Featured
Ease back into ‘Sunny Side of Life’ with Four Seasons Resorts Maldives
After a difficult year, it is reassuring to know that safety and serenity can still be sought in equal measure, when one knows where to look.
Welcoming guests from all countries since the Maldives reopened its international borders on July 15, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives open spaces, outdoor restaurants and secluded locations offer a reassuring naturally distanced set-up to ease guests back into the sunny side of life this fall and festive season.
As of mid-October, the Maldives is welcoming 10 airlines a day, including: daily flights from Emirates and Qatar Airways, twice-daily flights most days from Turkish Airlines, and regular services by Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, British Airways, Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Maldivian and Indigo.
Private jet travel into the country is booming, catered for at a total of four Maldivian airports. Four Seasons Resorts Maldives can introduce local ground handlers who are committed to providing a hassle-free flight planning process designed to meet each individual group’s privacy, safety and security needs.
Commercial airline travellers can also enter the Maldives with ease. All visitors will be issued a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival following submission of a negative PCR test result (taken no more than 96 hours prior to arrival), and Health Declaration form (completed 24 hours prior to arrival) in addition to thermal screening.
From the international airport meet and greet, Four Seasons guests are whisked directly to the seaplane terminal (for Landaa Giraavaru and Private Island at Voavah) or the speedboat jetty (for Kuda Huraa) for a rapid onward transfer.
Four Seasons is proud to have retained virus-free status in the Maldives throughout 2020 with its Lead With Care procedures, and is committed to ensuring safe onwards travel for its guests too. PCR test services are available on site (at a fee of $150 + taxes per person) to anyone requiring them for onward travel or return to their home countries.
Guests are able to move between resort islands with special government permission, but the safest way to enjoy the Maldives’ pristine beauty for now is to settle into one of three enchanting Four Seasons enclaves:
For a Forbes Five-Star escape, complete with sensational surfing, fragrant flower gardens, lapping lagoon, private spa island and stunning new Beach Hideaways at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provide a home-from-home welcome for families, friends and groups.
Health and healing come as standard at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru – named “Most Meaningful Experience” in the Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards 2020 – from the Yoga Therapy Centre in the pristine jungle to pioneering hands-on marine conservation experiences.
For an escape like no other, the two hectare (five acre) Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, Baa Atoll accommodates a single group of up to 22 guests in the world’s first private island UNESCO Biosphere hideaway. With its own villas, Beach House, swimming pools, dive school, water sport centre, Ocean of Consciousness Spa, 19-metre (62-foot) yacht and dedicated team of staff, Voavah offers the ultimate in style, serenity and seclusion for limitless island living.
For more information about easing into a safe and secluded fall or festive break, contact the Central Reservations Department team at tel: (960) 66 00 888 or email: reservations.mal@fourseasons.com.
Featured
‘Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom’ comes to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef this festive season
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.
The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.
During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.
“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.
“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”
The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.
The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.
Awards
Sun Siyam Iru Veli earns top wedding destination honour at TTM Awards
Fresh from being named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2025, Sun Siyam Iru Veli was recognised as Best Wedding Destination at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026, held at Crossroads Maldives on 27 August. The award further reinforces the resort’s commitment to celebrating romance in all its forms.
Surrounded by turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches, Iru Veli provides a natural setting for couples seeking an intimate island retreat. Every villa features a private pool, while secluded beaches, private sandbanks and a 24-hour all-inclusive dine-around experience offer guests privacy and flexibility throughout their stay.
The resort hosts celebrations of different scales, ranging from barefoot ceremonies by the ocean to larger events encompassing the entire island. Dedicated wedding planners work closely with each couple to personalise every element, ensuring that both the ceremony and the wider stay reflect their individual story.
This flexibility extends beyond the resort’s wedding packages. Simple Romance, Grand Gesture and Sandbank Magic provide couples with a starting point, with each celebration customisable through décor, dining, wellness, entertainment and island experiences. For occasions requiring complete exclusivity, full-island buyouts allow the resort experience to be tailored around the couple and their guests.
The celebrations can continue beyond the ceremony through candlelit dinners beneath the stars, spa rituals for two, sunset cruises and time spent together across the island. These experiences enable couples to shape the occasion around their preferences, with personal moments unfolding throughout their stay.
“Every couple arrives with a different story and a different vision for their celebration. There is no template here. From intimate ceremonies for two to full-island celebrations with family and friends, our role is to create moments that feel completely personal. That is exactly what our team does. They listen first and then create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple. This award is a testament to the dedication and care they put into making every moment memorable,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
The annual TTM Awards & Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers to recognise achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry. Iru Veli’s latest award further strengthens its position among the Maldives’ leading destinations for weddings and romantic escapes.
Action
Chef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme
Niva Dhigali Maldives will welcome visiting chef Jake Norman and British pickleball champion Molly O’Donoghue for a curated programme of island experiences this November, bringing together dining and active wellbeing in the Maldives.
Norman began his culinary career making pizza in the markets of Guadalajara, Mexico, before working in several London restaurants, including St John, Ottolenghi and Sabor. He now leads the kitchen at Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where his cooking focuses on seasonal ingredients, live-fire techniques and Mediterranean influences.
On 18 November, Norman will host an exclusive dinner at Faru, presenting a menu that combines Mediterranean flavours with influences from Mexico and the Middle East, while incorporating ingredients sourced from the Maldives.
The shared dining experience will feature Indian Ocean produce, grilled dishes and smoky flavours, with a menu designed to reflect the setting and encourage guests to dine at a relaxed pace.
The programme will also include pickleball sessions hosted by British champion Molly O’Donoghue. A national champion in mixed and women’s doubles, as well as a European champion in mixed doubles, O’Donoghue first discovered the sport while studying in Australia. She has since competed internationally and worked to introduce the sport to players around the world.
At Niva Dhigali, O’Donoghue will conduct beginner sessions and advanced coaching, giving guests of different skill levels the opportunity to learn, play and develop their technique.
Located in Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali Maldives is surrounded by tropical vegetation, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The November programme, featuring Norman’s dining experience and O’Donoghue’s pickleball sessions, forms part of the resort’s approach to offering guest experiences centred on food, wellbeing and the island environment.
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