Luxury Hotel · The Maldives
Soneva Fushi
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
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One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Soneva Fushi is the original barefoot luxury resort, opened in 1995 on one of the Maldives’ largest islands in the UNESCO-listed Baa Atoll, with 71 villas and a “No News, No Shoes” ethos.
Opened in 1995 on the private island of Kunfunadhoo, Soneva Fushi is widely credited as the resort that invented barefoot luxury in the Maldives. It runs across one of the country’s largest resort islands, around 1,400 by 400 metres of jungle and beach in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, reached by a 30-minute seaplane flight from Malé on Soneva’s own retrofitted, low-density seaplane fleet.
Accommodation runs to 71 villas, 63 set among the foliage on the beach and 8 over the water, ranging from one to nine bedrooms and starting at 264 sqm. Every villa comes with a private pool, an outdoor garden bathroom, and direct beach or lagoon access.
The “No News, No Shoes” ethos runs throughout, with complimentary bicycles, a Barefoot Butler service, and a slate of experiences that has grown to include an observatory, glass studio, and open-air cinema. It is a two-time World’s Best Beach Hotel winner.
Highlights
- 71 villas from one to nine bedrooms, all with private pools and outdoor garden bathrooms.
- Standout experiences including Cinema Paradiso, an observatory, and the Maldives’ only glass studio and its astronomy programme
- One of the Maldives’ best house reefs, with Hanifaru Bay manta site 20 minutes by boat.
Accommodation
One Bedroom Water Reserve
Connected by a gracefully curved jetty from the main island, this accommodation is elevated above the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. This expansive villa, adorned with chic and understated sea-inspired decor, boasts a luminous and roomy living area, complete with a nearby pantry and minibar.
Two Bedroom Water Reserve
This villa offers breathtaking panoramic views of the uninterrupted horizon, the crystal-clear depths of the ocean, and the star-strewn night sky. Designed for ultimate privacy, this reserve includes a spacious outdoor deck with a private pool featuring a catamaran net, a water slide that descends directly into the sea, and comfortable loungers with sunken seating. Inside, the living area boasts floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal views, while the master bedroom’s retractable ceiling invites stargazing from the king-sized bed.
Villa 15
Nestled around a majestic jungle tree, this expansive villa boasts four luxurious bedrooms, a study, a children’s den, and a dedicated room for the nanny. With outdoor options for relaxation and dining abound, it features a spacious swimming pool with a sunken dining table and water slide. For moments of tranquility, indulge in the signature outdoor bathroom with an open-air tub and shower.
Villa 37
Unwind in a tropical oasis just moments away from the pristine white sandy beach. The standout feature of Villa 37 is the Moonlight Table, soaring high above the roof. Elevate your dining experience to panoramic heights, relishing picturesque views of the Maldives’ breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Villa 38
This expansive villa offers an open-plan living room, dining room, kitchen, and pantry which connect to the large ground-floor bedrooms. The ground floor additionally houses a spa suite with sauna and steam rooms.
On the upper floor, two additional guest bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and private balconies are accessible via a spiral staircase. The upper floor also includes a private gym with a bathroom and shower, along with daybeds that offer scenic views of the Indian Ocean.
Villa 42
Explore a haven for relaxation amid idyllic tropical scenery. Immerse yourself in the expansive swimming pool, or enjoy a thrilling descent down your private water slide. Perfect for larger gatherings, friends and family can come together in the sunken seated area, unwind on the terrace, or witness the sunset from the upper deck while savoring wines from the exclusive private wine vault.
Villa 43
This reserve boasts six bedrooms and emerges amidst the trees with six distinct structures rising from the sand, centered around an ancient Banyan tree.
This exclusive space includes two pools – with one adjacent to the master suite, and a main pool complete with a water slide and sunken seating area. Additionally, it offers a private gym, sauna, steam facilities, and a dedicated children’s bedroom.
Private Reserve
Step into the grandeur of this beach-side villa, a modern desert-island mansion amidst leafy jungle. Immerse yourself in a stunning island paradise of your own, with palm-frond roofs, woven ropes, and tree branch banisters. Unwind on the extensive deck within the heart of the large swimming pool, or enjoy the sauna or steam room inside. Host dinners in the sunken dining area or spend leisurely days in and around the lagoon-like pool. This fully private reserve sleeps 14 adults and 9 children and is undoubtedly the best residence at the Soneva Fushi.
Further information
Dining
Dining is a defining feature, with more than a dozen concepts across the island. Out of the Blue is the two-story overwater hub, covering grilled meats, teppanyaki, sushi, and a water slide into the lagoon. Fresh in the Garden is the treetop restaurant reached by zipline, with tasting menus built on the organic gardens. So Hands On is Chef Akira’s five-seat sushi counter, and Shades of Green handles plant-based cooking. Chocolate, ice cream, and cheese parlours run all day.
Wellness
Wellness is delivered through Soneva Soul, a two-story complex set within the island’s jungle. The approach is built around a “lifestyle evolution” philosophy, with personalized programs co-curated for each guest across complementary therapies, Ayurveda, and integrative medicine. The team spans spa therapists, movement specialists, and Ayurvedic practitioners, supported by a rotating roster of visiting experts. Outdoor jungle gyms, yoga champas, and nutritionist-designed, plant-forward menus round out the offering.
Experiences
The experience program is what sets Soneva Fushi apart. Cinema Paradiso screens films open-air over the water, while the Observatory runs stargazing through one of the region’s most powerful telescopes. There’s a glass-blowing studio, the only one in the Maldives, plus the Eco Centro waste-to-wealth center and an organic garden tour. The house reef is among the country’s best, with Hanifaru Bay, the world’s largest manta aggregation site, around 20 minutes away by boat.
The Maldives
The Maldives is made up of more than a thousand coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, each resort occupying its own private atoll. No shared beaches, no neighbouring properties, no traffic. The geography does something that no amount of hotel design can replicate: it removes you completely from everything else. The range across those islands is wider than most people expect.
Our Experts
The Maldives is a stand-out when it comes to luxury travel and our most popular destination. We are also proud to be able to work with properties that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Staying in an over-water bungalow is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'd recommend to any traveller. It's amazing to swim in some of the world's most impressive coral reefs and the sunset's divine.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Soneva Fushi
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.