Soneva Stars

Soneva Jani: December 14, 2022 – January 15, 2023 Soneva Fushi: January 16, 2023 – February 14, 2023 Hailing from Italy, massage therapist Stefano holds a Master of Science in physics and is an expert in educating his clients to live with optimum health free from pain. Drawing on years of research and clinical experience in the field of manual therapies, he has developed his own unique method that focuses on re-establishing more efficient movement patterns of the human body for reducing any chronic muscle pain and for improving athletic performance – moving better, feeling better. His treatments are an effective blend of the western techniques of Structural Integration and Neuromuscular Therapy with the myofascial lines technique of Thai massage.

Soneva Fushi: January 4-31, 2023 Soneva Jani: February 1-28, 2023 Licensed acupuncturist and expert in the healing arts and philosophy of East Asia, Alex Scrimgeour is a highly sought-after wellness specialist known for his restorative treatments and classes at many of the world’s leading spas and wellness centres. Alex’s speciality lies in the Vietnamese facial reflexology, Dien Chan. By releasing the micro-pressure points surrounding the face and head, Dien Chan creates a profound state of relaxation and cascading response through our body that harnesses our innate power for healing and regeneration. These treatments are especially effective for discharging built-up tension from the nervous system and healing the effects of chronic stress and trauma. They also powerfully boost circulation and are often considered a natural face-lift. Alex is the author of the upcoming book Facial Reflexology for Emotional Wellbeing, due to be published by Inner Traditions in May 2023. During his visit to Soneva Soul, he will be offering his renowned Dien Chan facial reflexology and full body reflexology treatments, as well as workshops in Chinese tea ceremony.

Welcome the Year of the Rabbit in style with festive dining in stunning locations, themed celebrations and spectacular experiences for the whole family at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. Spend this Chinese New Year unwinding with transformative treatments by visiting wellness specialists, embarking on unforgettable ocean adventures or dining with some of the world’s best chefs. Young Sonevians of all ages can also discover an inspiring weekly programme at The Den. Soneva Fushi   Soneva Jani   Soneva Kiri

Claude is an internationally acclaimed massage specialist and meditation teacher, with more than three decades of experience. Specialising in remedial massage, he expertly combines therapeutic massage with his extensive knowledge of inner child meditation, dream work and psycho-energetic massage to guide his patients to a profound level of healing. Claude has been committed to helping others from a young age, previously working as a social worker in Canada and as a leader of cultural exchange programmes for young people of different nationalities. He continues to harness the intuition and sensitivity developed during these early years of his career through his own extensive meditation practices.

Jill’s work draws upon a holistic range of modalities that she has been exploring for over 20 years. With each treatment, she guides her patients towards a deeper, more harmonious level of existence, enabling them to feel more open-hearted and in flow with the beauty of life. After studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, Jill became a social worker in London where she first encountered complementary therapies and the healing arts. She embraced learning about Eastern and Western approaches to spirituality, healing and self-development. Jill’s journey of discovery has also taken her on pilgrimages to sacred sites across the world, which have enabled her to become more open to healing energies.

Born in 1986 in the Czech Republic, Petr studied astrophysics at Masaryk University Brno and at Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic. He is an astronomer and astrophotographer. His images were featured more than 30 times by NASA as Astronomy Picture of the Day, as astrophotographer and science outreach worker he cooperates with NOIRLab, National Geographics’ TWAN (The World At Night), European Southern Observatory, and many more. An asteroid 6822 orbiting between Mars and Jupiter is named after him. He travels the world to capture and show the immersive beauty of the starry sky and unique or rare sky phenomena. A long route brought him also to Soneva Fushi in 2019, where he experienced a beautiful night sky and took many photographs of it. Petr specializes in the outreach of modern astronomy with his talks to the public and in photographing the night sky phenomena to show what amazing Universe around us can be even seen by naked eyes all around the world, including the Maldives.

For the past 10 years, chefs Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman have operated one of Stockholm’s most hyped Michelin-starred restaurants, Adam/Albin, offering a gastronomic dinner experience far from the traditional fine dining restaurant. Their restaurant group also includes Misshumasshu, Nori Bar, Ramen and a soon-to-be-open brasserie in the meat packing area of Stockholm. With their heritage rooted in Nordic cuisine and a passion for outstanding produce, the pair are on a mission to redefine luxury in the age of sustainability. While at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, they will be combining their signature dishes with the locally grown greens from our organic gardens to create something truly unique.

