Soneva Jani: A Paradise of Luxury and Sustainability

On the shores of a lagoon in Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani is a magnificent Maldivian sanctuary enveloped by verdant foliage and immaculate sandy beaches. Luxury overwater villas feature glass-bottom floors, pool decks with spiral slides and retractable ceilings for stargazing, while the incredible Den is South Asia’s largest kids’ club.

Set the scene

The Soneva brand, founded by husband and wife Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani, gained recognition for launching what is considered the first luxury hotel in the Maldives when Soneva Fushi opened its doors in 1995. Soneva Jani followed in 2016, and they recently opened Soneva Secret just a few weeks ago. Outside of the Maldives, the couple also owns and operates Soneva Kiri in Thailand. 

Soneva Jani is situated on the island of Medhufaru, accessible via a 40-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport (onboard Soneva’s private seaplane) or a 60-minute speedboat journey from Soneva Fushi.

Soneva resorts have a ‘No News. No Shoes’ philosophy. Upon arrival, your Barefoot Guardian (Soneva’s equivalent of a personal butler) will keep your shoes in a linen bag for the entirety of your stay, granting you full permission to embrace barefootedness throughout your stay. 

Lay of the land

At 8 km long, Medhufaru is a large island by Maldivian standards.  Its pristine beaches seamlessly merge with sparkling, transparent waters teeming with marine creatures like dolphins and sea turtles. The island features two jetties that extend towards the north and south, with overwater villas dotted on either side. Notably, the villas on the southern part of the island are more recent additions, opened in 2021.

Accommodation consists of 53 overwater villas and just a smattering of island villas. Throughout the resort, amenities cater to relaxation and leisure, including 11 restaurants, an overwater cinema, a tree-top spa, a fully equipped gym, designated stargazing areas and a breathtaking kids club.

Guests can hop on an electric buggy or enjoy a relaxed bike ride to get around. Every guest is assigned their own bicycle (tricycles for parents). A complimentary speedboat is also available to transport guests between the north and south jetties.

Villas made for stargazing

The villas are incredibly spacious, with the smallest being the One-Bedroom Water Retreat with Slide, sprawling a vast  411 sqm. Overwater villas have direct access to a beautiful lagoon and come with a private pool and a retractable roof in the main bedroom for stargazing. They also have highly Instagrammable spiral slides straight into the lagoon from the top floor. 

All villas have a spacious master bedroom with an adjoining area for children to sleep, making them ideal for families with young kids. Other notable features include a walk-in pantry with a stocked full-size fridge and a full in-room bar, should you fancy mixing yourself a cocktail. 

The entire villa opens out via sliding doors (these can also be locked to ensure the safety of young children). All villas boast huge outdoor decks with sun loungers and a minimum of three dining locations throughout a sunken table on the deck, the living room, and the roof terrace. 

A haven for foodies

Soneva Jani boasts 11 distinct restaurants. The Gathering, located on the north jetty, is a central spot with various dining venues, a spa, a library, and boutiques. Notable choices include “Overseas by Mathias Dahlgren,” which highlights seafood from the Indian Ocean and fresh produce from the resort’s organic gardens. There’s also “So Wild by Diana Von Cranach,” which serves a nutritious plant-based menu curated by raw food chef Diana Von Cranach. 

South Beach’s Crab Shack, recognised as the ‘World’s Most Romantic Restaurant’ by CNN.com, offers a relaxed atmosphere. So Local, nestled within the island’s organic gardens, is a meeting place for both guests and staff, celebrating their diverse backgrounds through a rotating monthly menu. Nearby, Director’s Cut offers a modern take on Japanese food, featuring sashimi and black cod while providing the unique experience of watching silent movies overwater, through Bose headphones to protect the nearby nesting turtles. 

An expansive breakfast menu can be enjoyed at The Gathering or feet-in-sand on South Beach; we highly recommend the latter. Highlights include Mashuni, a traditional Maldivian breakfast comprising tuna, onion, coconut, chilli, an extensive selection of Indian dishes, and unique twists on breakfast favourites, such as crab eggs benedict.

