Featured
Soneva Fushi unveils opulent new Private Residences
Soneva has unveiled two breath-taking new additions to its portfolio of villas and private hideaways at Soneva Fushi, the world-leading resort in the idyllic Baa atoll in Maldives.
Scheduled to be ready for occupancy by Christmas 2019, the six-bedroom Villa 43 Sunset Reserve and four-bedroom Villa 38 will set a new standard of desert island luxury.
Just steps away from the beach and hidden amongst lush tropical forest, both residences have been designed to exist in perfect harmony with the unspoiled setting and Soneva’s one-of-a-kind ‘no news, no shoes’ philosophy. Each celebrates the wonders of nature – with expansive al fresco decked areas and terraces, verdant private gardens and open-air bathrooms with sunken baths and outdoor rain showers.
Named after its incredible views of the sun setting over the horizon, Villa 43 Sunset Reserve is one of the largest and most luxurious residences on the island. Centred around an ancient Banyan tree, it features a cluster of six buildings that are interconnected by extensive wooden walkways and elevated terraces. The vast main swimming pool comes with its very own water slide and sunken seating area, while a second pool sits just outside the master suite. The seashore is just a few feet beyond, with pristine white sands and crystal-clear waters that are ideal for snorkelling.
With a maximum occupancy of 12 adults and 4 children, the 2,303 sq m (21,851 sq ft) Villa 43 achieves the perfect balance of secluded spaces and convivial communal living – private bedroom suites, living rooms and terraces with oversized daybeds are perfect for quiet moments of reflection, while family and friends can spend precious time together in the open plan living and dining areas, TV suite and well-appointed library.
The generously-sized master suite features its own living room, as well as Soneva’s signature open air bathroom – surrounded by a tranquil water feature, it includes a deep, sunken bath, steam facilities, indoor and outdoor rain showers and his-and-hers sinks. The main guest suite also features an al fresco bathroom, whilst three additional guest bedrooms include ample en-suite bathrooms and showers. For younger residents, there is a separate children’s bedroom which also features an en-suite and additional nanny’s room.
A true haven from the outside world, Villa 43 features its very own private gym with the latest fitness technology, plus a dedicated spa suite, complete with sauna and steam room. For wine connoisseurs, there is also a substantial cellar with a selection of the world’s finest vintages.
The four-bedroom Villa 38 is found on the serene sunrise side of the island. Also situated just next to snow-white sands, the two-storey villa is partly encircled by a vast, curved swimming pool, which can be accessed directly from both ground-floor bedroom suites and also features a lengthy slide. Large decked areas overlook the pool and the beach beyond, and include comfortable loungers and daybeds, dining areas and a sunken seating area for relaxing and entertaining.
The 1,525 sq m (16,415 sq ft) Villa 38 has a maximum occupancy of eight adults and four children. On the ground floor, there is an open-plan, double-height living area which is filled with light and a sense of space, plus a dining room, kitchen and pantry, as well as a spa suite, which features a sauna and steam room. The master bedroom suite and guest bedroom both include an extensive outdoor garden bathroom, with sunken baths, outdoor rain showers and water features.
Upstairs in Villa 38, there are two additional guest bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, dressing rooms and private balconies, as well as a fully-equipped private gym. A first-floor decked area offers an incredible vantage point over the Indian Ocean – with a dining table and plush daybeds, it is a tranquil spot to start the day watching the stunning Maldivian sunrise.
Both Villa 43 Sunset Reserve and Villa 38 are Private Residences, part of the exclusive Soneva Villa Ownership Programme – the first and only developer to offer high-end, luxury homes to foreign owners in the Maldives.
Currently operating in Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives, as well as Soneva Kiri in Thailand, each Private Residence is a completely bespoke home-away-from-home, and has been carefully located to ensure that owners enjoy maximum privacy while remaining close to Soneva’s first-class services and amenities.
