About this hotel
General information
Soneva Secret is the most intimate of the Soneva resorts: just 13 villas on the remote island of Dhipparufushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, at the western edge of the Maldives. Open ocean, untouched coral reefs and no neighbours surround it, and manta rays, dolphins and turtles are everyday company. Some villas hide in tropical greenery by the beach, others stand over the lagoon, and the most secluded of all, the Sea Lofts, sit out in the ocean and are reached only by boat.
Each villa has its own villa manager and personal butler, and days are shaped around the guest rather than a fixed timetable. Stays are full board, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and the soft drinks in the minibar included; alcohol is charged separately, and an all-inclusive upgrade, Soneva Unlimited, is available. Island clocks run an hour ahead of Malé to give guests more daylight. The whole island can also be reserved for up to 50 guests across its 13 villas, for weddings, milestone celebrations or private executive retreats.
Location
Dhipparufushi lies in Haa Dhaalu Atoll on the western fringe of the Maldives. A seaplane covers the distance from Velana International Airport in Malé in 55–75 minutes; seaplanes fly in daylight only, so international flights should land in Malé by 15:00. Alternatively, guests can fly into Maafaru airport in Noonu Atoll and take a 25-minute seaplane, or take a domestic flight to Kulhudhuffushi airport in Haa Dhaalu Atoll followed by an hour by speedboat.
Spa
The Soneva Soul wellbeing programme is centred on the villas, each of which has its own treatment room for massages, one-to-one sessions and tailored wellbeing journeys; massages can be booked at any hour. Signature rituals include So Secret, the sleep-focused Soulful Slumber and the reflective The Six Doors, a Soul Path. Private yoga and pilates, sound healing, guided meditation and breathwork and a personal trainer are offered too, and the cold plunge and infrared sauna are complimentary.
Sports & leisure
Every villa has a fully equipped gym, and bicycles and tricycles are provided for getting around the island. The ocean is the main draw: guided snorkelling, swimming with manta rays (up to 50 at a time), the Big 5 Ocean Safari in search of the larger marine species, diving with the Soleni Dive Centre, trips to reefs, wrecks and freediving sites, deep-sea fishing and light-tackle fishing by jet-ski. Jet-skis, Seabobs, catamarans, kayaks and paddleboards are on hand for exploring the lagoon, with a guide to the atoll's most untouched corners.
Beyond the water there is an ocean zipline that lands at a restaurant, an overwater observatory, in-villa cinema, sunrise and sunset yoga, wine tastings, the Earth Journey introduction to the resort’s sustainability practices, and breakfast or dinner on a private sandbank. Resident photographers and videographers can accompany guests, drone footage included.
For children
The Den kids’ club is a space for creativity and discovery where younger guests are free to play and explore; it is open to guests of every villa, and the resort runs a programme of daily children’s activities.
Restaurants & bars
There are few restaurants in the conventional sense: the butler helps plan each meal and choose where it is served.
- The Living Room — relaxed dining from breakfast to evening with island views
- Out of This World — dinners and rare wines in the overwater observatory
- Primitive — Maldivian cooking over open fire by the shore
- Secret Garden — personalised menus built on produce from the island’s own garden, in a hidden corner of the island
- Chef’s Table — a tasting menu with wine pairings at the executive chef’s private station
- Sunset Embers — a seafood and prime-cut barbecue by the ocean at sunset
- Secluded Alfresco Luncheon — an open-air tasting lunch in a private spot beneath the palms
- Sandbank Dawn — breakfast on a sandbank with champagne, fresh juices, pastries and tropical fruit, reached by speedboat or jet-ski
- A World of Flavour — in-villa dining from early breakfast to late-night meals
Chocolate, ice-cream and cheese-and-charcuterie rooms stay open around the clock, and the resident sommelier pours from a cellar holding some of the most sought-after bottles in the Maldives. The kitchens cater for vegetarian, plant-based, kosher and halal diets.
Swimming
Every villa has its own freshwater pool. The beach villas open straight onto soft sand, the overwater villas have direct access to the lagoon, and slides from their decks drop guests into the sea. Guided snorkelling takes place on the surrounding reefs.
Rooms
The island has 13 villas of three kinds: beach villas set in tropical greenery, overwater villas, and the Sea Lofts out in the open ocean, reached only by boat. Each has a private pool, a children’s or guest bedroom, a treatment room and a gym, with a retractable roof above the main bedroom for stargazing.
Villas have a kitchen, a minibar or wine cellar, Wi-Fi (which can be switched off), a TV with DVD player, a Bose sound system, yoga mats, bicycles, filtered water in glass bottles, reef-safe sunscreen and toiletries.
One-Bedroom Horizon Overwater Villa
An overwater villa with views in every direction: a bedroom under a retractable roof, an outdoor bathroom with a sunken tub, a children’s bedroom, living room, study and gym, a deck with a freshwater pool and catamaran nets, and upstairs a treatment room, dining sala and a slide into the lagoon. Sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
Two-Bedroom Overwater Sea Loft
A secluded villa in the open ocean, reached only by boat: two main bedrooms with retractable roofs, two children’s bedrooms, semi-outdoor bathrooms opening onto the lagoon, a large deck with a pool, catamaran nets and a slide into the sea, and an upper deck with a dining sala and treatment room. Sleeps six adults, or four adults and four children.
One-Bedroom Beach Villa
A two-storey villa steps from the lagoon: a bedroom with a retractable roof and outdoor bathroom, a children’s room, gym, living room and study, a terrace with a freshwater pool, sunken dining area and swinging daybed, and upstairs a treatment room and dining sala. Sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
One-Bedroom Overwater Sea Loft
A villa above the lagoon with a lower-level bedroom under a retractable roof, a bathroom with direct water access, a children’s room, study and gym; upstairs are a treatment room, dining sala and a slide into the sea, and the villa comes with its own boat. Sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
Two-Bedroom Beach Pavilion
The island’s largest villa, set in greenery by the beach: two main bedrooms with retractable roofs and two adjoining bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and garden shower, a TV lounge, studies, gyms and a pool, and upstairs a dining sala and treatment room overlooking the lagoon. Sleeps six adults, or four adults and four children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.