News
Aqua Season celebrated at Six Senses Laamu in Maldives: June – October 2013
Maldives Promotion House – Aqua Season at Six Senses Laamu brings together a raft of water-focused activities which incorporate the surfing season’s International Surfing Day on 20 June, Turtle Nesting and Hatching Season from May through October, Maldivian by the Sea – which showcases local cuisine in July at Longitude restaurant, and Jaafai Dinners hosted at local islands.
To celebrate the season, Six Senses Laamu offers a selection of complimentary benefits and savings. These include No Rush Hours with a resident DJ, savings at the Six Senses Spa, free Cinema on the Beach plus ice-cream is on the house!
International Surfing Day, held annually on or near the date of the summer solstice—usually on 20 June – is an unofficial, environmentally conscious, sports-centered event that celebrates surfing and the surfing lifestyle, and the sustainability of ocean resources.
At Six Senses Laamu and in partnership with Ocean Dimensions arrange a reef and beach cleaning detail, a surf competition with children of Mamendhoo school, followed by the screening of surf documentaries and presentations on surf culture. The day ends with a delicious Lobster Barbecue. The day’s events are complimentary, with the evening barbecue commencing at 7pm. and costing US$150 per person, plus taxes.
Surfing Season is from April through October, and with Six Senses Laamu being the only resort in this southern atoll, surfers have the break to themselves most of the time. The biggest swells are likely to occur in June to September. From the resort, you can see the impressive white spray of the most famous break in the atoll – the Yin Yang- an eight-foot right hander which breaks on the outer reef of the local island, Hithadhoo.
Daily morning and afternoon boat trips are organized to Yin Yang from the resort from April to October, with single surf passes available for US$69 per person, plus taxes.
Turtle Nesting and Hatching Season. From May to October, Olhuveli Island is a nesting ground for both Green and Hawksbill turtles. The female turtles return to the same beach on which they were born to lay their own eggs. These turtles will nest at anytime and Rachel Lambert, our resident Marine Biologist will be responsible for checking the beaches for nest and turtle tracks. Guests who would like to join her are most welcome to watch the hatchlings run to the sea. The whole nesting and hatching procedure is carefully monitored to protect the females and the new youngsters.
For further awareness and education, Rachel will be conducting a series of conversations, presentations and courses during the season. All activities on turtle nesting and hatching are provided on a complimentary basis.
Jaafai Experience: The cooking style of Maldives is highly influenced by both India and Sri Lanka. Gradually, rice and curries became an integral part of Maldivian food. Today, one can virtually find all kinds of food in the country. Maldivian cuisine gives you an opportunity to savour the different mouth-watering dishes with exotic flavours ranging from mild, spicy and hot to sweet.
Originally Jaafai meant feast for the Kings. This summer, from June to October, we invite you to Hithadhoo to join a Maldivian family at their home for a few hours. Discover their lifestyle and cuisine. Listen to local stories about the past as well as learn about ingredients the Maldivians use in their kitchen. During your visit to the local island, you will also be accompanied by the sounds of Boduberu, the local drums and music. The all-inclusive priceis US$220 per person, plus taxes, and departure from the resort is at 7pm.
Maldivian by the Sea: In July, Chef Nicholas Loubser and his brigade bring Maldivian flavours to the menu of Longitude, our overwater restaurant where you can tantalize your palate with the freshest and most delicious dishes. Maldivian by the Sea is yet another way to discover the cuisine of the Maldives, right at Six Senses Laamu. Dinners are limited to six tables so reservations are suggested, and dinner commences at 7pm. The price is US$125 per person, plus taxes.
Other Activities and Benefits: During May to October, many Aqua Season activities are complimentary or have significant savings:
- No Rush Hours are each evening between 6-7pm and 9:30-10:30pm at Chill bar, with resident DJ Garry Tee, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur DJ who has created unique musical experience for events, clubs and restaurant audiences. His unique blend of music elements has lead to exciting collaborations with art, stage and fashion creatives across Asia. His reputation has been built over twenty years as DJ, Producer, Radio Host and Music Curator. Garry has been nominated for Best Music/Sound at ‘A The 6th Boh CameronianAwards’ in 2008 for his collaboration with Lena Ang’s butoh dance performance called PINK. The upcoming performances at Chill are focused on the gentler beats and sound that is complementing the overwhelming presence of beauty in both nature and design. The creative process of Garry Tee’s performances is made of personally selected tunes from the collection that spans almost 30 years.
