This year, share the warm holiday spirit with family and friends at the luxurious and remote Velaa Private Island. The festivities commence on December 20 and continue into the first week of the New Year with a series of events curated around the finest food, beverages and live music. The island’s pristine beaches and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean serving as the ever-present backdrop.
Nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, Velaa Private Island was designed by award-winning Czech architect Petr Kolar as “an elegant fusion of Maldivian culture with contemporary luxury, intimate with Maldivian nuances”.
Velaa means “Turtle” in the local language. The resort is named after the sea turtles that flock these islands to nest and hatch. From a broader “bird’s eye view,” which greets arrivals by seaplane, the island’s exclusive over-water villas are constructed to resemble the head of a turtle, with the island forming the body.
The resort comprises 47 private villas, houses and exclusive residences. While 18 of the 47 are built over water, the Romantic Pool Residence can only be reached by boat, offering greater privacy and exclusivity.
The series of events scheduled for the season starts on December 20, as Velaa turns ‘Seven,’ with a special Birthday Gala Cocktail Party followed by an evening of live performance music, an amusement park and a sumptuous meal on the beach, all compliments of the island.
On December 23, enjoy an assortment of delicious home-made gingerbread cookies and spiced mulled grape drink to celebrate the start of the festive season with the unveiling of the Gingerbread House. The Christmas festivities commence with a Sunset Cocktail Party. Sip on specially created cocktails, delicious canapés and watch the Maldivian skies light up as the sun begins to set on the horizon.
Indulge in a delectable festive spread on the eve of the 24th with a culinary journey of festive specials from around the world. Santa is expected to arrive on the shores of Velaa on the 25th with surprises for the little ones and bubbly drinks for the adults.
The New Years celebrations commence with the Sea and Salt Buffet on the 27th, at the resort’s Athiri Restaurant. Discover authentic cuisine from Thailand, Singapore, China and Japan, along with local Maldivian delicacies. For those craving for something more exotic can indulge in an evening of Japanese-Peruvian fusion food on the 28th, serving a blend of fresh Peruvian ingredients with Japanese heritage and culinary techniques at the resort’s Aragu Signature Restaurant.
On the 30th, indulge in a Festive Barbecue with family and friends by the beach with live band entertainment, followed by an island-style evening of dancing to live DJ sessions. On the eve of December 31 is Velaa’s exclusive New Year’s Cocktail Party. Bid farewell to the year with a night filled with a glittering line-up of artists and a wide array of gourmet temptations.
Welcome the New Year with a relaxed New Year’s Day beach-front brunch at Athiri Restaurant featuring an array of dishes from around the world. On the first night of the New Year, the festive vibe returns with a live performance by AYOM, a Lisbon-based live band combining Brazilian baião with rhythms from all over the world, followed by live sessions by DJ Brian.
The first week of 2021 is filled with events. These include Jazz Night on January 2; Little Italy on the 3rd featuring some of the best of Italian gastronomic delights; Teppanyakki, the theatre of Gastronomy on the 4th featuring live culinary entertainment by the chefs of Velaa, and a Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner on the eve of the 6th.