together, while younger guests can participate in a dedicated mocktail-making masterclass.
Evenings at the resort will be defined by high-energy entertainment and cultural performances. Todis Beach will host LED and fire shows, complemented by special Chinese dance performances that illuminate the shoreline after dark. Adding a local dimension to the celebrations, Maldivian Boduberu drumming will feature prominently, creating a rhythmic fusion of regional and international traditions. For guests seeking a more relaxed pace, the programme also includes a Lunar New Year Movie Night at the main pool and a Bingo Night at Todis Bar.
Commenting on the celebrations, Sonika Adlakha, Commercial Director of The Standard, Maldives, said the aim was to create a Lunar New Year experience that feels both authentic and adventurous. She noted that by combining the dynamic energy of street food markets and fire shows with the calm luxury of a Maldivian retreat, the resort is offering guests a distinctive way to welcome the Year of the Horse.
To complement the festivities, the resort is offering a Premium All-Inclusive Package, designed to provide seamless access to the week’s dining and entertainment programme. The package includes the full range of culinary experiences, from Asian Street Food stalls to themed buffets at Kula, as well as a selection of premium spirits, cocktails and refreshments. This offering allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the celebrations while enjoying the freedom to experience the Lunar New Year at The Standard, Maldives without limits.
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Four Seasons Maldives brings Fire Horse energy to Lunar New Year celebrations
Four Seasons Resorts Maldives will welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with a week of Lunar New Year celebrations across Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa. Taking place from 16 to 24 February 2026, the programme will see both islands animated by the vibrant energy associated with this rare zodiac year.
Bold and spirited, the Fire Horse symbolises momentum, confidence and fresh beginnings. The celebrations are designed to reflect these qualities through a blend of cultural tradition, island elegance and family-focused experiences, positioning the Maldives as a fitting setting for the festive season.
Marking a first for the Maldives, the resorts will host an exclusive pop-up by Beijing’s Michelin-recognised Baiweiyuan Dumpling Restaurant, operating concurrently at both islands. Long celebrated in Beijing for its handmade dumplings and comforting soups, Baiweiyuan will present a menu featuring signature pork and chive dumplings, beef and onion fillings, and vegetarian options such as egg and tomato. Cold starters, including soy-braised pork trotter, will complement the experience.
Prepared fresh to order, the dumplings introduce an authentic taste of Beijing to the Indian Ocean, offering a culinary highlight that reflects the warmth and generosity associated with the Fire Horse.

Lunar New Year at Kuda Huraa
16–24 February 2026
At Kuda Huraa, Lunar New Year celebrations will unfold throughout the week in a lively, festival-style programme. Events begin with a Reunion Dinner at Café Huraa, followed by themed dining evenings, outdoor cinema screenings, a Pool Party and a Pop-Up Asian Market.
Evenings will include experiences such as a Secret Beach BBQ under the stars, a Mediterranean Market at Reef Club and an Asian Buffet at Café Huraa. Baiweiyuan’s dumpling pop-up will be available daily, allowing guests to enjoy the flavours of Beijing throughout the celebrations.
Kuda Huraa highlights include:
- Reunion Dinner on 16 February
- Family Feast Lunch, Seafood Night and Asian Buffet
- Secret Beach BBQ and Mediterranean Market
- Pool Party with DJ on 18 February
- Pop-Up Asian Market and outdoor movie nights
- Daily Baiweiyuan Dumpling pop-up
The Kuda Mas Kids Club will also host a two-week Fire Horse–inspired festival for younger guests, featuring activities such as lantern painting, snorkelling adventures, arts and crafts, dumpling making, tie-dye workshops, karaoke evenings and beach games. The programme is designed to encourage creativity, confidence and fun.
Lunar New Year at Landaa Giraavaru
16 February 2026
Landaa Giraavaru will welcome the New Year with a poolside celebration from 7.00pm to 10.30pm, featuring a Dragon Dance, live DJ and lantern-lit setting around the main pool. A Yu Sheng prosperity toss will symbolise abundance and good fortune, while live cooking stations will showcase celebratory flavours prepared by the resort’s culinary team.
Landaa Giraavaru highlights include:
- Poolside Lunar New Year celebration
- Dragon Dance performance
- Live DJ and festive ambience
- Yu Sheng prosperity toss
- Culture-inspired welcome drinks
- Baiweiyuan Dumpling pop-up available throughout the week
Across both islands, Lunar New Year at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives is designed to bring families and friends together in the spirit of prosperity, connection and shared celebration. Guests are invited to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse through traditions that honour luck, abundance and meaningful togetherness.
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Simply summer at Milaidhoo: Invitation to slow living in the Baa Atoll
In a destination often defined by excess, Milaidhoo Maldives offers a different summer narrative: one of restraint, rhythm and rare stillness. Introducing Simply Summer, a seasonal escape that celebrates the art of slowing down within the UNESCO-protected waters of the Baa Atoll.
An intimate island sanctuary, Milaidhoo is designed for travellers who value time as the ultimate luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly, beginning with relaxed oceanfront breakfasts and shaped entirely by choice, from sunrise yoga and snorkelling in pristine coral gardens to long, private hours spent within the calm of one’s villa. Evenings are defined by elegant à la carte dining, inspired by seasonal flavours and served with effortless grace.
The Simply Summer offer enhances this experience with considered privileges rather than excess. Guests are invited to explore the Maldives’ natural wonders through manta ray encounters in the legendary Hanifaru Bay, indulge in restorative rituals at the overwater Serenity Spa, or discover the atoll through curated island adventures, all with exclusive seasonal savings.
A chilled bottle of Ruinart Champagne awaiting guests in their villa sets the tone on arrival, while flexible early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) ensures that time is never hurried. Dining remains a central pleasure, with daily breakfast and à la carte dinners at Ocean Restaurant, complemented by generous dining credits across the island’s culinary venues.
Available for stays from 1st May to 31st October 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights, Simply Summer is an understated invitation to experience the Maldives at its most refined, quietly luxurious, deeply personal and guided by the gentle pace of island life.
Simply Summer – Key Inclusions:
- Daily breakfast at Ocean Restaurant
- Daily à la carte dinner at Ocean Restaurant
- USD 65 per person, per night dining credit (food-only) at other restaurants
- 30% savings on manta ray snorkelling in Hanifaru Bay (group excursion)
- 30% savings on selected treatments at Serenity Spa
- 30% savings on curated group excursions and island experiences
- Exclusive benefits when booking direct
Begin your Simply Summer at Milaidhoo.
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