By Jodie Mason
CEO, Extraordinary Escapes
Luxury Maldives Specialist since 2002
Morning begins a little differently at Soneva Jani. Still lying in bed, I press a button and the ceiling above us slowly retracts, allowing the morning light to stream into our bedroom and opening our view to the endless blue sky above. What a way to start the day.
As we do every morning in the Maldives, we begin with a swim. At Soneva Jani, however, even this is done a little differently. We head straight for our private waterslide and plunge directly into the turquoise lagoon below.
The overwater villas at Soneva Jani really do feel like your own home over the water. Spread across two levels, with expansive decks, private pools, retractable roofs and the signature waterslides, they have the space and privacy of a private residence while retaining Soneva’s distinctive Robinson Crusoe style.
Soneva Jani Maldives One Bedroom Water Reserve with Slide
With Soneva Jani extending across an extraordinary five kilometres, our electric bicycles are an appreciated addition. We set off along the winding overwater jetty, which curves its way across the lagoon before reaching the island. Even the ride to breakfast becomes part of the experience.
We arrive at The Gathering for breakfast and take our seats overlooking the lagoon. An impressive selection of breakfast dishes is presented, and we settle into one of the sunken tables to enjoy the morning. There is never any reason to rush at Soneva Jani.
After breakfast, we ride back to our villa and spend the remainder of the morning relaxing in our overwater home. One of the defining characteristics of Soneva Jani is its sense of space. The resort is vast, yet the relatively small number of villas means there are areas of the island and lagoon where you feel completely removed from everyone else.
Later in the morning, a pontoon boat pulls up directly in front of our villa to collect us for our snorkelling excursion. Unlike resorts where the house reef is accessed directly from the beach, at Soneva Jani the experience takes us out across the lagoon. We board from our villa and head out to explore the reef, snorkelling amongst colourful tropical fish and marine life before the pontoon returns us directly to our overwater home.
Lunch today is at one of our favourite restaurants at Soneva Jani, The Crab Shack.
Set directly on the sand overlooking the lagoon, The Crab Shack epitomises the relaxed Soneva experience. We settle into the swinging chairs with the sand beneath our feet, put on our crab bibs and prepare for an exceptional lunch. The menu centres around seafood and Sri Lankan flavours, and the wonderfully succulent crab is undoubtedly the reason we return. There is something about sitting barefoot on the beach, working your way through an enormous crab with a glass of rosé that makes this one of our most memorable dining experiences at the resort.
Lunch at Crab Shack
This afternoon, we have a massage booked at Soneva Soul. Reached along an elevated walkway through the island’s lush vegetation, the spa feels completely immersed within its natural surroundings. Set amongst the treetops, the treatment spaces provide an entirely different perspective of Soneva Jani, removed from the expansive lagoon and overwater villas that have shaped our day so far. It is an exceptional setting in which to spend the afternoon relaxing.
We return to our villa in time for sunset. From the upper level, the uninterrupted view across the lagoon is extraordinary, and we spend some time simply watching the colours change across the water before preparing for dinner.
Dinner this evening is at Director’s Cut.
With the restaurant located over the lagoon, we decide to contact our Barefoot Butler and arrange for a boat to collect us directly from our villa. Nothing ever feels too difficult at Soneva Jani. As the last of the sunset disappears, our boat arrives and we step aboard for the short journey across the lagoon to dinner.
Director’s Cut combines Japanese cuisine with one of Soneva Jani’s most distinctive evening experiences. Dining over the water, we enjoy Japanese dishes while a film plays on the large screen positioned above the lagoon. The combination of exceptional food, the open night sky and a cinema surrounded by water creates an experience that could only really exist at Soneva Jani.
The evening begins with a family movie, followed later by something for the adults. Sitting over the lagoon after dinner, watching a movie beneath the Maldivian night sky, is a wonderfully relaxed way to end the evening.
Dinner at Director’s Cut
Before returning to our villa, there is one final experience we want to enjoy.
Soneva Jani has always encouraged guests to look beyond the island itself, and tonight we turn our attention to the sky. With virtually no light pollution surrounding the resort, the night sky above Noonu Atoll is remarkably clear. Guided by Soneva’s astronomers, we spend the final part of our evening observing the planets and constellations above us.
It is a fitting end to a day that began beneath an open roof looking towards the morning sky and finishes beneath that same sky filled with stars.
What continually impresses us about Soneva Jani is the extraordinary sense of freedom and space it creates. The vast lagoon, expansive overwater villas and extensive natural island provide an environment where you can spend the day exploring or simply disappear into your own private overwater home. Whether arriving at dinner by boat, cycling through the island’s intentionally natural landscape or sliding directly from your villa into the lagoon, there is a playful freedom to the experience that is distinctly Soneva.
For travellers who value space, privacy, exceptional overwater accommodation and experiences that are genuinely different, Soneva Jani remains one of the most distinctive luxury resorts in the Maldives.
