Of Bicycles, Buggies, And Bunnies, Soneva Fushi Still Is A Barefoot Paradise

There is a beautiful and a soft side to Soneva that resonates far more deeply to me than accolades like the 8th Best Hotel and the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel in the world recently by The World’s 50 Best Hotels. Celebrating three decades of sublime hospitality this year, the founders of Soneva Group, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, over the years have remained unwavering in their commitment to sustainable luxury—even if it means paying a little more to preserve nature around the globe.

Luxury and sustainability may seem like an oxymoron in the luxury hospitality business—until you set foot at Soneva Fushi. Once you experience it firsthand, you’ll see how these two concepts coexist harmoniously. Also, as the home of the owners (the Shivdasanis stay at Soneva Fushi), I feel this resort represents the Soneva philosophy in its purest form. While Soneva Jani, Soneva Kiri in Thailand, and the exclusive Soneva Secret in the Maldives are even more luxurious, Soneva Fushi holds the brand’s heart and soul.

Even as a self-proclaimed expert on Maldives, frequenting the archipelago since 2005, being greeted by a bubbly bunny as soon as we stepped onto the resort formed my first impressions about the resort. Though I’d read about these furry residents, I didn’t expect them to be an integral part of our stay—at breakfast or during a stroll on the beach.

Legend has it that Abdulla Kudafari, who helped the Shivdasanis discover Kunfunadhoo island and build Soneva Fushi, gifted a pregnant rabbit to the couple—and this rabbit is the ancestor of the famous bunnies that now call the island home.

A Luxury Home Like No Other At Soneva Fushi

Bunnies aside, Soneva’s signature class embraces you the moment you land at Malé International Airport. After a seamless meet-and-greet by a Soneva representative, we were escorted to the Soneva lounge before boarding a Soneva seaplane to our first stop: Soneva Fushi, followed by a couple of days at Soneva Jani. Thirty minutes later, just as the seaplane starts its descent, we could see the vastness of the lush green jungle surrounded by the gorgeous blue ocean that Soneva Fushi is known for. Located in one of the largest islands in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi, feels like a luxury home—thoughtfully designed by the couple and devoid of ostentation.

It’s a luxury home for guests who keep coming back to the property. I was told Soneva Fushi has the maximum repeat tourists in the whole of Maldives. And I met guests, many of whom have been visiting for over 25 years, now visiting with their children and grandchildren for month-long stays.

What makes Soneva Fushi such a loved luxury haven? The answer lies in its dedicated staff who make it a vacation to remember. We were fortunate enough to have Salta from Kazakhstan as our Barefoot Guardian handling everything from check-in to scheduling our activities, all without being intrusive. The role of the Barefoot Guardians is very important at any upscale Soneva property. She made sure our days packed with dolphin cruises, snorkeling with manta rays, ziplining through the jungle, and indulging in dining experiences that could rival Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris or New York were smooth and seamless. Our first few days on the island was at a beautiful private island villa. At Soneva Fushi, there are 64 private island villas ensconced in a jungle, and only eight very large Water Reserves.

Soak In The Boundless Blue At Soneva Jani

While its hard to tell which resort spoils you more, both offer uniquely breathtaking scenes. If Soneva Fushi was all about being green and grounded, Soneva Jani, our next stop, was unmistakably blue and boundless. Naturally, a stay at Soneva Jani meant being perched in an over-water villa, especially since the resort features just eight island villas and 51 over-water villas, each with uninterrupted ocean views. Located on Medhufaru Island in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani stretches along a 5.6-km lagoon, offering a distinctly different experience from Soneva Fushi.

Sustainability at Soneva Is Not Just A Buzzword

Sustainability has been at the core of Soneva, way before it became the buzzword for the hospitality industry. The Soneva Foundation supports the development of projects that have a positive environmental, social and economic impact. It uses impact investing principles, seeking to recover outlays through carbon finance, which in turn will be fed back into projects to help extend the reach and benefits to more families. And unlike most hotels, where the efforts towards sustainability are restricted to the specific properties, the Soneva Foundation does extensive work across the globe, from distributing fuel-efficient cooking stoves project in Myanmar to funding over 500 projects in 53 countries to help access to clean water affecting 750,000 people. Reforestation in Thailand and coral restoration in Maldives are other critical projects the foundation is involved with.

