Your Soneva Journey

What taxes and service charges do I pay?

Tax on villas at Soneva Fushi stands at 29.92%, based on your room rate. This includes a 10% Service Charge, 2% Carbon Offset Tax, and 17% Goods and Services Tax. Additionally, a Green Tax of USD 12 per person per night applies to the villa rate.

Where is Soneva Fushi located?

Soneva Fushi is located on the private island of Kunfunadhoo in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. At 1,400 by 400 metres, it is one of the Maldives’ largest island resorts.

What is Soneva Fushi time?

At Soneva Fushi, we set our clocks forward by one hour ahead of Malé time so that our guests can enjoy more daylight hours. Malé time is UTC +5. During Ramadan, the clocks at Soneva Fushi shift back to Malé time.

When is the best time to visit?

The Maldives is an all-season destination, with a tropical climate, sunshine-filled days and temperatures averaging 30°C all year round. Diving is good at any time of the year, however the monsoon season (May-October) is the best season for manta rays and other marine life due to the higher quantities of plankton.

Will I need any vaccinations?

Vaccinations are only required for visitors travelling to the Maldives from a region where yellow fever and cholera are endemic. For all other guests, no vaccinations are needed.

Is there a doctor on site?

We have a resort nurse available 24/7 at Soneva Fushi. The nearest medical clinic is on the neighbouring island of Eydhafushi, which is less than 10 minutes away by speedboat. For conditions requiring further medical attention, there is a hospital in Malé.

What airport should I fly to?

You can fly into Velana International Airport in Malé, the capital of the Maldives.

What happens when I arrive at Velana International Airport?

Upon exiting the doors after luggage collection, you will be met by Soneva’s Airport Representative holding a sign with ‘Soneva’. They will escort you to either the lounge or the seaplane/domestic terminal for departure.

Can I land my private jet at the local airport?

Yes, but you will need prior authorisation before entering the Maldives, which can be arranged through a jet handler in Malé. The length of the runway at our local airport on Dharavandoo island is 1,200 metres, which is long enough to accommodate most medium-sized jets.

Can I leave luggage in the Soneva Lounge?

There are no storage facilities at the Soneva Lounge, however there are secure locker facilities at the International Airport. Lockers can be rented for less than USD 10 per day. This can be arranged upon arrival at the airport. Please ask Soneva’s airport representative for assistance.

How do I get to Soneva Fushi from Malé?

Transfers are arranged by our Reservations Team, and flights can also be arranged via our website booking engine. There are two ways to reach Soneva Fushi from Malé: a seaplane from Malé International Airport direct to Soneva Fushi (recommended), or a domestic flight from Malé International Airport to Dharavandhoo Airport, followed by a 12-minute speedboat ride to Soneva Fushi.

Both flights take approximately 30 to 40 minutes, however the prices are different. The seaplane only operates during the day, with the last flight leaving at 17H00. The last domestic flight to Dharavandhoo Airport is at 23H15.

All guests who have pre-booked and paid for the Soneva Seaplane, but instead transfer from or to Malé on the Manta Air seaplane, will receive a resort credit as compensation, valued at USD 150 NET per person per voyage during peak season, and USD 100 NET per person per voyage during shoulder season. The resort credit can be redeemed against food and beverages, experiences and Soneva Soul treatments, excluding third parties and retail outlets.

Why does the seaplane only fly during the day?

As seaplanes land on and take off from water, they will only fly from sunrise to sunset.

When arriving into the Maldives, please plan to arrive at Malé by 15H30 local time if you would like to reach Soneva Fushi by seaplane on the same day. If you are unable to arrive by that time, you can spend the night in Malé or take an internal flight to the nearby Dharavandhoo Airport and arrive at the resort by speedboat.

For guests departing from Soneva Fushi, seaplane flights can be arranged for international flights scheduled for a departure time after 09H00 until approximately 16H30.

At what altitude does the seaplane fly? The seaplane flies at an altitude between 2,100 to 6,500 feet. This varies with different payloads and the number of people on each flight.

What happens if I arrive in Malé late at night?

The last domestic flight from Malé to Dharavandhoo Airport is at 23H15. If you arrive too late to make this connection, you can arrange an overnight stay at either the Hulhule Island Hotel at the airport or Hotel Jen Malé. The first seaplane of the following day will depart for Soneva Fushi at 09H00. Our airport representative will meet you upon your arrival and assist you with any transfers.

What is the baggage allowance on the seaplane?

The standard weight is 25 kg per person, including hand luggage. If you have more luggage, please let our Reservations Team know in advance. There is no baggage allowance for infants under two on the seaplane.

Do infants require their own seat?

Transfers for infants below the age of two are free of charge. Due to legal safety requirements, there is no separate seat allocation for infants under two on the seaplane.

Can I charter a private seaplane?

Yes, we offer a private seaplane charter. The cost of a private charter on Soneva Seaplane (9 seats) is USD 9,350 per one way trip, which includes a CIP service.

Manta Air also offers a regular 14 seat charter, including CIP services, at USD 6,750 per one way trip. All prices include taxes.

Can I arrange a speedboat transfer direct from Malé to Soneva Fushi?

We advise against speedboat transfers from Malé – the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours by sea, and can be rough.

What happens on departure from Soneva Fushi?

The exact timing for your departure will be communicated to you by your Barefoot Butler on the evening of departure. Your luggage will be collected and you will be presented with your final bill for signing approximately one hour before you depart. Our transfer team will ensures that all guests reach Malé International Airport on time for their connecting flights.

What should I pack?

At Soneva, we believe in travelling light. Don’t get weighed down with non-essentials by following our useful packing guide:

1. Leave your heels at home – our ‘no news, no shoes’ policy not only lets you feel the sand between your toes, but also means your suitcases will be considerably lighter.

2. Keep it casual. Take your cue from our laid-back vibe and dress accordingly.

3. Don’t bother with heavy clothes – our enviable climate is temperate all year round, so the most you’ll need is a light wrap or shawl. And if it does rain, simply borrow one of our rain coats or umbrellas.

4. There’s no need to bring bottles of mosquito repellent with your toiletries – we have both mosquito coils and lotion in all of our villas.

5. Want to while away an hour or two with a great book? Visit our well-stocked pop-up bookshop from our Barefoot Bookseller and choose your favourite tome. Most of our villas also feature their own bookshelves, too.

6. Our goal is to completely eliminate the use of plastic at our properties. Please don’t bring any plastics with you (such as water bottles) – we provide our own filtered water in eco-friendly reusable glass bottles. If you must bring plastic, we politely request that you also take it home with you.

7. Please also avoid having your luggage wrapped in cellophane at your departure airport. Single-use plastics such as luggage wrap have a devastating effect on the natural environment, and we are currently campaigning to end their use in the Maldives.

8. We have professional photographers and videographers at all our resorts to help you capture that perfect moment, so you can leave heavy camera equipment at home. Please contact us at [email protected] for further details and prices.

9. For families with infants and small children, we will arrange all the essential equipment you need, such as cots and high chairs. Please refer to our pre-arrival form for more details, or contact us at [email protected].

10. If you’re travelling with children, don’t pack all of their toys and gadgets – younger guests will love The Den, our dedicated zone for kids of all ages, which includes a Lego room, dressing up room, cinema, music room, arts and crafts space and even a kitchen for kid-friendly cooking classes.

11. Need a charge? We provide adaptors in all of our villas and our electricity sockets are multi-standard to fit a wide range of plugs and chargers.

12. If you need to stay connected to the outside world, we offer complimentary Wi-Fi at the resort. Should you wish to truly disconnect you can turn the Wi-Fi off in your villa.

13. To chill out to your favourite soundtrack, simply connect to the Bluetooth Bose speaker system in your villa. Each villa also includes a television and DVD player.

14. Planning to stay active during your visit? We have everything you need, from yoga mats in every villa, personal bicycles and tricycles for guests of all ages, and complimentary use of non-motorised watersports equipment, including paddle boards, canoes, catamarans and windsurfs. We also have an on-site gym.

15. Tell us your favourite vintage, and we’ll stock up your walk-in mini bar or cellar before you arrive.

16. Forgotten something? Our on-site boutique has all the essentials, from natural suncreams to the latest beachwear.

Can I bring a surfboard with me?

Yes, you can. However, your board may not travel on the seaplane or domestic flight transfer, depending on the weight of the luggage. We have a wide range of eco-friendly, complimentary surf boards and other water sports equipment that are available for you to borrow, so we encourage you to leave your surfing equipment at home.

Can I bring/use my own drone?

We strongly advise against bringing drones to Soneva Fushi. Maintaining our guests’ privacy is our top priority, so drone use is completely banned in many areas of the resort (such as above guest villas). There are specific times and areas when drone use is permitted, which must be approved by our General Manager. If you would like to record drone footage, we recommend that you use our Digital Storyteller service.

Where can I eat at Soneva Fushi?
For our full list of dining destinations and experiences, please click here.

Do you cater to plant-based, vegans, vegetarians, coeliacs or people with special dietary requirements?
Yes, we have a wide range of menus to suit every dining requirement and our chefs can customise every meal according to your preferences (including vegetarian, plant-based, pescatarian, kosher and halal).

Do I need to book ahead for Soneva Fushi’s restaurants?
Tables at our restaurants are based on availability (excluding Mihiree Mithaa and Down to Earth for our Half and Full Board guests). You can book in advance via Reservations, or you can speak to your Barefoot Butler if you want to book a specific restaurant during your stay.

Which restaurants are included in the Half and Full Board meal plans?
All meal plans include breakfast at Mihiree Mithaa. Guests can choose to have lunch or dinner at Mihiree Mithaa, Fresh in the Garden, Out of the Blue, Down To Earth, and Shades of Green as part of their Half Board / Full Board Meal plan. If the guests choose to dine at any other outlets, USD 125 will be credited for lunch per person, and USD 250 will be credited per dinner per person.

View details on our dining packages here. 

Are beverages included in the Half or Full Board meal plans?No. All beverages, including juice, water and aerated and alcoholic drinks are charged separately.

Do you have an all-inclusive supplement?
Yes, Soneva Unlimited is priced at USD 1,250 per adult per night (age 12 and above) and USD 625 per child per night (age 7 to 11), inclusive of taxes and service charge. The supplement is charged in addition to nightly villa rates and is not applicable for any bonus night offers. Soneva Unlimited includes endless sumptuous feasts and inspiring cuisine with visiting Michelin-starred chefs; daily rejuvenating therapies and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Can we prepare our own food in the villa kitchens?
This can be arranged on request. Please note that not all villas have kitchens so please confirm with our Reservations Team in advance.

Can I dine at Soneva Fushi if I’m not a guest?
Yes, if you make a reservation in advance through our Reservations team at [email protected]. Transfers to and from Soneva Fushi can be arranged privately or through Soneva Fushi by prior arrangement. The only exception is for the sandbank, where we only allow resort guests to dine.