For more than 30 years, Claus has been a gastronomic entrepreneur. Through countless initiatives within the food and restaurant industries, he has inspired generations to expect the next meal to be delicious and healthy and to consider eating an agricultural act. Inspired by his learnings from building three-Michelin-starred noma with Rene Redzepi and initiating the Nordic cuisine movement, he went on to pursue his dream to help unfold culinary potentials outside of Scandinavia. In 2010 he established the Melting Pot Foundation, through which he founded food schools in Danish state prisons, Bolivia, Colombia, the USA and most recently in Morocco. In August 2015, Claus moved to New York City with his family to steer the 2016 opening of fine dining, Michelin-restaurant Agern and Great Northern Food Hall. Agern won a Michelin star after just six months of operation, and the Food Hall was called out in New York Times as “Nirvana, Nordic Style”. After returning to Denmark with his family in 2018,  he joined IKEA Foods Advisory Group to help propel a new, sustainable, and more delicious food offering. He also co-founded and is an active board member of Madens Folkemøde (the Peoples Public Food Assembly), an annual summit in Denmark. Besides his countless companies employing more than 800 staff, Claus is an affiliated professor and distinguished alum at Copenhagen Business School and Social Impact Fellow at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. Claus is a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog under the Royal Danish House and a receiver of the French Order, Merit Agricole; he has been named on the EAT Foundation and The Culinary Institute of America’s Plant-Forward Global 50; is a member of the Advisory Board for the Stone Barns Center, USA; and a member of the Danish Gastronomic Academy.

Tomáš Berdych began playing tennis in 1990 when he was five. He turned professional in 2002 and won his first ATP Tour match at the 2003 US Open. He won his first ATP title in Palermo and just a year later won ATP Masters 1000 title in Paris. In 2010 he made his first Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon. He played at 52 straight Grand Slams and 64 straight ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Tomáš helped the Czech Republic win back-to-back Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013.

Soneva Jani: March 1-31, 2023 Soneva Fushi: April 1-30, 2023 During her 15-year career, Hortensia has collaborated with the UN, Olympics Sports Federations and several private clinics. She has a Master’s in Osteopathy and degrees in Sports Education and Physiotherapy. Originally focused on a traditional osteopathic approach to treating sports injuries, Hortensia’s methodology evolved to reflect evidence that stress, emotions and unchanneled trauma have a direct impact on the body. She works closely with you to get to the root of your concerns, using a unique, multi-pronged approach that combines traditional osteopathy with her deep knowledge of the body’s biodynamic, skeletal, muscular and craniosacral systems.  

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our younger guests stay inspired and intrigued, Soneva aims to help visiting children and teenagers feel fully supported outside of term-time. We have partnered with Oppidan Education, a British-based mentoring firm created to help children continue their learning outside of the classroom and reach their full potential. As well as complimentary drop-in workshops with fun, educational activities, Oppidan will also offer private, one-on-one appointments, which can be scheduled each afternoon at an additional fee.  

Michael Wignall’s experience of freshly cooked and multi-cultural cuisine started at a young age, traveling extensively from the Far East, to the United States and across Europe. Although exposed to a variety of international gastronomy, aspiring to be a top chef was not Michael’s first passion. As a teen, Michael had a promising career as a professional BMX biker, however, his parents encouraged him to attend catering college. After three years, Michael moved to Spain to experience front of house, authentic cooking and the cuisine the country had to offer. Michael’s professional career started at Broughton Park in the UK under Paul Heathcote. Since then Michael has headed several restaurants earning them Michelin stars. Michael held two Michelin stars and five AA rosettes at Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Devon, and at The Latymer at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey. He then purchased The Angel at Hetton in 2018, which is set in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and gained a Michelin star in its first year of opening. Michael produces incredibly complex, technical accomplished dishes. His attention to detail and dedication to the pursuit of perfection in flavour, texture and appearance knows no bounds. He has a passion for traveling the world to find new inspirations and ideas to pair with locally sourced, British produce.