Soneva Jani: Inside one of the Maldives’ most luxurious resorts

Karla Cripps
Story by Karla Cripps, video by Channon Hodge, CNN
Updated 10:12 AM EST, Tue November 14, 2017
<strong>Soneva Jani: </strong>One of the newest luxury resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Jani offers 24 over-water villas and one four-bedroom beach villa. With villas starting from $3,000-$5,000 per night depending on the season, it's one of the country's most expensive resorts.
Soneva Jani: One of the newest luxury resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Jani offers 24 over-water villas and one four-bedroom beach villa. With villas starting from $3,000-$5,000 per night depending on the season, it's one of the country's most expensive resorts.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Over-water paradise: </strong>Soneva Jani is the Soneva brand's second Maldives resort. Though the resort is on the uninhabited island of Medhufaru, much of Soneva Jani was built over the water.
Over-water paradise: Soneva Jani is the Soneva brand's second Maldives resort. Though the resort is on the uninhabited island of Medhufaru, much of Soneva Jani was built over the water.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Private stretches of sand:</strong> The island of Medhufaru is 150 acres in size and sits inside a 5.6-kilometer lagoon, meaning guests will always be able to find their own private stretch of white sand.
Private stretches of sand: The island of Medhufaru is 150 acres in size and sits inside a 5.6-kilometer lagoon, meaning guests will always be able to find their own private stretch of white sand.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Poolside splendor: </strong>Every villa has its own lagoon-facing pool.
Poolside splendor: Every villa has its own lagoon-facing pool.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Not your average driftwood: </strong>Striking, large pieces of driftwood can be found throughout the resort, adding to the Robinson Crusoe vibe.
Not your average driftwood: Striking, large pieces of driftwood can be found throughout the resort, adding to the Robinson Crusoe vibe.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Four-bedroom water villa: </strong>Soneva Jani's<strong> </strong>four-bedroom water villa is 1,226 square meters. It comes with its own water slide, study room, fitness room, outdoor shower, daybed, TV lounge, walk-in minibar and a sleeping area for the kids.
Four-bedroom water villa: Soneva Jani's four-bedroom water villa is 1,226 square meters. It comes with its own water slide, study room, fitness room, outdoor shower, daybed, TV lounge, walk-in minibar and a sleeping area for the kids.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Built for stargazing:</strong> Each villa's master bedroom has its own retractable roof that slides back for stargazing.
Built for stargazing: Each villa's master bedroom has its own retractable roof that slides back for stargazing.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>One-bedroom villa: </strong>The master bedroom in the one-bedroom villa. Highlighting the resort's "no news, no shoes" philosophy, the TV is hidden inside those mock chests at the end of the bed.
One-bedroom villa: The master bedroom in the one-bedroom villa. Highlighting the resort's "no news, no shoes" philosophy, the TV is hidden inside those mock chests at the end of the bed.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Soneva Jani from above:</strong> "The philosophy of the Soneva brand is about slow life, it's about intelligent luxury," says Soneva Jani resort manager Fathimath Shaazleen.
Soneva Jani from above: "The philosophy of the Soneva brand is about slow life, it's about intelligent luxury," says Soneva Jani resort manager Fathimath Shaazleen.
Soneva Jani
<strong>Open-air:</strong> Soneva Jani's villas are equipped with retractable doors, allowing guests full access to the beautiful scenery at any time of day.
Open-air: Soneva Jani's villas are equipped with retractable doors, allowing guests full access to the beautiful scenery at any time of day.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Sunset views: </strong>Though the Maldives is most famous for its blue waters and white sands, the sunsets are just as stunning. Soneva Jani offers sunset dolphin-watching trips.<strong> </strong>
Sunset views: Though the Maldives is most famous for its blue waters and white sands, the sunsets are just as stunning. Soneva Jani offers sunset dolphin-watching trips.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Catamaran nets: </strong>In addition to loungers and sunken dining areas, all villa pools have relaxing "catamaran nets."
Catamaran nets: In addition to loungers and sunken dining areas, all villa pools have relaxing "catamaran nets."
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>The Gathering: </strong>Villa doesn't come with a waterslide? There's a public slide at "The Gathering." This huge, open-air, three-story structure houses Soneva Jani's restaurant, fitness center, spa and kids' club.
