Baa Atoll’s Amilla Maldives is inviting merrymaking guests to shake their tail feathers this Christmas with a 12-day parade of carnival-inspired festivities with a feathery flourish.

Amilla Maldives’ rendition of the Yuletide season will draw inspiration from its island culture, as well as the vibrant feathers, flavours and flamboyance of carnival. After opening the season with laidback parties at Baa Bar and a traditional Maldivian feast at Baazaar – complete with Bodu Beru drummers and local lacquer craftsmen – the rhythms of Rio will ramp up with Brazilian funk, samba and lambada dance classes, and workshops on the Brazilian martial art of capoeira. Families and children can bond in style with Aerial Circus Adventures at the Sultan’s Village Kids’ Club; enjoy a moonlit movie night screening of hit animation Rio; or join in a samba drum circle, fiesta workshop, or ‘Circus in the Sand’.

On 23 December, guests can swap carols for corals with a morning snorkelling tour of the resort’s coral garden, before joining the evening’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Christmas Eve itself will be celebrated with creative cocktails, a festive buffet dinner and live music from international band Red Tie. On Christmas Day, kids will have the chance to meet a ‘mermaid’ in the main pool – after a visit from Santa in a Rio inspired sleigh and his merry helpers of course! Baa Bar will be hosting nightly live music and entertainment from 24 December to 2 January to keep everyone in the festive spirit.

On New Year’s Eve, the feathery festivities reach their height with a Rio Carnival party and dinner to ring in the New Year. Fire performers, stilt walkers, and salsa dancers will roam the resort, mesmerising guests with their captivating tricks. As the clock strikes midnight, the Maldivian night sky will light up with spectacular fireworks to welcome the arrival of the new year.

For more information about Amilla Maldives’ festive programming and other events, head to https://amilla.com/maldives-events/