Vakkaru Maldives invites guests to embark on a Silk Road-inspired journey this festive season, featuring a rich programme of celebrations, dining, wellness, family experiences and island adventures from 13 December 2026 to 9 January 2027.

For centuries, the Silk Road connected East and West through a network of routes stretching across continents. Along them travelled silk, tea, spices and precious stones, as well as ideas, traditions and stories that brought distant cultures into contact with one another. This spirit of discovery and exchange inspires Vakkaru’s festive season.

Throughout the season, dining experiences draw inspiration from cultures along and beyond the historic routes, alongside celebrations, live entertainment, wellness, family activities and experiences in and around the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll.

“The Silk Road is ultimately a story of connection, of people, cultures and traditions meeting and enriching one another,” says Teddy Susanto Wiryawan, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives. “That feels especially meaningful during the festive season, when families and friends come together from around the world. This year, we wanted to create a programme that celebrates that spirit of discovery and generosity while remaining true to the timeless rhythm of life at Vakkaru.”

Christmas by the Indian Ocean

The celebrations begin to gather pace on 17 December with Vakkaru’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and anniversary celebration on Vakku Beach, bringing guests together for an evening of music, Maldivian Boduberu and family festivities.

On Christmas Eve, guests can spend the afternoon on a guided turtle snorkelling excursion before gathering for cocktails on Isoletta Beach. The evening continues with the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner on Vakku Beach, where festive classics, fresh seafood and flavours from around the world are accompanied by live music and entertainment beneath the stars.

Christmas Day begins on and beneath the water, with a guided house reef dive and a yacht cruise among dolphins. Santa arrives at Vakku Beach later in the morning, while special Christmas dining continues throughout the day.

Between the major celebrations, the island continues with a changing programme of dining and experiences. Guests can discover everything from Korean barbecue and Nikkei-inspired menus to Spanish tapas and paella, Southeast Asian flavours, and lobster dinners by the sea. Vakkaru Reserve takes wine beyond the cellar with sunset tastings on the sandbank, while mixology classes, cooking experiences and evenings of music and cocktails add to the programme. Days can also be spent exploring Baa Atoll, with diving, snorkelling and family marine experiences offering a distinctly Maldivian counterpoint to the Silk Road theme.

Following the Silk Road into the New Year

As the final days of 2026 approach, the Silk Road provides inspiration for the island’s family programme. Younger guests at Parrotfish Club explore themed days inspired by the ancient routes, the Far East, world music and the sea, with activities ranging from map-making and batik to a Silk Route Fashion Parade on New Year’s Eve.

At the heart of the New Year celebrations is the New Year’s Eve Gala: The Silk Road Journey on Vakku Beach. An international feast inspired by the flavours and spirit of the Silk Road is accompanied by live music, dance, and performances. At midnight, fireworks illuminate the sky as guests welcome 2027 on the shores of Baa Atoll.

New Year’s Day starts with a celebratory brunch at Amaany. At the same time, certified divers can make their first dive of 2027 in the waters surrounding the island.

A Return to Wellness at Merana Spa

Japanese holistic practitioner Yoko Kawaguchi returns to Merana Spa for her second Vakkaru residency of 2026, following her first residency earlier in the year.

Originally from Japan, Yoko takes a highly personalised approach to wellbeing, drawing on techniques including auriculotherapy, aromatherapy, Reiki energy healing and targeted massage. Her treatments focus on calming the nervous system, releasing tension and supporting the body’s natural restorative functions.

Throughout the festive season, guests can book treatments including Auriculotherapy for Holistic Wellbeing, Chakra Balance and Japanese Reiki Infusion, Deep Back Release Massage, Silent Mind Ritual and Personalised Emotional and Hormonal Support. Complimentary consultations and selected wellness sessions, including Self-Reiki Healing and Hand Reflexology Massage, will also be available.

The Journey Continues to Orthodox Christmas

Celebrations continue into January in the lead-up to Orthodox Christmas. Family programming introduces traditions including the Russian New Year tree and Matryoshka-inspired activities, culminating in the arrival of Ded Moroz, the traditional Slavic Father Frost, on 6 January.

