News
Shangri-La Maldives wins as Best Beach Hotel 2013

Maldives Promotion House – Conde Nast Traveller United Kingdom ratings, based on readers’ surveys and journalists’ reviews and coming out every winter, has become a popular feature and powerful encomium in the travel industry.
Serving as the guiding principle of the British glossy, the slogan “Truth in Travel” certified the authenticity of the recognition of Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives as Best Beach Hotel 2013 in the Gold Standards list issued February 2013.
Not only has Shangri-la’s Villingili Resort and Spa been voted best beach hotel, it has also become a landmark for celebrities looking for privacy and a peaceful atmosphere. The April issue of Conde Nast Traveller UK features Gemma Arterton’s impression of her stay in the resort.
“I swam with the dolphins here, dived, went on boat trips and spent hours in the water – the corals’ incredible, I stayed in a wooden house over the sea. It all felt really relaxed: somewhere you could chill out, and do yoga, read, cycle around the island – and, of course eat delicious fresh fish,” Arterton said.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa has 132 villas, including two spacious presidential villas that measure up to 957 square metres and offer the choicest amenities and accessories.
Each presidential villa has two large bedrooms, an extensive garden with a spa pavilion, a private pool, an outdoor designer shower with body jets, a sauna and a personal gym with a private courtyard and garden.
Round-the-clock in-villa dining can be enjoyed in the living room on timber-decked verandas or in the air-conditioned or al-fresco dining pavilions. A variety of dining options are also available at the resort’s five restaurants and bars.
Shangri-La’s all-villa Villingili Resort and Spa is the first luxury resort located south of the equator in the Maldives.
It is also the first in the country to introduce its own nine-hole recreational golf course plus cultural tours on neighbouring islands.
Surrounded by a striking coral reef, the luxurious hideaway resort is a lush, picturesque paradise with six kilometres of coastline and two kilometres of white sand beaches.
News
The Nautilus Maldives presents month-long June Wellness Awakening journeys

The Nautilus Maldives, an ultra-luxury bohemian private island hideaway, launches June Wellness Awakening festival—a month-long invitation to reconnect with your inner rhythm and embrace well-being in its purest form. Set within the tranquil surroundings of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort’s private island sanctuary becomes a canvas for spontaneous healing and soulful renewal.
At the heart of this seasonal celebration is The Wellness Reset, a deeply restorative detox experience crafted by the Solasta Spa to purify body, mind, and spirit. Available throughout June, this wellness escape can be completed over one, two, or three days at each guest’s chosen pace, featuring breath-led detox yoga, a lymphatic drainage massage, and a signature Tao’an tea bath ritual. A brand-new addition to the Solasta Spa offering, this royal ritual draws on ancient Eastern traditions to encourage natural healing, inner clarity, and deep calm.
Throughout the month, The Nautilus will also host a curated calendar of wellness offerings in celebration of Global Wellness Day on 14 June and International Yoga Day on 21 June. Guests are invited to take part in massage workshops, guided meditations, beach and aerial yoga sessions, and sound healing rituals— each designed to restore presence and balance in gentle, meaningful ways.
Signature gatherings will mark the Full Moon and New Moon phases, while creative art sessions led by local Maldivian artists offer space for introspection and expression through art and storytelling. In collaboration with Maison Caulières and Omorovicza, guests are also invited to indulge in Solasta Spa treatments rooted in French sensoriality and Hungarian mineral-rich traditions — a refined union of nature and nurture. “At The Nautilus, we believe that true wellness begins with freedom — the freedom to pause, to feel, and to follow one’s own rhythm. Our June Wellness Awakening is not a programme to follow, but a gentle space to rediscover what well-being means to you,” said Meena Grung, Solasta Spa Manager.
With just 26 houses and residences, The Nautilus offers one of the most bespoke private island experiences in the world. Thoughtfully designed with exceptional facilities and serene spa rituals, it embodies a rare form of ultra-luxury, defined by timeless freedom and deeply personalised moments. Here, wellness unfolds as an intuitive rhythm — felt, not forced. June Wellness Awakening is a gentle invitation to pause, to breathe, and simply be — by the ocean, in your own time, on your own terms.
To book, contact The Nautilus at hello@thenautilusmaldives.com or visit the resort’s website for more information here.
Cooking
Gluten-free, vegan baking takes centre stage in Maldives with BBM, IREKS

Renowned Master Baker Steven Selvamuthu from IREKS is currently in the Maldives, leading a specialised baking demo tour focused on gluten-free and vegan baked goods. The initiative, organised by Bestbuy Maldives (BBM), is running from May 3rd to 15th and is covering over 10 leading resorts along with professional bakers in Malé.
Through hands-on sessions and live demonstrations, Chef Steven is sharing innovative techniques and versatile recipes tailored to modern dietary trends, while also addressing real-world challenges faced by professional kitchens.
Sharing his experience so far, Chef Steven said: “The growing interest in gluten-free and vegan baking here is truly inspiring. Maldivian chefs are open-minded, eager to learn, and ready to embrace global trends without compromising on quality or flavour.”
This ongoing collaboration between IREKS and BBM reflects a shared commitment to professional development in the region’s foodservice industry. By introducing modern baking solutions and supporting skill-building at the grassroots level, the initiative is adding value to both local talent and resort kitchens.
A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, added: “As consumer preferences evolve, we want to ensure that Maldivian chefs are equipped to meet those expectations with confidence. Our partnership with IREKS reflects BBM’s mission to bring world-class expertise and ingredients closer to the local culinary community.”
With rising demand for inclusive and health-conscious bakery options, the ongoing tour is playing a key role in empowering chefs across the Maldives to stay ahead in a rapidly shifting global food landscape.
Featured
Float & Flow Yoga debuts at Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives now offers guests a unique wellness activity: Float & Flow Yoga. Set amidst the picturesque surroundings of crystal-clear waters, this innovative session blends balance, movement, and mindfulness on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), fostering a joyful connection with nature.
Designed to accommodate both experienced yogis and beginners, Float & Flow Yoga provides a 60-minute session on the resort’s SUP Yoga Dock. This specially designed floating platform, shaped like a flower, features eight “petals,” each securing a SUP board around a central space designated for the instructor. Participants are guided through gentle yoga sequences that emphasise balance, breath, and flow.
Courtney Chambers, the resident Yoga Instructor at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, describes the activity as a joyful and liberating experience. She notes that SUP yoga encourages participants to embrace the playful side of the practice while reconnecting with nature.
Classes take place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:00 am, with a maximum of eight participants per session to maintain an intimate and supportive atmosphere. A minimum of three guests is required for each session. The class fee is priced at US$45 per person, inclusive of taxes and service charges.
Additionally, a professional drone photo and video package is available for US$25 per person, providing guests with a memorable keepsake of their experience.
Participants are advised to wear comfortable swimwear or yoga attire and to arrive 10 minutes early at the Perfect Wave Surf Shop for a pre-session briefing.
Whether the goal is mindfulness, gentle movement, or simply a splash of fun, Float & Flow Yoga at Kandooma offers an unforgettable opportunity to reconnect with both self and sea.
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