Vakkaru Maldives Marks Five Years of Serving Guests With a Luxurious, Exclusive, & Unique Private Island Experience

19 December 2022 - Baa Atoll, Maldives Republic

This month, Vakkaru Maldives marks a significant anniversary as it achieves five years of providing an unforgettable private island experience to over 32,000 guests and creating lifelong memories.

Since greeting its first guests on 17 December 2017, the luxury hideaway has maintained its standing as one of the area's best resorts, garnering several international and local distinctions and recognitions.Vakkaru Maldives is the only resort in Maldives owned by the Egyptian El Chiaty family.

Hamed El Chiaty, chairman and chief executive officer of Travco Group, worked closely with his son, Karim El Chiaty, vice-chairman of Travco Group, to create an unrivalled distillation of the entire luxury sector that he and his family have pioneered and admired during a lifetime of work in the travel industry.

Travco Company, managed by Hamed El Chiaty, is the leading leisure conglomerate in the Middle East, with integrated businesses in the tourism, hotel, and aviation sectors.The resort was created around the island's natural landscape in order to preserve its original vegetation. As envisioned by the Dutch firm OT Design BV, the resort's 113 huge, palm-thatched overwater and beach villas and houses are pitched over the ocean or hidden by the island's coconut trees. Dora El Chiaty, the wife of Mr. Hamad El Chiaty and a talented interior designer who is also the Managing Director and Head of Interior Design for the Travco Group, has had a significant role in the design of the resort. With Indonesian-made handmade furniture, the resort's suites exude a timeless elegance inspired by the natural beauty of their surroundings.

Vakkaru Maldives is one of the top resorts in the region for five reasons.Vakkaru Maldives is an isolated coral island situated inside the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. It is encircled by Tiffany-blue waters and bookended by two deep blue holes. The island, once a coconut plantation, has almost 2,300 mature coconut trees (Vakkaru is the Dhivehi term for "coconut wood").

This magnificent setting is a pleasant 30-minute seaplane trip from Male International Airport. The resort's exceptional natural beauty and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean make it the perfect place for resting and reconnecting with nature.On the beach or above the ocean, your opulent home has one or two bedrooms. The residences vary from one- and two-bedroom floor plans to a two-story, four-bedroom Over Water Residence with a personal chef, an infinity pool, and unobstructed ocean and sunset views. Each of the 113 magnificent villas and houses is influenced by the region's storied past. Modern design elements combine Maldivian aesthetics with the finest natural materials and traditional architecture.

Each villa and apartment is outfitted with a sophisticated network and all the amenities required for a comfortable trip.Vakkaru Maldives is driven by a team of diverse, committed specialists. Each member has a unique background and perspective, but they all have a passion for creating remarkable moments and emotional encounters for consumers every day via highly personalised service.During their stay at this island resort, private butlers attend to the whims and needs of the visitors.

Are you celebrating a special occasion, or do you just want your favourite dish?

The culinary staff will go above and beyond to provide an amazing dining experience or to cook a meal according to your demands. Ask the spa professionals at the luxurious Merana spa to tailor a wellness or spa vacation to help you relax and rejuvenate. The friendly and sympathetic "yes we can" attitude of the employees is what places Vakkaru Maldives among the regional rankings.

Interactive Experiences:

It may be difficult to leave your villa, but the abundance of offered activities is impossible to ignore. Vakkaru Maldives offers something for everyone, whether you wish to relax on the beach, snorkel or dive, or participate in water sports. The over-water Merana spa, with its vast array of wellness programmes, therapeutic massages, and Siddhalepa Ayurvedic treatments, is the ideal place to reset body, mind, and soul.

The diving centre will bring you face-to-face with the lagoon's spectacular underwater ecosystem. Or, organise a safari to see the Big Five of Baa Atoll: manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and the many sharks that inhabit the surrounding waters.

With Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis, sports fans may play tennis or padel tennis against a tennis pro. Or, enjoy the high life with a discovery tour of Baa Atoll on a luxury vessel, complete with Champagne and canapés.

Various cultural activities, including culinary and mixology classes, island tours, and more, are also available.

Guests may also renew their vows or create an island-style wedding ceremony in one of the island's breathtaking locations. The beautiful views of the coastline offer the perfect backdrop for a wedding.This island resort's exquisite food ensures that no one goes hungry. Six exquisite dining options include the tastes and textures of Europe, Asia, and regional cuisine, with organic ingredients from the island's farm at the core of each wonderful meal.

There is also a Maldivian-inspired cooking instruction at the Organic Farm, teppanyaki live action at Anguru, the new Jungle Cinema and private dining experience, or a romantic lunch on a secluded sandbank under the stars. On exceptional occasions, Ivan Zugic, the award-winning sommelier of the Vakkaru Reserve wine cellar, blends delicious feasts with Old and New World vintages.

These five variables explain why the resort's trophy case has grown steadily over time. World Travel Awards for World's Leading Luxury Honeymoon Resort and Indian Ocean's Leading Suite for three consecutive years (Vakkaru Over Water Residence). Other accolades include the Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Awards, where Vakkaru is currently ranked seventh in the Maldives, the Wine Spectator Award 2020 for Vakkaru Reserve's private wine cellar, and the No. 1 Favourite Family Hotel in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers' Choice Awards for 2021.

"Our fifth anniversary is a moment of pride for the whole Vakkaru Maldives staff. Over the last five years, the team has endeavoured to give the best service and experience to our consumers. I hope that we have presented our guests with experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.I'd also want to give a high five to my amazing employees, who have been a part of this great journey."

General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives Iain McCormack

About Vakkaru Maldives

The World Travel Awards just named Vakkaru Maldives the Leading Resort in the Indian Ocean. This resort is situated in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its spectacular marine life. From Velana International Airport, a magnificent 30-minute seaplane journey brings you to this tranquil coral island. It is surrounded by coconut palms and has tranquil ocean views and powder-white sand beaches.

Six restaurants, two bars, and a wine cellar provide exceptional dining experiences and amenities, while 113 Overwater Villas and Beach Villas are artistically constructed to match their environment. Our industry-leading facilities include the overwater Merana Spa, which offers Ayurvedic treatments and routinely welcomes the world's most inspiring wellness practitioners.

Children and teens are well-catered for in the Parrotfish Club and Coconut Club, respectively, while guests of all ages may play against world-famous tennis players via a world-class coaching relationship with Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis or on Baa Atoll's only padel tennis court.

The resort's marine biologist is available for guided ocean excursions, reef protection lectures, and views of the underwater environment.

All of these services and facilities are woven together by our one-of-a-kind hospitality philosophy, Vakkare, which places genuine, proactive care at the centre of everything we do.