Maldives Hotels|Kulhudhuffushi, Maldives

Soneva Secret

Name: Soneva Secret
Address: Dhipparufushi Island, Kulhudhuffushi, 02110, Maldives
Telephone: 960-660-4300

The new standard in Maldivian seclusion

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Soneva Secret is in a league of its own. Despite the Maldives’ reputation for seclusion, it’s rare to find an atoll with a low resort density. There are more than 50 resorts in Male’ Atoll alone. However, the far-flung locale and intimate scale of ...

Our Inspector's Highlights

The Maldives resort was modeled after the founders’ signature concept: a whimsical property with no straight lines anywhere in the architecture, a genuine focus on sustainability, driftwood accents and rustic-luxe touches, such as repurposed fragments of glass bottles turned into glittering decorations.
Like all of the brand’s posh playgrounds, Soneva Secret was designed with a sense of fun. The quirkiest features include waterslides on all the water villas and a 262-foot zipline that can deliver you exhilarated to the Out of This World observatory tower to sample inspired delights from chef Henrique Lork. Then when it’s time for bed, you can push a button to open the motorized retractable roof above it to gaze at the stars.
The one- and two-bedroom Sea Lofts are only accessible by a short electric boat ride. The Castaway Villa is the Maldives’ first fully floating villa, which can be towed to different vantage points so you can experience sunrise and sunset from the same villa on the same day.
It takes 15 minutes to walk around the entire circumference of the small, thin, natural island but the lush jungle and subtle landscaping make it a pleasant stroll. The sandbank at one end of the island can extend or disappear depending upon the season, tide and weather.
You’re encouraged to view the expansive villas as their own mini resorts. Guests rarely leave them because even the smallest unit (the 4,822-square-foot One-Bedroom Beach Villa) is approximately the size of an NBA basketball court. Villas also have a private gym (which can be equipped according to your desires) and a spa. As such, room service is the most common dining choice among guests. Yourfavorite tipple and a selection of books can also be provided.

Things to Know

As with other Soneva properties, the villa lifestyle is based around multi-level alfresco spaces. These outdoor areas all feature daybeds, couches, a joali (a Maldivian swing chair), sunken tables, sunken bathtubs, pools and various other spaces for dining or unwinding. By comparison, the interior areas, such as the bedrooms, are smaller, yet do not feel cramped. The décor is romantic with a castaway vibe, soft natural tones and an air of elegant simplicity.
Since the architect expected most guests to only want to swim in their own private pools, there are no huge communal pools on the island. The villa pools are all well-positioned to receive sunlight throughout the day, which helps to keep the water warm.
Despite there being nine dining outlets, only two restaurants are open at one time. Room service is a popular option and the 10-page menu proves it. And for a surcharge, you can also have the culinary team prepare meals at your villa to be served in the open-air living room.
While the 75-minute seaplane journey to Soneva Secret is among the longest journeys to any Maldivian resort, it is worth the additional distance for the unparalleled sense of seclusion — even after a long-haul flight.
There is a manta cleaning station just two minutes from the luxury resort, where you can frequently spot these majestic filter feeders. The property offers guided snorkeling expeditions led by the friendly and enthusiastic watersports center team.

Amenities