Soneva’s secret is out—and it’s a new Maldivian resort that redefines the meaning of bespoke luxury. Comprising just 14 beach and overwater villas, Soneva Secret’s secluded location in Haa Dhaalu, considered the most remote atoll in the Maldives, offers visitors the opportunity to reconnect with nature in a private, personalised way.

Guests can choose to stay in an Overwater Hideaway, Beach Hideaway, the Crusoe Villa with a private pool and slide, or the expansive 1,158-square-metre Beach Reserve, spread across two floors and featuring two master bedrooms and two adjoining double bedrooms. Its overwater equivalent, the Crusoe Reserve, is an open-plan retreat with direct lagoon access, retractable roofs, and comfortable living spaces.

Coming later in 2024 is the stunning Castaway floating villa, accessible only by sea. It features a saltwater pool—a Soneva signature—and a curved slide that leads straight to the lagoon, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fitness studio, a spa treatment room, an alfresco dining sala as well as a covered dining room, and a lounge space with a daybed and sunken seating. Soneva bills the two-floor villa as the “first of its kind” in the Maldives, bearing a novel design that renders it “unaffected by wave movements.”

Soneva’s superlative hospitality takes centre stage at Secret, where bespoke service is perfected through dedicated Barefoot Guardians and Barefoot Assistants. Secret’s platoon of private chefs—14 in total, so one assigned to each villa—takes care of customising culinary experiences, whether it’s dining under the stars, zip-lining to a dining tower for your next meal, or digging your toes into the sand at a firepit dinner. Guests can also explore the chocolate, ice cream, cheese, and charcuterie rooms.

Surrounded by pristine, untouched nature, travellers are well-positioned to immerse themselves in the unique attractions of the Maldives, using Soneva Secret as their adventure base. Swim alongside manta rays, turtles, dolphins, whale sharks, and tropical fish; go on a guided snorkelling expedition with a marine biologist; picnic on a deserted island or private sandbank; or take it easy and tech-free at The Den. Spa and wellness treatments run the gamut from massages to one-to-one yoga sessions.

Building upon the hospitality group’s long-standing ethos of eco-conscious luxury and responsible sustainability, the new resort is designed with the environment in mind, constructed of fast-growing natural materials and embedded with open-air spaces for ventilation and temperature control. Renewable energy systems will contribute to keeping carbon emissions low, as per Soneva’s net-zero impact mission.

Circular economy practices are implemented through Soneva Secret’s Waste-to-Wealth centre; what can be upcycled and recycled is diligently taken care of to minimise landfill waste, resulting in, for example, rich compost for the resort’s organic garden. Soneva Secret also produces its own drinking water on the island to do away with plastic, and containers for refillable room amenities are made of glass, ceramic, or eco-friendly bamboo. Even the mosquito traps are friendly to the local ecosystem.

Fly to Soneva Secret via seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé, or take a one-hour speedboat from the closer Kulhudhuffushi Airport in the Haa Dhaalu atoll.

Soneva already operates two properties in the archipelagic state, Best of the Best 2024 honouree Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, as well as a private yacht experience through Soneva in Aqua, so travellers can combine visits to multiple resorts in one trip.

Soneva Secret is now open and accepting bookings.

All images courtesy of Stevie Mann/Soneva Secret.