Sustainable hotel brand Soneva unveils new ‘ultra-bespoke’ resort concept

Sustainable hotel brand Soneva has launched a new “ultra-bespoke” resort concept called Soneva Secret.

Soneva, which was founded in 1995, currently operates Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and luxury yacht Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, as well as Soneva Kiri in Thailand.

The first resort under the new Soneva Secret brand is scheduled to open on January 10 next year in the Haa Dhaalu, the Maldives’ most remote atoll.

Named Soneva Secret 2024, it will feature just 14 beach and overwater villas, including lagoon Crusoe Villas, accessible only by boat, and the Castaway, which Soneva describes as “the Maldives’ first floating villa”.

Every villa features a “vast” master suite with a retractable roof for stargazing as well as adjoining bedrooms and “ample space” for families and additional guests.

Personalisation is key, according to Soneva, with each villa benefitting from a dedicated ‘Barefoot Guardian’ and ‘Barefoot Assistant’ to curate unique experiences, and a private chef to provide bespoke menus.

Dining experiences at the property include Out Of This World, a castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar in the lagoon, reachable by zipline; So Primitive, a firepit dining experience on the beach; and The Living Room, the island hub and casual dining and lounge venue, which also features a library, boutique and Soneva’s renowned ice cream, chocolate and cheese and charcuterie rooms.

Families can enjoy kids’ area The Den, as well as picnics on castaway shores, sunset dolphin cruises, guided snorkelling with the on-site marine biologist, and stargazing experiences with the resident astronomer.

A statement from the brand said Soneva Secret was “30 years in the making” and would set “a new, unmatched standard in intuitive, personalised service, exquisite private villas and unspoiled settings, surrounded by nature”.

Soneva Secret 2024 can be reached via a 75-minute seaplane flight direct from Velana International Airport in Malé; a 40-minute seaplane flight from Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll; a 30-minute seaplane flight from Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll; or a leisurely full-day cruise from Soneva Fushi onboard Soneva in Aqua.

Guests can also fly directly into Kulhudhuffushi Airport in the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and take a one-hour speedboat ride to the resort.

The property is now open for bookings. Rates for the Beach Hideaway and Ocean Hideaway start from $3,140 per night between April 28 and October 11, 2024.

A 2% environmental levy is added to every Soneva stay, with proceeds going towards the not-for-profit Soneva Foundation to offset carbon emissions and fund purposeful international projects.

Soneva has been carbon neutral since 2012 and launched its Total Impact Assessment in 2016 to measure its social and environmental impact in what was labelled a first for the hospitality industry.