9 fun facts we bet you didn't know about Soneva Fushi Maldives

Home of the largest children’s play zone in the Maldives and South Asia, ‘The Den’ is a 1,365sqm space of adventure – bigger than six tennis courts – with plenty of exciting activities to keep the kids entertained. Plus, there are some great facilities on-site too, including two shallow swimming pools, an eight-metre-tall pirate ship and oversized piano keys built into the floor.

With not a mobile, tablet or computer game in sight, this technology-free zone lets kids be creative in the music room, read books in the library, play-act in the dress-up room and build to their wildest imaginations with more than 8,000 pieces of Lego and Duplo. Movie nights and cooking classes help make up this wide-ranging programme for the youngest members of your party.

The founders of the Soneva brand are Sonu Shivdasani and his wife Eva Malmström Shivdasani, who started the company in 1990 after visiting and falling in love with the Maldives – and who can blame them? They leased Kunfunadhoo Island and built Soneva Fushi resort, which completely redefined tourism to the region, then followed by building up the company to include the luxury Six Senses Resorts & Spas and the Evason hotels group, which operate across Southeast Asia and Europe.

Who says only kids can have all the fun? Your inner child will be so excited at the prospect of an actual waterslide down the side of your villa’s accommodation at Soneva Fushi. One and Two-Bedroom Water Retreats – located directly above the turquoise Indian Ocean waters – plus a small selection of larger private villas benefit from this fantastic feature where you can wake up and literally slide down for a refreshing dip before breakfast. Have a chat with one of our personal travel managers for more information on these exclusive villas.

Now that’s how we like to wake up...

Sonu Shivdasani is dedicated to ensuring that all Soneva hotels implement green initiatives. For example, for the last 14 years branded water bottles have been banned across all Soneva resorts; they now filter and bottle their own water on site. The Soneva Foundation is funded by other environmental efforts such as charging guests an obligatory carbon levy, which aims to plant five hundred thousand trees in Thailand, as well as the construction of a 1.5-megawatt windmill in India, amongst other environmentally conscious practices.

Yes, you read that right. Soneva Fushi Maldives is home to the world’s first zipline dining experience: Flying Sauces. Blending a delicious gourmet menu with stunning panoramic views over the resort, this intriguing and unique concept allows guests to zipline their way through 200 metres of lush tropical forest 5-10 metres above the ground towards the elevated dining platform. Your meal will then be prepared by Chef Rasal, using seasonal ingredients and accompanied by a selection of fine wines.

A great timesaver that offers you the freedom to kick back, relax and enjoy your holiday without having to take a camera or phone everywhere is use of the resort’s Digital Storyteller. Simply put, they are a photographer or videographer (or even a drone!) who spends as much or as little time with you as you wish during your stay to immortalise all the amazing memories you make while at Soneva Fushi through pictures and videos. Those candid and beautiful moments will be yours to cherish forever, and you won’t even need to give it a second thought, which means more time for holidaying!

Up for thrills and spills? There are a wide variety of water sports and ocean-based activities on offer here that take advantage of the Soneva Fushi house reef, which surrounds the resort. You can embark on a one-hour magical sunset dolphin cruise to try and catch sight of them frolicking in the waves, and as you cruise farther out, enjoy an assortment of canapés with a flute of Champagne.

If you’d rather explore below sea level then the resort also offers multiple diving opportunities to see the local marine life such as manta rays, resplendent tropical fish, sea turtles and colourful coral reefs. Perhaps the most intriguing water sports experience is the nifty little SEABOB, a hand-held motor that allows you to glide at an impressive speed through the crystal-clear waters and explore like never before.

If you book at Soneva Fushi Maldives you will also have access to a brilliant programme of exciting events throughout the year hosted by some exceptional professionals in their respected fields. Celebrity guests travel from all over the globe to impart their knowledge and expertise across a series of one-off activities and experiences. 2022 sees Michelin-starred chefs, top sporting legends and much-admired wellness specialists – speak with your personal travel manager about what’s on when you come to book your stay.

We’ve mentioned the fabulously quirky zipline restaurant, but let’s not forget the multitude of alternative dining options at Soneva Fushi. Maldives holiday offers are all about sublime, one-of-a-kind guest experiences, as well as quality, comfort and style. And dining here is no exception with the hotel’s excellent Signature Experiences packages, here are a few examples:

You could book a place at the exclusive table on a private sandbank set in the middle of the Indian Ocean and dine on a bespoke menu created by one of the hotel’s incredible chefs, enjoying the powder-white sand beneath your feet right at the water’s edge.

How about the Astronomical Dinner Cruise? Departing at sunset you are treated to a sumptuous four-course meal and accompanying wines while the resident astronomer guides you and shares facts about the glittering night sky.

The Castaway Picnic is another wonderful adventure for four or more hours on an uninhabited island. Your boat will drop you off along with only a picnic basket and snorkel gear, then you simply spend the whole day immersed in the glorious sun and sea that surrounds you.