In the Indian Ocean, along the imaginary line of the equator, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, lies an archipelago of just under 1,200 coral islands organized into 26 natural atolls. The Maldives , a remote place of desire for some, a wonderful reality for those who have been able to reach it after a long journey, is an island nation with Malé as its capital. With the seventh largest coral reef system in the world, covering an area of approximately 4,500 square kilometers , the underwater world of the Maldives is home to 258 species of coral and 1,100 species of fish. The terrestrial flora and fauna, with 12% of the surface area covered by mangroves—essential for maintaining biodiversity—are unique.
All this in a climate where temperatures never drop below 25°C and humidity is always quite high but mitigated by a constant sea breeze. The sea, which even the most sensitive to cold will appreciate, maintains an average temperature of 26°C. There are two seasons: the northeast monsoon, from December to mid-May, with clear skies and dry days, and the southwest monsoon, from mid-May to November, characterized by sporadic rainfall. For the record, we were there in June and saw very little rain. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, founder of Sun Siyam Resorts, grew up on a remote island in a modest family environment, where the idea of hospitality was a daily social practice : that's why the concepts of “home” and “family” are central to the narrative of the brand, which was founded in 1990. A vision that matured through personal and entrepreneurial growth, built step by step, in which hospitality was never based on an imported or imitated model, but on the natural evolution of a cultural heritage experienced firsthand every day.
It all began with a travel agency, back when tourism in the Maldives was still in its infancy, with the idea not so much of replicating international luxury models—later widely adopted by large worldwide chains— but rather of translating Maldivian hospitality into a contemporary language, with a strong presence of local staff, key figures who had grown up within the company, and a different idea of luxury, more closely linked to informality, emotion, and human relationships. After the opening of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef in 1998, the number of facilities grew to six between the Maldives and Sri Lanka . The House of Siyam, whose claim is ‘The Home of the Maldivian Spirit’, is divided into three types of resorts: Luxury, or the pursuit of elegance, at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi on the Noonu Atoll, home to Dr. Rahul Krishna's splendid Thalgo Spa; Lifestyle, more lively and dynamic (Sun Siyam Olhuveli and Siyam World); and Privé , romantic, intimate, and exclusive (Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, and Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka).
Sun Siyam is a world that is very attentive to sustainability and the environment, with a focus on marine conservation and support for island communities, and concrete actions ranging from Siyam Cares' “reduce, reuse, recycle” to educational and interactive activities such as reef restoration, where damaged but still living corals are attached to a steel structure (spider) reuse, recycle" to educational and interactive activities such as reef restoration, where damaged but still living corals are attached to a steel structure (called a spider because of its web-like shape) and then repositioned in the sea in an area suitable for new growth. Old and stereotypical views suggest that in the Maldives, one tends to get bored and eat poorly. In reality, our experience was anything but boring, partly because there are so many activities to enjoy that time flies by. This is thanks to the creativity of Sara Siyam, the resort's marketing director, who has created a veritable interactive entertainment hub at Siyam World, the most recent addition to the resort.
Even on the gastronomic front, hearsay must be decisively refuted: the offering is extremely varied, and it is impossible not to find a style that suits your taste. It is also worth mentioning the “Chef Residencies” project, designed to offer guests the opportunity to dine with professionals recruited from prestigious establishments, both Michelin-starred and non-Michelin-starred, including Italians such as Jacopo Chieppa from Equilibrio in Dolcedo, Liguria, and Gloria Clama, finalist in the eighth edition of MasterChef Italia , from Indiniò in Raveo, Carnia. At Siyam World, Kaage (“dining room” in the local Divehi language) is worth a visit. This restaurant is dedicated to the traditions of the archipelago: here we were able to sample a series of typical Maldivian dishes, revisited but not too much, such as the excellent Kukulhu Riha, a tasty chicken curry prepared with local spices and enriched with coconut to give the sauce creaminess and aromatic depth.
The experience at Takrai, a Thai restaurant right on the water with excellent cuisine, especially soups, is also spectacular and delicious . There is no shortage of more European dishes for those who don't feel like experimenting with alternative flavors, although we strongly recommend sticking to Maldivian, Indian, and Asian cuisine, which is definitely more in tune with the mood (and skills) of those who prepare it. Wine lovers will not be disappointed, especially if they choose to dine at Barrique, the charming underground wine cellar supervised by sommelier Winston Travasso , which houses around 6,000 bottles, with international wine pairings drawn from a collection of 210 labels from 16 producing countries: from great Italian wines such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia to French wines such as Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild, with prices ranging from $50 to $3,000.
