Last November, I was invited to visit Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives. It's rare that I get to go on a work trip these days—let alone in such a beautiful location—so I felt incredibly grateful for the experience. It was a perfectly timed reminder to take time out and reconnect with nature.
Soneva’s resorts are renowned for their commitment to sustainability and I was completely blown away. Minimising our environmental impact is a core focus for us at The Beauty Chef and I left feeling so inspired and rejuvenated. Here’s a small snapshot of my time away.
Islands are especially vulnerable to climate change and it was wonderful to see Soneva’s approach sustainability and the innovative conservation practices they’ve developed. The resort staff—who were so kind, passionate and proud—took me on a tour through the gardens and eco-centro waste to wealth facility, which are irrigated and fertilised using an intricate system that filters waste water through a series of nutrient-rich ponds.
They recycle everything on the island including glass, which they repurpose into stunning glassware which can be purchased by guests. The resort also invites artists to create beautiful art pieces from recycled glass. They make their own coconut water and everything from the coconut husks to food waste is used and turned into something useful, including compost for the resort gardens.
The wellness facilities were gorgeous, offering tailored experiences in the most serene spaces. The resorts prioritise sustainable architecture, using natural materials, energy-efficient designs and renewable energy resources. Soneva Fushi boasts the largest solar plant in the Maldives.
Every meal was extraordinary and a real feast for the senses. Their menus are farm-to-table style, crafted by their evolving Soneva Stars calendar of Michelin-starred chefs using local and organic ingredients. A highlight was the immersive vegan degustation at Fresh in the Garden, where you are immersed in the lush garden setting where the ingredients were sourced.
The water didn’t disappoint; it was hard to comprehend how perfectly turquoise it was! Looking down from the seaplane and seeing the hundreds of islands dotted in the water was breathtaking. The water is home to vibrant marine life including turtles, stingrays and dolphins. The resorts drive their own coral reef restoration projects to protect the precious surrounding marine ecosystems and Soneva Fushi is home to one of the biggest coral reef nurseries in the world.
Find out more about Soneva Jani and Soneva Fushi here.