Vakkaru Maldives Commemorates 5th Anniversary
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
This December, the timeless sanctuary of Vakkaru Maldives celebrated its 5th anniversary since it opened its doors, providing over 32,000 guests with memorable island experiences and cherished memories at its property. Incepted on 17th December 2017, Vakkaru Maldives has come far from its humble beginnings with a collection of both international and local accolades and recognitions to its name.
The bespoke property is the only resort owned in the Maldives by Egypt’s El Chiaty family, under whose helm the Travco Group operates as one of Middle East’s leading leisure group with a portfolio of integrated companies in tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors. When conceptualizing the resort, the Chairman and CEO of Travco Group, Hamed El Chiaty and his son, Vice-Chairman of Travco Group, Karim El Chiaty worked closely together to curate a peerless distillation of what their family have pioneered and admired in the luxury hospitality in a lifetime work in the travel industry.
As such, the resort is carefully crafted to preserve the pristine greenery while still exuding a timeless elegance inspired by the splendor of its location. Vakkaru Maldives has been conceived by Dutch firm, OT Design BV with a total of 113 spacious, palm thatched villas and residences strewn across the waters or nestled in the island’s coconut plantation. The Managing Director and Head of Interior Design at Travco Group, Dora El Chiaty, a professional interior designer played an instrumental role in creating the resort’s design language.
Within a short time, Vakkaru Maldives has managed to become a top resort in the region, and the resort owes its unrivalled success to these 5 factors.
Timeless Location
Situated amid a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, Vakkaru Maldives boasts a magnificent reef island fringed by white powdery beaches and enclosed by tiffany-blue waters with two deep blue holes flanking on either side. The island itself sports numerous fully-grown coconut palms which inspired its name ‘Vakkaru’ meaning coconut timber in Dhivehi. Another highlight of this idyllic destination is the scenic 30-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport which completes the perfect image of a sanctuary cloaked in natural beauty with many offerings for relaxation and reconnection with nature.
Luxury Accommodation
The interiors of each accommodation features design elements depicting the Maldivian style and traditions and merges them with the finest natural resources and local architecture in a contemporary way, providing intelligent connectivity. Villas come along with 1 or 2 bedrooms while residences explore more spacious layouts going from 1-2 bedrooms to charming 2-storey four-bedroom Overwater Residences, equipped with a private chef and infinity pool. Each accommodation offers unobstructed landscapes and are stocked with all the requisites for a high-end vacation within its confines.
Passionate Service
The ‘Yes We Can’ attitude instilled in staff allows them to deliver memorable moments and create emotional experiences for guests through a highly personalized service. Starting from private butlers who cater to all the requirements of guests and culinary teams that strive to serve an unforgettable dining experience to spa specialists who are dedicated to help guests feel relaxed, the success behind Vakkaru can truly be attributed to its passionate staff.
Engaging Experiences
On the pristine island, a myriad of engaging experiences awaits guests at every step of the way. The overwater Merana Spa beckons guests with its extensive list of wellness programmes, therapeutic massages and Siddhalepa Ayurvedic treaments while the Dive Centre promises a plethora of underwater adventures. Guests can also arrange a safari to glimpse the Baa Atoll Big Five or go on a discovery tour aboard the luxury yacht of the resort. Additionally, sports enthusiasts can enjoy heated games with tennis pros from Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis or try padel tennis in the cobalt-blue tennis courts. Other than that, guests can also look forward to cultural, cooking, and island-hopping experiences as well as the chance to renew their wedding vows against the stunning background of the Indian Ocean.
Delicious Dining
Home to six exquisite dining options and serving flavours from various continents and cuisines around the world, Vakkaru gives guests the dine-around opportunity. With ingredients sourced from the organic farm of the resort, the resort also offers several destination dining experiences. This includes the Teppanyaki live action at Anguru, Jungle Cinema private dining, dining under the stars and private sandbank dining experience. Adding to this is gourmet dinners at the award-winning Vakkaru Reserve wine cellar paired with Old and New World vintages by Sommelier Ivan Zugic.
Owing to these exclusive five reasons, Vakkaru Maldives is the recipient of multiple distinguishes with the most notable ones including securing the World Travel Awards for World’s Leading Luxury Honeymoon Resort and Indian Ocean’s Leading Suite (Vakkaru Over Water Residence) for three consecutive years.
“Celebrating our 5th anniversary is a proud moment for all of us at Vakkaru Maldives. Over the past half-decade, the team has been striving to deliver our guests the best service and experience. I hope we have created exceptional memories for our guests and experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime. I’d also like to give my amazing team who have been a part of this wonderful journey a high five,” said Iain McCormack, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives.