As we enter the festive season, Soneva invites you to get into the holiday spirit with exceptional cuisine by Michelin-starred chefs, transformative wellness treatments, and rare experiences with visiting experts.
Pioneering hospitality group Soneva has announced its spectacular October programme across its award-winning resorts. You can get into the holiday spirit with exceptional cuisine by Michelin-starred chefs, transformative wellness treatments, and rare experiences with visiting experts.
At Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand, the exceptional holiday line-up is designed to delight guests of all ages – with one-of-a-kind family experiences, Michelin-starred guest chefs, rejuvenating wellness treatments, and a star-studded line-up of visiting experts through the ever-evolving Soneva Stars calendar. As part of their dazzling October programmes, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani will also be celebrating 2022’s Diwali with a unique festival of light-themed experiences for the whole family and special guest appearances – including renowned ‘curry queen’ Dipna Anand.
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Guests at Soneva Fushi this summer can dine with six exceptional visiting chefs from around the world as part of the Soneva Stars roster. German chef Sascha Stemberg has been at the helm of his family’s Michelin-starred Haus Stemberg in Velbert, Germany, since 2015. Winner of the 2013 World Sushi Cup and ‘World’s Most Creative Sushi Master’, Pepi Aneveski, will be showcasing his refined sushi mastery.
Curry queen of the Indian cookery world and co-owner of the famous Brilliant Restaurant in West London’s Southall, Dipna Anand will be showcasing some of her grandfather’s Punjabi recipes during unforgettable Diwali dinners. Lisa Goodwin-Allen is the executive chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote restaurant in Lancashire, England, while Chantelle Nicholson is one of the leading female voices in the UK’s hospitality industry. And Viktor Beley, brand chef of Moscow’s Uhvat restaurant, will be showcasing his original interpretation of traditional Russian cuisine.
In the realm of sports and fitness, six-time NFL Pro-Bowl player Terrel Owens will be hosting a series of workshops for Young Sonevians. Former English professional rugby player Ben Cohen and his wife Kristina Rihanoff, a world finalist professional ballroom dancer, instructor, choreographer and author, will be helping guests stay in shape with their renowned fitness programmes.
The man behind the global fitness brand The Body Coach and ‘The Body Coach TV’ YouTube channel, Joe Wicks will be conducting workshops and training sessions for guests. Todd Woodbridge is best known as one of the world’s greatest doubles players in history, while Brazilian former professional footballer ‘Naldo’ was named the best Bundesliga player in 2017 and was the first defender in Bundesliga history to top this category. And Olympic Swedish swimmer Therese Alshammar will be helping Young Sonevians perfect their stroke while having fun in the water.
With more than two decades’ experience as a fitness coach and therapeutic masseur, life-long ultra-endurance athlete Eduardo Sierra will be approaching acute and chronic pain conditions from a multifaceted toolbox combining acupuncture, soft tissue work, osteopathy and the latest functional neurology research at Soneva Soul. And at Soneva Fushi’s island observatory, guests can take a fascinating voyage across the heavens with visiting astronomer Dr James O’Donoghue. A planetary astronomer at the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), he’ll be hosting after-dinner stargazing sessions along with fascinating talks about astronomy throughout the day.
The Den at Soneva Fushi also has a fun-packed programme daily of experiences and activities for younger guests, including eco-friendly arts and crafts workshops, a range of water sports, DJing and mocktail-making classes for teens, movie nights and stargazing workshops, as well as special cooking classes for Diwali celebrations. Older children are also invited to connect with the world around them with the Soneva Academy’s immersive modular courses, from exploring the stars to learning about sustainability and the Maldives’ marine realm.
Soneva Jani, Maldives
Soneva’s exceptional line-up of visiting chefs will also be going to Soneva Jani in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll. Sascha Stemberg, Pepi Aneveski, Dipna Anand, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Chantelle Nicholson and Viktor Beley will all be hosting exclusive dinners at the resort, including at So Engaging, the intimate chef’s table that seats just five guests.
Other unforgettable dining experiences during the October calendar include a Champagne sunrise breakfast on the sands of North Beach and a selection of succulent crabs and seafood at our award-winning, open-aired Crab Shack. A mouth- watering selection of themed dinners showcasing the continent’s eclectic cuisine can be found at Asian Kitchen, while diners can explore the heavens with astronomer Dr James O’Donoghue at So Starstruck, the Maldives’ only overwater telescope. A special Diwali celebration dinner with live entertainment will also be taking place on Soneva Jani’s South Beach during the festival of lights.
