Soneva Fushi

Rooms

One of Soneva Fushi's most attractive features is its rooms and villas, tucked away in the trees like lavish castaway homes. There's a huge range, from affordable 1-bedroom suites to top-dollar 9-bedroom party pads, all of them steps from the beach. Most are spread over 2 storeys, some with elevated wooden walkways, and almost all have a pool. The original Crusoe hideaways have white walls and cheerful colours, while the newer villas ooze an airy, tropical chic, with lofty ceilings and big French windows. Some face the sunrise, others the sunset. Expect kingsize beds draped in soft muslin to keep (non-existent) mozzies at bay, open-air garden bathrooms and plenty of wood, bamboo and rattan.

Champagne greets every guest, there's an extremely tempting minibar, and the telephone has direct dial to the Head Chef (very important!), Dive School and Spa. In the bathroom, complete with big fluffy towels, bio-degradable lotions and stepping stones into the garden, we had a powerful ‘open’ shower, plus a bath under overhanging thatch.

Other nice touches include coconut pots; mats made from logs; a bristly hedgehog at the door, and a small urn to wash sand off (all available in the shop). All rooms have a private outdoor seating area leading directly to the beach.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The cuisine at Soneva Fushi wouldn't be out of place in a gourmet restaurant in a cosmopolitan city. And the fact that it's being served on a remote island only adds to the experience.

Serving an astounding buffet breakfast, the beachside Mihiree Mithaa offers freshly cut fruits, cooking stations (international and Asian), bespoke coffees, a salad room, a cheese and ham room, wood-fired pizzas, and Soneva’s ubiquitous ice cream and chocolate rooms.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, the extraordinary new Japanese restaurant Out Of The Blue serves up international-level cuisine in plush oceanfront surroundings, as well as pizzas, salads, grilled meats and seafood. The restaurant boasts a tandoor oven, robata grill, josper grill, chocolate and ice cream parlours, a cheese room, and the Maldives’ first overwater organic greenhouse.

For dinner, Down To Earth By Ravi offers exquisite international and South Asian cuisine with dishes made for sharing (and bonding). Another dinner option is the atmospheric Fresh In The Garden restaurant where you can dine above Soneva’s impressive organic gardens (herbal aromas waft up from below). The central open kitchen provides front row seating to watch the chef action.

For drinks, the main bar is open until the last guest leaves. Sunset sees champagne on the sandbank, and even private cocktail parties. And the impressive wine cellar boasts a truly international selection of over 200 wines.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• A state-of-the-art observatory for stargazing some of the clearest night skies in the world
  
  
• The Soleni Dive Centre’s multi-lingual PADI instructors and small group sizes ensure world-class diving experiences.
  
  
• Snorkel Hanifaru Bay, home to one of the world’s largest populations of manta rays
  
  
• Spend a romantic night camping under the Maldivian skies on your own private sandbank in a luxurious Bedouin-inspired tent
  
  
• Windsurfing, eco-surfing, Seabobs, kayaking, paddleboarding, catamaran sailing, canoes, water-skiing and wake-boarding
  
  
• Supervised snorkelling on the house reef
  
  
• The Six Senses Spa is a true retreat, with an endless array of relaxation and pampering treatments including massage, acupuncture, reflexology, holistic, thalasso, affinoderm and Bach remedies, plus an air-conditioned fitness centre
  
  
• You can also have massage lessons, with two 90-minute sessions
  
  
• Weekly cooking classes (subject to a minimum of 4 guests), led by the resort's chef, demonstrate simple recipes utilising local and organic ingredients
  
  
• Regular cultural excursions to nearby islands; you'll see around local villages and perhaps schools too
  
  
• Take a glassblowing class with specialists at the Glass Studio, and create your own masterpiece from recycled glass bottles to take home.
  
  
• Bicycles are provided for getting around more quickly

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Cooking classes
  • Cycling
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Scuba diving
  • Scuba diving courses
  • Snorkelling
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Well being
  • Windsurfing
  • Yoga

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and the vast array of facilities, amenities and unique experiences do not disappoint. The fabulous Den is the largest kid’s club in the Maldives. It’s complimentary for all family guests, and you’ll be given a weekly programme of events in your villa. Children can explore a pirate ship, 2 swimming pools, a Lego room, dress-up area, cinema, library, learning area and music room filled with instruments.

Beyond the Den, kids can go stargazing at the resort's large observatory (the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean), enjoy cartoon classics at the outdoor cinema (plus shadow puppetry), try the art of glassblowing at the glass studio (another resort first), go on dolphin excursions, family picnics on the island’s sandbank, and explore the rich organic gardens of the island interior. Indeed, the long and winding jungle paths are perfect for spotting water hens, flying foxes, curious lizards, and even bunnies! (Bicycles are provided for all villas.)

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The villas have space for at least one extra person and many can interconnect. The Soneva Fushi Villa Suite with pool and Tree House, and 2-Bed Crusoe Villa with pool have more space. There are also beautiful beach front villas available, from 3 to 9 bedrooms.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 35 minutes
• Hospital: 7 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Soneva Fushi Resort is set on a private island in the Maldives. It's a 25-minute sea plane flight from the capital, Malé.

By Air
Malé airport (60km). Click on the links below for details of airlines serving this airport.

From the Airport
From Malé, transfers are made by seaplane (approx 25-minute flight), which is arranged by the resort - see Rates. Please note that seaplane transfers are possible only between sunrise and sunset for safety, so guests arriving at night into Malé must overnight and transfer the next morning to Soneva Fushi. Please advise of Malé arrival/departure flight information at time of booking.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Maldives and getting around