Connect with us

Action

Shangri-La’s Villingili launches cultural tours

Published

on

Maldives Promotion House – Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa in Maldives has launched cultural tours inviting guests to experience another side to the paradise islands of the Indian Ocean.

The luxury resort’s new guided excursions include a range of cultural and recreational tours suitable for both couples and families designed to excite every interest, from historical and farming excursions to cycling tours and nature walks. Tours are led by resort guides ensuring that guests gain insight into local life on the Addu Atoll islands while discovering the natural beauty of the Maldives.

Addu City Tour by Bicycle

Unlike other resorts in the Maldives, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is close to a thriving Maldivian community who live in the surrounding Atoll. Guests have the opportunity to cycle into the Maldivian villages linked by a series of bridges in the surrounding area of Atoll where they can gain an insight into community life. Guests depart the resort to the islands of Feydhoo and Maradhoo and have the chance to visit local mosques, schools and the tuna landing site at Maradhoo harbour. Along the tour, guests will be able to see the traditional coral stone houses and buy fresh fruit at the local roadside stores. The tour then heads back to the resort via Gan Island to explore the local area by foot. Price: $50USD++ per person. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

Historical Tour

The historical tour visits the Island of Gan, a former British Navy base during the Second World War, for an afternoon ramble among the remnants of the British occupation of Addu. Guests depart the resort via speedboat for Gan where sites include the residences once used by RAF servicemen, the Astra cinema and the British Memorial Site. To go one step further, qualified scuba divers can dive down to see the cargo boat ‘British Loyalty’ which was torpedoed by a German U-boat during the war. Price: $50USD++ per person. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

Meedhoo Farms Tour

The farmers of Meedhoo Island have historically relied on agriculture as their main source of livelihood and the relatively recent development of tourism in Addu Atoll has presented the farmers with a new and attractive market for their traditional produce. This guided tour of Meedhoo local farms offers guests the opportunity to see first-hand the source of the locally grown produce used at the Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa restaurants. Guests take a 15 minute speedboat ride to the island and can sample local Maldivian home tea, farm fruit and fresh juice. Guests are able to expand on their local farm experience by indulging in a Chef’s Garden Dinner on the island as part of the Dine-by-Design offer.  Price: $80USD++  per person. Duration: 3 hours.

Villingili Nature Walk

Guests can explore nature trails in Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa surrounding landscape made up of banyan trees, coconut trees, exotic plants and lagoons.  The tour around the centre of the island is led by naturalist Peter Watt Pringle from the resort’s Eco Central. Local wildlife can also be spotted including the oriental garden lizard, land crabs and the giant Indian flying fox.

Complimentary activity. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

The Maldives is famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons; however the Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa has taken the tourist experience a step further to offer luxury Maldivian escapes with an edge. Proud of the surrounding local culture and history, the resort’s new tours aim to give guests a more rounded and diverse experience in the Maldives.

Maldivian Journey package 

Shangri-La invites you and your partner to explore the Maldives with from USD 815++ per couple per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Experience three nights at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa in a two-person villa and one night at the Traders Hotel in Malé in a double room inclusive of a Dolphin cruise, Addu bicycle tour and Malé city tour. Terms and conditions apply, valid for new bookings for stays between 14 February 2013 and 23 December 2013 and does not apply for existing bookings. For reservations, visit shangri-la.com/male/villingiliresort/reservations.

Action

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives introduces indoor mini golf experience

Published

on

Resort experiences are increasingly shaped by the need for flexibility, with guests seeking activities that can be enjoyed beyond peak sun hours, creating a natural demand for engaging indoor spaces and particularly in tropical destinations where brief, seasonal rain showers are part of the island rhythm.

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives builds on this evolving guest preference with the introduction of its new 8-hole Indoor Mini Golf Centre, adding a playful and interactive dimension to the island’s leisure offering. The space was officially unveiled at a recent opening, where a guest was invited to mark the occasion, setting the tone for an experience centred around shared enjoyment and light-hearted moments.

The indoor mini golf course offers a relaxed, air-conditioned space where guests of all ages can take part, whether as a casual game between families, a friendly challenge among couples, or a fun addition to group stays. It provides a comfortable alternative to outdoor activities while maintaining the sense of energy and connection that defines time on the island, regardless of the weather.

The addition builds on the resort’s existing indoor facilities, including billiards, table tennis, and a dedicated kids’ playroom, creating a more rounded leisure experience that caters to different moods and moments. Outdoors, guests can continue to explore a wide range of activities, from beach volleyball and futsal to badminton, diving, and both motorised and non-motorised water sports.

As one of the first resorts in the area to introduce an indoor mini golf experience, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives continues to evolve its offerings in line with how guests choose to travel today, blending activity, comfort, and shared experiences in a setting designed for both relaxation and discovery.

Continue Reading

Action

COMO Maalifushi highlights uncrowded surf access across southern atolls

Published

on

COMO Maalifushi presents a considered approach to surfing in the Maldives—one shaped by access, expertise, and the quiet privilege of space.

Located in the remote Thaa Atoll, the resort offers entry to a network of lesser-travelled breaks across the southern atolls, where consistent Indian Ocean swells meet uncrowded line-ups. Here, surfing unfolds without urgency—guided by natural rhythm rather than routine.

At the core of the experience is COMO Maalifushi’s long-standing partnership with Tropicsurf, daily sessions are shaped by real-time ocean conditions, with coaching that adapts intuitively to each guest—whether taking to the water for the first time or refining technique across more complex reef formations.

Guests are given access to a curated selection of breaks across Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll—each offering a distinct character. From the long, forgiving rides of Farms to the more technical, fast-moving rights of ‘Machine’, the programme is designed to evolve with both conditions and capability.

“Surfing at COMO Maalifushi is defined by its sense of space and possibility,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Our location allows access to some of the Maldives’ most consistent yet uncrowded waves, and through our partnership with Tropicsurf, we’re able to offer an experience that is both highly personalised and quietly exceptional—true to COMO’s way of doing things.”

The season, which runs from April through October, brings steady swells from the southern Indian Ocean. Yet beyond seasonality, it is the absence of crowds that defines the experience—allowing guests to engage with the ocean on their own terms.

Surfing at COMO Maalifushi sits naturally within the wider rhythm of the island. Time in the water is balanced with restorative treatments at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, unhurried dining, and the simplicity of island life—creating a sense of flow between activity and stillness.

Here, surfing is guided with care, framed by nature, and experienced without excess.

For more information, please visit the resort’s website

Continue Reading

Featured

Angsana Velavaru marks reopening of upgraded futsal ground

Published

on

Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.

The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.

Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.

The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.

The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.

Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.

Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.

Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.