One of the most iconic resorts in the Indian Ocean is taking barefoot luxury to a whole new level with the introduction of the largest overwater villas in the world.
Soneva Fushi’s new Water Retreats are just about ready to welcome distinguished guests to make full use of contemporary Robinson Crusoe-esq set up, including their very own waterslide that you can whizz down straight into the turquoise waters as much as you like. Oh, and with a push of a button, the retractable roof slides back above the master bed to reveal sunny skies or starlit nights.
The eight exclusive Water Retreats have been designed to ensure the utmost privacy for guests, as well as to make the most of the picture-perfect ocean vistas.
“While we will always remain true to the much-loved spirit and laid-back ethos of Soneva Fushi, the new Water Retreat villas will elevate our offering,” says Sonu Shivdasani, Soneva’s CEO and Founder. “Having overwater villas gives our guests the luxury of choice, to stay amongst the deep greens of the jungle with the beach just steps away, or wake up to panoramic views of the ocean.”
Available to book from September 25, you have a choice of 1 or 2 bedroom Water Retreats which have been designed with spacious interior and exterior living spaces for the whole family to enjoy.
Not that the 2 bedroom villas have both bedrooms on the ground floor, while the pool has been moved to the front of the pool deck, where it is now suspended over the ocean. The pool deck has been extended for more space for sun loungers and daybeds, with extra overhangs that create more shade. Catamaran nets let guests sit above the waves, while curved steps lead from the pool deck to the water below.
When it comes to the interior, the colour palette consists of light blues, greens, and soft beiges, bringing to mind the colours of the ocean around Soneva Fushi and the verdant island jungle. The décor is true to the rustic castaway style that Soneva Fushi is known for, similar to the resort’s newer villas.
“I wanted to keep Soneva Fushi’s natural beauty, so it looks almost the same as the day we found it, with the villas hidden amongst the vegetation,” explains Eva Malmstrom Shivdasani, Soneva’s Creative Director and Conscience. “When we had to add more villas, we didn’t want to touch the beach, as we believe it should be for our guests and the turtles that visit our shores. So, we built over the ocean. We hired all the right people to come and assess the proposed location, ensuring there would not be any live coral in the area.”
These Water Retreats have been raised high enough above the ocean so that the waves do not break against the underside like most overwater villas, thus reducing noise and vibrations. The walls use recycled Styrofoam as insulation, which helps keep the interiors cooler and serves to muffle the sound of the wind and waves. The curving jetty that links the Water Retreats to the island has been redesigned with the jetty planks laid lengthwise rather than width-wise to reduce the noise of buggies and bicycles.
The starting price for the new Water Retreats at Soneva Fushi is $2,626 (approximately Dhs9,645) per night for the 1 Bedroom Water Retreat with slide and $5,232 (approximately Dhs19,216) per night for the 2 Bedroom Water Retreat with slide.
