Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret have been named to The Edge List 2026 by Forbes Travel Guide, a leading authority on luxury hospitality.

Now in its second year, The Edge List celebrates luxury experiences that inspire travellers to venture beyond the familiar. This year’s theme, Curated Journeys, celebrates hotels and cruises offering one-of-a-kind, multi-leg itineraries that immerse travellers in the culture, nature and character of awe-inspiring destinations.

Set on a natural island in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi is the original Soulful Playground, where jungle villas disappear into the canopy and overwater retreats meet the reef at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Three decades on from pioneering barefoot luxury in the Maldives, the island’s commitment to protecting the biosphere it calls home remains a foundational pillar that infuses guest experience.

Spread across a leisurely five kilometres in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani is the lifestyle-led Energyscape, where retractable roofs open overwater villas to the night sky and percussive pops hint at a game of tennis unfolding amid the greenery. From stargazing to Ayurvedic treatments, the resort choreographs its own kind of journey—as much about movement and adventure as it is about stillness.

Soneva’s most intimate expression, Soneva Secret is a hideaway in the remote Makunudhoo Atoll, at the Maldives’ western-most tip. With only 13 villas that blur the lines between indoors and out, it offers a rare kind of access: surrounded by untouched marine life, absolute in its seclusion, with no schedule to follow but the guest’s own.

“The places we remember are those that changed how we feel. Across Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, we create spaces, moments and experiences that connect our guests with what truly matters to each of them,” said Neil Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Soneva. “We are honoured to be recognised by Forbes Travel Guide for our commitment to innovation, stewardship and meaningful exploration.”

The Edge acronym represents: Exceptional Access to awe-inspiring destinations; Daring Innovation in providing boundary-pushing adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences; Global Stewardship with a prioritisation on conservation, minimising impact and care for the community; and Elevated Experience, delivering excellence even in secluded environments.

“Luxury travel today is defined not only by where you go, but by how thoughtfully the journey is crafted,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “The 2026 Edge List celebrates curated journeys that transform travel into something more meaningful, whether connecting guests across extraordinary destinations or revealing the many dimensions of a single place. We are proud to recognise the Soneva portfolio of resorts for crafting experiences that exemplify the art of exploration.”

Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Kodhipparu Reef Connection, a new experience-led stay designed around one of the island’s greatest natural treasures–its award-winning house reef, recognised among the Top 10 House Reefs in the Maldives in the 2026 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific.

Created around the resort’s Reef Pool Villas, the new experience moves beyond the traditional Maldives villa stay by connecting accommodation, marine discovery, wellbeing and dining through one continuous journey inspired by the reef.

Rather than treating snorkelling, yoga and dining as individual resort activities, Kodhipparu Reef Connection follows the natural rhythm of a day on the island. Positioned to face the sunrise, our Reef Pool Villas allow guests to watch the island awaken from their own private deck, with the house reef stretching out before them. Sunrise yoga turns this natural moment into the beginning of the day’s journey — a quiet connection with the ocean before discovering what lies beneath it.

The connection then moves beneath the surface. Through the Blue Mind reef experience, our Marine Biologist introduces guests to her work protecting Kodhipparu’s house reef, the marine life that calls it home, and how the reef changes throughout the day. Guests learn what to look for–and where and when they are most likely to find it–giving them the knowledge to explore the reef independently and see each snorkel through more informed eyes.

As daylight softens, the experience moves above the water with sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés, followed by a signature three-course dinner at FireDoor, Grand Park Kodhipparu’s overwater speciality restaurant.

A reserved glass-floor table provides the setting for the evening, with the resort’s Marine Biologist introducing guests to Life Beneath Your Table and the marine world visible below before dinner begins.

The experience reflects a wider philosophy at Grand Park Kodhipparu: that modern luxury hospitality should be about much more than the room itself.

Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, said: “A beautiful villa is important, but today it is only the beginning of what guests expect from a resort. What creates lasting memories is everything that happens around and beyond the room–the connection to nature, food, people and a genuine sense of place.”

