News
Multi-sensory art retreat: Transformative experience at Milaidhoo Maldives
Milaidhoo Maldives, the pristine boutique private island paradise, has announced the launch of its 7-day Multi-Sensory Art Retreat for guests to reset the mind, body, and soul. The one-of-a-kind retreat experience, hosted by renowned artist Alena Lavdovskaya, aims to ignite creativity and self-expression through a series of immersive experiences that engage all five senses.
Alena Lavdovskaya is a renowned artist who brings glamour and elegance to life through her celebrated illustrations. With a career spanning two decades, Alena has collaborated with top models, hotels and celebrities, captivating audiences worldwide with her exquisite work. From fashion magazines to solo exhibitions, her artistic prowess shines through, making her a true icon in the industry.
The Multi-Sensory Art Retreat at Milaidhoo will take place in October 2023 and is designed to take guests on a captivating journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration. The retreat will focus on vision, sound, taste, smell, touch, and intuition and each session of the retreat focuses on a different sensory aspect, allowing participants to unlock their creative potential in unique and unexpected ways.
The retreat begins with the “Vision” session, where guests are guided through beginner’s techniques to gain confidence in putting their visions on paper and truly understanding new perspectives. The participants will be introduced to Alena, who will provide guidance and encourage them to share their desired outcomes for the retreat. Through brainteasers and a beginner’s art class, guests will shift their perspectives and gain inspiration for their artistic endeavours.
Next, the “Sound” session invites guests to listen to themselves and their surroundings at the spa. Serenity Spa will perform a sound healing session, and Alena will guide guests in illustrating the emotions and sensations evoked by the sounds on a canvas. This session opens new avenues of artistic expression, introducing participants to innovative techniques of depicting “sound” through visual art.
In the “Taste” session, participants embark on Milaidhoo’s culinary journey, collaborating with the Milaidhoo culinary team. Guests will put their senses to the test, tasting the chefs’ masterpieces in the wine cellar, while blindfolded. These creations will be in the form of hors d’oeuvres, bonbons, and canapés. After this session, the participants will learn the art of plating. The session focuses on creating culinary masterpieces as edible artworks, emphasising presentation and plating techniques. After the plating session, guests will savour a delectable four-course meal specially crafted by Milaidhoo’s culinary team.
The “Smell” session invites guests to a rejuvenating aromatherapy meditation session led by Serenity Spa and Alena. Through this aromatic experience, the retreat participants will explore how different scents can inspire and enhance their creative mindset. Alena will guide them in capturing scents in their artwork, while the spa team will share valuable insights on the impact of scents with guests and provide them with a gift pack of small scent bottles for further experimentation.
Following a relaxing massage in the “Touch” session, guests will explore the sense of touch through finger painting techniques. Retreat participants will experience different textures brought about by paint and learn how to create tactile elements in their artwork. This session encourages guests to express themselves through the medium of touch and further enhances their sensory experience.
Finally, in the “Intuition” session, guests will reflect on their profound journey and work with Alena to create inventive and unconventional self-portraits. Drawing from all the newfound senses and experiences, the retreat participants will create a personal art piece that captures the essence of their transformative journey. Alena will also create small art pieces for each guest, providing her interpretation of their newfound selves.
The Multi-Sensory Art Retreat at Milaidhoo is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines artistic expression with sensory stimulation. It offers Milaidhoo guests a rare opportunity to discover their inner creativity and forge a deeper and more meaningful connection with themselves and their surroundings.
For more information and to book the Multi-Sensory Art Retreat, please visit https://www.milaidhoo.com/special-offers/multi-sensory-art-retreat or contact Milaidhoo via emailing at welcome@milaidhoo.com or dialling +960 660 77 88.
News
COMO’s Maldives resorts welcome festive season with culinary and wellness programmes
COMO Hotels and Resorts has announced its festive programmes for 2026 at COMO Cocoa Island and COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives, featuring Christmas and New Year celebrations, dining experiences, wellness activities, marine excursions and family programmes.
The two resorts will offer a series of events throughout December and into January 2027, with each property introducing its own programme of culinary experiences, outdoor activities and celebrations to mark the festive season.
At COMO Cocoa Island, located in South Malé Atoll, the celebrations will include themed dinners, cooking classes, sunset cruises and wellness sessions.
The culinary programme at the resort’s Ufaa restaurant will begin with a five-course Italian Christmas Eve dinner on 24 December, accompanied by live music. A Christmas Day dinner under the stars will follow on 25 December, while a steak and seafood barbecue is scheduled for 29 December.
Guests will also have opportunities to participate in Italian cooking classes featuring pasta and risotto, afternoon high tea at Faru Bar, and an Indian thali dining experience. Sunrise fishing excursions on 20 and 27 December will allow participants to catch fish that the resort’s chefs will prepare as a four-course meal, incorporating sashimi, Maldivian-style soup and coconut curry.
The resort will welcome 2027 with a White Soirée on 31 December at Ufaa, featuring live cooking stations, entertainment and a live band.
Beyond dining, COMO Cocoa Island will offer sunset cruises, guided house reef snorkelling, nurse shark excursions, night snorkelling and turtle expeditions. Family activities will include treasure hunts, coconut painting, island races and other beachside competitions.
Wellness will form part of the programme through COMO Shambhala, with visiting Japanese healing practitioner Yuki Nishikubo offering treatments incorporating acupuncture and Shiatsu from 16 November to 27 December. Additional activities will include yoga, Pilates, meditation, sound baths and breathwork sessions.
Guests will also be able to participate in sustainability activities, including guided tree planting, alongside kayaking, sunset fishing and outdoor cinema screenings.