- Ice Cream: Enjoy delicious homemade ice cream from the Ice and Chocolate Studio, with compliments. Savour more than forty flavours of ice cream and sorbets with a variety of toppings and sauces.
- Six Senses Spa: Creating awareness and enlightening guests, The Six Senses Spa at Laamu introduces additionalwellness activities this summer. Six Senses Spa launches a variety of weekly workshops from Detox to De-Stress, Acupressure to Ashtanga as guest are guided through a variety to techniques and basic principles that they can implement during their stay or once they return home. Book a Six Senses Spa massage within 48-hours after arrival at the resort and enjoy an introductory 50% savings for a second person’s treatment; a perfect treat for your partner.
- Beach Cinema: A dream or reality? Should you like a little action or a classic movie, enjoy an unusual open-air cinema experience that takes place beneath a canopy of stars on the white sandy beach. The cinema bar is open during the film for those wishing to treat themselves with a glass of Champagne!
Avani Hotels & Resorts has launched Avani Book Club, a global initiative designed to help travellers connect with destinations through books, local stories and shared reading experiences.
The programme is being introduced at selected Avani hotels and resorts worldwide, including Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort in Baa Atoll. It combines curated reading lists with book corners, book swaps, author-led events, children’s storytelling and destination-inspired food and beverage experiences.
Avani said the initiative was developed for travellers seeking slower and more meaningful ways to spend their time while away. It also responds to the growth of online reading communities such as BookTok and Bookstagram, which have influenced how readers discover books and incorporate literature into their travel experiences.
At the centre of Avani Book Club is a global list of 30 titles selected for 15 properties across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Each title has been chosen to reflect the culture, character or atmosphere of its destination.
At Avani+ Fares Maldives, guests can read Folk Tales of the Maldives, a collection linked to the country’s storytelling traditions. A mobile book buggy will offer poolside reading material, while wellness-focused titles will be available at the resort’s spa.
Other destination-based selections include Pitchaya Sudbanthad’s Bangkok Wakes to Rain at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel and Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist at Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam.
Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel will feature Kacie Rose’s You Deserve Good Gelato, which explores food, travel and personal reinvention. Rose is also scheduled to participate in an Avani Book Club event and book signing in Venice during the European summer.
At Avani+ Barbarons Seychelles, the collection includes Katherine May’s Wintering, while Avani Victoria Falls Resort will feature Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift, a novel tracing Zambia’s history across several generations. Australian titles in the programme include The Rosie Project and Big Little Lies.
Participating properties will complement the global reading list with locally developed activities and partnerships.
Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid Hotel regularly hosts local book clubs, while Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam plans to hold a Book Swap and Reading Night during WorldPride in partnership with The Swap Club. The event will bring together guests and residents for readings, poetry and discussions centred on LGBTQ+ stories.
In Thailand, Avani Ratchada Bangkok Hotel will introduce “Sip the Story”, pairing books about the country with themed coffees, matchas and cocktails. Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort will offer a story-inspired afternoon tea by the pool, with menus developed around selected titles.
Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort will focus on younger guests through stories about Gok and Gek, a pair of hornbills living at the property. Children can follow their story through the Hornbill Heroes activity booklet and When Gok Met Gek, a bedtime story illustrated by a Thai artist.
Avani Book Club is now available at participating Avani properties, with hotel-led events and activities scheduled to be introduced throughout the year.
Minor Hotels’ properties in the Maldives have received seven accolades in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas recognised in five categories and Niyama Private Islands Maldives securing two awards.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was ranked third among the Maldives’ Best Resorts and second in the Best House Reefs category. The resort also placed fourth in the Most Outrageous Villas, Best Resort Pools and Best Resort Spas categories.
Located in Baa Atoll, Anantara Kihavah is known for its private pool villas, surrounding reef and underwater restaurant. Anantara Spa at the resort was ranked fourth among the country’s resort spas.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives was recognised for The Crescent, its private island compound, which placed third in the Most Outrageous Villas category. Drift Spa at Niyama was ranked sixth among the Best Resort Spas in the Maldives.
The Crescent consists of a collection of villas located on a private section of the resort and is designed for families and groups travelling together. Drift Spa is situated within Niyama’s tropical surroundings and offers treatment rooms, relaxation spaces and wellness experiences.