Feast Your Senses At Soneva’s Gastronomic Paradises 

Soneva’s eleven dining destinations promise nothing short of culinary magic, and if you are lucky, you may dine with Michelin-starred guest chefs, who regularly visit the resort. While their wine selection will make your evenings memorable, it is their complimentary homemade chocolate, ice cream, and cheese parlours s—open all day—that are sure to put a smile on your face.

Of the main restaurants, Out of the Blue, a two-storey overwater hideaway is the most picturesque one that houses five unique all-day dining outlets and beach club facilities. Think delicious grilled meats and seafood to teppanyaki, sushi, and a slide that plunges straight into the ocean.

Our first dinner was at Chef Chinthaka Sampath’s Fresh in the Garden. Perched above the gardens, the aromas of the herbs waft up from below, while the central open kitchen gives you front-row seats to the action. The restaurant offers curated five or seven course menu, showcasing their commitment to using the finest local ingredients, including freshly caught seafood and seasonal vegetables from their island gardens. Chef’s signature pan-fried John Dory with mussels, apple, and chives was a standout. While the local sea food was perfect, I recommend the best steaks in Maldives done on a bespoke charcoal grill built by the chef himself at Carne Diem Grill by chef Dharshan at Down to Earth. We tried the premium lamb cut rested with sun-dried Indian Ocean sea salt, sliced and seasoned at our table. The perfectly seasoned cut was probably the best I have tried in a long time.

Not willing to give up on more sea food, we discovered our favourite within the Soneva empire at The Crab Shack at Soneva Jani. Perfect to catch the sunset, amidst swaying palm trees on the Southwest beach on the island, the restaurant boasts of the ‘World’s Most Romantic Restaurant’ tag by CNN.com. Savour the Sri Lankan Mud Crab Curry with a glass of rosé and you will be transported to gastronomic heaven.

Adventure, Cinema And More Await You

There’s a lot on offer for the adventurer at Soenva Fushi once you overcome your initial fear. Initially a bit hesitant, I thoroughly enjoyed the breathtaking blues of the ocean and the greens of the jungle below from the first-ever zipline in the Maldives. The zipline is at a height of 5 to 10 metres and overseen by our professional Zipline Rangers using world-class safety practices.

With the best of marine world at your feet, set sail a sunset dolphin cruise with a glass of Prosecco in hand for an unforgettable evening. Witness dozens of playful dolphins dancing in the golden hues of dusk—a truly magical experience. The calm waters surrounding the island also offer a rare opportunity to spot manta rays, with Soneva Fushi boasting one of the world’s largest populations.

To wind down after an adventure-filled day, catch a film at the outdoor theatre, Cinema Paradiso. Watching a movie under the stars, with the ocean breeze for company, is an experience you won’t forget.

Wellness Redefined At The Soneva Soul

Soneva Soul goes beyond typical spa treatments, offering holistic wellness journeys tailored to individual needs. From ancient therapies like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to cutting-edge treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cryotherapy, the program caters to everything from detox to performance optimization. Cryotherapy, for instance, exposes you to extremely low temperatures (-60°C to -110°C) to enhance recovery and reduce joint pain. Soneva is also the only place in the Maldives offering Stem Cell Therapy. Guests often stay for months to take full advantage of the long-term holistic treatments. Every healing journey is customised entirely to your needs, from rest, recovery and regeneration to detoxification, movement and health optimisation. There are guests who stay for months to take advantage of a long term holistic treatment at Soneva.

An experience at Soneva isn’t just about a luxury vacation—it’s a philosophy. Every sunset, every meal, and every experience that I witnessed led me to understand the passion behind creating a haven that’s as kind to nature as it is luxurious.