Sun. Sand. Turquoise waters. Barefoot luxury. This is the tropical paradise of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, two luxury 5-star resorts in the Maldives. I was fortunate enough to stay at both on my honeymoon in 2017, and wow… what an experience.
First up, Soneva Fushi. After a short layover in Singapore, we were greeted at Male International Airport and escorted to the domestic terminal for our 35-minute flight to the Baa Atoll. On arrival, a bare footed hotel representative welcomed us and promptly took off our own shoes. Yes, they have a “no news, no shoes” philosophy and we were more than happy to oblige! A quick speedboat ride later and we were there – the secluded paradise of Soneva Fushi.
The resort itself is the original Soneva, comprised of 61 spacious beachfront villas, all hidden among the island’s dense foliage. Think tropical jungle inspired by Robinson Crusoe. New to the island is the over-water “Out of the Blue” dining experience, offering several sumptuous restaurants situated out on the ocean’s calm waters. Eight new over-water villas are also due for completion this year, giving you the both of best worlds, beach and sea!
The next few days were spent reveling in our new paradise and finding the perfect balance between relaxing, exploring the island, and ticking off as many excursions and activities as we could. We enjoyed exploring the island by bicycle, along with a sunset dolphin safari cruise, a private picnic dinner on the beach, sunset cocktails and snorkelling around the incredible reef. Unique to the resort is a glass up-cycling factory, where you can learn the art of glass blowing, and an on-site tailor (much to the delight of my husband, who didn’t pack enough clothes!).
After our 4-night stay, staff gathered on the pier and waved us goodbye as we travelled one hour by private speedboat to the nearby Soneva Jani, in the Noonu Atoll. This resort is picture-perfect, boasting 24 over-water villas stemming off a long, snaking wooden walkway from the main island. The resort spans five islands surrounded by white-sandy beaches, set within a private azure lagoon. Each water villa opens onto its own stretch of sparkling lagoon, complete with a private pool and a retractable roof to stargaze from the master bedroom. Many villas also feature their own slides from the top deck into the water below. Next level!
Sovena Jani also offers incredible experiences: a state-of-the-art observatory, water sports, scuba diving, off-site snorkelling, wellness therapies, dolphin cruises and a wonderful 3-story dining area called ‘The Gathering’. A personal highlight for me was the chocolate room – offered at both resorts and open all day with as much chocolate and ice-cream as one could ever want. My husband preferred the meat and cheese room, which is also open daily for guests to enjoy.
After two nights of pure bliss, it was time to bid our luxurious honeymoon goodbye. We departed Soneva Jani by seaplane, enjoying panoramic views of the atolls on the flight back to Male. We eventually arrived back in Auckland slighter heavier, but with a great tan and with many wonderful memories.
Take a look at our two magical journeys to these resorts in the Maldives:
