a Maldivian family-owned brand with five luxury private island properties in the Maldives has built a reputation for highlighting the extraordinary beauty of the destination since opening their first resort 20 years ago. White sugary sand beaches, swaying palm fronds, gorgeous turquoise lagoons, coral reefs teeming with marine life, delightfully remote in the shimmering Indian Ocean – Welcome to Maldives’ Paradise. www.sunsiyam.com

 

This is but one of the many reasons these luxurious private island resorts have attracted increasing numbers of visitors from near and far. As part of the rollout of Sun Siyam’s rebranding in September 2025, the group has refined the way guests experience its resorts with a series of New Elevated Signature Experiences. These are designed to go beyond the villa and bring Maldivian heritage and imagination into every stay by enhancing guest connection and engagement throughout their visit.

 

Guests can immerse themselves in Maldivian Roots through weekly culinary and cultural journeys celebrating heritage through cooking classes, storytelling sessions, local song and dance, drumming and more. They can book the Maldives’ first overwater photo studio, the Insta Villa, for envy-inducing moments in six-star surrounds. Perhaps kick back at the Sun Siyam Beach Club, where afternoons of relaxed lounging turn into evenings of music and dancing underneath the starry sky. Or enjoy Cinema by Moonlight, a floating movie night aboard a traditional dhoni boat. From night snorkeling where you get to glimpse Nemo sleeping, secret sundowner spots with specially crafted cocktails to a romantic champagne candlelit dinner on the beach, each stay is designed to offer unexpected moments of joy. I delighted in the picture of a turtle with the words – Welcome Home, artfully done with leaves on my bed upon my arrival. The friendly turtle wished me – Safe Journey, on each departure. Sweet, thoughtful gestures that mean so much. Guests get to experience the true culture, authentic traditions, culinary art and breathtaking beauty of the locale at Sun Siyam, where the true heart of the Maldives is on full display.

 

The heartfelt hospitality of the warm friendly people whose ancestors have inhabited these islands for over 2,500 years, shined through from the moment I arrived. The Wow Welcome, one of the new signature experiences featuring the traditional blowing of the conch ritual, flowers, a welcome drink, Bar-Ception and beaming smiles is just the beginning. Next, your attentive ambassador/ resort butler whisks you off on a buggy to your luxurious villa, your private sanctuary. These island hosts do everything from in villa requests, restaurant, spa and excursion reservations, help with getting around, to make your stay seamless – just a what’s app away.
The rebranding has also restructured the Sun Siyam portfolio into three distinct collections:

 

Luxury Collection: Elevated by the elements and steeped in the sublime, with the utmost island indulgence. Sun Siyam Iru Fushi offers premium exclusivity and a perfect sun-soaked paradise.

 

Lifestyle Collection: Sun Siyam Olhuveli and Siyam World, offer adventure, entertainment, recreation, and a wide mix of experiences for families, friends, and couples alike.
Privé Collection: Intimate barefoot hideaways where privacy and bespoke comforts come first. Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef and Sun Siyam Pasikudahin Sri Lanka offer romantic havens for travelers seeking soulful escapes.

 

I visited three of the properties and experienced spectacular surroundings, top luxury accommodations, excellent cuisine, amazing snorkeling, impressive cultural activities and exceptional, warm Maldivian hospitality at each one. Each resort features stand out luxury villas with spacious rooms and suites offering panoramic views of the ocean, a range of dining options, with restaurants serving everything from traditional Maldivian cuisine, plant based delights to international flavors and world class spa facilities with top therapists offering healing treatments to de- stress and rejuvenate – away from it all.

 

An Increasing number of groups of friends and multigenerational families are visiting, as are guests who are not avid water aficionados but appreciate the dazzling natural beauty and enjoy yoga, pilates, art classes, nature walks and spending quality time together, doing activities with ones they hold close. Sun Siyam Resorts are ideal for honeymooners, couples, families, friends, singles, weddings and other celebrations and for anyone seeking an unforgettable getaway on a tropical island paradise where you can kick back on the deck of your overwater bungalow and ponder – how many blues can I see?

 

 

Barefoot Luxury Meets Barefoot Bliss at Sun Siyam
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi which leads the luxury collection, located in the Noonu Atoll, with coconut palms, impossibly blue lagoon and lush greenery with banyan trees and pink bougainvillea is a true private island paradise with 221 elegant beachfront and overwater villas, many with private pools. This year the five-star resort completed a major design transformation across its water villas, including the Horizon Water Villas with 22 private pools and sunken seating, each offering a seamless blend of comfort and privacy. Each villa done in muted tones and natural textures, offers a spacious bathroom with a bathtub overlooking the lagoon. Private decks feature multiple lounging zones, suspended hammocks and soft green tones, creating a sense of refined, lived-in luxury.

