Villa's on the Island

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Blending in with the natural ascetics of the Maldivian surroundings, the echo chic design of Soneva Fushi truly adds the sense of being one with nature. The island has a total of 65 thatched-roof villas and eight newly-added overwater villas, all of which are built from wood from sustainable tree farms, and using locally sourced materials, palm-leaf roofs, and even door handles made from used drink cans and recycling on the island's own recycling plant.

The 65 multi-bedroom villas are scattered along the coastline, hidden among thick foliage and overlooking the Indian Ocean. These grand and sophisticated villas are enormous in scale and are classed as among the largest hotel accommodation in the world, and come in one to nine-bedroom private reserves. Many of the villa's designs are inspired by treehouse designs enhancing the feeling that you are marooned on a private island. In keeping with this, each villa has its own garden and stretch of white sand beach, continually prompting a castaway theme.

The newly opened water retreats are the world's largest overwater villas and truly make the most out of the picturesque ocean vistas. These one and two-bedroom retreats are designed to ensure the utmost privacy for guests and are based on the design of Soneva Jani water retreats but differ with interior for a more minimal aesthetic. Each villa comes with its own private pool and of course, a waterslide leading straight blue turquoise waters with unintuitive views to the horizon.

Dining and Culinary Experiences

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Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all world-class experiences, outstanding and memorable settings, impeccable service and heavingly food (which wouldn’t be out of place in a Michelin starred gourmet restaurant in a metropolitan city). The main restaurant is Mihirre Mitha meaning "here it is"in Maldivian serving also any dish you desire. The breakfast is by far one of the vastest in any hotel around the world, with freshly made pastries, pancakes and waffles, homemade jams, egg cooking station, fresh fruit room, and even a dedicated ham and cheese room featuring splendid homemade cheeses, ham and cold cuts.  Lunch is served in the fine dining restaurant rightly named, Down to Earth serving international and South Asian cuisine on the beach. 

One of the most fascinating restaurant is named Fresh in the Garden and can be found high above the trees with the island organic herb and vegetable garden below. Here you can find immersive views of the jungle canopy and mouthwatering Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

The largest overwater structure on the island is named Out of the Blue, and is home to five fine dining outlets, from tasty grilled meats and seafood, Teppanyaki, Sushi and secret menus conjured by Michelin-starred chefs. Out of the Blue is also a great place to relax during the day, with a bar and waterslide dropping into the ocean. 

Shades of Green is the first vegan restaurant in the Maldives, where Chef Carsten Kyster celebrates the organic garden with a five-course menu and where guests can pick their own produce.

Singapore's famed three Michelin starred restaurant Odette can now be found in the newly opened Restaurant at Flying Saucers. Using all native ingredients and emphasising local produce the restaurant is located high above the trees and can be found at the end of the new zipline. 

The resort has two complementary chocolate and ice cream parlours with freshly made treats thought the day, one located near the arrival jetty and one at Out of the Blue. Here, you can choose from over sixty continuously changing ice cream and sorbet flavours, whilst in the chocolate room try passionfruit pralines, cardamom chocolate truffles, all continually changing.

Activities

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Being located on a remote island amid the Indian Ocean means Soneva Fushi has one of the best locations on the planet for stargazing, and the resort takes full advantage of this by having its own observatory. Here guests can see close up constellations, planets and galaxies with the use of a state-of-the-art telescope. Cinema Paradiso is also home to the resort's open-air cinema. Here ice cream and popcorn are served complimentary in the jungle enshrouded auditorium all while watching a classic movie under the stars.

The resort truly offers an abundance of activities that cater to all ages. The selection of water sports is vast with anything from kayaking, catamaran sailing, windsurfing and for the most adventurous, seabob, and newly added efoil and esurf boards. Of course, every activity can cater to any experience level and training will be given if guests need a helping hand. Also, a variety of excursions are available, from local village tours, cooking classes, private picnics on a desert island, dolphin cruises, fishing trips, sunset cruise by sailing dhoni, and overnight private sandbank experience are available to guests, in addition to tennis, mountain biking, and astronomy classes. Soneva Fushi has also just constructed the only zipline course in the Indian Ocean, allowing guests to fly around the island above the treetops, soaking in the spectacular views.

Aligning with Soneva's eco-friendly policy, the island has its own stunning glass studio, where the waste glass from local Maldivian islands is turned into valuable works of art. Here guests can learn the art of glass blowing in a special course, participate in art exhibitions and even design their masterpiece to take home from the first glass studio in the Maldives.

Diving & Scuba Diving

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The resort also has a PADI-Certified centre and offers outings to more than 30 locations with superb visibility where graceful manta rays and elusive whale sharks are often seen in the vicinity of the resort. The house reef is also fantastic for snorkelling and is a great spot to see turtles and dolphins pass by.

Spa & Wellness

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Encompassed by the island's natural lush jungle, is the recently opened Soneva Soul, a two-story wellness complex concentrating on rejuvenating, restoring and relaxing. Built around a central waterfall, walkways and stepping stones connect the treatment rooms, advanced beauty room, Ayurvedic consultation and treatment room, and flotation tank.

The spa offers a vast selection of wellness services, including Ayurvedic remedies, fitness training, yoga, beauty services, advanced skincare vitamin therapy, mindfulness, energy work and a wide range of massages.  Every treatment is personally tailored to guests targetting on wellbeing overall health. Soneva Fushi also has an in house Ayurvedic doctor who is on hand to offer complimentary consultations and diagnose guests' doshas and make lifestyle guidance.

Throughout the year, the island also welcomes a line-up of leading names from the world of sport and fitness through the Soneva Stars programme.

Children

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Soneva Fushi is certainly one of the best resorts in the world for families with children. The spectacular children's club named 'The Den' is nothing less than sensational, with two pools, a pirate ship to climb about in, its own mocktail bar, lego room, dress-up area, cinema, library, music room, gardens, swings and so much more. All restaurants offer kid's menus, and the chocolate room and ice cream parlour doors are always open for little ones to grab a treat. Pars, highchairs, drawing materials, monitors are all available from your butler.

Good to Know

• On the Sunset side of the island, about 500 metres away is the populated island Eydhafushi, the capital of the Baa Atoll, which is visible at the horizon (with tall buildings and homes) and can dispel, the feeling of being on a castaway island. The beaches are certainly wider on the sunset side and offer superb snorkelling. There is, of course, the sunrise side with narrower beaches but uninterrupted views of the ocean.

• No communal swimming pool is on the island, so make use of the crystal clear ocean or private pool in your villas.

• The island is world-renowned for barefoot luxury, so not at all the place to visit if you intend to find glitz and bling. If a world of thick vegetation, slow living, and a place where everyone is shoeless 24/7 is what you are looking to discover then look no further.

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In Conclusion

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Soneva Fushi is by far one of the most amazing resorts not only in the Maldives but in the world. The service truly is magical and as absurd as it sounds, the barefoot butlers here know what you need before you have asked. Soneva Fushi is always evolving, setting trends throughout the Indian Ocean and standing apart from the competitions by implementing ideas into the hotel industry and perfecting the art of luxury. The Soneva brand aims to create unforgettable innovating, and enlightening experiences that illuminate their guests’ lives whilst treading lightly on the earth. This philosophy is by far what sets the Soneva brand apart from other high-end hotel brands.

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Overview

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Location: 8/10

Design: 10/10

Facilities: 10/10

Atmosphere: 10/10

Sustainability: 10/10

Value for money: 10/10

Overall experience: exceptional 10/10

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Dining

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Breakfast: 10/10

Lunch: 9/10

Dinner: 10/10

Vegetarian options: 10/10

Alternative milk: Oat Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk

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Villa

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Beach villa design: 8/10

Overwater villa design: 10/10

Amenities: 9/10

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Activities

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Spa: 10/10

Complimentary watersports: 10/10

Motorised watersports: 9/10

Non-motorised watersports: 10/10

Excusions: 10/10

Snorkeling: 10/10

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Service

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Management: 10/10

Barefoot butler: 10/10

Watersport team: 10/10

Arrival: 10/10

Departure: 10/10

Overall service: 10/10

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Booking Soneva Fushi

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Enquire here to book your trip to Soneva Fushi with one of a kind VIP treatment, villa upgrades, breakfast, early check-in , late check-out, and up too $200 USD resort credit).