On this small island in the Indian Ocean, the festive season takes its cue from island life. Days unfold between the lagoon and the palms, meals are enjoyed with the sea as a backdrop, and time is made for shared experiences. At Baros, festive celebrations are shaped around this sense of place, combining the warmth of Christmas and New Year with the intimacy, nature and genuine Maldivian hospitality for which the island is known. 

The season begins with the Christmas Tree Lighting, followed by a series of experiences that combine festive traditions with local culture. Guests can take part in a Christmas cookie workshop, discover the flavours and ingredients of the Maldives during an Ocean, Coconut & Spice cooking class, experience local customs at a Maldivian Heritage Evening and browse the Island Christmas Market. 

The ocean remains central to the Baros experience throughout the festive period. Guests can welcome the day with a Sunrise Nooma sailing, set out on a fishing trip at sunrise or twilight, explore the house reef with the island’s marine team or join a dolphin-watching cruise. Private yacht excursions, local island visits and trips to Malé offer opportunities to venture further afield and discover the different facets of the Maldives.

Highlights from the festive culinary offerings include a Sake Pairing Dinner, a Great Gatsby five-course dinner and a Bubbly Dinner inspired by the Seven Seas, alongside a Butcher’s Block buffet, Omakase tasting lunch and Master Chef Tuna Carving Show & Tasting. Guests can also explore the world of grape through curated discovery journeys or join cocktail- or mocktail-making sessions. 

On Christmas Eve, guests will gather at The Lighthouse for a reception before continuing to Lime for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner. Christmas Day will unfold at the gentle rhythm of island life, with breakfast, festive activities and time to enjoy the beach, lagoon and company of family and friends. 

As the year comes to a close, New Year’s Eve will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a Gala Dinner, live entertainment and the countdown to 2027. New Year’s Day will start with a celebratory brunch before guests can choose from a selection of wellbeing and dining experiences, including a beachfront degustation dinner accompanied by live violin and saxophone. 

Younger guests will have their own festive moments to enjoy, including a mocktail workshop, Christmas cookie making and island adventures designed to bring families together and encourage young explorers to discover Baros in their own way. 

Throughout the season, live music, marine presentations, yoga and meditation will complement the festive programme, alongside the simple pleasures of island living, a fresh coconut beneath the palms, a swim in the lagoon, an afternoon by the sea or a sunset drink overlooking the water. 

At Baros, the festive season is a celebration of island life, togetherness and the joy of being close to the sea where Christmas and New Year are marked not simply by the occasion, but by the people, flavours and moments that make the island feel like Baros.