At COMO Maalifushi, located in Thaa Atoll, the festive programme will focus on culinary experiences, family activities, marine exploration and wellness, culminating in a Tropical Gatsby-themed New Year’s Eve celebration.
The resort’s Christmas dining programme includes a Christmas Around the World five-course dinner across Madi, Thila and the poolside, accompanied by live music and entertainment.
Other culinary experiences will include a Noble Vines wine dinner on 27 December, featuring wines from several French regions paired with a four-course menu, as well as Japanese dining events involving sushi, nigiri, temaki, sake pairings and yakiniku.
The resort will also introduce a Fisherman’s Table experience on selected dates, allowing guests to visit a local fish market with a fisherman before having their catch prepared by the resort’s chefs. Champagne breakfasts, seafood dining experiences and a New Year’s Day beachfront lunch are also included in the programme.

On 31 December, COMO Maalifushi will host its Tropical Gatsby Gala Dinner on Madi Beach, beginning with cocktails and canapés before dinner, live music and dancing. A DJ performance and fireworks display over the water will mark the arrival of 2027.
For families, the resort’s Play by COMO programme will offer children’s activities, crafts, games, yoga and outdoor entertainment. Other experiences will include snorkelling excursions, sunset cruises, kayaking, water sports and family marine safaris led by the resort’s resident marine biologist.
Guests can also participate in coral planting activities on 27 December, while a padel tournament, traditional fishing excursions and water sports sessions will take place during the festive period.
COMO Maalifushi’s wellness programme will feature visiting practitioner Kimberly Rose Kneier from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Her sessions will incorporate acupuncture, Qi Gong, breathwork and traditional Chinese medicine. The programme will also feature sound healing, family wellness treatments and a complimentary yoga session on New Year’s Day.

Both resorts are offering festive accommodation promotions with savings of up to 25 per cent on room rates, subject to applicable booking conditions. Further details on the festive activities, dining experiences and reservations are available through the official websites of COMO Cocoa Island and COMO Maalifushi.
Cooking
OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI to host Diwali celebrations in November
Some Diwali memories are made at home; others begin when the family journeys somewhere extraordinary together. This festive season, THE OZEN COLLECTION invites Indian families to bring the warmth of their traditions to two private Maldivian islands, where time slows, celebrations feel personal and every generation can reconnect. On 8th and 9th November, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI will pair the familiar flavours and rituals of Diwali with the space, privacy and intuitive hospitality of an island escape.
At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, the festivities will unfold across the specially decorated Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine overwater restaurant. On 8th November, from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM, TRADITION INDOCEYLON will present an exclusive thali inspired by India’s diverse culinary heritage, complemented by time-honoured Diwali sweets. Vibrant lights, lanterns and floral décor will transform the setting into an elegant island celebration where families can gather, reconnect and share the rituals of the season at an unhurried pace.

At OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, SAFFRON will host The Festival of Lights on 8th and 9th November, from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Specially curated vegetarian and non-vegetarian Diwali thalis will reinterpret traditional Indian dishes with contemporary touches. A live chaat counter will prepare Dahi Bhalla and Aloo Tikki to order, while a festive welcome drink adds thoughtful notes of ceremony. Musical performances will complete an intimate evening created for generations to celebrate together, with privacy, ease and a genuine sense of occasion.
The celebrations are included within the resorts’ respective plans: the INDULGENCE™ Plan at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and the RESERVE™ Plan at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. For families imagining Diwali differently this year, the experience brings together festive dining, generous island living and the rare luxury of uninterrupted time together. Whether sharing a thali, passing cherished rituals to a younger generation or simply gathering without the rush of an itinerary, guests can celebrate a Diwali that carries the heart of India into the beauty of the Maldives.

THE OZEN COLLECTION, an exceptional brand from the Atmosphere Core portfolio, curates timeless sanctuaries set apart by an experience of Refined Elegance. Travellers can expect an abundance of sophisticated services blended with a grand sense of space and design and an enriching culture. The brand comprises two private islands in the Maldives, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI.
News
Centara unveils Festival of Lights celebrations across Maldives resorts
Celebrating Diwali in the Maldives brings a distinctive island perspective to the Festival of Lights, where cherished traditions meet the beauty of the Indian Ocean. Across four distinctive island resorts, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives invite guests to immerse themselves in thoughtfully curated celebrations that reflect the character of each island. From cultural experiences and creative activities to Indian-inspired feasts, Bollywood rhythms and beachfront evenings beneath the stars, each resort offers its own interpretation of Diwali. Whether discovering the artistry behind traditional festive customs, sharing a meal inspired by the flavours of India or gathering by the shore as the evening unfolds, guests can experience the warmth and spirit of the Festival of Lights in a setting shaped by the natural beauty of the Maldives.

Set within the tranquil waters of the North Malé Atoll, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives offers an elegant island retreat defined by refined beachfront and overwater living, spacious one two- and three-bedroom villas and residences, holistic wellness and a diverse gastronomic journey. From 07 to 09 November, the Festival of Lights brings an added cultural dimension to the island experience, with a curated programme of festive arts and crafts, family activities, Bollywood entertainment and cinema beneath the stars. Against the natural beauty of the lagoon, Diwali unfolds through moments of discovery and connection, complementing the resort’s distinctive approach to contemporary island living.
Designed around family discovery, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives brings an underwater-inspired world to life, with the Maldives’ first lazy river, a dedicated water park and splash zones offering a distinctive setting for island adventures. From family-focused beachfront and overwater accommodation, including villas with bunk beds, to the candy-themed Candy Spa, every detail is thoughtfully shaped around experiences for all generations. From 07 to 09 November, Diwali adds a vibrant cultural dimension to the island, with celebrations inspired by the artistic traditions and flavours of India. Rangoli creations, creative masterclasses, Indian-inspired dining, festive cocktails, Bollywood entertainment and a beachside fire show bring colour and shared moments to the Festival of Lights, creating a celebration for the whole family.

Surrounded by the rich marine life of the South Ari Atoll, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, offers an island experience shaped by its remarkable house reef, underwater discoveries and distinctive culinary offerings. From vibrant coral gardens and encounters with marine life to considered dining experiences inspired by regional flavours, the resort brings together nature, wellness and gastronomy in a setting defined by the Indian Ocean. On 08 November, Diwali introduces the traditions of India through henna artistry, rangoli, a cocktail-making experience and sunset yoga beside the sea. A specially curated Indian buffet dinner sets the scene for an evening of Bollywood rhythms beneath the Maldivian sky, bringing cultural expression and island living together for the Festival of Lights.

Set against the turquoise waters of the North Malé Atoll, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives offers an adults-only island experience defined by barefoot beachfront living, overwater villas and unhurried moments by the Indian Ocean. On 08 November, Diwali brings the rich culinary traditions of India to the shores of Waves Beach, where a specially curated beachfront biryani dinner features regional specialities, tandoori favourites and traditional festive sweets. As the evening continues, music and karaoke at Giraavaru Bar invite guests to gather and celebrate beneath the Maldivian night sky, adding a lively note to the island’s relaxed atmosphere.

Across the four resorts, Diwali becomes an opportunity to experience the traditions of the Festival of Lights through culinary, art, entertainment and moments of connection, each shaped by the character of its island setting. Whether shared over a festive meal, discovered through cultural experiences or celebrated beneath the stars, the occasion offers a distinctive way to experience Diwali in the Maldives.
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