Transformative luxury retreat Patina Maldives, Fari Islands unveils a new stage of The Perpetual Journey, its ongoing programme of art, culture, wellness and conscious dining experiences. Highlights from August to November include acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawood’s inaugural Patina Art Residency, a junior football camp led by FC Bayern Munich coach Jonas Caryot and a three-day Diwali celebration bringing together chef Atul Kochhar, mixologist Giancarlo Mancino and DJ Sakré.

The Perpetual Journey is Patina’s evolving programme of experiences designed to inspire couples, families and solo travellers to embrace connection, growth, wellbeing and nourishment at their own pace through collaborations with global and local guest talent.

Aishath Shuaila – Art Gallery Malé Collaboration, 22 September – 10 October

Developed in partnership with Art Gallery Malé, the rolling creators in residence programme at Patina Maldives’ Fari Art Atelier provides an ongoing international platform for contemporary Maldivian artists.

Following the success of Ahmed Khaleel’s residency in June and Hassan Najih’s residency in July, Patina Maldives will collaborate with Aishath Shuaila as part of its commitment to nurturing and showcasing local talent. Rather than simply displaying her paintings, the Fari Art Atelier will become Aishath’s working studio during the residency, allowing guests to encounter her work and creative process through an open-studio format, alongside workshops and informal exchanges.

Drawing on her love for nature and background in sustainable development, Aishath’s signature style uses vivid colours and bold brushstrokes to represent the patterns and textures found in the natural world. The resulting works encourage viewers to better understand and appreciate Maldivian flora and fauna.

Patina Art Residency: Shezad Dawood, 18 October – 8 November

Winner of the inaugural Patina Art Residency, London-based multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawoodwill undertake extended fieldwork at Patina Maldives, deepening his practice that connects art, science and environmental advocacy. With more than a decade spent in dialogue with marine biologists and environmentalist, Shezad will take this time to explore the island’s environment and marine ecology to create a piece of work shaped by the 2025 Theme, Fluid Worlds, which invites artists to examine how boundaries shift and change, whether between cultures, ideas or elements.

Bayern Munich Football Camp, 25 – 29 October

Designed for young players aged six to 17, this exclusive camp takes place across five days with FC Bayern Munich’s Coach Jonas Caryot, blending expert coaching, small-group sessions, and up to five hours of focused training every day. With two days reserved for rest, the camp offers participants a rare opportunity to refine their football skills in the island’s serene setting.

Yakido by Yardbird Hong Kong, 6 – 10 October

Hong Kong-based modern izakaya and bar Yardbird brings its travelling Yakido concept to Brasa for two nights alongside a week of pop-ups and collaborations, including ALWAYS FRIENDS BY ALWAYS JOY on October 8; a pop- up at Veli Bar with Max Levy’s pizza project, MR. IKO; and a series of strength and mobility movement sessions led by Lindsay Jang.

Moments of Connection: Diwali

Chef Atul Kochhar, 7 – 9 November

Widely recognised as a pioneering figure in Indian fine dining, Atul Kochhar is the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, receiving his first at Tamarind in 2001 and a second at Benares in 2007. With over 30 years in the culinary world, he brings a contemporary expression of India’s regional cuisine through bold flavours, refined technique and premium ingredients. For Diwali, Kochhar brings the culinary identity of Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, his acclaimed London restaurant, to Helios, presenting a special menu that reinterprets his signature contemporary Indian cuisine for the Maldivian setting.

Giancarlo Mancino

Internationally renowned bartender and the creative mind behind SeiBellissimi, a luxury sparkling bottled cocktail line, Giancarlo Mancino returns to Patina Maldives with a series of guest shifts and cocktail experiences.

Sakré

Bangalore-based producer, DJ and sound artist Sakré brings his genre-blurring approach to electronic music to Patina Maldives during Diwali. Drawing on ambient textures, lo-fi beats and South Indian cinematic influences, his immersive soundscapes offer a contemporary interpretation of India’s evolving music culture.

Patina Resonance: Visiting Practitioners

Jasmin Küster – Holistic Bodywork, 14 September – 14 October

Jasmin is a holistic therapist and aquatic bodyworker whose practice brings together Water Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, fascia-focused Somatic Bodywork and other specialised treatments to encourage deep relaxation, release tension and restore balance between body, mind and emotions. Her approach focuses on deep relaxation, release and greater connection with the body, with each experience adapted to the individual.

Minako Saito – Japanese Wellness Innovator and Founder of Platinum Ritual Series, 15 October – 15 November

Minako Saito specialises in Japanese thermal therapy and women’s wellness counselling. She is the founder of the Platinum Ritual Series, a holistic treatment collection designed to calm the nervous system, encourage deep relaxation and restore inner balance. Each ritual combines gentle, deep-reaching warmth with therapeutic techniques to support harmony between body and mind. Guests can choose between rituals promoting relaxation and restorative sleep, a neuro-relaxing facial ritual, or women’s wellness-focused rituals that support hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, pelvic wellbeing and hip mobility.

