Featured
Soneva celebrates joy of festive season with sparkling calendar of rare experiences
Soneva has announced a spectacular festive calendar across its award-winning destinations in the Maldives for December 2021.
For guests at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives, it will be a time to reconnect with loved ones and revel in the magic of the holiday season.
Rare, one-of-a-kind experiences will create a lifetime of precious memories: exquisite dining from Michelin-starred chefs, festive feasts, world-renowned wellness specialists, sporting heroes and a fun-packed holiday programme for children big and small, as well as a special visit from Santa himself.
In true Soneva tradition the iconic New Year’s Eve Journey around each destination will see out the year in awe-inspiring style – with sumptuous dining, live music, and unforgettable entertainment.
Soneva Fushi
Exceptional seasonal dining sets the scene for a magical Christmas and New Year at Soneva Fushi. Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur, John Burton-Race will host exclusive dinners at Once Upon a Table on December 23 and 25.
On Christmas Eve, guests can celebrate the night before Christmas at So Social on the Sandbank, with carols, eggnog, mulled wine and a mini culinary journey from the Fish Shack.
Later that evening, there will be an extravagant gala dinner at Mihiree Mithaa, with cooking stations and festive entertainment from a live band.
Christmas Day starts with seasonal tunes and games at breakfast time, and Santa will be stopping by the Baa Atoll to deliver presents and start the carnival celebrations.
Christmas lunch will be at Mihiree Mithaa, where the sumptuous spread will be accompanied by live music. Or, for something lighter in the early evening, tapas at Out of the Blue will be served with a glass of Christmas Champagne.
Football legend Mikael Silvestre will be making a welcome return to Soneva Fushi to host his popular football camp between December 18 and 26, teaching young players essential skills to improve both their game and their sportsmanship.
For guests wanting to relax, unwind and re-centre over the winter holidays, Tibetan Reiki Grandmaster Yash Shekhar will be at Soneva Fushi until December 25, while Yoga guru Pawan Kumar and master fitness trainer Johnny Owen will be at the resort throughout the winter season.
Wellness Specialists Claude Simard and Jill Banwell will also be offering their signature healing therapies until January 8, 2022.
Younger guests can embrace the fun of the festivities with an exciting programme of Christmas-themed activities and experiences at The Den, South Asia’s largest dedicated zone for children and teens.
In the lead up to Christmas Day, there’ll be candy cane chases, Christmas card making and festive crafts galore.
There’s also treasure hunts, Christmas sleepovers, classic seasonal movies, pool parties and a chance to compete in Junior MasterChef.
As 2021 draws to a close, Soneva Fushi’s spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations take guests on a Journey Around the World.
A tantalising feast for the senses, the exquisite gastronomy is inspired by the seven continents and paired with the finest wines, cocktails, mocktails and Champagnes. Starting at the Fish Shack, the journey winds its way along torch-lit paths to mouth-watering live cooking stations and magical live entertainment – from dancers to opera singers.
The evening culminates with a countdown to 2022 and a dazzling light show to welcome in the new year – followed by a live band and DJ spinning tunes into the early hours.
View the full Soneva Fushi Festive programme
Soneva Jani
An array of fine, festive dining experiences awaits guests at Soneva Jani.
Visiting chef Kamilla Seidler will be showcasing her remarkable culinary talents at the So Engaging Chef’s table from December 19 to 21. Having worked alongside restaurateur Claus Meyer in Bolivia on his pioneering social initiative GUSTU, she has been recognised as one of Latin America’s finest chefs.
The seasonal celebrations start early on Christmas Eve, with a Very Merry Christmas Eve Breakfast at Down To Earth. Later that day, there will be sunset cocktails and eggnog at the So Sandy Beach, and a delectable Christmas Eve dinner on North Beach, with live cooking stations and entertainment from a band and DJ.
On December 25, the festivities start with a Christmas Morning Breakfast and Brunch at Down To Earth or, for late risers, an extended Christmas Brunch at The Gathering.
Santa will be making an appearance during the day to spread Christmas cheer across the resort.
In the evening, there will be a lavish, seven-course Christmas Set Menu with Wine Pairings at So Imaginative, or a chance to sit back and enjoy the classic A Christmas Carol with Dinner and a Movie at Director’s Cut and Cinema Paradiso.
For a holiday souvenir quite like no other, the free diver and BAFTA-winning Italian film director and artist Martina ‘Ama’ Amati will be at Soneva Jani from December 18 to January 6, offering guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the wonders of free diving, with the experience captured by Ama for eternity as a short film.
For those looking to re-energise their mind, body, and soul over the festive break, leading therapist Roger Moore will be at the resort until December 20, while osteopathy expert Hortensia Corredoira will be in residence as a visiting Wellness Specialist until January 9, 2022.
Soneva Jani’s resident Yoga expert Kamal will also be hosting complimentary morning Yoga, meditation and pranayama sessions throughout the festive season.
Families at Soneva Jani have plenty to look forward to as well – with each day at The Den designed to inspire and delight.
Children can join in with Christmas craft activities for candle making, gifts and more, as well as family treasure hunts, elves bingo and a search for Olaf the snowman.
To mark the end of 2021, Soneva Jani’s Around the World New Year’s Eve Journey takes guests on a gastronomic voyage across the globe. Starting with Champagne and canapés on the Arrival Jetty, it follows sparkling paths around the island to live cooking stations inspired by the seven continents, and magical entertainment along the way, from opera singers to traditional dancing.
The evening culminates on the beach at Crab Shack, with a countdown to 2022 and a breath-taking fire show to see in the brand new year, followed by a live band and DJ playing late into the night.
View the full Soneva Jani Festive programme
Soneva is an award-winning sustainable luxury resorts operator that pioneered the concept of ‘barefoot luxury’ when it opened Soneva Fushi in the Maldives in 1995. Today there are many imitators but no equals.
Every Soneva resort is found in outstanding natural locations that are remote yet accessible.
Offering guests the luxury of space, privacy and seclusion, each resort is renowned for its exquisite private villa accommodation, one-of-a-kind experiences, memorable dining destinations and intuitive, personalised service.
Angsana Velavaru has received the British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award 2025, recognising the resort for consistently high levels of guest satisfaction and service.
The award is based on verified customer feedback and reflects guest experiences at the resort. Angsana Velavaru achieved an overall score of 4.8 out of 5, with recognition given for service delivery, attention to detail and guest care throughout the stay.
Located within a lagoon in South Nilandhe Atoll, the resort offers a range of accommodation options, including beachfront villas with direct beach access and its InOcean Villas, situated approximately one kilometre from the main island. These overwater villas provide a more secluded setting with open ocean views.
The resort caters to a variety of travellers, including families, couples and individual guests. Family-oriented programmes and shared activities are available, while other guests can take part in leisure, wellness and exploration experiences. Through its 101 Things To Do programme, guests can engage in activities such as snorkelling, marine excursions, cultural experiences and wellness sessions.
The surrounding reef environment provides opportunities for marine exploration, while the resort’s service approach focuses on delivering personalised guest experiences. This combination of natural setting and service delivery forms a central part of the resort’s offering.
The British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award is presented to hotels that achieve high customer ratings, serving as an indicator of guest satisfaction within the travel sector. For Angsana Velavaru, the recognition reflects its continued focus on maintaining service standards and delivering consistent guest experiences.
The resort continues to position its offering around accessibility to nature, varied experiences and a service model aimed at supporting guest comfort and engagement throughout their stay.
Eri Maldives is located within the waters of North Malé Atoll and is surrounded by a house reef accessible to both beginner and experienced divers. With four direct reef entry points and shore access, the resort offers opportunities for snorkelling, introductory dives and certified diving.
The house reef supports a range of marine life, including white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, mobula rays and spotted eagle rays, as well as schools of reef fish. The accessibility of the reef allows guests to explore the area over multiple days, providing opportunities to observe marine behaviour and habitats over time.
Turtle encounters
Hawksbill turtles are among the most frequently observed species on the reef. The resort’s dive team has identified 14 individual turtles, each recognised by shell patterns and physical features. These include turtles known as Rosie, Cara and Anna, which have been documented through repeated sightings.
The resort maintains records of these turtles, allowing returning guests to identify individuals over time. Guests may also contribute to this initiative by naming newly identified turtles that have not previously been recorded.
Manta ray season
From December to April, manta rays are known to visit cleaning stations at Bodu Hithi Thila, located approximately one hour by boat from the resort. During this period, ocean conditions support plankton flows that attract mantas to the area, where they can be observed feeding or visiting cleaning stations.
Night diving experiences
Night snorkelling and diving activities provide a different perspective on reef activity. Species such as reef sharks, trevallies, moray eels and nurse sharks become more active after dark, offering guests the opportunity to observe nocturnal marine behaviour.
At Eri Maldives, marine experiences form a central part of the guest offering, with the house reef providing consistent opportunities for exploration. The resort’s dive programme is designed to support repeated interaction with the marine environment, allowing guests to experience a range of underwater activity throughout their stay.
Accommodation is available in studio and beach villa categories, with full board packages offered for direct bookings, subject to availability.
The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection has announced a collaboration with Ahmed Aleem Shakoor, who is currently in residence at the resort, introducing a creative element to the guest experience.
Aleem, a self-taught artist, is known for work that combines maritime themes, surrealism and symbolism. His practice spans watercolours, acrylics and mixed media, drawing inspiration from the Maldives’ history and ocean landscapes, often expressed through the use of light, depth and narrative.
During his residency, Aleem is working with the resort to develop a series of artistic and cultural experiences aimed at engaging guests. These include live painting sessions, informal interactions with the artist and workshops designed to encourage creative participation.
The programme forms part of the resort’s wider activities, with offerings such as mini canvas painting, coconut painting and creative art sessions available to guests. In addition, Tales Painted in Sunlight combines elements of Maldivian folklore, storytelling and visual art, providing further insight into local culture.
The collaboration reflects the resort’s approach to incorporating local artistic talent into its programming, while offering guests opportunities to engage with creative activities in a relaxed setting. The residency is designed to allow guests to explore artistic expression as part of their island experience.
As part of its seasonal programme, selected artistic activities are also included in the resort’s Easter offerings, providing additional opportunities for guests to take part in creative experiences during their stay.
-
Cooking1 week agoThe Standard, Maldives introduces Onda with Mediterranean-inspired menu
-
Action1 week agoSix Senses Kanuhura participates in international COASTS Project on blue carbon ecosystems
-
Cooking1 week agoThe Halcyon Private Isles Maldives announces Easter residency by Chef Dimitry Eremeev
-
Cooking1 week agoAnantara Veli Maldives continues Michelin guest chef series with female lineup
-
Awards1 week agoMandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa receives global wellness award
-
Action1 week agoBaros Maldives introduces ‘Lines of Respect’ fishing programme
-
Awards1 week agoCOLOURS OF OBLU marks triple win in global guest-driven awards
-
Awards1 week agoVilla Park recognised with CHECK24 Top Hotel Award