Tourism & Hospitality | Monday 26 March, 2018 11:10 pm |

Time spent at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is one of great adventure and discovery. On a breathtaking private island where the forces of nature dazzle the imagination, SKY invites you to play out once in a lifetime journeys, immersed in Time and Wonder. Anantara Kihavah redefines luxury, giving guests the time and opportunity to experience what they’ve always wondered. In a world of many firsts, take the time to swim with Manta Rays, dine underwater at SEA, and experience your own private cinema under the stars. Now, unveiling the new SKY, the Maldives’ only overwater observatory combined with a unique luxury cocktail bar, a resident story-telling Sky Guru and housing the most powerful telescope in the region, gaze on the stars as you sip Champagne and revel in the majesty of life. Discover extraordinary once-ina-lifetime experiences that enlighten couple’s romance and family adventure.

At the end of your time on the island, when you return to your homes and the routine of life, you will never forget your time and journey with Anantara Kihavah.

The Sky Bar

The panorama lounge perched over the lagoon maximises ocean views from every vantage point. Contemporary yet warm, with raw timber and soft lighting throughout, this is the place to take in Indian Ocean sunsets. A circular bar serves as the centrepiece, with the resident mixologist busy at work. Sip on island signatures such as Kihavah Island Tea, an Indian Ocean white rum and arak with lychee, peach, lemon and a dash of Earl Grey Tea. Laze on low oversized daybeds that wrap around the terrace, enjoying innovative tapas and fragrant shisha. Resident DJ Kristina spins mellow vibes that shapeshift with the fading light.

The Observatory T

he custom-built Ash-dome observatory sits on the roof deck of the Sky Bar surrounded by nothing but open skies and the ocean waves below. The first and only observatory in the Maldives houses a research-grade 16” Meade LX200 telescope mounted on a super-giant field tripod. Remote controlled with 360˚ movement, the powerful telescope opens up a whole new world of wonder.

Stargazing with Sky Guru Shameem

Sip Champagne or lay back on a circular daybed with the sky above as resident astronomer Shameem points out the pale yellow rings of Saturn or the counter-rotating zones and belts of Jupiter that vary in width, colour and intensity from year to year. Take a peek through the telescope at the Milky Way’s shining Omega Centauri or Messier 13, a globular cluster of over 300,000 stars in the constellation of Hercules.

The Maldives’s location just above the equator means both hemisphere’s stars are visible from Anantara Kihavah. Coupled with minimal light pollution and open skies, this is astronomy par excellence. Sky Guru Shameem (protégé of Italian astronomer Dr. Massimo Tarenghi who headed the ALMA observatory in Chile) shares his passion and expertise of the constellations in weekly star gazing experiences and private couples’ sessions. Name a star after your loved one as the ultimate honeymoon gift.

For more information on SKY visit www.skykihavahmaldives.com

----

 Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.

From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 35 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels

About Global Hotel Alliance:

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, bringing together dozens of brands across the globe, including Anantara, AVANI, Elewana and Tivoli. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands. GHA’s award-winning loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, provides millions members exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture wherever they travel. For more information visit gha.com.