For those looking to switch off and find their soul centre, Soneva Secret in the Maldives is the ultimate eat, pray, love yourself destination.
Daniel Defoe may not have intended Robinson Crusoe to become a parable for luxury travel, but, 300 years after it was written, the magnificence of solitude has become the sine qua non for the discerning. Leaning into this desire with their new property, Soneva Secret, are the original Maldives pioneers, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani. It’s set on an island with just fourteen villas, so you are more likely to spot spinner dolphins in the crystalline lagoon than encounter another guest; yet in their wisdom, the duo have taken steps to ensure visitors feel cosseted rather than lonely.
The champions of cosseting are the Barefoot Guardian and assistant assigned to each villa. While hotel butlers have become expected at suite level since their introduction by London’s Lanesborough hotel in 1990, their purpose can often feel like nothing more than a grand concierge. At Soneva Secret, the Guardians are more akin to Norland nannies, fully focused on their charges. With waters too choppy for snorkelling, our guardian, Sibin, promptly organised a beachside picnic accompanied by a lesson in palm weaving, and he celebrated the sighting of a huge pod of dolphins on our private boat by bringing out unexpected champagne and canapés. It’s a relationship that’s swiftly built and immediately indispensable.
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The Shivdasanis’ prescient bet on the Maldives began in 1995 with the launch of Soneva Fushi, a pioneering resort that combined luxury with sustainability; this ethos continues at Soneva Secret. Hewn wood dominates the finely constructed villas, each of which is wrapped by a vast deck complete with swing seat, conversation pit, private pool and dining area. Each villa has a second-floor tower containing a fully-equipped spa room with its own massage bed. For those seeking more zip than Zen, the towers at the overwater villas also house a fabled Soneva sea slide. Soon, the resort will also be home to the Maldives’ first free-floating villa, the Castaway, allowing guests to wake up facing the sunrise and go to sleep with the sunset. It will join the current Crusoe villas, accessible only by boat, for what must be the world’s most luxurious solitary confinement.
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There is little that is formal on the island, including the dining – no trekking to a communal restaurant, instead one of the resort’s fourteen chefs de partie will come to your villa to cook fully bespoke meals. Each chef has a speciality, so whether you’re looking for a just-the-right-side-of spicy Thai banquet, a feast of Maldivian dishes, or Scandinavian, Japanese or Arabic food, it’s a culinary fever dream. Whichever you choose, the preparation all takes place in your villa’s well-appointed kitchen, which doubles as a pantry brimming with delicious complimentary snacks and note-perfect coffee after the cook departs. For those who can’t wait between meals, three air- conditioned glass enclaves at the top of the island’s indoor-outdoor hub, the Living Room, house ice-creams, chocolates and charcuterie. At the bottom of the steep stepped structure are two palm trees framing the lagoon, which at nighttime magically transform into a cinema; it’s a scene that is as dramatic as any movie.
More elevated dining, literally, is found at Out of This World, a towering edifice just off the island’s shore. Evenings begin with a zipline journey to the ground-floor wine cellar (a walkway is available for those not wishing to hoist their finery into a harness), where canapés give way to a meander upstairs to chef Henrique Lork’s amber-lit lair. The set menu is an ode to his Brazilian roots and to Maldivian ingredients – all served on hand-blown glassware made by Lork himself at sister resort Soneva Fushi. The night finishes atop the tower, stargazing into a night sky that is as clear as the lagoon. Guided by the resident astronomer, it’s an unforgettable experience, and a fitting
embodiment of Soneva Secret’s cosseted castaway vibes. soneva.com
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