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Every year is filled with exceptional experiences and the wonder of discovery at Soneva. Spanning all of Soneva’s world-leading resorts in the Maldives and Thailand, Soneva Stars is a new, year-round calendar of acclaimed visiting experts and one-of-a-kind activities, ensuring that Soneva’s guests will always be inspired and enthralled, no matter when they visit.

Soneva Stars will focus on five key periods during the year, including February half term, the Easter break, August holidays, October half term and the end of year Festive holidays. The new, annual programme promises an eclectic line-up of thought-provoking experts and rare experiences from across a thrilling spectrum of interests and disciplines – from best-selling authors, daring explorers, and sporting heroes to leading wellness practitioners, motivational speakers and Michelin-starred chefs. Throughout the year, guests are guaranteed to encounter bespoke experiences with Soneva Stars’ fascinating array of talent, whether those are hosted dinners, engaging talks or enriching one-on-one sessions.

“By curating an annual calendar of acclaimed visiting experts and bespoke experiences, the new Soneva Stars programme is a natural extension of our ethos of ‘intelligent luxury’,” explains Sonu Shivdasani, founder and CEO of Soneva. “With a focus on the busiest periods across our three Soneva resorts in the Maldives and Thailand, our guests can be assured that they will find the most engaging, diverse and memorable experiences from the moment they arrive.”

Past Soneva residencies have been hand-picked from the world’s most eminent experts in their chosen fields. Celebrated chefs have included the two Michelin-starred Tom Aikens, Spain’s Kiko Moya (1*) and Julien Royer (3*), co-founder of Asia’s best restaurant, Odette. From the world of sport and fitness, Soneva has welcomed champion freediver Umberto Pelizzari, rugby legend Jason Robinson and football stars Mikael Silvestre and Karina LeBlanc. From art, culture and science, visiting experts have included celebrated Italian glass artist Lino Tagliapietra, acclaimed astronomer Massimo Terenghi and best-selling author and historian Peter Frankopan. From the realm of wellness and healing, leading practitioners Sandra Laznik and ayurvedic expert Dr. G. N. Lakshman have enjoyed residences at Soneva’s resorts.

In 2020, Soneva Stars is set to welcome a bigger and brighter line up than ever before. Pioneering Danish chef Jonas Astrup will bring the best of Nordic cuisine to Soneva Fushi in March, while two-starred Cédric Vongerichten will combine modern French and Indonesian flavours at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in April.

Acclaimed wine expert Jancis Robinson will be sharing her extensive knowledge with guests at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in March and April. Considered the world’s most influential wine critic, she will be guiding guests through the essentials of oenology via the array of vintages in Soneva’s extensive wine cellars.

Throughout the year, celebrated yoga practitioner Pawan Kumar will be in residence at Soneva Jani – having honed his craft in India’s ashrams and with yoga masters in the Himalayas, he views yoga as a science, and the key to unlocking a life of peace, bliss and miracles.