When Sonu Shivdasani and his wife Eva Malmström founded Soneva Fushi in 1995 on the uninhabited island of Kunfunadhoo in the Baa Atoll, most luxury resort developers viewed the Maldives as a destination for overwater bungalows and all-inclusive indulgence. Soneva's founders had a radically different thesis: that the highest expression of luxury was not marble lobbies or gold fixtures, but an intimate, barefoot connection with the natural world. Today, nearly three decades later, Soneva Fushi sits within the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, the only UNESCO-designated biosphere in the Maldives, a distinction the brand actively lobbied for and helped secure in 2011. This is not merely a resort that happens to be in a beautiful location; it is a property whose very identity is inseparable from the ecological health of its surroundings.

The Seaplane Experience Most Guests Don't Know About

Most Maldives resorts rely on Trans Maldivian Airways for seaplane transfers, a shared service with fixed schedules and communal terminals. Soneva Fushi operates its own dedicated seaplane fleet with bespoke VIP cabins. What sets this apart is not just branding: Soneva's seaplanes feature noise-reducing interiors, chilled champagne service from the moment you board, and, critically, flexible departure scheduling. While standard TMA transfers require guests to wait at the Male seaplane terminal for hours based on weather and routing, Soneva coordinates departures around guest arrival times, minimizing wait. The dedicated Soneva lounge at Velana International Airport, complete with private check-in and showers, means you never set foot in the chaotic main terminal. This alone can transform a Maldives arrival from stressful to seamless.

Villa Architecture: The Details That Matter

Soneva Fushi's villas are not cookie-cutter units differentiated only by size. Each of the island's 63 villas was designed individually, taking advantage of unique jungle clearings and beach positions. The one-bedroom Crusoe villas offer approximately 4,500 square feet of indoor-outdoor living, which is larger than most competitors' two-bedroom offerings. The newer overwater villas, launched in recent years at the adjacent Out of the Blue restaurant area, feature retractable floors with glass panels over the reef, waterslides directly into the lagoon, and outdoor showers designed using reclaimed teak from decommissioned Thai fishing boats.

Crusoe Suites

Nestled deep within the island's dense tropical canopy, each suite features an open-air bathroom, private pool, and direct beach access through a jungle path unique to that villa.

Overwater Retreats

The newer overwater collection introduces retractable glass floors, waterslides into the reef below, and uninterrupted 270-degree ocean views from elevated living spaces.

Private Reserves

For families or groups, multi-bedroom reserves include dedicated butler pantries, private gyms, and even a separate children's wing with its own pool and play area.

Stargazing, Farm-to-Table, and Hidden Activities

Soneva Fushi employs a resident astronomer, a rarity in the hospitality world, who operates a state-of-the-art observatory equipped with a custom-built telescope. Guests receive private sessions that go well beyond casual stargazing: you can photograph Saturn's rings, track Jupiter's moons in real time, and learn about celestial navigation techniques once used by Maldivian sailors. The resort's organic gardens span over two acres, supplying more than 85 varieties of herbs, fruits, and vegetables to its restaurants. The "Shades of Green" tasting menu is composed entirely from garden and reef harvests within a 48-hour window. Less publicized activities include private coral reef restoration sessions with the in-house marine biologist, silent dawn kayaking through mangrove channels, and glassblowing classes in the resort's own hot-glass studio, one of the only such facilities in any island resort worldwide.

Sustainability That Sets the Global Standard

Solar & Energy

Soneva's Eco Centro processes 90% of waste on-island. The resort's solar arrays generate enough power to offset over 600 tons of CO2 annually, and a pioneering water desalination system produces still and sparkling water in reusable glass bottles.

Waste-to-Wealth

The Eco Centro waste management facility converts organic waste into biochar fertilizer and recycled glass into art pieces. Single-use plastics were eliminated across all Soneva properties in 2008, more than a decade before industry norms shifted.

Carbon Offsetting

Soneva adds a mandatory 2% environmental levy to every booking. These funds support reforestation in Myanmar and Thailand, having planted over 400,000 trees to date through the Soneva Foundation.

For travelers who believe that true luxury leaves the world better than it found it, Soneva Fushi is not merely a resort. It is proof of concept. Wyta can arrange exclusive Soneva experiences including priority villa selection and complimentary astronomer sessions.