News
‘Tis the season to be jolly at JOALI Maldives
JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive resort in the Maldives, unveils its “Tis the Season to be Jolly” holiday theme alongside a robust calendar of festive offerings for the whole family to enjoy. From 21 December 2024 through 10 January 2025, the award-winning resort will transform into a magical Christmas island, bringing holiday cheer, nostalgia and yuletide splendour for an unforgettable holiday celebration.
From classic holiday traditions, including a festive tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa Claus to an extravagant Christmas Eve Gala followed by a Christmas Day brunch, JOALI Maldives embraces the holiday season while keeping true to its art-immersive identity with an array of festive interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy including:
- Holiday Ceramics: Guided by JOALI’s Resident Artist, guests can reignite their imaginations as they create one-of-a-kind ceramics and pottery with their own hands.
- Christmas Tree Coral Planting: Guests can contribute to the JOALI Reef Restoration Project by attaching fragments of hope to a coral Christmas tree frame to be added to the resort’s onsite coral nursery.
- JOALI Fashion Show: Guests and JOALI’s very own models will display the exclusive and signature JOALI lifestyle and capsule collections with Aquazzura and Frescobol Ciara on a joyful tropical runway.
JOALI Maldives will also welcome several globally recognised guest Chefs and experts over Festive to encourage guests to fully embrace the ‘Joy of Living’ this holiday season. The Festive Season line-up of artisans at JOALI Maldives include:
- Chef Ekaterina Alehina: The first female chef in Russia to be awarded a Michelin star, her award-winning restaurant, Biologie, in Moscow is based on the concept of “circular gastronomy,” which brings together three biological realms: animal, plant, fungi and bacteria. Serving mindful recipes with a strong accent on sustainability, Chef Alehina will host an intimate wine-paired dinner inspired by her Biologie concept and menu.
- Chef Nina Tarasova: With over 10 years of experience in the culinary sphere, Chef Tarasova is well-known for her confectionary skills. After completing her training in France, Chef Tarasova is now based in Russia where she frequently represents the country at various international festivals and forums. Chef Tarasova looks forward to creating magical festive desserts to accompany various dinners including one with visiting Chef Ekaterina Alehina and a sake-paired seafood and sushi dinner at Saoke.
- Dr. Sanket Yadahalli: A naturopath with over a decade of hands-on healing experience, Dr. Yadahalli has taken his passion for evidence-based natural medicine across six continents, working with premier luxury resorts, wellness retreats and sports clinics. Employing an integrative approach by taking the best from acupuncture and manipulative practices to craft uniquely effective blends, guests are invited to discover long-lasting results with his personalised therapies designed to address concerns such as chronic muscle tightness, spine and joint pain, stress, sleep disorders, and digestive and hormonal imbalances. Dr. Yadahall will also guide a Tratak Meditation session, an ancient practice that will bring guests on a transformative journey of self-discovery to foster better focus, clarity and inner peace.
- Gaia Pagnini: With a solid foundation in Exercise Science, Pagnini believes in understanding each client’s unique needs, goals, and challenges to create a customised fitness journey that is both effective and enjoyable. Pagnini’s passion for all things fitness and wellness has led her to collaborate with Technogym and Barry’s Bootcamp. Pagnini looks forward to bringing her personalised workout plans to JOALI while leading various fitness classes, including a Boot Camp by Gaia and Core & Balance class.
This season of gifting, guests can explore JOALI De Maison for one-of-a-kind capsule collections in collaboration with fashion houses such as Aquazzura and Frescobol Carioca. Handmade with the finest Italian craftsmanship, the Aquazzura collection features a sandal slide and matching clutch in white leather, with a refined beaded embroidered motif depicting pristine blue water, a cerulean sky with coconut palms, and the iconic arrival jetty. Frescobol Carioca presents JOALI-inspired menswear in blush pink and padel tennis equipment carrying tropical illustrations.
Lastly, across the other side of the world in New York City, Lysée, a pastry boutique by Michelin-Starred Pastry Chef Eunji Lee, will offer New Yorkers a taste of JOALI and the Maldives with a limited-time holiday dessert inspired by Chef Lee’s visit to the island in September. Redefining NYC’s dessert landscape, Chef Lee, who has an impressive resume having worked at restaurants like Le Meurice in Paris and Jungsik in New York, was named La Liste’s Pastry Talents of the Year 2023 as well as Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2023. Combining Korean ingredients, French techniques and New York flavours, Lysée is inspired by Chef Lee’s love to make her pastries as edible art, with Lysée representing a sweet museum derived from the French word Musée.
This Festive Season, visitors will enjoy JOALI Maldives’ ‘Joy of Living’ philosophy with 73 elegantly appointed and expansive beach and over-water villas. Offering 11 different villa categories, guests may choose from one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom options, all of which come with a personal Jadugar, meaning ‘skilled magician’ in Dhivehi.
JOALI Maldives has villas from $9,800 per night based on two persons sharing a Beach Villa with Pool on B&B basis. For additional details on JOALI Maldives’ ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly Festive programming or to book, please visit www.joali.com/joali-maldives.
News
Upcycled ornaments, reclaimed materials shape festive design at Six Senses Kanuhura
This festive season, Six Senses Kanuhura invites guests to celebrate Christmas through a mindful, barefoot approach where sustainability and creativity take centre stage.
Across the island, festive décor embraces an upcycled theme, with handcrafted decorations created using repurposed leftover fabrics, reclaimed wood scraps, upcycled glass ornaments and dried palm tree branches.

Plastic has been intentionally avoided, while table decorations are thoughtfully designed using repurposed fruit peels, dried fruits and herbs, reflecting Six Senses Kanuhura’s ongoing commitment to reducing waste and celebrating nature’s beauty. Guests may also purchase selected upcycled glass ornaments from the Six Senses Kanuhura boutique as meaningful, sustainable souvenirs.

