Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

Returning to Gili Lankanfushi felt like coming home to paradise. I first visited this beautiful island back in 2021, and ever since, I’ve told my husband countless times how special it was. This year, we finally made it back together — and it was everything I had dreamed of, and more. From the moment we arrived, everything was perfect. The transfer was smooth and right on time, and soon we were cruising across the turquoise waters on a stunning yacht. Our shoes “disappeared” as we embraced Gili’s wonderful philosophy — no news, no shoes — and instantly, all stress melted away. We were warmly welcomed by Florian, the Director of Operations, and even though a storm was rolling in, Rodrigo, the General Manager, and his amazing team greeted us with smiles and open arms. You can really feel the spirit of this place — the belief that you come as a guest, make friends, and leave as family. Every team member we met was so genuinely kind and authentic — it’s impossible not to fall in love with the atmosphere here. A very special mention goes to our Ms. Friday, KK, who took such wonderful care of us throughout our stay. She anticipated every wish before we even had to ask and made everything feel effortless and personal. Thanks to her, our stay became even more unforgettable. 💛 The food? Absolutely incredible! Ruthul, the talented sushi chef, created dishes that were pure perfection. The whole dining concept is innovative, with lots of vegan options and a strong commitment to sustainability. Shiyan, the F&B manager, runs the experience flawlessly, and the lovely Azmee and Monica made every meal such a joy. We also had the most creative and delicious cocktails thanks to Nalin, who even invented a brand-new drink just for us — what a star! 🍹 Other highlights included an inspiring snorkeling trip with the marine biologist — so many corals and marine creatures to discover — and a mind-blowing spa treatment where the therapists turned every wish into reality within seconds. Our villa was in perfect condition and became our cozy haven during the stormy days. Despite the weather, every moment was filled with warmth, laughter, and genuine care. Gili Lankanfushi is more than just a luxury resort — it’s a feeling, a family, a place your heart never really leaves. We can’t wait to come back again soon. 🌺

We have recently returned from a two week stay at Gili Lankanfushi. It is our second visit to Gili because it is such a wonderful place. The location is stunning. The food is incredible. The vibe is relaxed and peaceful. The service from every single member of staff is outstanding. A huge thank you to you all and a very special mention to Naff who consistently went above and beyond and helped make our stay truly exceptional. The over water thatched roof villas are spotlessly clean, incredibly spacious and offer complete privacy. We had fabulous weather and so one clear night slept under the stars on the upstairs bed. Note that you won’t need your own shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, after sun , insect repellent - all are provided. My husband and I enjoy diving and we did many dives on this trip. A huge thank you to Sohee, Franko and Maahil. Wow - we had such a great time and you were all excellent dive companions as well as great company. Every single member of staff on the dive boat was an absolute star, So helpful. Thank you to Captains Adam & Rasheed, Absham and Rizunee. We genuinely miss you all and look forward to seeing you again as we will definitely return. Highlights of marine life on dives were Manta, Octopus, barracuda, grey reef sharks, Nudibranch, eagle rays, Mobula rays, Napoleon fish...it’s all going on down there! Each dive a wonderful adventure and a privilege. All dive sites were a maximum of fifteen minutes boat ride and there are a range of sites ranging from Thila to channel dives. We stayed on Jetty 2. The sea is calmer here and consequently it’s like a nursery for the marine life. Baby Picasso triggerfish, porcupine fish, cube boxfish, porcupine ray, juvenile black tip reef sharks, snowflake moray eel and octopus. Because of the great visibility you can see a lot of what is going on from the jetty or your villa. We had some super friendly rays hanging around often with their pufferfish buddies who love when the rays move the sand when feeding so they can pick at any leftovers. The Meera Spa is tranquil. The treatment rooms are over the water and add to the calm aura. The ‘Journey Recovery’ was extremely welcome after an 11 hr flight. I can also recommend the ‘Invigorating body treatment’ and the ‘Self-Discovery facial’. Absolute bliss. I will finish by again saying thank you to all staff for their warmth and friendship. Shukuriyyaa xxx

Our third visit to the Maldives, but our first visit to Gili Lankanfushi, and just 'WOW'! It was everything we hoped it to be and more, so much more...You are welcomed with open arms and immediatley feel like part of this close knit family of people who go to extrodinary lengths to make sure you have the most memorable experience. The villas are incredible, the restaurants amazing and the spa (and treatments) are world class and through the resort, at every turn, the attention to detail is second to none. One of us needed some medical attention whilst we were there and the on island doctor (forgive me, I forget her name) is so friendly, relaxed, knowledgable and importantly treated the issue accordingly with commendable aftercare. We must also give praise to the Airport & Speedboat Fridays - an absolute seamless service from the moment you step through the arrival gate to leaving the departure gate. We have returned home feeling relaxed and re-energised which is exactly what we wanted to bring back with us. We will be forever grateful to those who recommended Gili Lankanfushi to us and we will most certainly return, perhaps with our daughters as a graduation treat!

Amazing and beautiful location, only 15mins from Male by Speedboat. The atmosphere is totally relaxed barefoot luxury, with a really friendly vibe which is done to the amazing people there. Our time was spent, catching up with friends who works there who made our stay the most enjoyable and a really relaxing time. The rooms are breathtakingly beautiful, constructed from sustainable wood, beautifully clean and tidy, with indoor outdoor living, where you can even sleep upstairs under the stars if you want. Beautifully designed, with netted hammocks, sofas over the water, and loungers outside, where we never get tired of watching the stingrays, beautiful fish and black tipped sharks swim under the villas. The Complementary Daily yoga and beautiful Jungle Cinema are not to be missed! I had an amazing balinese massage at the Spa whilst watched Eagle rays and mini yellow box fish swim past! I cant even describe the sense of beauty of this island and the people working there, i'm not exaggerating when I say it feels almost magical !! The island is very private with only 45 villas with 3 restaurants, but as there is an exceptional rotating themes with live food stations, every night is different. We had an amazing Brazilian BBQ night, Asian street food, Mediterranean and of course our favourite Japanese restaurant with exceptional Sushi, thanks to Ruthul and Michiyo. The entire staff are so friendly and trained to an exceptional standard, not over imposing but totally aware of your needs, nothing is too much trouble. Excellent service from Bobbo - our fave Mr Friday, he's like family to us !! All the staff are wonderful, but the following stand out for their exceptional skills Wabbe, Alisha, Monika, Ruthul, Michiyo, Charito , they truly made our stay amazing. And of course Rodrigo the GM, for his skills and vision for the Island, his exceptional standards that he has instilled in his team make the island truly outstanding. We're not new travellers to the Maldives as we have visited 20+ times, however, this was our 2nd trip to Gili this year, it's now our clear favourite and we will always be returning ....