Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi is the original desert island hideaway in the Maldives; it practically invented the “castaway chic” trend, picked up by so many other resorts over the last decade or so. But Fushi’s honed-to-perfection atmosphere of a fairytale playground is unmatchable.

The Soneva Fushi experience begins in Male, where guests are greeted by the Soneva representatives at the airport and ushered to the resort’s private lounge. Here, they go through check-in formalities and enjoy refreshments before boarding the seaplane. The seaplane takes them directly to the resort, touching down near a small wooden platform offshore, the Fushi’s private “airport.”

This was our experience too, and as we switched from the seaplane to the boat and headed for the shore, we were presented with two coconuts—welcome drinks—and had our shoes “confiscated,” in compliance with the No News No Shoes policy. Here, guests don’t need to care about the news from the outside world; the same goes for shoes. Soneva Fushi is all about barefoot luxury.

Timeless design and fairytales

The sixty-or-so villas of Soneva Fushi are tucked away amongst the lush foliage, all with easy access to the beach, and they feel very private, as if each were set up on its own deserted island.

Given the age of the resort, you’d expect that the villas should be dated, but they are nothing of the sort. The “Robinson Crusoe” feel of the thatched roofs and the organic shapes of the walls has timeless appeal. They have rustic, sun-kissed aesthetics, and the accommodation experience is underscored by an eco-aware philosophy.

The castaway theme is evident everywhere in the resort. The butlers are called Mr. (or Ms.) Friday, the dress code is casual and low-key, and one of the activities on offer is an intimate “desert island picnic”, set up on a tiny private islet… which is as close to the real Robinson Crusoe experience as you’d want to get.

At other times, the resort invokes comparisons to a fairytale, especially for families with children. The Den, Soneva’s concept children’s club, is out of this world (though maybe not as much as what we saw at Soneva Kiri — don’t miss our review!). Surrounded by tropical jungle, The Den at Fushi is packed with creative ideas, cool surprises, and spaces to play and explore, including a “pirate ship.” Ah, and there are bunnies on the island (!), just casually hopping around. Pinch us — or maybe don’t. From this dream, we don’t want to wake up.

Barefoot luxury

Of course, the entire island and the surrounding sea are a playground. One example is the reef. We only snorkeled, but this was enough to give us an idea of the beauty and richness of the sea around the island. Above the sea surface, a fascinating addition to the Soneva Resorts family is Soneva In Aqua. It’s more than a sailing boat offering journeys between Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani (which we also stayed at — check out our review!). It is a floating villa, merging the resort-level amenities and service with a private yacht experience.

The food at Soneva Fushi deserves a special mention. Breakfasts are heavenly, dinners are the best we’ve had since we don’t know when, and the free chocolate & ice cream parlor had us as frequent customers. Another hangout we couldn’t tire of was the overwater bar, which features a string of hammocks suspended over the waves, perfect for sunset drinks.

However, the most appealing aspect of the resort experience has to be the honed-to-perfection approach of the staff. They make guests experience a sense of relaxed luxury but also feel like members of the family.

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in our opinion

The beautiful rustic chic design, the barefoot luxury experience, and wild nature all contribute to making Soneva Fushi one of our favorite places in the world.

Don't miss our photos and Trip report: Staying at Soneva Fushi, Maldives — Through Our Lens.

*This review contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

What we love

• Truly excellent, intuitive service, and the No News No Shoes idea, with a symbolic "surrendering" of your shoes at the beginning of the stay. It put us in a vacation mood from the first moment.
• A wonderful blend of eco-sensitivity and fine luxury, with the timeless design of the thatched-roof villas. All guest accommodation benefits from direct access to the white sand beach.
• Excellent food—one of the best we had in the Maldives. Plus, we loved the free ice cream parlor and the chocolate room!
• The reef around the island offers some of the world's best diving and snorkeling (after all, it's located in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve). Naturally, the resort has a certified dive center.
• It's one of the largest islands in the Maldives, and villas and common areas are well spread out.
• The resort has its own, fully-fledged stargazing observatory, which is, by the way, true of all Soneva resorts.
• Bar(a)bara: it's a great sunset hangout in the form of the overwater bar. We loved the seating arranged on nets with pillows hung above the waves.
• Spectacular wellness facility, Soneva Soul, where "thousands of years of ancient healing wisdom unite with the latest science."
• Each villa comes with bikes, and cycling around the island (which is not small) was one of our favorite activities.
• The Den. It's a children's club packed with the coolest ideas, like the piano floor that plays tunes when you walk, or the triple door for the big, the middle, and the small people!
• Like at other Soneva resorts, the Fushi has the al-fresco Cinema Paradiso, where classic movies are screened under the stars (with the complimentary ice cream and popcorn).

What you should know

• A good idea is to combine Soneva Fushi with a stay at its sister property, Soneva Jani. Don't miss our Soneva Jani review!
• Another way to enhance your stay is with the resort's luxury boat, Soneva-in-Aqua, which can transport you between Fushi and Jani. The boat's distinct, bulky shape, inspired by the Chinese junk boats, becomes a distinct advantage inside, as the cabins are formed into incredibly comfortable and spacious rooms.
• This is not a place for you if your idea of luxury means glittering gold, red carpets, and white-glove waiters. Soneva Fushi epitomizes barefoot luxury with a laid-back vibe.
• The idyllic Robinson Crusoe style is somewhat spoiled by proximity to another island to the west side, with a "normal" urban build-up of industrial buildings and transmitter masts. Ask for a villa on the other side if you think this could bother you.