Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives to open in April 2011

Six Senses Resorts & Spas is delighted to announce that Six Senses Laamu, in the Maldives, will open in April 2011.

This is a confirmed date, the challenges which caused delays throughout the year, now being over. The resort’s remoteness combined with Six Senses total commitment to using sustainable materials in its design and architecture being the primary cause.

Sonu Shivdasani, Chairman and CEO of Six Senses commented: “I am delighted to be able to announce that Six Senses Laamu will open in April 2011. The development of this first Six Senses property in the Maldives has been challenging and the unavoidable delays frustrating to all. I believe though that it will all have been worthwhile, as Six Senses Laamu has all the ingredients to make it a hugely popular destination. With its remote (but accessible) location, its pristine reef, its yinyang surfing wave, its contemporary design features and focus on nightlife, it will set a new standard for Six Senses Resorts.”

Six Senses Laamu is the only resort on the virtually uncharted Laamu Atoll. It sits on the island of Olhuveli, deep in the Indian Ocean. From Male airport it is a short 40 minute flight and 10 minute speed boat ride to paradise. 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 utter privacy along with Six Senses signature of the deepest, luxurious creature comforts and acres of airy, open space.

There will also be 10 beach front Residences at the resort, available for purchase at $2.5 million. Each comes furnished and share the rustic chic design of its villas. They will be fully serviced and managed by the resort and will be part of a rental programme with guaranteed 5% yield for the first five years.

Alongside, peace and rejuvenation Six Senses Laamu also offers a whole bunch of fun. Near the peaceful blue lagoon is a surfer’s paradise, with the majestic 10 foot ‘yinyang’ wave crashing on to the reef. Surfing lessons, both board and kite are offered, along with diving, skiing and snorkeling from the Ocean 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’ lake, so deep it is black and mirror bright.

At night, Six Senses Laamu really starts to rock. The Chill bar is built over the water and on several levels, with a world class cocktail list, inspired by recipes originated in the tropics and introduced to the wider world by intrepid explorers from centuries past. Local fresh ingredients mean the drinks taste as they were originally intended. Once the sunset dims, visiting artistes and DJs provide the vibe.

The wine ‘cellar’, Altitude, is a tower of spun glass, rising high out of the sea, with its own wine complementing delicatessen – seeing (and tasting) is believing. The Longitude Restaurant is brasserie like, offering salads, fresh fish and pastas as well as an a-la-carte daily changing menu.

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 and the chili patch (there are many, many varieties of chili) has a private table for dinner parties.

A daily delight is Chai, a bar with every available choice of teas, coffee and pastries from around the world and underneath it, Ice, for those essential sweet moments, crepes and chocolate and just 40 different flavours of homemade ice cream with countless toppings.

The Six Senses 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. Individual treatment rooms are set amongst the trees. The Yoga pavilion looks out across the sea and is above a state of the art Kinisis 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 for all ages and the Friday’s (each villa has its own butler) totally in charge.