Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: Ultra-luxe Soneva Secret Maldives is now open
Soneva, the world-leading sustainable resorts operator, has opened it highly anticipated Soneva Secret property in the Maldives. The first resort in the Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Soneva Secret features 14 overwater and island villas, including the Maldives’ only floating villa. Designed to offer the ultimate in Soneva hospitality and exemplary service standards, each villa features a dedicated team of three, which includes a Barefoot Guardian, Barefoot Assistant and dedicated chef, to ensure every stay is wholly personalised. Thirty years in the making, the Soneva Secret resort concept builds upon Soneva’s experience at the forefront of exceptional hospitality, and sets a new, unmatched standard in intuitive, personalized service, exquisite private villas and unspoiled settings, surrounded by nature. In its press release, Soneva calls the new property its “first” Soneva Secret Resort, which goes by the official name Soneva Secret 2024, hinting there might be more to come in the next years.
If you are interested to be among the first guests to stay at Soneva Secret, contact me by email to get the best rates and complimentary VIP perks.
In this article:
LOCATION
Soneva Secret 2024 is the only resort in the Haa Dhaalu Atoll, and is found on the remote island of Dhipparufushi at the westernmost tip of the Maldives. The resort can be reached via a scenic 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.
VILLAS
Soneva Secret 2024 features just 14 beach and overwater villas, including the lagoon Crusoe Villas, accessible only by boat, and the Castaway, the Maldives’ first floating villa. Each is designed in perfect harmony with the untouched natural setting, with direct access to the white sand beach or sparkling lagoon. As well as vast master suites, including a roof that slides to reveal star-strewn skies, every villa also features adjoining bedrooms, offering ample space for families or additional guests. Other villa amenities include:
- Spa treatment rooms
- Private pools and curved water slides
- Open-air ensuite bathrooms with sunken bathtubs, toilets and showers
- In-villa and beach dining areas
- Study desk with ocean views
- Fully equipped gyms
- Walk-in minibars with Smeg fridges, Nespresso coffee machines and in-villa kitchens and wine fridges
- TV lounges with large daybeds, smart TVs and Bose sound systems
- WiFi with on/off switches
DINING
The resort’s 14 private chefs, one for each villa, craft bespoke menus and unique culinary journeys, whether savored in the privacy and comfort of the villa or enjoyed in nature at the island’s most picturesque spots. The 14 chefs come from different countries, with expertise in their local cuisine, to present an indulgent, bespoke menu of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Maldivian, Italian, Indonesian, French, South American, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Korean, Indian and Nordic flavors.
Other dining experiences include:
- Out of This World, a castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar in the lagoon, reachable by zipline.
- A toes-in-the-sand firepit dining experience at So Primitive.
- The Living Room, the island hub and casual dining and lounge venue, which is also home to a library, boutique and Soneva’s renowned ice cream, chocolate and cheese and charcuterie rooms.
BESPOKE EXPERIENCES
At Soneva Secret 2024, fully bespoke rare experiences are curated for every guest, reconnecting them with the abundant nature that surrounds the island. An underwater haven, the crystal-clear waters are home to colonies of majestic manta rays, pods of curious dolphins and gentle whale sharks, alongside shoals of colorful tropical fish. Family experiences go far beyond The Den, whether picnics on castaway shores, sunset dolphin cruises, guided snorkeling with the experienced Marine Biologist, or navigating the night skies with exceptionally clear views of the Milky Way with the resident Astronomer.
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