 

Ira Fushi offers guests elevated culinary excellence across 15 distinctive dining venues along with premium wines and champagnes. Guests savor a gastronomic journey with refined beachfront grills, contemporary Asian cuisines, authentic Indian specialties, Italian and French restaurants, relaxed family friendly spaces and adult only settings. The resort also features an adults-only pool and bar. And the award winning Spa by Thalgo, set within a lush natural landscape with a wide array of treatments including Chinese, Ayurveda, Maldivian and hydrotherapy, is a healing temple of relaxation.

 

The luxe resort recently introduced a new over-the-top honeymoon celebration for couples seeking more than candlelit dinners and flower-filled villas with exciting personalized bespoke experiences that includes spa rituals, cultural immersions, island adventures and surprises.

 

Some of the many highlights during my visit include:
Glorious snorkeling at Nemo Reef, wine tasting with sommelier followed by French Cuisine on Flavours’ Scenic Terrace, Private Yoga Lesson at the Spa, Snorkeling on the house reef and Nature Walk with Shah, the esteemed Marine Biologist, Maldivian Cooking Class, Maldiivian Roots – A Cultural Evening, the Bedu, Beru Dance and Show and Spectacular Sunset on the Beach with violinist.

 

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection, located in the South Nilandhe Atoll, makes an idyllic island hideaway. The resort is renowned for its spectacular reef and was honored with ‘Best House Reef’ at the recently held Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026. The island’s rich coral reef system is easily accessible directly from the beach and from overwater villas, allowing guests to immerse themselves in an aquatic wonderland teeming with colorful marine life from sea turtles and baby reef sharks to schools of vibrant tropical fish and eagle rays. Guided reef explorations led by resident marine experts, scuba diving adventures and active coral restoration initiatives allow visitors to connect deeply with the ocean while supporting its sustainable preservation.

 

This past June, Vilu Reef completed the addition of 50 new overwater villas collectively known as the Ocean Signature Villas with Pool and Slide, comprising 48 one bedroom and two two-bedroom retreats. Having seen them firsthand I can say they are stunning with breathtaking lagoon vistas, uninterrupted sunrise to sunset views, free standing tubs and dual vanities. Spacious decks creak cushy outdoor living spaces.

 

Dining options include Aqua, open all day with everything for breakfast including sushi and sashimi, Well Done – Maldivian-style grilled seafood and catch of the day served right on the beach and The Spice, beachside, Italian by day, Indian by night. The Nautilus Bar, with tables on the beach is the place to be for gorgeous golden sunsets. The Spa is a Serene Sanctuary offering superb massages and Eastern therapies. Stay tuned for the new overwater spa with a wide array of holistic options.

 

Some of the many highlights during my visit include: Guided house reef snorkeling where I saw dolphins, feeling the love and connection the Maldivians have with the water when they snorkeled with me, delicious traditional lunch at a nearby island prepared by a welcoming local family in their home and then walking around, meeting people and seeing how the locals live, an authentic Maldivian breakfast at Athireege, in villa floating lunch in my deck pool, a bespoke art class, endlessly snorkeling off my overwater villa.

 

 

Sun Siyam Iru Veli
Sun Siyam Iru Veli, located in Dhaalu Atoll, part of the Privé Collection, is romantic and charming, a castaway private island resort with turquoise lagoon, powdery soft sand, verdant trees, plants, colorful flowers and an adults-only fresh water pool – the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. The beautiful boutique resort has a collection of 125 stylish beach and overwater suites each with a private pool. Beachy chic interiors done with light wood tones accented with turquoise and tangerine create a serene, soothing ambiance. I thoroughly enjoyed my overwater villa with free standing tub, dressing table and stunning sundeck offering sweeping views with infinity plunge pool and steps leading down to the sea for easy snorkeling on the house reef.

 

The Ocean Spa, built over a lagoon features six overwater pavilions and an extensive menu of indulgent and healing treatments including facials and an array of wellness sessions. This year the spa introduced new treatments Blending Maldivian Rituals and Ayurvedic Therapies namely Haveeru Harmony – The Iruveli Ritual, Ayurveda Treatment Nirvana, and Hiyala Head & Scalp Massage.

 

Dining options include all day dining at Aqua Orange with a dazzling buffet that includes eggs any style, plant based yummies, vegetarian and seafood curries, dim sum, tantalizing Bangkok chicken, grilled tuna, reef fish, soups and more, The Grouper Grill for Surf & Turf, Mediterranean fare at Roma and Japanese at Teppanyaki. The Chemistry Bar set on the beach, makes a great place to take in the sunset with their signature Aperol spritz with Prosecco.

 

Some of the many highlights during my visit include Observing resting fish and baby reef sharks during night snorkeling, a fun and colorful snorkeling safari, a scenic destination beach dinner, meandering the island’s verdant nature wonderland, and snorkeling the house reef from my overwater bungalow after morning coffee – what a way to start the day.

 

How To Go: After landing at Velana International Airport (MLE) a thrilling 45-minute seaplane takes you to the resort. Sun Siyam has its own lounge at the airport with food, beverages and complimentary massages.