Thailand's Loy Krathong festival — the centuries-old tradition of floating small decorated offerings on water to mark gratitude and new beginnings — is being celebrated in an unlikely setting this November: four Centara resorts across the Maldives. The celebrations run on 24 and 25 November, and each island puts its own spin on the occasion.

At Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, guests can join krathong-making workshops that explain the symbolism behind the delicate floating arrangements, alongside family games, beachside challenges and an outdoor cinema under the stars on both days.

Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives goes big on family immersion on 24 November, with a festive parade, hands-on crafting sessions and a floating ceremony along the resort's signature lazy river — a memorable sight as handmade krathongs drift past. The evening adds traditional Thai dance and a curated Thai buffet, with food from the resort's Suan Bua restaurant carrying the theme through. Workshops and a family movie night follow on the 25th.

For a quieter take, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa (The Centara Collection) hosts lantern-making, an authentic Thai dinner at Suan Bua and cooking sessions with the resort's master chef across both days, with SPA Cenvaree adding a wellness angle for guests after some personal renewal.

The adults-only option falls to Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa on 25 November. Its programme includes krathong craftsmanship, a Thai Kin Khao beachfront buffet at Azure Beach with live cooking stations, a Northern Thai candlelight dance, a Muay Thai cultural showcase and a traditional dance procession. After the symbolic krathong floating, the evening closes with a Bai Sri Su Kwan blessing ceremony — a Thai ritual offering wishes of happiness, prosperity and good fortune.

Also in this briefing: further Maldives openings worth noting. Michelin-starred Italian chef Pasquale Palamaro (Indaco, Ischia) returns to the country from 13–23 January 2027 for Atmosphere Core's Fire: Smoke: Soul series, cooking alongside resident chefs at VARU by Atmosphere, OBLU SELECT Sangeli and OBLU NATURE Helengeli, with dinners, cooking classes and Four Hands collaborations at each. Meanwhile, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef has launched YAYA Beach Club — the first of the group's new Signature Experience concept, running daily 10:30–19:00 with an adults-only shift after 17:00, monthly Full Moon Soirées and a signature sunset ritual — plus Tuscany, a new Italian restaurant serving dinner nightly from 18:30 to 21:30.

Why it matters: Loy Krathong is usually experienced in Thailand itself, typically in November around rivers and lakes in Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Sukhothai. Finding the full ritual — from krathong crafting to the Bai Sri Su Kwan blessing — layered onto a Maldives trip lets travellers double up two bucket-list experiences in one itinerary, and the range of formats (family-focused, wellness-leaning, adults-only) means there's a version for most travel styles. Book early if you want a specific island, as these dates fall at the start of the Maldives' high dry season.