Helping guests stay active this October, fitness experts Joe Wicks, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff will be conducting their renowned workshops and training sessions. Former professional football player Ibrahim ‘Ibou’ Ba will be hosting a Young Sonevians’ Football Club, while former professional tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska, known for making intelligent use of the court, will be teaching a series of tennis camps. Younger guests can also make a splash with Olympic Swedish swimmer Therese Alshammar during a series of swimming sessions.
At Soneva Soul, visiting therapist and clinical chiro practitioner Dr Chet Collins, whose record for relieving and correcting persistent physical pain has resulted in an international reputation as ‘Dr Magic Hands’, will be helping guests find immediate relief and long-term solutions for their physical needs through a range of treatments. Guests can also join Soneva Jani’s own yoga and meditation masters, Justin and Kamal, for yoga and meditation sessions and learn how to enhance overall wellbeing, stretch and strengthen the body, focus the mind and balance emotions.
The playful escapism of Soneva Jani’s luxurious 5.6-kilometre lagoon makes the resort irresistible to experience seekers. A range of complimentary non-motorised water sports, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling at the house reef are on offer. Or experience the ocean with complete freedom with some of the latest motorised tech, including eSurfboards and Flyboards, and learn to move through the water like a fish, on the surface and beneath the waves.
A haven for families, The Den at Soneva Jani features a daily roster of exciting, educational and engaging opportunities for both young children and teenagers to create meaningful moments at the barefoot hideaway. Inspired by childhood wonder, The Den is a two-storey awe-inspiring playground for the imagination – and now one of the largest children’s clubs in Asia. Featuring a zipline through a cascading waterfall; areas for music, Lego, dressing up and creativity; a soothing sensory room for toddlers and a hidden hangout for teens where mocktails and music set the scene; plus so much more – there’s something for all Young Sonevians, both large and small. Older children and teens can also join the Soneva Academy, which takes learning outside of the classroom with a selection of fascinating immersive courses, including the Marine Life of the Maldives, Mosquitoes and the Adventure of the Corbin, which follows the voyage of an ancient treasure galleon.
Soneva Kiri, Thailand
As part of the ever-changing Soneva Stars calendar at Soneva Kiri, executive chef and culinary talent behind the success of West Berlin’s GRACE restaurant, Martin Bruhn, will be introducing guests to a bold blend of Asian flavours and European finesse. And author and Indonesian chef, Petty Elliott will be showcasing her modern approach to Indonesian culinary traditions during exclusive Chef’s Table dining experiences.
Alongside Soneva Kiri’s line-up of visiting chefs, guests can take a gastronomic voyage of discovery across a world of flavours and cuisines, with eight exceptional dining destinations. Start the day with an early morning walk and a nutritious breakfast in the heart of the organic gardens, made using freshly picked vegetables and herbs. With soft sands and exceptional views, lunch on beautiful South Beach offers rotating themes, from pit-cooked feasts to fresh catch of the day menus. At Kruua Mae Tuk, a ‘no-menu’ dining concept offers a vast selection of dishes inspired by ingredients grown on Koh Kood guests, as well as seafood caught fresh from the seas around the island. Guests can also visit the Wine Cellar, with more than 350 varieties curated from some of the world’s top wineries, or indulge at the complimentary chocolate, ice cream and cheese and charcuterie parlours.
October at Soneva Kiri invites guests to relax, unwind and reconnect with nature on tranquil Koh Kood, one of Thailand’s most unspoiled, least populated islands. Guests can set sail onboard a traditional fishing vessel to discover some of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches and bays with the Seven Days Seven Beaches. Guided snorkeling and diving trips visit some of Thailand’s most remarkable underwater realms, including Thailand’s largest shipwreck, the Chang Wreck, the nearby sunken sculpture garden at Koh Raet, and the pristine reefs of Koh Rang Yai National Marine Park.
Hidden away within Koh Kood’s pristine rainforest, the Soneva Kiri Spa is an idyllic setting infused with traditional Thai charm. As well as an extensive menu of therapies and healing rituals, Soneva Spa is also offering a daily calendar of complimentary wellness sessions including Himalayan singing bowl meditation, Muay Thai and stretching classes, and organic coconut oil workshops.
The Eco Den team at Soneva Kiri has also compiled an enthralling summer programme for younger guests. Led by experienced childminders, children can try their hand at eco-friendly workshops and scavenger hunts at Eco Centro, embark on rainforest adventures to Khao Dindang and snorkelling trips to Koh Raet, watch family- friendly movies at the open-air Cinema Paradiso, enjoy afternoon yoga and Muay Thai sessions, and take part in the Trick or Treat Halloween Parade.
