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STAY - MALDIVES, THREE EMOTIONAL STOPS IN THE HEART OF THE SUN SIYAM UNIVERSE
From the intimate charm of Vilu Reef to the tranquil abundance of Olhuveli, via the elegant energy of Iru Veli, Sun Siyam Resorts orchestrates a symphony of experiences in the heart of the Maldives. |
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Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on Friday 08 August 2025
 The Thalgo spa at Sun Siyam Iru Veli is a wellness retreat overlooking the ocean and popular with guests
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
With 1,192 islands scattered like a string of pearls, the country has just 187 inhabited islands. The others are lost in silence, shades of blue and endless lagoons. It is in this almost unreal environment that our itinerary begins, marked by three addresses belonging to the Sun Siyam Resorts group. Three stops, three atmospheres, three ways of embodying sincere luxury, rooted in nature and Maldivian traditions.
An authentic immersion at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef
Dropped like confetti onto the South Nilandhe Atoll, our first refuge reveals itself after a final 40-minute flight by seaplane from Malé. The Sun Siyam Vilu Reef cultivates a simplicity that touches the heart. From the moment you step onto the pontoon, the hustle and bustle of the world seems far away. The sound of the blades gives way to the sound of the waves and the whisper of the wind in the coconut trees. The setting commands silence, your eyes open wide, your shoulders relax.
A traditional Maldivian welcome awaits guests: welcome necklaces, cocktails served in fresh coconuts, and sincere smiles. Everyone quickly makes their way to their villa, following the peaceful path of a pontoon bridge over the crystal-clear waters,from where you can see multicoloured fish, baby sharks and, if you're lucky, the fleeting silhouette of a sea turtle. The Sunset Reef Villa, set on the lagoon, offers 78 m² of comfort facing the horizon and direct access to the lagoon. The interior combines Maldivian style, high ceilings, local wood, and understated refinement, as exemplified by the natural stone bathroom that opens onto the terrace. Fresh fruit and other homemade treats, accompanied by a handcrafted welcome message made from palm leaves, complete your first steps into the world of Sun Siyam.
With its 103 villas on stilts or on the beach, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef cultivates an almost private atmosphere. However, 320 employees work here every day, perpetuating the DNA of the group's very first resort, which opened in 1998. Three restaurants, two bars, and a spa with a woven coconut roof, nestled in the heart of the vegetation, complete this island postcard. In the six open-air cabins, the sea breeze invites you to enjoy every treatment, and suspended massages offer a precious interlude.
At each of our stops, snorkeling will be the most popular activity. At Vilu Reef, guests are accompanied by Samal, a passionate and knowledgeable guide, as they explore the coral reefs and encounter abundant marine life. For the more adventurous, the whale shark excursion, although subject to the whims of nature, creates unforgettable memories.
The pleasures of the table naturally follow those of the lagoon. On the first evening, the Nepalese chef welcomes us to the wine cellar of the Well Done restaurant, a temple to seafood. The service is impeccable, with dishes served in perfect succession, culminating in lobster caught to order in the adjoining vivarium. At the end of the meal, the kitchen team comes out to greet the guests with discreet but palpable pride. Thoha Yoosuf, Resort Manager, instils a caring and demanding dynamic here. With his international experience, he cultivates a management philosophy that encourages his teams to step outside their comfort zone. “Every week, a new creation must be born,” he tells us, stimulating reflection and teamwork. Sincere, lively cuisine in constant evolution, served by a fulfilled team and enjoyed by dazzled guests: this is the credo of Vilu Reef.
Immersive experiences extend the spirit of the place. A Maldivian breakfast, enjoyed with your feet in the sand and served on a woven palm tablecloth in the heart of the reconstructed village, reveals the island's culinary traditions. Later, the weaving and Maldivian cooking workshops, complete with certificates and recipes, prolong the enchantment. The spirit of the place and of Sun Siyam permeates every moment.
The Thali dinner at The Spice restaurant, orchestrated by the resort's executive chef, Nittin Jain, is another highlight. Served in the purest Indian tradition, each dish is placed on a circular tray in a ballet of spicy, balanced, perfectly executed flavours. It is a vibrant tribute to the culinary diversity of the resort's teams and their constant desire to surprise and elevate every meal to an experience.
Elegance in motion at Sun Siyam Iru Veli
After the enveloping tranquillity of Vilu Reef, Iru Veli offers a thoroughly different atmosphere. More contemporary and assertive, this second stop embodies a vision of luxury in motion, combining fluid design, confident elegance, and multisensory experiences. Also located in the South Nilandhe Atoll, this 5* resort is accessible from Vilu Reef after a 40-minute speedboat ride.
The resort has 125 villas with private pools, all facing the water, marking a true crescendo in the residential experience. Here, each room is a stage opening onto the ocean, offering each guest the privacy of an unobstructed horizon and the simple luxury of a dip in the ocean just a few steps away or a suspended pool on the terrace.
This refinement is reflected in the dining experience, but with a more playful, interactive touch. During an evening at the newly opened Teppanyaki restaurant, dinner becomes a show. The chef wields flame and knife with agility, between two dishes served with precision. The show is as good as the flavours. More intimate, a workshop dedicated to coconuts introduces us to their many uses and their almost sacred role in the Maldives, where no fewer than ten names describe their shapes, ages, and functions. The General Manager, Masdhooq Saeed, joins us for the workshop. He shares his vision of a sustainable hotel: a vertical vegetable garden on the island and an island farm currently being created to embody a 100% local approach to food production.
