Entertainment
Soneva announces festive programme featuring guest favourites

Soneva’s two resorts in the Maldives are set to offer an exciting set of activities during the upcoming festive season.
The festivities will extend to the world-leading luxury resort operator’s property in Thailand as well, with activities that allow guests to pair fine-dining lunches with whiskey, wine, champagne or sake, learn how to make Christmas chocolate truffles and New Year detox masks, receive a private coaching tennis lesson from the nine-times Grand Slam winner Jonas Björkman, and discover Soneva’s famous food journeys.
“Let your children explore island nature with the Soneva Den hosts taking charge, while you learn how to make Vietnamese, Maldivian, Japanese and Thai food, and come together at the end of the day for a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings in a truly spectacular location,” the group said, in an announcement.
“There is no shortage of experiences to do, eat or see at Soneva.”
Soneva Fushi
Soneva’s flagship resort, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, offers tried and true guest favourites. Cast yourself away to a Sonu’s picnic on a desert island with just your family, or join a group picnic and meet new snorkel companions or teammates for the next water volleyball game. Discover your new favourite spot to dine at a sunset sushi bar, or a Spanish barbecue under the banyan tree. Learn from our talented chefs from our many cooking classes specialising in different cuisines. Explore the world’s best cuisine and entertainment in one night during Soneva’s famous food journey.
In between dining on delicious food, take some time to meet Santa, hunt for treasure, and snorkel with our marine biologist. Discover Soneva’s waste-to-wealth techniques on an Ecotour, learn about the ocean life with a presentation from our marine biologist, or try your hand at glass blowing in our glass studio.
Jonas Bjorkman, former tennis champion, will be offering complimentary private coaching sessions during the holiday season exclusively for a limited number of Soneva guests. Jonas formerly coached Andy Murray in 2015, No. 1 in singles (July 2017), and currently coaches world No. 6 Marin Cilic.
Plus, learn more about the secrets of the universe with Soneva’s Astronomy Week, being held between December 25-31. Soneva’s resident astronomer, plus guest astronomers, will be able to give dinner talks, presentations and classes to anyone interested in learning more about the night sky.

The Observatory at Soneva Fushi. PHOTO/ SONEVA
Soneva Jani
Discover Soneva’s newest addition Soneva Jani, with a programme full of culinary delights and activities for the whole family. Treat your palate to a lunch or dinner paired with whiskies, sake, wine or champagne, or travel the world through your plate and dine on Vietnamese, Maldivian, Japanese cuisine and more. End the year with a New Years Eve food journey that will lead you through the resort, from 2017 into 2018.
In between delicious feasts, treat yourself to a variety of experiences, fun for the whole family. Loosen your body and mind with a special Christmas yoga, before welcoming Santa to Soneva Jani. Stay up late to dance the night away to a DJ, relax with some live music, or immerse yourself in a movie at Cinema Paradiso.

Dining in Water at Soneva Jani. PHOTO/ SONEVA
Soneva runs two resorts in the Maldives: Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.
Established in 1995, Soneva Fushi is the original Soneva. The No News, No Shoes blueprint for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Soneva Fushi inspires the imagination with 65 spacious beachfront villas, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms, hidden amongst dense foliage.
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 and nine dining options. If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.
The iconic resort has bagged several international awards for eco-friendly tourism and green initiatives, including the 2017 Green Hotelier Award for the Asia Pacific region and the Sustainable Hotel Award by the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) as well as a spot in the Gold List compiled by Condé Nast Traveler China as the Best Hotel in the Maldives.
Opened in December 2016, Soneva Jani encompasses a collection of 24 overwater villas and one island villa set in a 5.6 kilometre private lagoon located in the northern Noonu atoll. The resort spans five islands surrounded by pure white beaches, covered in rich tropical vegetation, offering the ultimate in privacy and luxury.
Each of the resort’s multilevel water villas has its own private pool and a retractable roof that allows guests to sleep beneath the stars. Many villas also have slides that transport guests directly from the top level into the lagoon below. Other hotel highlights include a spa, an observatory — home to the largest telescope in the Indian Ocean — and an outdoor cinema.
Since its opening, Soneva Jani has created a lot of buzz amongst luxury travellers with its exciting features such as the retractable roofs and the water slides. It has also been named the Best Over-the-Top Luxury hotel of the year by Jetsetter.com.
Celebration
Family fun and Maldivian traditions await this Eid at Summer Island Maldives

