A fiercely guarded secret, decades in the making, Soneva Secret will open on one of the Maldives’ most remote atolls, Haa Dhaalu, in the new year. Now open for bookings, the debut, 14-villa Soneva Secret is set to welcome guests to what is being billed as an “ultra-bespoke” luxury resort on January 10 2024.
Soneva already operates two much-loved resorts (Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani) in the Indian Ocean archipelago, which is only a four-hour flight from the UAE. The Soneva brand is known for its commitment to wellness, sustainability and world-class design: it was the first to introduce over-water villas in the archipelago.
The new Soneva Secret resort will have 14 beach and over-water villas, including lagoon Crusoe Villas, which can only be reached by boat, and a floating villa, appropriately named the Castaway. Alongside clever design touches such as sliding roofs in the master suites to reveal endless starry night skies, nature will play a key role at Soneva Secret, with the Maldives’ signature mosaic of blue water and sugary white sand a barefoot footstep away.
The exclusive resort boasts 14 private villas with a retinue of personal staff
The exclusive resort also promises the attention of two personal assistants per villa to customise the stay of every guest, whether they opt for sunset dolphin cruises, snorkelling with a marine biologist, or gazing at the Milky Way with the resort's resident astronomer. Foodies will not be disappointed either, thanks to the services of a personal chef tasked with crafting bespoke menus to enjoy either in-villa or al fresco at a suitably scenic spot.
Those who wish to venture out can take a zipline to dine at Out of This World, a dining tower, observatory and wine cellar in the resort’s lagoon; be warmed by a fire-pit at So Primitive; or get cosy at The Living Room, the island hub and casual dining and lounge venue, where there’s a library, the resort’s boutique and Soneva’s renowned ice cream, chocolate and cheese and charcuterie rooms.
This story originally appeared on Conde Nast Traveller