“Our award-winning house reef is part of the identity of Kodhipparu, so with Reef Connection we wanted to bring it into the whole rhythm of the stay. Guests wake above it, swim through it, learn about it and, at FireDoor, dine above it. It is a perfect example of what I believe hospitality should be about: not simply selling a room, but creating a reason to stay.”

Located just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu offers guests unusually easy access to the underwater world of the Maldives while staying at a boutique luxury resort. Its house reef begins directly off the island, allowing guests to explore vibrant coral gardens and marine life without the need for a separate boat excursion.

Recognised among the Maldives’ leading house reefs by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau’s Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, the reef is more than an amenity at Kodhipparu. It is part of the character of the island and increasingly central to the resort’s approach to experiences that connect guests more meaningfully with nature and the ocean.

Kodhipparu Reef Connection includes:

• 3-night stay in a Reef Pool Villa
• Complimentary Half Board upgrade
• Daily sunrise and sunset yoga
• Blue Mind reef discovery with a Marine Biologist, introducing the reef, its marine life and ongoing conservation work
• One signature three-course dinner for two at FireDoor
• Reserved glass-floor dining table
• Sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés for two
• Life Beneath Your Table introduction with the Marine Biologist

Guests booking directly also receive additional Park Rewards benefits and savings across selected dining, spa and watersports experiences, together with personalised service from a dedicated Lifestyle Host.

The launch forms part of Grand Park Kodhipparu’s evolving Connected Island Luxury philosophy, which sees luxury not simply through accommodation or traditional five-star conventions, but through meaningful connections to nature, wellbeing, people and place.

With Kodhipparu Reef Connection, that philosophy begins just beyond the villa deck at sunrise and continues through to sunset with the living reef beneath the resort’s signature restaurant.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts is marking its 25th anniversary with a collection of signature experiences across its portfolio, including a stargazing programme at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas in Baa Atoll.

The anniversary initiative brings together experiences across Thailand, the Maldives and Italy, with a focus on stillness, wellbeing and slower forms of travel. The experiences are being offered across Anantara’s more than 50 properties throughout 2026, with each programme developed around its destination.

In the Maldives, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is highlighting the night sky through its Celestial Maldives experience at SKY, the resort’s overwater observatory.

As daylight fades over the Indian Ocean, guests are invited to the observatory for a guided stargazing session with the resort’s SKY Edhuru, or astronomy guide. Using the telescope at the observatory, guests can observe galaxies, constellations and planets above the Maldives.

According to Anantara, the experience reflects the broader theme behind its anniversary programme: encouraging travellers to spend more time observing their surroundings rather than focusing on covering more destinations or activities.

Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah has incorporated astronomy into its guest experience through SKY, which the resort says is home to the most powerful telescope in the Maldives. The observatory offers guests an opportunity to explore the night sky with guidance from its resident astronomy team while remaining within the resort’s overwater setting.

The Maldives programme forms part of a wider series of anniversary experiences developed by Anantara around different interpretations of rest, reflection and wellbeing.

At Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel in Italy, guests can take part in a morning programme inspired by the property’s history as a 13th-century Capuchin convent. The experience includes a walk through its gardens with Friar Marcus, sound healing in the convent sanctuary and a picnic featuring produce from the property’s gardens.

In Thailand, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort has introduced an experience built around a journey along the Mae Ping River aboard its teakwood boat, Nam Jai. The programme includes visits to Wat Ket Karam and Khua Kaek Bridge, an alms-giving ceremony and a Lanna khantoke lunch beneath Bodhi trees at the resort.

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort is meanwhile offering a wellbeing programme beginning with a personal consultation at Layan Life by Anantara, followed by sound healing, heated herbal therapy, sunset viewing and stargazing.

Anantara said the collection is intended to mark its 25th year by drawing attention to experiences rooted in the character of each destination.

Founded in 2001, Anantara Hotels & Resorts is the experiential luxury brand of Minor Hotels. Its portfolio now spans more than 50 properties, including several resorts in the Maldives.

The signature 25th-anniversary experiences, including Celestial Maldives at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, are available during 2026.