This Eid al-Adha, Summer Island Maldives extends an exclusive ‘Eid Bliss’ offer to Maldivians and work permit holders, inviting them to unwind and celebrate. Located just 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé, this tropical island provides a barefoot escape ideal for those seeking simplicity and comfort.
Available for stays between 5th and 15th June 2025, the limited-time Eid offer includes full board accommodation starting at just USD 250 per night for two adults (minimum two-night stay), inclusive of all taxes and service charges.
For guests planning a longer stay, the rate is reduced to USD 225 per night for stays of four nights or more. Those looking for a shorter retreat can book one-night stays at USD 290. Families can especially benefit from this offer, as one child under 12 stays free, making it the perfect Eid retreat for relaxation, reconnection, and the creation of lasting memories.
Guests booking the Eid offer will enjoy:
- Full board meals at Samuga Restaurant
- Evening tea at Nevi Bar
- Complimentary return speedboat transfers
- 30% off spa treatments and water sports
- 20% off excursions and beach dinners
- 15% off à la carte dining, in-villa dining, and bar snacks
On Eid Day – Friday, 6th June 2025 – the island will come alive with colourful Maldivian traditions. Guests can look forward to the spirited rhythms of Bodu Beru, the dramatic folklore of Bodu Mas & Koadi, and the lively procession of Dhafi Negun, all complemented by Summer Island’s signature warm and welcoming touch.
“Eid celebrations are a big deal at Summer Island Maldives and are especially popular among our local guests,” said Mohamed Thaufeeq, Resort Manager of Summer Island Maldives. “This year, we are once again preparing to mark the occasion with traditional cultural activities and our signature Summer Island spirit. Whether planning a family retreat or a peaceful escape to recharge and reconnect with a loved one, this is the perfect time to experience the island’s joyful Eid atmosphere.”
Rooted in genuine Maldivian hospitality, Summer Island Maldives welcomes all to celebrate the spirit of Eid in a setting where simplicity, nature, and heartfelt service come together.
Entertainment
Ultimate experience of music and magic at Reethi Faru Resort

The stage is set for a one-of-a-kind celebration of artistry, wonder, and sustainable luxury as the Festival of Magic and Melodies arrives at Reethi Faru Resort. Taking place from April 26 to April 30, 2025, the festival promises an immersive journey through the realms of music and magic, all within the serene beauty of one of the Maldives’ most intimate island resorts.
Located on the tranquil island of Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort is known for combining opulence with ecological responsibility. Surrounded by turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches, and lush tropical vegetation, the resort provides an idyllic backdrop for this exclusive event. With a strong dedication to preserving the island’s natural ecosystems, Reethi Faru offers guests a unique experience of sustainable luxury.
Headlining the festival are two internationally acclaimed performers who each bring a powerful and transformative artistic vision to the stage.
Swiss violinist and composer Nurdana Ernst will present her celebrated concert Soul Therapy. A graduate of the Haute École de Musique in Lausanne and certified in Music Therapy from Berklee College of Music, Ernst is recognised for blending classical mastery with contemporary expression. Her performances invite audiences to explore inner emotions through the healing qualities of music, creating an atmosphere of deep reflection and emotional connection. With a background as a soloist with prestigious orchestras and a growing international fanbase for her debut singles Tomiris and The Voice of the Heart, Ernst is poised to deliver an unforgettable musical journey.
Sharing the spotlight is French magician and mentalist Nicolas Subra, also known as The Dream Guider. With over 15 years of experience and performances in more than 20 countries, Subra is renowned for his mesmerising stage presence and the philosophical depth behind his illusions. His shows are not just spectacles, but immersive experiences that blur the boundaries between reality and fantasy, offering audiences moments of wonder, inspiration, and introspection.
Together, these two exceptional artists will transform Reethi Faru into a realm where music and magic converge. The Festival of Magic and Melodies is designed to captivate the senses while honouring the natural beauty and sustainable ethos of its island setting.
Guests at the festival will not only enjoy world-class performances but also the chance to connect with nature, art, and themselves in a setting that celebrates mindful luxury.
The Festival of Magic and Melodies offers a rare and enriching escape—an opportunity to indulge in elegance, creativity, and ecological harmony.
Entertainment
Alex Turnbull: Music, film, culture at Patina Maldives

Some encounters change us. Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, long after the music fades, long after we leave the space where it all happened. This is one of those weekends.
For three days, Patina Maldives becomes a crossroads of music, film, and artistic legacy—woven together by the hands of Alex Turnbull, a man who has spent his life standing at the very heart of underground culture.
A DJ, drummer, filmmaker, and guardian of the avant-garde, Turnbull has lived at the pulse point of transformation. As a founding member of 23 Skidoo, he shaped the sounds that shaped generations. As a producer and remixer, he worked with icons like Sade, Seal, and Neneh Cherry, turning their music into something new, something unexpected, something entirely his own. As a founding member of the International Stüssy Tribe, he helped define the intersection of fashion, music, and rebellion.
And now, here he is. On an island where the tides move with a rhythm of their own, bringing us something rare—something impossible to categorise but impossible to forget.
A DJ set beneath the Maldivian stars, where the past and present fold into each other, where basslines meet the night air, and where we all just for a moment, lose ourselves.
A Stüssy archive pop-up, offering a glimpse into a world where fashion was once a revolution.
A screening of Kim Lim: The Space Between, a film about art, identity, and the spaces that exist between the two. This is Turnbull’s most personal project yet, a tribute to his mother, to creativity, to the quiet power of reinvention.
For three nights, the lines between artist and audience, past and future, reality and dream will blur. Because this is what culture does. It moves. It connects. It asks us to pay attention.
And so we will.
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