Thalia Jones – Breathwork Practitioner and Holistic Therapist, 15 December – 15 January 2027

Thalia Jones returns to Patina Maldives, working with guests on personal transformation with her rounded approach that integrates the mind, body and soul. Through guided breathwork and holistic therapies, Thalia creates space for guests to pause, reconnect and develop a greater awareness of body and breath.

To book, email reservations.maldives@patinahotels.com, tel. +960 4000555, or visit patinahotels.com/maldives-fari-islands.

In observance of International Astronomy Day on 19 September, Anantara Hotels & Resorts celebrates the preservation of our planet’s dark skies by spotlighting the resident SKY Edhurus at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas. As astronomers and storytellers, their mission to bring the universe within reach of guests aligns seamlessly with Anantara’s role as a custodian of tomorrow’s travel and its commitment to protecting the natural wonders that make exploration meaningful.

Ali Arushal, known as Shalli, and Sajidha, or Saji, serve as the resident SKY Edhurus at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, pointing out Saturn’s icy rings and globular clusters to awe-struck guests. Behind them, a cylindrical enclosure, not unlike a sea anemone, houses the most powerful telescope in the Maldives.

Living and working within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve means they are blessed not only with underwater marvels but with skies unmarked by light pollution. Travellers who come for reef sharks, manta rays and coral fish often find themselves surprised to encounter a state-of-the-art observatory on a private island.

The placement is not accidental. Because the Maldives lies close to the equator, Anantara Kihavah offers a rare vantage point. Planets and constellations hidden from Europe or America rise clearly here, untroubled by horizon or season. With nature on their side, Shalli and Saji encourage guests to look up at the northern and southern skies with the same curiosity they bring to the sea.

In fact, Shalli’s own path to the stars began on the water. A son of the atoll, he first worked with the transport and launch crew, ferrying guests across the lagoon. Astronomy arrived unexpectedly, a curiosity that deepened into devotion. He remembers the first object he saw through the telescope, Omega Centauri, a dense cluster of ancient stars. “It sparked something profound,” he says, as though the memory still glows.

Saji, the resort’s first female SKY Edhuru, also discovered the sky through feeling. A meteor shower over the lagoon caught her unawares, a brief rain of fire that spoke directly to her soul. During her stargazing sessions, she draws on the part of herself that was ignited that night, steadying guests when they feel overwhelmed by the scale and reminding them that awe and calm can sit side by side.

In Dhivehi, an edhuru is a teacher, a bearer of knowledge. But when the subject is the cosmos, 13.8 billion years old and infinite, translating those numbers into something more grounded takes more than book smarts. Skilful storytellers, Kihavah’s SKY Edhurus take the vastness above and draw it close, turning distant light into something that can be held for a moment in the mind. With time loosened, guests feel free of the anxieties that cling to daylight, letting the night arrange itself around them.

Just as the telescope turns a blur into a field of diamonds, every night Shalli and Saji step into their observatory suspended between two worlds to bring into focus the universe that surrounds them — above, around and beneath their feet, a vast, glorious whole that is our shared responsibility.

Learn more about Anantara’s 25th anniversary celebrations on anantara.com.

Madifushi Private Island has introduced a new Silent DJ experience, inviting guests to enjoy an evening of music, movement and connection in a way that remains true to the resort’s serene island character.

Set within the resort’s dedicated Silent DJ and Karaoke Lounge, the experience gives each guest a wireless headset and the freedom to choose between multiple music channels. Guests can switch channels whenever they wish, dance to their own soundtrack or tune into the same channel and share the beat with family and friends.

With the music delivered directly through individual headsets, there is no need for amplified DJ sound to fill the surrounding area. The concept therefore allows participating guests to immerse themselves in the energy of the evening while helping to minimize ambient noise and preserve the calm enjoyed by others across the island.

“Madifushi Private Island is known as the Island of Serene Wonders, and every new experience we introduce should complement that promise. Silent DJ gives our guests the freedom to celebrate, dance and enjoy music together while respecting the tranquility that makes the island so special. It is lively on the inside, peaceful on the outside, and unmistakably signature to Madifushi Private Island,” said Mohamed Hilmy, General Manager, Madifushi Private Island.

The room also offers a dedicated Karaoke experience. Using wireless microphones and a curated song library, guests can perform solo, sing together as a group or combine Karaoke with Silent DJ for a more varied private event.

The introduction of Silent DJ reflects Madifushi Private Island’s wider approach to thoughtful luxury: creating memorable experiences that feel personal and joyful while remaining sensitive to the setting. It also offers an inventive response to noise disturbance, showing that entertainment and tranquillity can comfortably coexist when an experience is designed with intention.