Featured
Anantara Kihavah Maldives opens new villas
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has launched new family-style villas for travelers. Adding to the resort’s collection of multi-bedroom private pool residences introduced earlier this year, these new accommodation options consist of four Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas and eight One Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas.
Each of the Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas offer 4,435 square feet of space, and is steps from a white sand beach. A 40-foot swimming pool runs alongside an extensive outdoor sun terrace and offers massage jets and submerged seating. There is also a shaded dining sala and outdoor barbecue pit complete with a sunken dining lounge.
The villa comprises two separate bedrooms—one king and one twin—both of which include a day bed, a fully equipped refreshment center and wine fridge, and an en-suite bathroom. There is an outdoor shower as well as an oversized bathtub, along with a waterfall feature in the bathroom. An additional sleeping room suitable for one adult is located within the interconnecting space between both bedrooms, ensuring convenience for parents traveling with children or additional family members.
The Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa can accommodate three adults and two children, or five adults.
The One Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas offer 2,777 square feet of space. These villas sit amongst natural foliage and coconut palms on the 30-acre island, with direct access onto powdery sands and into ultramarine waters. Ideally suited for families with young children, the villas have separate sleeping quarters suitable for children under 12 years old. The rooms have calming white walls and natural teak wood furnishings, while outdoors, guests can find sun loungers or swing beds.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas – Exterior of One-Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa
Exterior of a One-Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa (Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas)
Anantara Kihavah’s collection has two-, three- and four-bedroom pool residences. Each residence has Kajan thatched palm roofs and Balau hardwood flooring on its outdoor decks. Floor-to-ceiling doors of the living and dining room slide open for ocean or jungle views. Each residence is also fitted with its own working kitchen, double-bed spa treatment room and gym with a range of fitness equipment. The resort offers a dedicated Villa Host to attend to every need, and a Wine Sommelier and Personal Chef service on request.
For activities, guests can snorkel or dive at the house reef, home to hundreds of tropical fish, Hawksbill Turtles, Nurse and Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Jacks. Experienced instructors, rental equipment, dhonis and reef dive sites cater for both beginners and experienced explorers. In glass-bottomed kayaks, guests can follow the edge of the reef fringing the island for some of the best over water views of the oceanic life in their natural habitat. If staying dry is preferred, guests can choose to hop onboard the Ocean Whisperer for a sunset cruise or dolphin discovery excursion.
Good to know: Catering for children aged six to 11 years old, a trio of marine biology programs is available. Designed to provide an educational holiday, young explorers can join the resident marine biologist on a turtle quest or manta snorkeling excursion or take part in coral transplanting and essential research snorkeling adventures. In addition, named after the beautiful found on the beach, ‘Thiththi Boli Kids Club’ offers complimentary daily supervised programs, fun arts and crafts activities, indoor and outdoor sports, and games for younger guests between four to 12 years old.
There are six restaurants and bars, including SEA, the resort’s signature underwater restaurant and wine cellar. Whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner, all the family will be entranced and entertained by the diverse marine life playing hide-and-seek amongst the coral reefs.
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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