Sold on a renewable leasehold, every Private Residence is designed to meet its owner’s individual needs, whilst remaining true to Soneva’s signature ‘Intelligent Luxury’, uncompromising ecological and ethical credentials, high quality design and utmost attention to even the smallest of details. Privately-owned villas and retreats are fully maintained by the resort (including repairs, replacement furniture, fixtures and fittings, lighting, gardening and pest control), whilst owners enjoy myriad benefits, such as 20 per cent savings on food and beverages, motorised water sports and flight transfers.
As well as making significant savings whilst enjoying the use of their property during their own holidays, Private Residence owners can maximise their return on investment through Soneva’s Villa Rental Programme, which offers a strong cash yield when villas are rented out whilst owners are not residing at the resort. In the Maldives, for example, capital prices have appreciated by approximately eight to ten per cent per year.
World-leading luxury resort operator Soneva runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.
In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury.
Sixty-two private villas with their own stretch of beach are hidden amongst dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers.
Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn’s rings in the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, six different restaurants and countless destination dining options. In November 2015, Soneva launched a floating villa concept, Soneva in Aqua, a treasure trove children’s Den and a multi-purpose facility encompasses a glass gallery, boutique and studio where guests can learn the art of glass blowing.
If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.
Drink
The Nautilus Maldives hosts Gregor Zimmermann for three-day Easter gastronomic programme
At The Nautilus Maldives, time is guided by personal rhythm and creativity is free from constraint. From 3 to 5 April 2026, the ultra-luxury private island resort will welcome Gregor Zimmermann, Switzerland’s State Chef and Executive Chef of the Bellevue Palace in Bern, for an intimate Easter culinary residency that brings Alpine heritage to the shores of the Indian Ocean.
During the three-day residency, guests will be invited to take part in a series of unhurried and immersive dining experiences. Two exclusive gourmet evenings at Zeytoun will feature tasting menus that create a refined dialogue between the flavours of the Swiss Alps and Maldivian produce. The programme also includes a Chocolate Masterclass, offering an interactive introduction to Switzerland’s celebrated chocolate-making traditions, where Zimmermann will share techniques, cultural heritage and the artistry behind the craft, allowing guests to create and enjoy their own confections.
The residency will extend into the island’s Easter celebrations, with Zimmermann’s creations appearing as special canapés during Nautilus Rising at the Naiboli Beach pop-up. These moments will serve as a prelude to the festive programme, blending culinary artistry with the relaxed rhythm of island life.
A member of the prestigious Le Club des Chefs des Chefs, the international association of chefs serving heads of state, Zimmermann is the trusted culinary custodian for visiting presidents, royalty and official delegations in Switzerland. His career includes cooking for figures such as President Emmanuel Macron and members of European royal families. In recognition of his contribution to gastronomy and his commitment to excellence, he was awarded the Officier du Mérite Agricole by the French President.
Zimmermann’s cuisine is defined by clarity, restraint and emotion. Rather than adhering to a fixed signature style, his cooking reflects stories of origin, landscape and memory, weaving Swiss Alpine traditions with global influences in a technically precise yet expressive approach. He has described his work as a continuous reinterpretation of rustic Swiss recipes, while remaining faithful to their roots.
Adan Gomez, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives, said that Zimmermann’s residency reflects the resort’s commitment to artistic freedom and authenticity. He noted that the Masters for Masters series invites respected global talents to create without boundaries in an environment shaped by individuality and unhurried living.
Set within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Easter residency at The Nautilus will bring together Swiss craftsmanship and Maldivian serenity in a celebration of purity, artistry and cultural exchange. The programme is designed to offer guests moments shaped by mastery, experienced entirely on their own terms.
Featured
St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort curates timeless Valentine’s experiences with IVAR Jewellery
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has unveiled an intimate celebration of love through an exclusive collaboration with IVAR Jewellery, bringing together craftsmanship, emotion, and timeless romance in a refined island setting. Rooted in shared values of artistry and enduring beauty, the partnership invites guests to experience love as something continuous, evolving, and deeply personal.
