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Milaidhoo’s festive season: Crafting unforgettable island memories

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This festive season, the story of celebration unfolds on the soft shores of Milaidhoo, a natural island hideaway nestled in the heart of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. From December 22nd, 2025, to January 6th, 2026, Milaidhoo extends a warm invitation to guests to step into its Season of Timeless Festive Stories, a thoughtfully curated programme of intimate experiences, vibrant traditions, and unforgettable island moments.

At Milaidhoo, festive magic is found in the gentle rhythm of the waves, the glow of candlelight on the sand, and the joy of sharing meaningful time with loved ones in one of the world’s most exquisite destinations. This is not merely a holiday; it’s a celebration of life’s most precious stories, written especially for each guest.

Adventure That Awakens the Soul

Guests can float into wonder as they dive into Milaidhoo’s crystalline waters. Sunrise or sunset cruises offer champagne as dolphins may dance nearby. Opportunities abound to snorkel Hanifaru Bay alongside graceful manta rays or try traditional Maldivian fishing, just as locals have for generations. This season, the ocean is woven into the celebrations, from The Christmas Cruise to A Farewell to 2025, ensuring every voyage is a memory waiting to be made. For those craving thrills, big game fishing awaits. Gentle discovery, bioluminescent night snorkelling, and paddleboarding by moonlight promise awe-inspiring moments.

Feasting with Heart and Flavour

At Milaidhoo, food is an experience to savour, and this festive season presents a culinary journey like no other. Guests can step into the Shoreline Fish Bazaar, where the catch of the day meets flames and flavour, or sample fresh-picked greens at the interactive Salad Project. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are celebrated under starry skies with elegant beachfront gala dinners, where every dish is a tribute to taste and togetherness. Pop-ups like Smoked & Whisky and Taste of Tribes: Potjiekos & Braai bring delightful surprises, while a Lobster & Champagne Feast sets the tone for indulgence. The season concludes with an Orthodox Christmas buffet of oysters and champagne, a fitting finale to a season of epicurean delight.

Wellbeing, Naturally Inspired

Guests can reconnect with themselves through wellness rituals as tranquil as the island breeze. Each day can begin with sunrise yoga on a sandbank, surrendering to stillness in Cocoon Meditation, or floating into peace with aqua yoga in the turquoise lagoon. Beyond the body, the spirit can be nourished by exploring Maldivian skincare secrets, enjoying beach Zumba, or simply walking mindfully along the shore. Friendly beach volleyball or island Olympics with the Milaidhoo Family offer opportunities for playful engagement. As evening falls, live music drifts across the waves as stars scatter above.

Celebrate Under the Stars

On New Year’s Eve, guests can begin their day with a champagne Sunrise Cruise and end it in style at a barefoot cocktail soirée. Then, they can gather for a spectacular New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at Ocean restaurant before counting down to 2026 with fireworks, live music, and their toes in the sand. As the new year dawns, guests can ease into it with a Recovery Brunch, a soulful Tibetan Singing Bowl session, and the symbolic New Year, New Reef activity, a promise for the year ahead.

The Story Continues

Festivities continue into January with joyful moments like a Nature Walk & Symbolic Tree Planting, more culinary adventures with the Taste of Tribes pop-up, and evenings beneath the stars at The Floating Cinema on Saima. This season at Milaidhoo is not just a series of events; it’s an immersive journey of reconnection, renewal, and celebration.

“We’re incredibly excited to present our Season of Timeless Festive Stories at Milaidhoo,” says Paul van Frank, Milaidhoo’s general manager. “Our team has created a program that blends the magic of the festive season with the beauty and authentic charm of the Maldives. We believe these bespoke experiences will create profound and joyful memories for our guests, allowing them to truly connect with their loved ones and the soul of this extraordinary destination.”

To reserve your place in paradise, please visit: Festive Programme or mail the resort at welcome@milaidhoo.com.

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Wellness practitioner Sea Fdol to lead creative healing residency at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo

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Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort will host wellness practitioner Sea Fdol for a month-long residency from 6 October to 2 November 2025. Moroccan-born artist and healer Sea will guide guests to pause in moments of overwhelm and rediscover clarity where there may have been confusion.

Sea Fdol has developed a practice that transforms breath into brushstroke and awareness into sanctuary. Through her creative wellness space, Moulwanat, emotions are encouraged to flow into colour and form, offering guests an opportunity to reconnect with their presence and to express themselves beyond words.

Throughout the residency, Sea will introduce a series of experiences rooted in calm reflection. Mornings will begin with ‘Morning Presence’, a complimentary ritual of breathwork and meditation to welcome balance at the start of the day. The ‘Colour Your Emotions’ session will invite participants to explore clarity and self-expression through meditative creativity. Sea’s signature offering, ‘The Soul Drawing Ritual’, will provide a deeply personal keepsake, combining guided art-making with imaginative reflection to capture an individual’s inner truth.

