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\n\tIf you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is trading tinsel for tridents this December, unveiling an ambitious holiday program inspired by the myth of \u201cAtlantis: The Lost Kingdom.\u201d The Indian Ocean property, already known for its overwater villas and cinematic sunsets, is transforming into an immersive \u201cCelebration for the Oceans\u201d \u2014 a series of performances, residencies, and dining events designed to blend fantasy with environmental reverence.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe resort\u2019s programming, running from Dec. 22 through early January, includes large-scale productions like \u201cPoseidon\u2019s Banquet,\u201d where guests dine over a reef illuminated to resemble a submerged palace, and nightly mermaid ballets staged in the infinity pool. The season\u2019s finale, on New Year\u2019s Eve, culminates in the dramatic \u201cTrident of Light,\u201d a rising ocean sculpture that ignites a fireworks display across Maamunagau\u2019s lagoon.<\/p>\n
\n\tMichelin-starred chef Tom Aikens headlines the culinary slate, with a 12-day residency featuring tasting dinners at The Lighthouse, cooking classes and a private yacht journey complete with caviar, champagne and a stargazing session led by the island\u2019s resident astronomer. UK artist Florence Super will host ocean-themed art workshops and exhibit sustainable works made from recycled materials during her residency, part of the resort\u2019s ongoing emphasis on marine awareness and conservation.<\/p>\n
\n\tProgramming extends beyond fine dining and art: Santa\u2019s island arrival, a kid-focused Pirate Cruise, and interactive experiences with British children\u2019s entertainers Sharky & George round out the family offerings. Wellness guests can opt for Maldivian-inspired spa treatments, ocean detox rituals or sound healing sessions under the stars.<\/p>\n
\n\tOver the past few years, the Maldives has quietly become Hollywood\u2019s favorite hideaway \u2014 a discreet but ultra-luxury alternative to the usual Aspen or St. Barts circuit. A-listers from Zendaya and Tom Holland to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been spotted on the archipelago\u2019s private islands, often sharing sun-drenched glimpses of overwater breakfasts and bioluminescent lagoons. It\u2019s easy to see the appeal: just a seaplane ride from Mal\u00e9, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has positioned itself at the high end of this cinematic escape market, catering to those who prize privacy, design, and curated experience over overt opulence. The property, built across a 35-acre coral reef atoll, has earned a reputation for its immersive programming \u2014 from astronomy sessions and sustainability workshops to chef residencies and private yacht dining.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe destination\u2019s rise coincides with a broader shift in celebrity travel, where the emphasis has moved from visibility to retreat. In the Maldives, anonymity becomes luxury\u2019s final frontier \u2014 a place where global names can go offline without losing access to world-class cuisine or cinematic settings. The InterContinental\u2019s \u201cAtlantis: The Lost Kingdom\u201d concept plays directly into that fantasy: a self-contained world that\u2019s both exclusive and experiential.<\/p>\n
\n\tCheck out a full teaser of their festive programming below:<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is trading tinsel for tridents this December, unveiling an ambitious holiday program inspired by the myth of \u201cAtlantis: The Lost Kingdom.\u201d The Indian Ocean property, already known for its<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[17146,17143,17145,17144,17147,12709],"class_list":{"0":"post-28946","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-festive","9":"tag-intercontinental","10":"tag-maamunagau","11":"tag-maldives","12":"tag-programming","13":"tag-resort"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}