Award-winning luxury resorts brand Soneva has launched its latest family offering, The Den, at Soneva Jani in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll. The remarkable result of two years of design, engineering and construction, the 16,145-square-foot, two-story structure is an awe-inspiring playground for the imagination, with a series of interactive experiences specially designed to delight and entertain visiting kids and teens.
Introducing young guests to the resort’s pioneering SLOW LIFE philosophy and in line with its ‘No News, No Shoes’ ethos, all phones and tablets are required to be left in the villas before coming to The Den, encouraging young guests to learn, play, discover nature and let their creativity and curiosity run wild on Soneva Jani’s home island of Medhufaru.
The Den’s 1,668-square-foot swimming pool features a waterslide, catamaran nets, shallow areas for toddlers, and two waterfalls -- one of which leads into a grotto that transforms into the Cave Bar, an evening hangout for teens, complete with a DJ booth, dance floor and pool bar serving mocktails. More intrepid adventurers can also cross the pool via the 105-foot zipline that makes a splash as it traverses through the waterfall. Just beyond the pool lies a pirate ship and skateboard ramp, keeping even the most active of little explorers entertained for hours on end.
The entrance of The Den welcomes its visitors with melodic sounds of the sea. Piano-inspired keys embedded in the wooden floors that playfully trigger four underwater-themed musical compositions: Musical Sealife, Underwater Organ, Dance of the Waves and Maldivian Maestro. Young guests can switch to another composition, or create their own, by stepping on a different key on the floor.
Venturing inside, a bowling alley, Lego and craft area, dress-up room, library and cinema provide space for books, films, fantasies and more. A separate area is dedicated to sensory play for toddlers, while the kitchen area hosts cooking lessons and Soneva’s regular Junior MasterChef competition.
Scientifically savvy Young Sonevians will also delight in the bioluminescent flooring, where a plankton-blue light effect is activated by footsteps, while the jellyfish alcove is ripe for discovery. Young pioneers can partake in UV discovery exercises to reveal hidden infographics on the walls, explore global oceanic themes in a 4D perspective, identify the fish that matches their height using the fish ruler, and make use of the ‘Tale of the Whale’ feature to talk like a fish, with their voices live transcoded to ‘fish talk’ for next-level science fun.
Upstairs, The Hangout is a dedicated roof deck for teens featuring a music room, telescope deck, pool and foosball tables, pinball machines, table tennis table set above a reflecting pond, as well as a dry slide for speedy escapes.
Older children and teenagers can also join the Soneva Academy, which takes young learners outside of the classroom with immersive modular courses. Taking children and teens aged 12 and up from ‘junior’ to ‘expert’, the courses cover a range of fascinating topics, including "The Night Sky in the Maldives," "Become a Birdwatcher," "Zero Waste and Plastic Pollution in the Maldives," "Mosquitoes and Mosquito-borne Diseases," "Marine Life of the Maldives" and the "Adventure of the Corbin," a quest across the seas in the wake of an ancient galleon.
A haven for families, The Den features weekly rosters for both young children and teens, each filled with exciting, educational and engaging opportunities for parents and their children to create meaningful moments at the barefoot hideaway. Open daily from 9:30am-5pm, The Den offers the services of Soneva Jani’s experienced childminders, who are on hand to watch over young guests’ every move and ensure they enjoy every moment in a safe and secure environment. While the space and daily program are designed for children four years and older, children under four are also welcome to join if accompanied by a parent or a babysitter.
For even more family fun under the Maldives’ endless blue skies, the multi-award-winning resort has launched the Ultimate Family Offer. When booking a minimum stay of four nights, children aged up to 15 years will receive complimentary full board dining, when sharing with two adults. Also included in the offer is a range of Soneva Jani’s signature child-friendly experiences, including welcome gifts and children’s arrival kits with baby accessories, highchairs, prams, playpens, monitors, bottle warmers, bathmats and other supplies.
For more information on the Ultimate Family Offer Package at Soneva Jani, visit https://soneva.com/offer/soneva-jani-family-offer
For more information about Soneva resorts, visit www.soneva.com.
