Gili Lankanfushi Hotel & Resort, Maldives
North Male
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Our Opinion of Gili Lankanfushi
The most recent Angelfish visitors to Gili Lankanfushi were Dan & Jo.
Elegantly flying the 'laid back luxury' and 'eco-friendly' flags, this is a resort of the very highest calibre, with superb food & service, and ethos inspired by the original Soneva Fushi. The spacious villas are all entirely over-water in the rustic chic, Crusoe style, some only accessible by boat, and the antithesis of the marble-and-bling affairs favoured by many. Following a refurbishment closure in 2019 some villas now have private pools added, but we'd skip those and take the steps into the beautiful lagoon instead and go for a snorkel or wallow in a hammock.
Undoubtedly one of the top resorts in the Maldives, located in a busy stretch of islands in the North Male Atoll. Some will find the proximity to Male convenient, while others looking for a more remote, desert island experience might look further afield, although we would argue they are missing out - despite the location, Gili is a resort that begs you to slow down and unwind, and we're all too willing to oblige!
Undoubtedly one of the top resorts in the Maldives, located in a busy stretch of islands in the North Male Atoll. Some will find the proximity to Male convenient, while others looking for a more remote, desert island experience might look further afield, although we would argue they are missing out - despite the location, Gili is a resort that begs you to slow down and unwind, and we're all too willing to oblige!
Angelfish Travel guests staying at Gili Lankanfushi are entitled to a complimentary Angelfish Cocktail (one cocktail per adult per stay)
Gili Lankanfushi Summary
Formerly known as Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Gili Lankanfushi is set on the private tropical island of Lankanfushi in the North Malé Atoll. This luxury resort is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the International Airport at Malé.
Gili Lankanfushi has just 45 luxurious overwater villas, including Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached only by boat. Each villa is built to be environmentally friendly, and designed with exceptional attention to detail, and all have their own private water garden, sun deck as well as a separate shower linked to the bathroom by an open-air walkway.
Each villa will enjoy the services of a dedicated Mr or Ms Friday - so named after Robinson Crusoe's loyal friend and assistant. Your Mr/Ms Friday, will be happy to help arrange excursions, spa appointments, sunset cruises, restuarant reservations and can also help pack or unpack your luggage. If you are travelling with young children, Mr/Ms Friday can also host storytelling and craft sessions to keep them entertained.
The cuisine will whet your appetite with fresh offerings and local produce, while the extraordinary settings will leave a lasting impression.
Environmental Awareness
Gili Lankanfushi is very environmentally aware - the utmost care has been taken in developing the island with respect to its ecological balance, without compromising their excellent level of service and standards. Sustainable building materials and interiors are favoured (i.e. plantation teak, palm wood, bamboo etc.). Each year the resort carefully invests 0.5% of its annual revenue in projects that produce socio-economic returns to the communities. Environmental education and awareness is also an integral part of the environmental management system at the resort - training programmes have been developed for the island staff in order to help them make environmentally informed decisions daily. The management also seeks strong support and participation from the guests, tour operators and travel agents in order to develop a culture of proactive environmental awareness.
Gili Lankanfushi has just 45 luxurious overwater villas, including Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached only by boat. Each villa is built to be environmentally friendly, and designed with exceptional attention to detail, and all have their own private water garden, sun deck as well as a separate shower linked to the bathroom by an open-air walkway.
Each villa will enjoy the services of a dedicated Mr or Ms Friday - so named after Robinson Crusoe's loyal friend and assistant. Your Mr/Ms Friday, will be happy to help arrange excursions, spa appointments, sunset cruises, restuarant reservations and can also help pack or unpack your luggage. If you are travelling with young children, Mr/Ms Friday can also host storytelling and craft sessions to keep them entertained.
The cuisine will whet your appetite with fresh offerings and local produce, while the extraordinary settings will leave a lasting impression.
Environmental Awareness
Gili Lankanfushi is very environmentally aware - the utmost care has been taken in developing the island with respect to its ecological balance, without compromising their excellent level of service and standards. Sustainable building materials and interiors are favoured (i.e. plantation teak, palm wood, bamboo etc.). Each year the resort carefully invests 0.5% of its annual revenue in projects that produce socio-economic returns to the communities. Environmental education and awareness is also an integral part of the environmental management system at the resort - training programmes have been developed for the island staff in order to help them make environmentally informed decisions daily. The management also seeks strong support and participation from the guests, tour operators and travel agents in order to develop a culture of proactive environmental awareness.
Gili Lankanfushi FAQs
How do you get to Gili Lankanfushi?
Gili Lankanfushi is reached by speedboat from Malé, around 20 minutes from the international airport. The resort sits on the private island of Lankanfushi in North Malé Atoll, close enough for a quick transfer yet secluded once you arrive.
Are all the villas overwater?
Yes, all 45 villas and residences at Gili Lankanfushi are overwater, in the resort's signature barefoot-chic, Crusoe style. Most are reached along the jetty, while the Crusoe Residences sit further out and are reached only by boat. The Private Reserve, billed as the world's largest stand-alone overwater villa, has its own infinity pool, spa pavilion, gym and cinema, with a water slide into the sea.
What is the Mr or Ms Friday service?
Every villa comes with a dedicated Mr or Ms Friday, named after Robinson Crusoe's companion. They act as a personal assistant throughout your stay, arranging excursions, spa appointments, sunset cruises and restaurant reservations, and are on hand to help with anything else, from unpacking your luggage to organising a private dinner.
Is Gili Lankanfushi as eco-conscious as it claims?
Genuinely so. The villas are built from sustainable local materials such as teak, palm wood and bamboo, and the resort's Gili Veshi programme covers coral line restoration, a resident marine biology team and wider environmental initiatives. There is also an organic garden at the heart of the island that supplies much of the produce for the restaurants.
