Barefoot luxury pioneer Soneva has taken the holiday kids’ club concept to the next level with the opening of The Den at Soneva Jani, a purpose-built, technology free space for kids of all ages. With separate spaces dedicated to teenagers and toddlers, and experienced childminders on hand from 9.30am to 5.00pm, The Den is a safe and secure space where junior jetsetters can live out the Maldivian holiday of their dreams.
Outside, two waterfalls cascade into The Den’s swimming pool, complete with water slides, catamaran nets and a hidden grotto that transforms into the Cave Bar, a teen hangout with mocktails, DJ booth and dancefloor. A 32-metre zipline runs above the pool and splashes through the waterfalls, and there’s a pirate ship to explore and a skate ramp for older kids.
No phones or tablets are allowed inside The Den, where youngsters will discover a space dedicated to play and learning, complete with a bowling alley, Lego and craft area, dressing-up room and a library and cinema. There’s a separate space dedicated to sensory play for toddlers, plus a kitchen where kids can learn to cook and join in with a Junior MasterChef competition. Teens will find a music room, telescope deck, pinball machines, and pool and fusball tables at The Hangout rooftop area, as well as a dry slide leading to ground level.
Soneva Academy offers immersive modular courses for kids over 12, covering a range of topics including the night sky, birdwatching, waste and pollution, marine life and the dangers of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, as well as a quest across the seas in the wake of an ancient galleon. Be warned: after they’ve experienced The Den, your kids may never want to stay anywhere else again.