Finally, the ultimate experience at the Iru Veli is a visit to the Thalgo Spa on stilts, which completes this philosophy of care and alignment. Balinese or Ayurvedic massages, treatment tables facing the fish, hydrotherapy... everything here reconciles the body with the marine element.
And as the conversations unfold, we learn that the Maldivians recognize 26 seasons in their sky, as many nuances of light and wind that punctuate their relationship with nature. A lesson in humility, no doubt.
Olhuveli, the archipelago with many faces
The last stop on our journey, Sun Siyam Olhuveli reveals another dimension of the Maldivian group. Accessible by seaplane from Iru Veli, the resort is located in the heart of South Male Atoll and is organized around three islands: Main Island, Dream Island, and Romance Island, which is reserved for adults and will open in 2022. With 327 villas and suites, Olhuveli caters to all types of stays: romantic getaways, family holidays, or wellness retreats. A thousand employees from all over the world work here every day to create this alchemy.
Each island has its own atmosphere, but each has its own spa, gym, restaurants, swimming pools and water sports center, all freely accessible except for the more private Romance Island.
Our 101 m² Grand Beach Suite with Pool awaits us on Dream Island. With a tropical garden, private pool with direct access to the beach, and outdoor bathroom, elegance is everywhere, in both the details and the space.
On Main Island, the two monumental swimming pools are impressive—one measuring 210 meters, the longest in the Maldives,and the other 130 meters—and offer plenty of space for relaxation between the sky and the lagoon.
Olhuveli also boasts culinary generosity. An exquisite Thai dinner enjoyed at Siyam Orchid leaves us ecstatic, while the many other culinary suggestions delight even the most discerning palates. Eleven restaurants and seven bars are spread across the three islands. Indian restaurants, buffets, grills, seafood, and more are all available to guests. We continue our stay, alternating moments of calm, such as an intimate breakfast on Romance Island, with moments of reverie during dinner with our feet in the sand at the seafood restaurant. Each culinary experience surprises us, awakening our taste buds and our senses. Between meals, relax on a day bed at The Bar, by one of the pools on Romance Island, to slow down the pace and wind down.
Marine experiences also punctuate the stay. For adrenaline junkies, the seabob transforms the lagoon into a playground. Others prefer the gentle paddle boardingor snorkeling trips to encounter sea turtles, sleeping sharks, and teeming coral reefs. And when night falls, silence descends around Manta Point, where manta rays perform their hypnotic ballet, illuminated by the glow of the boats. It is a spectacle as majestic as it is fragile, like the silent signature of these precious waters.
Between Romance Island, where guinea fowl, cats, and chickens peacefully cross paths with guests, and the livelier Main Island, everyone can find their own pace here. Olhuveli proves that exuberance can coexist with slowness, that luxury can rhyme with diversity.
A way of life on the water
From one atoll to the next, from one island to the next, this stay across the three iconic properties of Sun Siyam Resorts will have created an archipelago of emotions. At Vilu Reef, Maldivian tradition is revealed in its most sincere form. At Iru Veli, luxury is anchored in a sustainable vision.At Olhuveli, abundance is balanced with freedom.
Everywhere, the same care is taken with gastronomy, well-being, and the precious relationship between people and their environment. Everywhere, you will find committed, proud, and deeply human teams.
And everywhere, you will find the certainty that in the Maldives, hospitality is not an artifice. It is a way of life.
 To reach Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, you will need to take a seaplane and then a boat
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Sun Siyam Resorts
 The Ocean Villas on stilts of Vilu Reef, built in traditional Maldivian style, offer total immersion in the Sun Siyam DNA
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The rooms are decorated with wood and traditional materials
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The Resort Manager, Thoha Yoosuf, places great importance on the dining experience of guests, whether it be traditional dishes or international cuisine
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The teams are proud to present their creations to guests, such as Saroj, the Nepalese chef, who treated us to a fusion cuisine experience during a dinner in the wine cellar at Vilu Reef
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The Vilu Reef spa is a must for those who want to enjoy the full experience of the group's first resort
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The arrival at Sun Siyam Iru Veli is accompanied by local music, as in every resort in the group
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 In Iru Veli, coconuts are everywhere... and they even predict the weather!
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 In the villas, visitors are greeted by a handcrafted welcome note
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 Villas with outdoor bathrooms are among the most popular in Iru Veli
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The smiles of the teams offer moments of sharing and emotion to all guests at Iru Veli
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 At the Grouper Grill restaurant at Iru Veli, guests enjoy seafood delicacies
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The resort recently added a vertical vegetable garden
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 Access to the villas at night is even more dreamlike
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The Thalgo spa offers massages with your eyes closed, or focused on underwater life
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 A workshop on coconuts offers an opportunity to share ideas with Masdhooq Saeed, General Manager of Iru Veli
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 It's already time to board the seaplane again to reach our final stop, Sun Siyam Olhuveli
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 Sun Siyam Olhuveli is spread across three islands, including Dream Island, home to our beach villas
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 Like every Sun Siyam resort, Olhuveli invites guests to contemplate the surrounding nature
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 Olhuveli showcases contemporary design and generous spaces
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 At Olhuveli, the experience is lived in the ocean, but also in the privacy of each villa
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 The highlight of Olhuveli is the presence of two monumental swimming pools, one 130 metres long and the other 200 metres long
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 But each island in Olhuveli has swimming pools, offering a choice between the gentle ocean and the cool pool
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
 From the Diving Centre, guests can leave the resort to enjoy unique experiences such as swimming with turtles or sharks
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
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