Central to the collaboration is IVAR’s Infinity Collection, inspired by the circle as a symbol with no beginning and no end. Each piece reflects a quiet and enduring expression of love, designed to preserve fleeting moments in lasting form. The collection speaks to intimacy, connection, and the promise of forever, offering jewellery that is both meaningful and timeless.
IVAR’s creations draw on the rich traditions of Indian craftsmanship, reinterpreted through a contemporary design approach. Crafted by skilled artisans using time-honoured techniques, each piece balances heritage with modern elegance. Designed for daily wear and long-term appreciation, the jewellery is intended to accompany life’s most significant milestones and be treasured across generations.
Inspired by this philosophy, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has curated a series of romantic experiences that reflect the elegance and symbolism of the Infinity Collection. At Iridium Spa, couples are invited to enjoy a Romantic Spa Escape, an immersive sensory journey infused with rose geranium and rose quartz. Each treatment is designed to restore balance, deepen connection, and create moments of calm intimacy that extend beyond the spa.
As evening approaches, romance continues with Valentine’s dining experiences set beneath open skies and framed by the island’s natural beauty. Soft lighting, refined menus, and an unhurried atmosphere encourage couples to linger, connect, and celebrate togetherness. Every detail is composed to honour shared moments and the quiet luxury of presence.
For couples preparing to begin their next chapter, IVAR’s Solitaire Collection offers a classic expression of commitment. Defined by diamonds of exceptional brilliance and clarity, each piece reflects the purity of the promise it represents. Set within the surroundings of The St. Regis Maldives, weddings become personal celebrations where elegance, emotion, and artistry come together.
Through this collaboration, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and IVAR Jewellery invite guests to experience a love that is both effortless and profound, fleeting yet enduring, creating memories inspired by the infinite symbol that lies at the heart of the partnership.
Featured
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives launches March flash offer with savings of up to 80%
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has announced a limited-time flash offer inviting travellers to experience the Maldives in March, one of the destination’s most favourable months, with savings of up to 80 per cent when booking direct. The promotion is available across all four Cinnamon resorts in the Maldives and combines discounted rates with added island experiences, allowing guests to enjoy the destination during a period of ideal weather conditions.
The offer is open for bookings from 23 January to 2 February 2026, for stays between 1 March and 31 March 2026, using the promotional code MARCH26.
Guests booking under the offer can look forward to a range of experiences, including diving and snorkelling excursions with opportunities to encounter manta rays, reef sharks and sea turtles. On land, activities include island hopping, sunset fishing trips, Balinese spa treatments and four-course beachfront dinners. Guests staying a minimum of three nights are also eligible to receive resort credits of up to USD 150, providing additional value during their stay.
At Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, guests booking direct may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all available benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, along with USD 100 in resort credits for stays of three nights or more. Available experiences include a beach dinner, a Balinese massage, a swim and snorkel excursion, and a local island visit.
At Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, guests may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, together with USD 150 in resort credits for qualifying stays. Available options include a beach dinner, a spa treatment, island hopping and dolphin watching.
At Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, guests may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, along with USD 100 in resort credits for stays of three nights or more. Experiences include sunset fishing, island hopping, a bottle of sparkling wine and a kayaking experience.
At Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, guests booking direct may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, together with USD 100 in resort credits for qualifying stays. Available experiences include a beach dinner, a Balinese massage, sunset fishing and a dolphin safari.
Under the GHA DISCOVERY membership programme, Silver tier members may select two benefits, Gold tier members may select three benefits, and Platinum tier members are entitled to all listed benefits once per stay.
In addition, GHA DISCOVERY members who book direct are eligible for further privileges, including the ability to earn and redeem DISCOVERY Dollars, potential room upgrades up to suite category, and early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability and membership tier.
Available for a limited time, the flash offer is designed to encourage travellers to visit the Maldives in March, when weather conditions are favourable and island experiences are at their most appealing.
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