The Gathering: Villa doesn't come with a waterslide? There's a public slide at "The Gathering." This huge, open-air, three-story structure houses Soneva Jani's restaurant, fitness center, spa and kids' club.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Water hammock: </strong>It takes a bit of time to swim out to the resort's water hammock -- and can be a challenge to climb into during high tide -- but the effort is worth it.
Water hammock: It takes a bit of time to swim out to the resort's water hammock -- and can be a challenge to climb into during high tide -- but the effort is worth it.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Villa living room: </strong>No need for a TV when you've got views like this.
Villa living room: No need for a TV when you've got views like this.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Cinema Paradiso: </strong>The resort's outdoor open-air cinema screens movies regularly. It can also be booked for private dinners/movie nights.
Cinema Paradiso: The resort's outdoor open-air cinema screens movies regularly. It can also be booked for private dinners/movie nights.
Courtesy Soneva
<strong>Mr. Fridays: </strong>Guests are assigned their own Mr. or Mrs. Friday. "That person is not a typical butler, but someone who's more like a host," says Soneva Jani resort manager Fathimath Shaazleen.
Mr. Fridays: Guests are assigned their own Mr. or Mrs. Friday. "That person is not a typical butler, but someone who's more like a host," says Soneva Jani resort manager Fathimath Shaazleen.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Float planes: </strong>To reach Soneva Jani, most guests arrive via one of the many sea planes that depart daily from the capital, Male. Trans Maldivian Airways is the world's largest sea plane operator. The flight time is about 40 minutes.
Float planes: To reach Soneva Jani, most guests arrive via one of the many sea planes that depart daily from the capital, Male. Trans Maldivian Airways is the world's largest sea plane operator. The flight time is about 40 minutes.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Arrival jetty: </strong>Following the flight, guests are taken by boat to the resort's arrival jetty.
Arrival jetty: Following the flight, guests are taken by boat to the resort's arrival jetty.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Bathrooms with a view: </strong>Brushing your teeth will never be the same again. Located just off the dressing room, even a trip to the bathroom sinks offers great views.
Bathrooms with a view: Brushing your teeth will never be the same again. Located just off the dressing room, even a trip to the bathroom sinks offers great views.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Outdoor bathtubs and showers: </strong>All villas have their own open-air bathtubs.
Outdoor bathtubs and showers: All villas have their own open-air bathtubs.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
<strong>Private beach dining: </strong>The resort offers a variety of meal plans, from half-board to all-inclusive. Among the must-try culinary options is a private beach dining experience, available for any meal.
Private beach dining: The resort offers a variety of meal plans, from half-board to all-inclusive. Among the must-try culinary options is a private beach dining experience, available for any meal.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Last look: </strong>Many guests are attracted to Soneva's commitment to sustainability. The resort was built with sustainable materials. Most of the menu items are organic, and all waste is sent to the resort's eco-center for processing. Soneva Jani also produces its own water, which is served in glass bottles to cut down on plastic.
Last look: Many guests are attracted to Soneva's commitment to sustainability. The resort was built with sustainable materials. Most of the menu items are organic, and all waste is sent to the resort's eco-center for processing. Soneva Jani also produces its own water, which is served in glass bottles to cut down on plastic.
Courtesy Soneva Jani
Inside the ultra-luxurious Soneva Jani resort
CNN  — 

When it comes to Maldives travel, you have to try pretty hard to have a bad vacation.

Made up of more than 1,000 islands that sit in 26 reef-framed atolls, this tiny nation’s waters of seemingly infinite shades of blue and green slide into patches of white sands and dark corals.

There are now over 100 resorts occupying these tiny parcels of paradise, offering various degrees of luxury.

But few can match the experience you’ll walk away from Soneva Jani with.

One of the newest and most expensive resorts in the country, it’s made up of just 24 over-water villas – plus one four-bedroom beach villa – on the uninhabited island of Medhufaru, which sits within a large, private lagoon in the Noonu Atoll.

In spite of the island’s size, much of the resort was built over the water. This includes the “The Gathering,” – a huge, open-air, three-story structure that houses the resort’s restaurant, fitness center, spa and kids’ club.

The smallest available villas range from $3,000-$5,000 per night, depending on the season, while the largest go for about $20,000 per night.

Soneva Jani Maldives_00004925.jpg