Soneva Fushi

In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi blends castaway chic with sustainability. Stay in one of the 63 private island villas, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms. Each comes with their own stretch of beach, most have their own pools, and are hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Soneva Fushi now has eight new Water Retreats, the largest in the world, bringing the total number of villas to 71. These one-and-two-bedroom overwater villas all have their own pool, retractable roofs and 19-metre water slide into the ocean. Intuitive service is provided by a Barefoot Butler. Soneva in Aqua is a luxury two-cabin yacht that sets sail from Soneva Fushi and it can be chartered for bespoke diving and snorkelling excursions. Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, exploring the cosmos at the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, nine different restaurants both on the island and at Out of the Blue, the two-storey overwater structure, and countless destination dining options. Explore the treasure trove that is the children’s Den, that comes with an 8,000 piece Lego room, dress up room, two pools, a water slide and more. There is a multi-purpose facility that encompasses the Maldives’ only hot glass studio, Soneva Art and Glass, where guests can learn the art of glassblowing. If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: no news, no shoes.