
Six Senses
Four resorts, one way of being away
Why these four
Six Senses has resorts on a hillside above the Aegean, on a lagoon island in the southern Maldives, on a private island off Cambodia and in the desert of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea destination. All four take weddings, and each does it in a way that belongs to where it stands.
This issue gives each resort a page of its story and a page of photographs, then sets the four side by side on one page. Where a resort has not published a figure, the page says Not confirmed instead of guessing.
When one of them catches your eye, ask Aura to help you compare them, or check your date with the resort through its listing.
| 04 | Kaplankaya, Turkey |
| 06 | Laamu, Maldives |
| 08 | Krabey Island, Cambodia |
| 10 | Southern Dunes, Saudi Arabia |
| 12 | The four side by side |
| 13 | Planning with Aura |

Away, properly
A hillside above the Aegean, a lagoon in the Maldives, an island off Cambodia and a plateau in the Saudi desert: four places to be married, each a long way from the everyday.

Kaplankaya
Six Senses Kaplankaya stands on the northern Aegean coast near Bodrum, in hills of pine and olive that run down to private beaches and bays. The guest rooms step down the slope like a Mediterranean village, with paths running between the villas and residences.
Weddings can be held on the beach, around the infinity pool or in one of the restaurants, and Anhinga Bay takes the largest gatherings, up to 1,000 guests. The resort lists a welcome cocktail, the wedding dinner, a cake and after party services among its wedding services, and the whole resort can be taken for one party.
The spa is the centre of the place, 10,000 square metres with a hydrothermal area, hammams, a Watsu pool and a meditation cave. Milas-Bodrum Airport is 50 minutes away by car, or ten minutes by helicopter.

Orta Bay beach between two rocky peninsulas. Photograph: Six Senses Kaplankaya



Laamu
Six Senses Laamu is the only resort on Laamu Atoll, on Olhuveli Island in the southern Maldives. Its 94 villas stand on stilts over the lagoon or among the vegetation behind the beach, and dolphins, rays and parrotfish live in the water around them.
Ceremonies and dinners can be held on a private sandbank or on the beach, planned by the resort's experiences team. One wedding the resort describes began with the couple arriving by traditional sailing dhoni, and bodu beru drummers played them down the aisle.
Dinner can be taken in Altitude, a spun-glass wine cellar of more than 300 labels, or at Leaf, an adults-only restaurant beside the organic garden. Guests arrive by private seaplane, 65 minutes from Malé. The resort has not published a guest capacity or a wedding price.

Aerial view of a beach villa with pool and the island coast. Photograph: Six Senses Laamu



Krabey Island
Six Senses Krabey Island is a private island in the Gulf of Thailand, off Sihanoukville in Cambodia, where jungle meets a pale coastline. Its 40 pool villas are built with Cambodian materials to sit lightly in the landscape.
A wedding takes the whole island: all 40 villas, both restaurants and the spa, for up to 100 guests, with nobody else staying. Ceremonies are held on the western beach at sunset, on the overwater deck above the Gulf or in clearings among the rocks and jungle.
The AHA and Tree restaurants cook with produce from the island's organic garden and seafood from the Gulf, and dinners can be served on a boardwalk or as a beach feast. Guests fly to Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, and the resort arranges the transfer.

Aerial view at sunrise. Photograph: Six Senses Krabey Island



Southern Dunes
Six Senses Southern Dunes stands on a high plateau at the foot of the Hijaz Mountains, and was the first resort to open in The Red Sea destination. Foster + Partners gave the villas roofs that echo Bedouin tents and dunes, and set a flower-shaped canopy, the Oasis, at the centre.
A small ceremony can take place in the courtyard of a pool villa, followed by a private dinner at the chef's table or under the stars. A larger celebration takes the whole resort, 76 keys and every dining venue, for up to 350 guests, with the Oasis for the ceremony and Al Sarab for a reception as the mountains turn gold.
The resort is entirely alcohol-free and runs on solar energy, and it was the first hotel in Saudi Arabia to earn LEED Platinum certification. Red Sea International Airport is 45 to 60 minutes away by car.

The Oasis canopies and courtyard seen from the air. Photograph: Six Senses Southern Dunes


The four side by side
| Kaplankaya | Laamu | Krabey Island | Southern Dunes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Bodrum, Turkey | Laamu Atoll, Maldives | Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia |
| Rooms | 141 rooms and suites | 94 overwater and beachfront villas | 40 pool villas, sleeping up to 100 | 76 keys, including 40 pool villas |
| Weddings | Up to 1,000 guests | Private sandbank or beach. Capacity not confirmed | Private beach, overwater deck or jungle clearings. Up to 100 guests | The Oasis, Al Sarab, a villa courtyard or the desert. Up to 350 guests |
| Whole resort | Can be taken for one party | Not confirmed | Can be taken for one party | Can be taken for one party |
| Getting there | Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) is 50 minutes away by car, 60 minutes by yacht or 10 minutes by helicopter. | 65-minute private seaplane flight from Malé (MLE) | Sihanoukville, about 30 minutes in total with the boat transfer | Red Sea International, 45 to 60 minutes |
What each resort publishes. “Not confirmed” means the resort has not published it.

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Kaplankaya, Laamu, Krabey Island and Southern Dunes. Ask for a date, a price and a visit.
- KaplankayaBodrum, TurkeyCheck your dateRead the issue
- LaamuLaamu Atoll, MaldivesCheck your dateRead the issue
- Krabey IslandPreah Sihanouk, CambodiaCheck your dateRead the issue
- Southern DunesTabuk, Saudi ArabiaCheck your dateRead the issue
Photographs Six Senses Laamu, Six Senses Southern Dunes, Six Senses Kaplankaya, Six Senses Krabey Island
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