Alongside this conscious festive design, Six Senses Kanuhura presents a thoughtfully curated line-up of Christmas and New Year celebrations, from tree lightings and carols to barefoot dining, wellness rituals and island experiences under the stars. Rooted in the Six Senses philosophy, the festive season at Six Senses Kanuhura invites guests to reconnect with themselves, with each other and with nature, creating moments of joy that are both memorable and mindful.

Offering exquisite palm-fringed, white sandy beaches and two additional private islands, Six Senses Kanuhura, Maldives, part of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio, opened its doors in September 2023. Set across three private islands, surrounded by turquoise waters bristling with colourful and untouched corals, Six Senses Kanuhura’s pristine shores are known for being some of the finest in the Maldives.
With 85 beachfront villas steps from the ocean and overwater villas with private pools, including 12 one- and two-bedroom Beach Retreats, and the three-bedroom Beach Reserve, Six Senses Kanuhura is ideal for both families and couples seeking quality time together. The laid-back tropical island feel has inspired the elegant architecture, while interior design takes its cue from the naturally vibrant colours of the surrounding Maldivian nature.
Entertainment
Hulhumalé’ set for New Year festivities as Visit Maldives and partners launch preparations
Visit Maldives Corporation, together with the Ministry of Tourism & Environment and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), has commenced planning for New Year celebrations in Hulhumalé’, building on the success and positive public response of last year’s festivities.
The celebrations are expected to feature signature elements that resonated strongly with the public in 2024, including a special Drone Show, Fireworks, Food stalls, and cultural experiences designed for both locals and visitors. The initiative, running from 30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, aims to once again create a vibrant, inclusive, and family-friendly atmosphere to welcome the New Year.
At this stage, planning is ongoing and further details regarding the programme, dates, and activations will be announced in due course.
The New Year celebrations are being developed as a joint initiative by Visit Maldives, the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, and HDC.
Organisers are also in discussions with potential partners and sponsors and welcome expressions of interest from organisations keen to be part of this national celebration.
News
Dr Aradhana Ghyas brings Shamanic rituals, energy work to SO/ Maldives this festive season
This festive season, SO/ Maldives invites the world’s style-setters, wellness lovers and holiday escapists to experience a different kind of Red Carpet moment, one that begins beneath the skin and radiates outward. From 18 December 2025 to 30 January 2026, the ultra-stylish private island resort welcomes Dr. Aradhana Ghyas, renowned holistic health expert, for an exclusive Visiting Spa Practitioner residency, adding a powerful wellness dimension to its signature festive celebrations.
Known for curating experiences that blur the lines between fashion, art and lifestyle, SO/ Maldives is redefining festive indulgence. Think less excess, more elevation. Less recovery, more radiance. This season, the resort’s Red Carpet Festivities are not only about dressing to impress but about feeling luminous, balanced and unapologetically well.
At SO/ Maldives, wellness takes on a vibrant, contemporary edge with Dr. Aradhana Ghyas. She specializes in shamanic healing rituals, therapeutic bodywork, energy balancing, breathwork, sound therapy, yoga nidra, and trauma‑informed relaxation practices. Each treatment is designed to release emotional stress, restore nervous system balance, and support holistic well‑being. With a focus on gentle physical, emotional, and energetic detoxification, Aradhana helps guests reconnect with clarity, vitality, and inner harmony.
“Today’s luxury traveller wants more than beautiful surroundings they want meaningful transformation,” said Olivier Moies-Delval, General Manager of SO/ Maldives. “With Dr. Aradhana Ghyas in residence, festive glamour evolves into a deeper, more radiant experience.”
Departing from traditional spa menus, the curated experiences are designed to intrigue, energise and deliver visible results. From sculpting facial therapies and deep detox rituals to intuitive tarot readings and shamanic cleansing, each session offers guests a chance to reset mentally, physically and energetically while still embracing the playful, fashion-forward spirit of SO/ Maldives.
Set against the turquoise waters of the Maldives, Dr. Aradhana Ghyas’ residency seamlessly complements SO/ Maldives’ festive programming, where sunset soirées, vibrant design and island glamour take centre stage. Guests can transition from red carpet moments to restorative rituals, stepping back into celebrations refreshed, radiant and fully recharged.
Special group wellness classes are also available, inviting friends, couples and like-minded travellers to glow together because at SO/, wellness is best experienced socially.
This festive season, SO/ Maldives invites guests to detox the drama, recharge the energy and glow like never before. With Dr. Aradhana Ghyas in residence, the island becomes a destination not just for escape, but for elevation.
For more information or to book your perfect getaway, please visit so-maldives.com or contact so.maldives.reservations@so-hotels.com.
-
Entertainment1 week agoHulhule Island Hotel names 2ofus as New Year’s Eve 2026 headline act
-
Cooking1 week agoThe St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort welcomes Chef Renzi Gianluca for Tastemaker series collaboration
-
News1 week agoThe Standard, Maldives achieves Green Globe Certification after rigorous audit
-
Entertainment6 days agoAward-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger to appear at One&Only Reethi Rah’s New Year’s Eve celebrations
-
News1 week agoBandos Maldives marks 53 years of hospitality with guest celebration
-
News6 days agoSeaside Collection opens .Here, an ultra-private two-island resort in Maldives
-
Cooking6 days agoTAPASAKE Maldives marks first anniversary with Luca Cinalli guest mixology night
-
Awards1 week agoSun Siyam Iru Veli awarded ‘Best Resort’ title at 2025 Bund Design Hotels Awards


