The Halcyon Private Isles' first festive season: Masters of the Isles, a Hoppers chef and New Year fireworks on Firepit Beach
In this article
The Halcyon Private Isles in Gaafu Alifu Atoll has shared its first festive programme under the new name. Called Masters of the Isles, it runs from 18 December to 8 January and brings a line-up of guest chefs, healers and athletes to the island, with a gala on Christmas Eve and fireworks on New Year's Eve.
The guests
- Karan Gokani, 18 to 28 December. The Mumbai-born co-founder of Hoppers, the Sri Lankan restaurant in London, cooks a menu that runs from India to Sri Lanka. Masterclasses on 18 and 21 December, a dinner on Firepit Beach on 22 December, a Hoppers counter at Thari on Christmas Eve and a final dinner on 27 December.
- Bastien Soleil, 18 December to 8 January. Freediving and underwater meditation on the two house reefs, open to all levels, with an underwater photoshoot to finish.
- Dr Jubil P. Anil, 18 December to 8 January. A fourth-generation Ayurvedic practitioner from Kerala, holding consultations and treatments at the spa throughout the season.
- Ahmed Aleem, 18 December to 8 January. A Maldivian artist painting and telling the islands' old folk tales, with an exhibition.
- Victoria Kurz, 18 to 21 December. The professional padel player runs daily clinics for every level.
- Thammika Songkaeo, 22 to 29 December. Mindfulness and journalling sessions on a sandbank and other quiet corners of the atoll.
- Dmitry Eremeev, 3 to 10 January. The chef of Tvrandot in Moscow cooks a four-hands dinner at Yuzu on 5 January, an Orthodox Christmas station on Firepit Beach on 6 January and a wine-pairing dinner on 8 January.
The dates to know
- 18 December. The Christmas tree is lit at Bell Bar in the early evening.
- 24 December. Christmas Eve gala at Thari, with live music.
- 25 December. Christmas breakfast at Thari, and Santa arrives at 10.30am.
- 31 December. Cocktails at Bell Bar, the New Year's dinner on Firepit Beach and fireworks from 11pm.
- 1 January. New Year's brunch at Thari.
Every day also carries sunrise yoga, a nurse shark trip, a diving trip to Huvadhoo and a sound bath at sunset, and the resort runs a sunset ritual on the Ocean Pearl deck several evenings a week.
For children
Every child gets an explorer passport at check-in, stamped as they try marine, culture, nature and cooking sessions. There is a treasure trail round the island, a weekly family olympics, a junior marine biologist programme, stargazing and bodu beru drumming lessons.
What it means for your stay
The Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners are compulsory for every guest staying those nights and are charged on top of the room. Stays between 28 December and 8 January need at least five nights, and you cannot leave the island on 31 December or 1 January. The guest chefs' dinners and the Ayurvedic treatments are booked through your butler and are not part of a meal plan.
The island is a 55-minute domestic flight and a 15-minute speedboat from Malé, so allow a full travel day each way.
Planning a festive stay
See villas and what's included on our The Halcyon Private Isles page. Email holidays@360degreeworld.com with your dates and who is travelling, and we will price the festive stay, gala dinners included.
