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The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is buying and selling tinsel for tridents this December, unveiling an bold vacation program impressed by the parable of “Atlantis: The Misplaced Kingdom.” The Indian Ocean property, already recognized for its overwater villas and cinematic sunsets, is remodeling into an immersive “Celebration for the Oceans” — a sequence of performances, residencies, and eating occasions designed to mix fantasy with environmental reverence.
The resort’s programming, working from Dec. 22 by early January, contains large-scale productions like “Poseidon’s Banquet,” the place friends dine over a reef illuminated to resemble a submerged palace, and nightly mermaid ballets staged within the infinity pool. The season’s finale, on New Yr’s Eve, culminates within the dramatic “Trident of Mild,” a rising ocean sculpture that ignites a fireworks show throughout Maamunagau’s lagoon.
Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens headlines the culinary slate, with a 12-day residency that includes tasting dinners at The Lighthouse, cooking lessons and a non-public yacht journey full with caviar, champagne and a stargazing session led by the island’s resident astronomer. UK artist Florence Tremendous will host ocean-themed artwork workshops and exhibit sustainable works constructed from recycled supplies throughout her residency, a part of the resort’s ongoing emphasis on marine consciousness and conservation.
Programming extends past high-quality eating and artwork: Santa’s island arrival, a kid-focused Pirate Cruise, and interactive experiences with British youngsters’s entertainers Sharky & George spherical out the household choices. Wellness friends can go for Maldivian-inspired spa therapies, ocean detox rituals or sound therapeutic periods beneath the celebs.
Over the previous few years, the Maldives has quietly turn into Hollywood’s favourite hideaway — a discreet however ultra-luxury various to the same old Aspen or St. Barts circuit. A-listers from Zendaya and Tom Holland to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been noticed on the archipelago’s personal islands, typically sharing sun-drenched glimpses of overwater breakfasts and bioluminescent lagoons. It’s simple to see the attraction: only a seaplane experience from Malé, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has positioned itself on the excessive finish of this cinematic escape market, catering to those that prize privateness, design, and curated expertise over overt opulence. The property, constructed throughout a 35-acre coral reef atoll, has earned a popularity for its immersive programming — from astronomy periods and sustainability workshops to chef residencies and personal yacht eating.
The vacation spot’s rise coincides with a broader shift in celeb travel, the place the emphasis has moved from visibility to retreat. Within the Maldives, anonymity turns into luxurious’s ultimate frontier — a spot the place world names can go offline with out dropping entry to world-class delicacies or cinematic settings. The InterContinental’s “Atlantis: The Misplaced Kingdom” idea performs straight into that fantasy: a self-contained world that’s each unique and experiential.
Take a look at a full teaser of their festive programming beneath:
