Dec 31, 2021
TALK ABOUT OVER THE TOP. Soneva Fushi is elevating dining with decadent meals way up high on their dreamy private island. The only way in? A thrilling zipline adventure through the jungle canopy of this most inventive of Maldives resorts takes you to their five-star-treehouse restaurant for breakfast, high tea or dinner.
If sinking your toes into startling white sands tickled by azure waters at Soneva Fushi isn’t enough – as if! – then the latest addition to the barefoot-luxury hideaway in the Maldives should do the trick. Built specifically to get on your bucket list, Flying Sauces is a unique restaurant that sits among the canopy of ancient trees, offering majestic views of the island and sparkling ocean from the table and the zipline.
So, how does it work? Start or end a day of surfing, swimming, pampering at the spa or simply kicking back on the beach at The Den. Here, you will be strapped into a safety harness and set off along the 200-meter-long zipline that takes you 10 meters into the air. Don’t worry about a “blink-and-you-miss-it” moment as the entire journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to complete – plenty of time to soak up the scenery.
Combining world-class gastronomy with the thrill of ziplining, chef Rasal Jayawardene has designed for Flying Sauces a mouth-watering six-course dinner and perfectly paired each dish with a selection from the resort’s more than 9,000 wines. Think Hokkaido scallop carpaccio with crispy wild rice, black cod with artichoke puree and teriyaki truffle sauce, and plant-based cheesecake with mango salsa and mixed berry compote. Yum.
All photos courtesy of Soneva Fushi
“This new experience gives our guests a new perspective of our unique island ecosystem, allowing them to reconnect with the sights and sounds of nature while enjoying fine dining hospitality at the same time,” said Soneva CEO and co-founder, Sonu Shivdasani.
Flying Sauces restaurant prices, including zipline experience, range from US$175 for breakfast to US$595 for dinner with wine pairing. soneva.com/resorts/soneva-fushi
WHILE SONEVA FUSHI TAKES the title of the world’s first luxury fly-in-by-zipline restaurant, it isn’t the only resort where guests can get on a high. Here are other spots across Asia-Pacific that offer an exhilarating airborne adventure right on site.
Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia
Enjoy an unforgettable arrival at the luxurious jungle retreat and whizz more than 400 meters across a gushing river that cuts through ancient trees in Southeast Asia’s largest remaining intact rainforest, the Cardamom Mountains. Upon landing, you’re greeted with your favorite drink for ease of check-in.
Courtesy of Shinta Mani Wild
Courtesy of Club Mahindra Kandaghat
Club Mahindra Kandaghat, India
Experience the majestic hills of Shimla from the eyes of a bird and soar through the skies with Club Mahindra resort’s ziplining adventure. Fly from mountain peak to peak and soak up Himachal Pradesh’s lush nature from above.
The Secret Ella, Sri Lanka
What’s better than a zipline to a restaurant for high tea? How about a zipline high above tea country? Soak up aerial vistas of the island from the dizzying heights of Flying Ravana, Sri Lanka’s first zipline. Located in the lush estates of Ella, the two-wire zipline soars at speeds of up to 80 kmph above rolling green hills.
Courtesy of The Secret Ella
Courtesy of Aonang Fiore
Aonang Fiore, Thailand
Get on a high in the heart of Krabi’s Ao-nang at Ao-nangfioré zipline park. Packed full of family fun, activities that range from easy to extreme, the park boasts more than 30 games and adventures from the treetops.
Alba Thanh Tan Resort by Fusion, Vietnam
Sitting snug in tropical forest close to the ancient capital of Hue, this resort gives guests the chance to soar at heights of up to 45 meters along a 560-meter zipline to lap up bird’s eye views of their surroundings. If that’s not enough, a highwire adventure course features 32 challenges.
Courtesy of Alba Thanh Tan Resort by Fusion
Courtesy of Vinpearl
Vinpearl Nha Trang, Vietnam
Experience Vietnam’s steepest, longest and highest zipline that hits speeds of up to 100 kmph from an elevation of up to 130 meters. Zipline Vinpearl Nha Trang is one of many exhilarating activities guests can enjoy at the family-friendly VinWonders Nha Trang.