From the most recent to the first resort to open: Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, on Meedhuffushi Island in the South Nilandhe Atoll, is smaller, more intimate, and cozy , with a beautiful white beach and a particularly rich and fascinating coral reef, but above all, it is just a few strokes from the shore and very easy to visit, even for snorkeling novices. Here, among beach villas—some with private pools—and overwater rooms from which to enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets, guests can enjoy the culinary offerings of executive chef Nitin Jain, who left India to work at The Oberoi in New Delhi and The Imperial, before moving on to the American Carnival Cruise Lines and Accor M -Gallery Sofitel in Phuket, arriving in the Maldives after spending time in Europe: twenty-six years of high-level international cuisine, a deep connection with the archipelago, and a personal project, “NJ Simply Culinary,” a digital format focused on simple, healthy, and accessible cuisine, combining product development, food content, menu creation, and consulting.
We enjoyed a wonderful Indian dinner, prepared with such attention to detail that it felt like a Michelin-starred experience, thanks to dishes created with precision and technique . The breakfast at Athireege was also a great success, a faithful reproduction of a typical local home, where you can enjoy a hearty Maldivian breakfast—more savory than sweet—barefoot on the sand: starting with mas-huni salad with smoked tuna, fresh grated coconut, thinly sliced red onion, lime juice, and chili pepper, to be eaten with your hands using roshi, a type of flat, elastic, lightly toasted chapati bread.
In the end, what remains of the experience is not only the almost unreal beauty of certain corners and the atolls that you fly over in a seaplane to reach your destination. The real feeling is one of hospitality that stems from the lively and authentic culture created by Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, rather than the image of the Maldives found on glossy postcards.
Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world?
Publisher - Media Gourmet s.r.l. a socio unico Registered and administrative office - Via Nazario Sauro 21, 41121 Modena VAT number / Fiscal Code - 04196740361
We respect your Privacy. We use cookies to ensure you an accurate experience and in line with your preferences. With your consent, we use technical and third-party cookies that allow us to process some data, such as which pages are visited on our website. To find out more about how we use this data, read the full disclosure . By clicking the ‘Accept’ button, you consent to the use of cookies, or configure the different types.
Whilst browsing, websites receive information through user cookies. The cookies used allow the website to function according to your expectations. In this way, you will be able to have an optimal and customised experience. On this screen, you can choose which cookies to allow, using the "active/inactive" cursor in each section. We inform you that blocking some cookies could have a negative impact on your experience on our website. For further information, please see the cookies policy page. To reject all unnecessary cookies, please click here .
These Cookies are strictly related to browsing within the Website and guarantee normal navigation within the latter. They allow you to keep track of preferences relating to the selection of the language or the size of the font used, but also to preserve the login to the reserved area. This category includes Google Analytics Cookies.
These are Cookies used exclusively for statistical purposes, which collect information in aggregate and anonymous form to analyse visits and the browsing path on the Website by users. They allow you to monitor the use of the website, generate reports and therefore optimise the website's performance. This category includes Google Analytics Cookies.
La nostra società utilizza inoltre cookie funzionali per registrare informazioni sulle scelte dell’utente e per consentire una personalizzazione del Sito; ad esempio, per ricordare la lingua utilizzata, l’area geografica prescelta. Questi cookie possono essere installati dalla nostra società o da Terze parti. In caso di disabilitazione di questi cookie, la qualità e l’esperienza di navigazione potrebbe non essere soddisfacente.
In this case, these are Cookies aimed at customising promotional messages and advertising based on user preferences. These cookies also make it possible to measure the performance of the ads themselves, as well as verify the various interactions of users with the aforementioned. They are managed by third parties to improve the experience on the web and on our site and to provide customised services.
Questi cookie sono installati da social media per consentire la condivisione dei contenuti del presente Sito. Essi sono in grado di monitorare la navigazione compiuta anche in altri siti e creano un profilo dell’utente sulla base dei suoi interessi. Ciò potrebbe avere un impatto sul contenuto e messaggi visualizzati sugli altri siti visitati. Se non si accettano questi cookie, non sarà possibile utilizzare o visualizzare questi strumenti di condivisione. Anche in questo caso, per l’installazione e l’uso di tali cookie occorre il consenso dell’utente.
Per maggiori informazioni consulta la pagna cookies policy
Loading comments…