That evening, guests gather on Vakku Beach for an Orthodox Christmas cocktail party followed by the Orthodox Gala Dinner, with a festive buffet, live music and entertainment by the ocean.

From Christmas and New Year to Orthodox Christmas, the Silk Road weaves through nearly four weeks of celebrations at Vakkaru, bringing together food, music, traditions, wellness, and experiences from around the world in the natural setting of Baa Atoll.

Discover the full programme of festive celebrations and experiences in Vakkaru Maldives’ digital festive brochure here. For further information about the resort, please visit vakkarumaldives.com or contact  reservations@vakkarumaldives.com to make a reservation.

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands will welcome Indian chef and restaurateur Atul Kochhar for a culinary residency from 7 to 9 November 2026, coinciding with Diwali.

Kochhar, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, will bring the culinary approach of his London restaurant, Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, to Helios. The residency will present his contemporary interpretation of India’s regional cuisines, drawing on the traditions and influences that have shaped his cooking.

Rooted in Kochhar’s connection to India, the menu will combine regional flavours with contemporary techniques and carefully selected ingredients. It will reflect his approach to developing Indian cuisine while retaining its cultural foundations.

With more than 30 years in the industry, Kochhar has built an international reputation for his contribution to Indian dining. He received his first Michelin star in 2001, followed by another in 2007. His culinary philosophy brings together India’s regional diversity, traditional cooking practices and contemporary methods.

At Patina Maldives, this philosophy will be interpreted through the resort’s Indian Ocean setting and the multicultural character of the Fari Islands. The residency will give Kochhar an opportunity to adapt his culinary identity to the island and the Diwali celebrations, creating an experience shaped by the occasion and its surroundings.

Kochhar leads the Atul Kochhar Hospitality Group, whose portfolio includes Kanishka in Mayfair, Vaasu and Sindhu in Marlow, Riwaz in Beaconsfield, Masalchi in Wembley Park, Indian Essence in Petts Wood and Essence in Tunbridge Wells.

The residency forms part of Patina Maldives’ culinary programme, which connects guests with different cultures, perspectives and creative disciplines. Through Kochhar’s cooking, guests will have an opportunity to explore India’s regional food traditions and celebrate Diwali through shared dining experiences.

At Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, the island is not simply the setting for the guest experience. It is the experience itself. Set within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), Machchafushi, meaning ‘Fish Island’ in Dhivehi, is defined by its relationship with the surrounding ocean, the life that inhabits it and the traditions that have shaped its identity.

Once a secluded, uninhabited island, Machchafushi has evolved while retaining its connection to the natural environment and cultural character of the Maldives. Today, its award-winning house reef, five times the size of the island, creates an underwater world inhabited by more than 1,000 species of reef fish and more than 200 varieties of coral. Beyond the reef, the waters of South Ari Atoll offer year-round opportunities to encounter whale sharks, manta rays and other marine life, while the 52 metre Kudhi Maa shipwreck has become a thriving underwater habitat of its own.

This sense of place forms the foundation of The Machchafushi Universe, a sensory expression of the island that invites guests to experience Machchafushi through sight, sound, fragrance, touch and flavour. Here, the senses are not experienced in isolation. The colour and movement of the reef are accompanied by the rhythm of the ocean, the feel of warm water against the skin and the salt carried by the breeze. Later, the flavours of the sea and the wider island find their way to the table. Together, these impressions create a deeper connection with the destination.

“Machchafushi has always had a character of its own. It comes from the environment around us, from the marine life and the reef, from the Banyan Tree and the traditions connected to it, and from the people who bring our experiences to life. The Machchafushi Universe gives us an opportunity to bring these elements together and allow guests to experience the island in a more meaningful way, through all of their senses,” said Francesco Pompilio, Cluster General Manager, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

The experience begins with what can be seen. Beneath the surface, coral gardens come alive with reef fish, turtles, stingrays and reef sharks, while the Kudhi Maa shipwreck rests between 52 metres beneath the surface, its structure now covered in coral and inhabited by glassfish, trevally, snapper, lionfish, batfish and groupers. Around the atoll, encounters with whale sharks and manta rays offer a different perspective on the scale and diversity of the marine environment.