The residency is closely aligned with The Westin’s pillars of well-being, designed to support guests in eating, sleeping, moving, playing, and feeling well. The resort offers 69 villas, each with a private pool and the signature Westin Heavenly® Bed, complemented by the Sleep Well Lavender Balm. Culinary needs are catered for through Eat Well menus across four restaurants and bars, while fitness routines are supported at the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, complete with the scenic RunWESTIN programme and a variety of complimentary recharging activities. Guests may also embark on excursions to explore the abundant marine life of the atoll or indulge in therapies at the overwater Heavenly Spa by Westin™, featuring a glass floor for enhanced serenity.

Travellers seeking a wellness retreat may also take advantage of the resort’s ‘Earn, Eat, Enjoy’ package, which includes breakfast for up to two adults and two children, a USD 70 resort credit, and bonus points for Marriott Bonvoy members.

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Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts unveils wonder-filled festive celebrations

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Authentic charm, heart-warming experiences, and unforgettable celebrations await as Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts unveils three distinctive Christmas and New Year programmes across its island resorts in the Maldives. This year’s calendar of activities at RAAYA by Atmosphere, VARU by Atmosphere, and Atmosphere Kanifushi promise curated moments that are as individualistic as they are immersive.

Enriching & Nature-Inspired at RAAYA by Atmosphere

Themed “Under the Stars”, RAAYA by Atmosphere’s festivities is designed for explorers at heart. Guests can greet the day with floating yoga by the lagoon, sound healing, or guided meditation — immersive rituals that feel instinctual and grounding. Families are invited to join treasure hunts, while children revel in creative, imagination-sparking crafts at the Discovery Den. Evenings unfold with intimate acoustic sets, wine and cheese pairings, and locally inspired cultural performances. The crescendo comes on 31st December with the Celestial Gala Dinner, a lavish yet grounded open-air dining experience of global flavours, fire and aerial performances, and a sky-lit countdown to 2026.

Theatrical & Inventive at Atmosphere Kanifushi

At Atmosphere Kanifushi, festive celebrations take on a theatrical flair with “Twilight Fantazia.” Guests can begin mornings with yoga or aqua Zumba, before indulging in snorkelling trips to nearby reefs and inventive cocktail classes. Families are drawn into the magic with Xbox tournaments, Santa’s island tour, and cinema under the stars. The Twilight Gala Dinner by the beach delivers a heart-warming finale, with champagne, themed live cooking stations, boduberu drumming, and an awe-inspiring fireworks display. The night crescendos into a high-energy beach party, blending lavish touches with the signature ‘Joy of Giving’ service.

Fabulous & Free-Spirited at VARU by Atmosphere

At VARU by Atmosphere, the festive mood is instinctively vibrant, with the theme “Ibiza Nights in the Maldives.” Guests are invited to embrace their free-spirited side with floating yoga on Bay Rouge Beach, inventive mixology sessions, and bootcamps at the Activity Zone. The Infinity Pool becomes the stage for lively DJ-led parties, where barefoot dancing feels as natural as the ocean breeze. On New Year’s Eve, the Main Event Beach transforms into a glowing Ibiza-style Gala Dinner with dazzling décor, globally curated dishes, fire shows, and an atmosphere as generous as it is exhilarating.

If you haven’t planned your festive escape yet, a new experience awaits. Guided by our heartfelt service philosophy, the Joy of Giving, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts presents a generous Festive Calendar, fully complimentary with the Holiday Plan. Guests are invited to embrace the season with once-in-a-lifetime celebrations that feel instinctively magical.

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Karan Veer Mehra celebrates Bigg Boss success at Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives

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Karan Veer Mehra, the recently crowned winner of Bigg Boss 18, travelled to the Maldives to unwind and celebrate his victory in style. He chose Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, the latest addition to the Centara Hotels & Resorts portfolio in the Maldives, as the destination for his retreat. Accompanied by his mother and friends, Karan enjoyed quality time amidst the serene surroundings of this elegant island haven.

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, part of The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, features refined overwater and beachfront villas and residences, complemented by a range of dining venues and holistic wellness offerings. Neighbouring the property, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives caters to families with an underwater-themed concept that includes an expansive waterpark, splash zones, a lazy river, the Candy Spa, and a variety of experiences designed for guests of all ages.

During his stay, Karan indulged in rejuvenating spa treatments, savoured diverse culinary experiences at the resort’s restaurants, and embraced a number of adventurous activities including jet-skiing, kayaking, and snorkelling. Each moment of his Maldivian escape was crafted into a memorable experience.

Reflecting on his visit, Karan commented: “The Maldives is a dream destination, and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives makes it even more extraordinary. My time here was nothing short of incredible.”

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