Six Senses Laamu Opens in the Maldives
A virgin island. Powder white sand. Palm trees. Crystal clear turquoise water. Dolphins frolicking and rainbows of fish shimmering in and around the coral reef. Welcome to Six Senses Laamu, the new Six Senses resort on the island of Olhuveli, deep in the Indian Ocean.
Six Senses Laamu is the only resort on the virtually uncharted Laamu Atoll, 150km from the equator. From Male airport it is a short forty minute flight and twenty minute speed boat ride away. True to its philosophy of environmental protection, Six Senses has created the resort using local, sustainable materials and made only the lightest of footprints on the outstanding natural beauty of the island. It lays bare, ready to be discovered.
The 97 villas have been carefully designed to complement nature, sitting back on the beach amongst the lush, green, tropical vegetation or over the clear, blue, deep lagoon. Each allows complete privacy along with Six Senses signature of the deepest, luxurious creature comforts and acres of airy, open space.
Alongside, peace and rejuvenation Six Senses Laamu also offers a whole bunch of fun. Near to the peaceful blue lagoon is a surfer's paradise, with a majestic 'ying yang' wave breaking onto the reef. Surfing lessons, both board and kite are offered, along with diving, skiing and snorkeling from the Ocean Dimensions Diving School. Laamu's coral reef is amazing, divers and snorkelers swimming in virtually un-swum waters with a visual feast before them. Boat trips to dive, swim, ski, snorkel or picnic on a sandbank are arranged daily. There are visits to the tiny fishing village and to the 'bottomless' and mysterious fresh water lake, so deep it is black and mirror bright.
At night, Six Senses Laamu really starts to come alive. The Chill bar is built over the water and on several levels, with a world class cocktail list, prepared by the resort's own world class mixologist, a first in the Maldives. Inspiration has come from recipes originated in the tropics and introduced to the wider world by intrepid explorers from centuries past. Local fresh ingredients come into their own and the drinks taste as they were originally intended – there's no essence of pomegranate here! Once the unspeakably beautiful sunset dims, the gentle jazz gives way to some soul, some rhythm, some blues, with visiting artists and dj's adding to the vibe. Gracing the scene a driftwood piano, yes a tuned piano made almost entirely of driftwood…..
The wine 'cellar', Altitude, is a 6.4 meter high tower of spun glass, rising high out of the sea, with its own wine complementing delicatessen – seeing (and tasting) is believing. The Longitude Restaurant, on the reef, offers salads, fresh fish and pastas as well as an a la carte daily changing menu. And, Leaf, the organic restaurant, perched high above the organic garden, serves the freshest possible food, picked and caught only hours before it is served. Growing in the garden are different types of papaya tree – yes it turns out there are many more than one - and the chili patch (there are many, many varieties of chili) has a private table for dinner parties.
A daily delight is Chai, a lounge with every available choice of teas, coffee and pastries from around the world and underneath it, Ice, for those essential sweet moments, crepes and just 40 different flavours of homemade ice cream with countless toppings. The chocolate studio has homemade chocolates, with tantalizing flavours – coriander, chili, black pepper, mango – as well as caramel, coffee and nuts.
The Six Senses Spa is housed in four round wicker nests, two beside the sea and two in the treetops. The Spa offers signature Asian treatments, complemented by specific ones using local Maldivian ingredients, with experienced therapists offering holistic, wellness, relaxing and rejuvenating massage along with old-fashioned, feel good, pampering. The Yoga pavilion looks out across the sea – its good pain, beautiful pain, especially at sunrise – and is above a state of the art Kinesis Gym. And whether it is exercise or relaxation, the natural juice bar nearby serves a healthy, bespoke reward.
Children are not forgotten and are most welcome at Six Senses Laamu. A special playtime Den has been designed for them and them alone, with playtime fun (and learning) for all ages and always supervised. It has a sea view, a special art zone and its own little restaurant with tables in and around a grove of palm trees.
Six Senses Laamu opens in April 2011.
About Six Senses
With 27 open hotels and 38 in the pipeline, Six Senses has a distinct proposition with a strong heritage, and provides an instant entry to some of the world’s most sought-after locations including important urban markets. Our competitive edge goes back to our locations, our design, our people, and our committed platforms of sustainability and wellness. We deliver on the promise of our name and reawaken the senses of guests with wellness offerings and experiences that are out of the ordinary. Each Six Senses property commits to guest rejuvenation and reconnection, with an expert focus on wellness and sustainability and creating places where people can reconnect, in harmony with the local environment.