Above the water, the island reveals another landscape. The more than 200-year-old Banyan Tree, known as the Ummeedhu Tree in Dhivehi, meaning ‘Wish Fulfilment’, stands at the heart of the island, its roots reaching deep into the earth and its branches extending towards the sky. The changing light across the lagoon, the movement of birds through the vegetation and the shifting colours of the ocean create a visual landscape that changes naturally throughout the day.

Sound gives the island its rhythm. Along the shoreline, waves move across the reef, birds call from the vegetation, and the breeze moves through the palms. Beneath the surface, the soundscape becomes quieter, shaped by the movement of water, the rhythm of breathing and the subtle sounds of a living reef. A snorkel across the house reef or a dive to the Kudhi Maa becomes as much an auditory experience as a visual one, bringing guests into a world where the sounds of the island recede and the ocean takes over.

The human rhythm of Machchafushi adds another layer. The preparation of a Thai dish at Suan Bua, the movement of a traditional wellness treatment and the unhurried pace of service create their own sounds across the island. Together, they form an understated soundtrack to a place shaped as much by moments of stillness as by discovery.

Fragrance carries the character of the island on the breeze. Salt air and sea spray accompany the shoreline, while coconut, coastal vegetation and the earth beneath the island offer subtler notes further inland. The scent of freshly prepared ingredients emerges from the kitchens, while at SPA Cenvaree, natural aromas meet the traditions of Thai wellness through essential oils, botanical ingredients and traditional Thai treatments.

Touch offers perhaps the most immediate connection with Machchafushi. Bare feet meet warm sand, cool water moves across the skin and the gentle resistance of the sea changes with every stroke. Entering the water for a snorkel or dive creates a physical connection with the underwater world, from the sensation of descending through the water column to the changing currents around the reef. Kayaking and paddleboarding offer another way to experience the lagoon, allowing the surface of the water to become part of the journey.

On land, touch takes on a quieter character. Traditional Thai massage and wellness treatments at SPA Cenvaree centre on movement, pressure and balance, while beneath the Banyan Tree, the Sacred Thread Ceremony offers a more personal connection through a simple cultural ritual. In different ways, each experience brings guests closer to the island.

Flavour completes the sensory journey, reflecting the diverse influences that form part of Machchafushi’s identity. At Suan Bua, traditional Thai cuisine is presented through authentic flavours and techniques, while Mare Azzurro Italian Coastal Cuisine draws on the simplicity and character of Italian coastal cooking. The Reef presents an indulgent all day dining experience, with a variety of world cuisines served buffet style, from local Maldivian specialities to international favourites.

At Aqua and Coral Bars, classic cocktails meet island inspired signatures, adding another expression of the destination to the glass. Beyond the restaurants and bars, dining experiences bring cuisine into the island landscape, allowing the setting itself to become part of the occasion. From the waters surrounding Fish Island to the flavours served upon it, the connection between Machchafushi and the sea finds its way naturally to the table.

A first snorkel may reveal a turtle moving across the reef or a reef shark passing through the shallows. Further exploration brings coral formations, schools of tropical fish and the quiet presence of the Kudhi Maa. For experienced divers, sites such as Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock, Dhigurah Beyru and Maamigili Corner offer opportunities to encounter a wider range of marine life and underwater environments. Night snorkelling introduces yet another dimension, revealing a reef transformed after dark.

For those venturing further into the atoll, whale shark encounters offer a profound sense of scale. South Ari is renowned for year round whale shark sightings, allowing guests to experience these gentle giants in their natural environment. Manta rays, turtles, sharks and schools of tropical fish add to a marine landscape that is constantly moving and evolving.

Together, these experiences form a more complete expression of Machchafushi. The island is not defined by a single attraction, restaurant or wellness ritual, but by the relationship between its natural environment, cultural heritage, marine life and the people who bring the destination to life.

Machchafushi is, ultimately, an island that reveals itself gradually. Not through a single moment, but through the accumulation of sensory impressions that stay long after the experience itself has passed.