The Maldives accolades contributed to a record 31 awards received by Minor Hotels across the Asia-Pacific region, compared with 26 in the previous year.
The group’s flagship luxury brand, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, was also named the region’s number-one Favourite Hotel Brand of the Year.
“The T+L readers have spoken and, with a record 31 awards, Minor Hotels stands among the region’s most celebrated hospitality groups,” said Nicholas Smith, Vice President Operations – Asia at Minor Hotels.
“I am particularly proud of Anantara being named the region’s favourite brand, and of our teams in Laos and Thailand for securing their number-one positions. These results reaffirm that our focus on innovation and on creating standout guest experiences continues to resonate with travellers.”
Elsewhere in the region, Avani+ Luang Prabang in Laos was named the Best Hotel, while its general manager, Max Chin, was ranked first in the Best General Managers category.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort was voted Thailand’s Best Upcountry Hotel, while other Minor Hotels properties in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia were recognised across resort, city hotel, spa and pool categories.
Minor Hotels’ travel experiences also featured in the awards, with Mekong Kingdoms and Loy Pela Voyages ranked second and fourth, respectively, among the region’s Best River Cruises.
GHA DISCOVERY, the loyalty programme of the Global Hotel Alliance, was named the number-one Hotel Loyalty Programme. Minor Hotels participates in the programme through Minor DISCOVERY.
The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific are determined through a readers’ survey, with travellers voting across categories covering hotels, resorts, villas, spas, pools, cruises and loyalty programmes.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa invites discerning travellers to experience the ultimate island duality with its newly launched Overwater & Beach Villa Escape. Designed for those who refuse to choose between the lush tranquility of the shore and the iconic allure of the ocean, this curated package requires a minimum stay of four nights to offer an immersive, seamlessly woven journey through the very best of Maldivian luxury.
Rising from a stunning, untouched natural island in the azure waters of the Shaviyani Atoll, the resort stands apart for its vibrant, mature indigenous greenery and expansive sweeps of pristine shoreline. The Overwater & Beach Villa Escape has been meticulously structured to echo the core JW Marriott brand pillar of Mindful Living, allowing guests to pause, breathe, and feel entirely whole.
The Best of Both Worlds
The four-night journey begins with a sense of grounded tranquility during a two-night stay in a Duplex Beach Pool Villa. Hidden away by a lush canopy of native tropical flora, these private sanctuaries offer direct access to the powdery white sands and feature a private pool, allowing guests to immerse themselves entirely in the raw, natural beauty of the island.
Transitioning from the shore to the sea, the remaining two nights elevate the senses within a Duplex Overwater Pool Villa. Suspended over the crystal-clear lagoon, these iconic villas boast private infinity pools and steps leading directly into the rich marine life below, offering uninterrupted horizons of the Laccadive Sea and a seamless connection to the ocean.
Nourishing the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Beyond the architectural luxury, the package is anchored by the resort’s commitment to holistic wellbeing. Guests are invited to Nourish the Moment with farm-to-table dining across five distinct culinary venues, including hyper-local ingredients harvested daily from the on-site JW Garden.
From sun-kissed mornings spent practicing mindfulness on the overwater yoga pavilion to restorative treatments at the signature Spa by JW, far more than a standard holiday, the Overwater & Beach Villa Escape serves as a balanced journey that leaves travelers feeling revitalized, inspired, and profoundly connected to the surrounding environment.
For more information, visit the resort’s website.
-
News1 week agoNH Maldives Kuda Rah celebrates World Ocean Day through hands-on marine conservation
-
News1 week agoFour Seasons Maldives brings sporting legends and explorers together for summer programme
-
Featured1 week agoAlila Kothaifaru Maldives marks June with sustainability and marine conservation initiatives
-
News1 week agoRiteish Deshmukh and family discover the best of island life at Centara Maldives
-
Honeymoon1 week agoSun Siyam Olhuveli reimagines romance with bespoke honeymoon offering
-
News1 week agoBanyan Tree Vabbinfaru marks Global Wellness Day with island wellbeing journey
-
Celebration6 days agoFinding your #JoyMagenta: Why the Maldives is the ultimate global capital for wellness
-
Awards1 week agoMilaidhoo Maldives recognised by guests in Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2026