This festive season Soneva brings back all its festive traditions to its resorts in the Maldives and Thailand. Guests can expect eggnog on the sandbank, visits from Santa and his elves for the children, visiting practitioners, sporting greats, private stargazing sessions with award-winning astronomer and science communicator Lars Christiansen, and so much more throughout December.
Ring in the New Year with Soneva’s iconic Journey, each one celebrating 25 years of Soneva. Wind your way along torch-lit paths, past performers and food stations, and a countdown to 2021 with fireworks and DJs spinning tracks into the early hours of the morning.
Soneva Fushi
Younger guests can get into the festive spirit with a range of Christmas-themed activities and events in The Den, from Christmas carols, a candy cane hunt, making paper stockings, Christmas tree decorating, and Christmas storytelling with the Barefoot Bookseller. The second season of Soneva’s Junior Master Chef lets aspiring chefs show off their culinary skills before a panel of judges with prizes to be won.
Later in December, Lana Murphy and Jonathan Näslund, who has been crowned Sweden’s dance champions 10 times, are offering dance lessons to children. Pool parties for teenagers themed late-night Den parties, and various arts and crafts sessions await Soneva’s young guests. Quiz Nights and Carnival Games, as well as a Pirate Treasure Hunt, are ideal for bringing the family together. The former Manchester United and Arsenal player, Mikael Silvestre, will be hosting the famous Soneva football camp for children and teens from December 14 to 26.
Soneva Fushi’s new Conscious Experiences take guests on exploratory excursions to the resort’s Waste to Wealth centre, across the Indian Ocean to learn how to fish sustainably or along island paths to learning how to track and spot the local flora and fauna that call Kunfunadhoo home. Start days in the Maldives with Meditation at Turtle Beach before a nutritious breakfast, or Floating Breakfast in the privacy and comfort of your villa. Water sports, snorkeling, diving, and eco-friendly surfing mean there is something for everyone who loves the ocean.
When it comes to dining, the festive season always has so much to offer, from the Christmas Eve Gala dinner to Biodynamic Wine Tastings and pop-up Martini Bars. The celebrations reach their peak with the 2020 Slow life Journey on New Year’s Eve. Beginning at Bar(a)bara, and winding your way along lantern-lit paths to dine on a myriad of tantalizing dishes and drinks, while acrobats, singers, musicians, and performers enchant and wow. The night culminates with the countdown to 2021, fireworks, and dancing into the early hours of the morning.
Soneva Jani
Christmas and New Year’s festivities at Soneva Jani centre around fine dining, over the lagoon, in the lagoon, and on the white sandy shores. Start mornings with a Sunrise Dolphin Cruise and Champagne Breakfast, or indulge in the bountiful selections at Down to Earth’s buffet breakfast. Choose from Wine Lunches, Live Station Lunches in The Gathering, succulent crustaceans at the Crab Shack, or dining in the midst of the Organic Gardens.
Chef Kat’s Degustation Menu will take diners on a sensory discovery of Thailand’s flavors and aromas. When it comes to drinks, expect Sake Tastings with Sushi and Sashimi, Champagne Tasting in the Lagoon, and Sunset Cocktails and Champagne at the beach by the Crab Shack. Keeping to tradition, the New Year’s Eve Journey and a countdown to 2021 on South Beach is the icing on the culinary cake.
Travel through the cosmos with private stargazing experiences with the resort’s resident Astronomer, or hone your serve and smash with one-to-one tennis lessons with Coach Millis Heimklo. Hit the ‘gym’ surrounded by tall screw pines when you take on the Jungle Gym’s obstacles, think balancing beams, monkey bars, rope climbs, and rings. For the children, Picnics, and Barbecues, Beach Olympics, Secret Santa, and a special Christmas Disco await. Island discoveries, arts and crafts, cupcake decoration, and more from the Den Team are available to keep them entertained, learning, and curious.
In the realm of wellness, Soneva Jani’s Spa and resident experts have much to offer. Bill Curry, an expert in Cranial Sacral Therapy, Deep Tissue Fusion massage, and Reiki, will be in residence at the resort. He is devoted to integrating breath work and relaxation from his meditation studies into all of his massage techniques and healing modalities. Pawan, Soneva’s yoga and meditation guru will be holding Guided Meditation for Inner Silence, Beginner’s Yoga, Pranayama, and more throughout the festive calendar.
Soneva is a pioneering family of hospitality properties, offering holistic encounters in luxurious and inspiring environments – from world-class resorts to outstanding natural locations. Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani, and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand rebuke the traditional concept of luxury and instead promise the luxury of time, purity, and solitude.