Guests can have unlimited complimentary access to So Good, a chocolate paradise filled floor-to-ceiling with handcrafted chocolates, macaroons, truffles, and an extensive selection of homemade natural soy ice cream; there’s also So Chill with abundant servings of gourmet charcuterie, cheese, and preserves.

The largest kids’ club in Southeast Asia

The Den is Southeast Asia’s largest kids’ club and a significant draw for families. Spanning 1,500 sqm, this two-storey structure offers unique and interactive experiences in keeping with the resort’s SLOW LIFE philosophy. Wifi and screens are shunned here; in their place, a highly engaging programme of weekly activities focused on captivating and entertaining guests.

‘Young Sonevians’ are greeted with soothing ocean sounds produced by piano keys integrated into the wooden floors. The lower floor is dedicated to little ones with a Lego room, craft section, dressing-up room, library, cinema, sensory play area, kitchen for cooking and ice cream-making classes and Soneva’s Junior MasterChef competition. Upstairs, The Hangout caters to tweens and teens with a music room, telescope deck, pool and foosball tables, pinball machines, table tennis set above a reflecting pond, and a dry slide for quick getaways. 

A 155 sqm swimming pool boasts waterfalls, waterslides and a hidden grotto that transforms into the Cave Bar with a DJ booth, dancefloor, and pool bar serving delicious mocktails, smoothies, and juices. For the more adventurous, a 32-metre zip line crosses the pool. There’s also a pirate ship and a skateboard ramp. Older kids and teens can participate in the Soneva Academy, which offers immersive courses on interesting topics such as the Night Sky in the Maldives, Birdwatching, Zero Waste, and Plastic.

What else is there to do? 

Guests can enjoy guided snorkelling tours through the Noonu Atoll with the resident marine biologist, eco-friendly surfing, a variety of cooking classes in the beautiful open kitchen and exclusive experiences such as Champagne breakfast aboard a traditional Maldivian boat, known as a dhoni. The Soleni Dive Centre provides an exceptional diving experience with skilled PADI instructors and small dive groups. 

Gastronomic experiences include So Starstruck Astronomy Dinner, where guests can enjoy a gourmet meal while learning about the night sky at the Maldives’ largest overwater telescope, from the in-house astronomer and Sonu’s Picnic, a romantic lunch on a deserted island prepared by a personal chef. 

Spa & wellbeing

In terms of wellness, Soneva Soul takes a unique approach by combining ancient healing practices with modern treatments. Their expansive menu includes Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, vitamin therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Transformative healing experiences occur in open-air and overwater pods that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. 

Soneva Soul, located both at Soneva Jani and sister resort Soneva Fushi, is also the Maldives’ first and only stem cell centre. Other noteworthy treatments include cryotherapy, skin rejuvenation, microneedling, intradermal PRP injections, and medical ozone treatment.

As part of a complimentary weekly programme, guests can enjoy a variety of wellness activities, such as group yoga classes, Tai Chi sessions, and private taster sessions with skilled resident healers, including naturopathic doctors and TCM practitioners. 

Leading the way in sustainability

Soneva has been a leader in promoting sustainability and clean energy in luxury hospitality since the launch of Soneva Fushi in 1995. Since 2012, all Soneva resorts have been fully carbon neutral, with a 2% environmental levy on each stay to help offset carbon emissions. Each resort has its own Eco Centro Waste-To-Wealth facility, recycling 90% of solid waste and creatively repurposing materials like cans and plastic into artworks and practical items. Soneva Jani aims to generate nearly 50% of its energy from photovoltaic sources this year, with all Soneva resorts striving to operate solely on renewable energy by 2025.

Parting thoughts

If swapping shoes and hard news for barefoot luxury sounds good to you, Soneva delivers unreservedly. Soneva Jani caters to the whole family with an incredible selection of restaurants, unrivalled kids’ facilities, and unbeatable service from a team that treats their guests like family. This is also an ethically conscious getaway, so the only footprints you’ll leave are those in the sand. 

Soneva Jani, Medhufaru Island, Manadhoo, Maldives, +960 656 6666