In this special feature, our travel experts share why Sun Siyam ranks among their top picks in the Maldives.
The Maldives consists of 1,200 islands, of which 144 can be visited by tourists. With so many amazing options to choose from, finding the perfect resort for your beach getaway can be challenging.
Our Maldives specialists have personally experienced a variety of accommodations, and the family-run Sun Siyam hotels are among their favorites for an unforgettable stay. The group’s five properties each have their own unique charm, and our experts reveal why they are a fantastic choice for your next Maldives vacation.
1 An award-winning oasis of wellness
In December 2024, Sun Siyam’s spas were recognized for their high professional standards by CIDESCO, the world’s largest international association for beauty therapy.
The spa at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has also been named ‘Best Luxury Spa’ award five times in a row. From Ayurvedic therapies to Chinese medicine treatments, The Spa by Thalgo France promises a fantastic wellness experience that uses Eastern and Western methods. Their expert team of therapists is supported by an Ayurvedic doctor, a Chinese medicine consultant and a yoga instructor.
Insider tip: Book an all-inclusive package and receive a complimentary $50 credit for spa treatment
The Spa by Thalgo France has 20 treatment rooms 
Branded toiletries crafted by the in-house spa
2 A truly Maldivian experience
Sun Siyam Resorts Team
While there are many international hotel chains in the Maldives, we also love supporting resorts that are owned by local families.
Sun Siyam’s journey began in 1998, when Ahmed Siyam Mohamed opened his first hotel, Vilu Reef. Today, the brand has grown to include five properties in the Maldives and one in Sri Lanka. What sets them apart and unites them is the warm hospitality of their team, many of whom have been with Sun Siyam group since the beginning.
We recommend: Experience exceptional guest service at Sun Siyam Iru Veli, a premium all-inclusive resort. Enjoy a professionally guided wine tasting session or learn the art of fishing from a local fisherman.
Aerial view of Sun Siyam Iru Veli 
Sun Siyam Iru Veli wine cellar
3 A wonderful world beneath you
The reefs are teeming with colorful corals and playful clownfish. Vilu Reef in particular is surrounded by some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the Maldives. Keep an eye out for dolphins, young reef sharks, and a variety of brightly colored fish. The region is truly a snorkeler’s paradise.
We recommend: The wonderful Vilu Reef is the smallest of the five Sun Siyam properties, which is why we advise you to secure your place as soon as possible.
Diving in Sun Siyam Vilu Reef 
Water sports at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef
4 Luxury, and sustainability
All of Sun Siyam’s resorts have been awarded the prestigious Travelife Gold certificate. It recognizes the group’s sustainability efforts in the areas of energy efficiency, resource conservation and biodiversity.
Sun Siyam has always led the way in terms of sustainability and social responsibility. Recently, they also won the award for ‘Most Influential Sustainable Hotel Group of the Year’ at the 2025 GO TRAVEL Awards.
We recommend: You can experience the various sustainability initiatives at Sun Siyam Olhuveli like Ruby the Fish (a structure for the proper disposal of plastic) and their coral reef restoration project.
Guests helping breed new corals 
Coral restoration at Sun Siyam Olhuveli
5 You’ll have tons of fun
Siyam World, which opened in 2021, is described as the “uncompromisingly fun” member of the Sun Siyam family. All its water villas have a slide and a private pool.
This all-inclusive paradise is located on a sprawling 54-hectare island, one of the largest in the Maldives. The hotel’s water park is renowned as the largest floating water park in the Indian Ocean.
We recommend: Go for a spin around the hotel’s go-kart track, or enjoy a leisurely evening horseback ride along the beach. These activities are only available at Siyam World.
Travel Inspiration for You
Our experts can recommend the ideal resort while creating your bespoke Maldives vacation. All our trips also include 24/7 support.
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Unesco World Heritage Website– Dholavira Our journey began from Narayan Sarovar, on the western edge of India, driving towards Dholavira through the fascinating Kadhiya Dhroh canyon. By late evening, we reached the well-known 31 km roadway, often called the”roadway to heaven,”which links Khadir Bet Island to the mainland. Dholavira is uniquely located on an island surrounded by the beautiful white stretch of the Rann of Kutch. 
Increasing above the ground with tank in front To a visitor, the very first striking feature is the imposing castle rising above ground level. Standing before the east entrance at daybreak, it advised me of the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, a website I had likewise gone to early in the early morning. The citadel has major four gates aligned with the cardinal directions. The northern gate once included a massive wood door and a large signboard with 10 letters– possibly the earliest known signboard worldwide. Although the script stays undeciphered, some scholars think interpretations are possible. 
Dholavira North Gate Sign Board recreated at a resort We entered through this north gate; the signboard is now maintained in a museum. Eviction passageway is flanked by chambers likely occupied by guards. A staircase, presently a momentary wood structure for visitors’ security, causes the leading where the complete website shows up against the sky. 
Bhoonga design circular real estate The east gate most likely led directly to the castle, with limestone pillars quarried 2-3 km away still noticeable. Throughout Indus websites, spaces tend to be especially small, leading me to question whether they acted as residences or storage spaces for trading items. Adjacent to the west gate lies a bead factory, which might have worked as an administrative or industrial office. The western castle location, called Bailey or Upa-Prasad in Hindi, was most likely home to the non-royal elite. Close-by stand four square granaries. 
On top of the Website– A pillar, A Stepwell and a Well As you go into, a massive water tank with staircases coming down 30 steps at 3 corners stands out. The tank includes rock-cut wells and stone actions, possibly the earliest models of stepwells like Rani Ki Vav. Nearby, a unicorn figurine suggests the tank’s ritualistic value to the people. Atop the site are two large stepwells and a round well, the latter measuring 4 meters in size– possibly the biggest well discovered in Indus Valley sites. Rope marks on a stone slab indicate usage of a pulley system to draw water. 
Connected water tanks at Dholavira Many fascinating are the southern water management tanks– a sequence of five interconnected reservoirs for storing and filtering water. The first 2 tanks handle desilting, the main third tank is three times bigger than the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro, and the 4th tank features a ramp for wheeled carriage gain access to reminiscent of Surajkund. The fifth tank channels water to western tanks. 
Dancing Woman, Pottery and the Eastern Gate of Dholavira