Constance Halaveli Maldives, the private island resort of Constance Hotels & Resorts, has unveiled a new chapter with refreshed villas, reimagined dining experiences and elevated guest facilities.

Floating in the crystal-clear waters of the North Ari Atoll, Constance Halaveli is a luxury five-star private island resort renowned for its spacious villas, spectacular lagoon setting and heartfelt hospitality. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, it emerges renewed, blending contemporary elegance with the authentic island spirit that has made Halaveli a favourite among travellers from around the world.

“For us, this transformation has always been about building on what our guests value most about Constance Halaveli: the warmth of our people, the beauty of the island and the highly personalised service that makes every stay feel individual,” said Tangi Legrand, General Manager of Constance Halaveli. “Today’s luxury guests seek meaningful experiences. Our ambition was to strengthen these pillars while introducing a new level of comfort, refinement, and attention to detail across the resort. The result is a Halaveli that feels simultaneously familiar and renewed.”

From the moment guests arrive on the island, a renewed sense of place unfolds. A redesigned arrival experience sets the tone for a stay defined by greater comfort and seamless service. Across the resort, renovated Beach Villas and Water Villas offer improved space, and functionality, complemented by upgraded amenities, new technology and elevated service standards. Beyond the villas, the pool and beach areas have also been reimagined with redesigned spaces, upgraded furnishings and a richer beach and pool experience, including a new beach hut that brings ease to every moment, from relaxed lunches to sunset drinks by the water.

Gastronomy and wine remain at the heart of the Constance Halaveli experience. At Jing, the resort’s iconic overwater restaurant, Asian influences, European touches and sweeping lagoon views come together in an elegant setting. The restaurant and bar have both been redesigned to create a more open setting and wider views across the lagoon. Destination dining, exclusive wine experiences and collaborations with renowned chefs and winemakers continue to elevate the culinary offering. Home to one of the Maldives’ most remarkable wine collections, with more than 22,500 bottles and 1,600 references, Jing’s wine cellar reflects a level of culinary ambition rarely found in the destination.

The resort has also boosted its wellness experiences through new wellbeing programmes including Full Moon Sound Healing, personalised fitness journeys at brand new Constance Spa.

Guided by the belief to “Come as a guest, leave as a friend”, it is the warmth, intuition and genuine care of its team that continue to define the character of Halaveli. While the resort has evolved, its essence remains unchanged: a place where every stay feels personal, every guest feels known and every moment is shaped by genuine hospitality.

Whether rediscovering a familiar island sanctuary or visiting for the first time, guests are invited to experience a style of luxury that feels personal and deeply connected to its surroundings.

Kandima Maldives has been named Winner of the Family Activities & Entertainment category at the Family Traveller Awards 2026, hosted by Family Traveller, the UK’s leading family travel brand, at a ceremony held at riverside venue The Swan on London’s South Bank on Friday 11 September.

The awards drew hundreds of entries across 19 categories spanning hotels and villas, tour operators, cruise lines, destinations and the wider travel industry. An independent panel of family travel journalists shortlisted finalists in each category, before thousands of public votes produced the winners.

The win is a recognition to Kandima’s efforts in opening the Maldives to groups and families, with island infrastructure purpose-built to welcome multigenerational families, accessible room rates to suit different budgets, and a full-year events calendar that offers groups real reasons to travel together for shared adventures and memories of a lifetime.

The resort has long positioned itself against the Maldives’ traditional honeymoon-only narrative, championing the destination as a haven for every age group. Newer launches this year, including Kandima Running Club and Fresh Labs’ foraging and farm tours, turn everyday movement and island agriculture into social activities that parents and children can undertake together.

Major attractions that opened doors in recent years, from Fast Track, the Maldives’ longest and fastest asphalt go-karting circuit, to PlaySpace, a groundbreaking entertainment hub bringing together family gaming, thematic escape room adventures and VR experiences for older children and grown-ups, also shaped Kandima into a destination that grows alongside its guests, across life stages and generations, and evolving traveller preference for more active escapes.

“Winning this award means a great deal. We would like to thank all guests and partners who have voted for us and have experienced Kandima over the years. We’ve always believed a great family holiday is about balance – with the freedom to come together as a group and just as easily find a moment of your own. It’s a philosophy we will continue to stand by, with more in the making,” said Dermot Birchall, General Manager of Kandima Maldives.

Looking on, plans are in place to develop an Adventure Park with new outdoor experience zones to bridge the gap between children’s play and adult recreation, with a programme of challenge-based and active pursuits for collective discovery and team building.

Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury, has unveiled the enhanced Two Bedroom Sunset Villa to Gili Lagoon Retreat, a spacious two-bedroom overwater hideaway offering guests the rare opportunity to combine quintessential Maldivian overwater living with their very own private island and beach, Three Palm Island.

Set on the resort’s coveted Jetty 3 – renowned for its spectacular sunsets – the new 369m2 upgraded category retreat villa has been designed as the ultimate Robinson Crusoe-style castaway escape. A newly constructed 65-metre walkway connects the villa directly to Three Palm Island, transforming the secluded islet into a private extension of the villa and allowing guests to move effortlessly between life over the lagoon and days spent with their toes in the sand.

The result is the best of both worlds; guests can wake to the gentle rhythm of the Indian Ocean, step directly into the turquoise lagoon from the villa’s expansive deck, then wander across to their own private island to relax on sun loungers, enjoy the secluded beach or retreat to a miniature sandbank. While Jetty 3 offers some of Gili Lankanfushi’s most impressive sunset views, early risers can cross to the private island to watch the sun rising above the island – ideally accompanied by a private breakfast.

Rodrigo Buanafina, General Manager of Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, comments: “The Gili Lagoon Retreat really offers the best of both worlds: the romance and privacy of an overwater villa, together with the feeling of having your own beach and island. In the Maldives, these are two quintessential experiences that are traditionally offered separately, but the new walkway means Three Palm Island is now part of the villa experience.

“Guests can simply wander across to their own stretch of beach and sandbank for a sunrise breakfast, afternoon picnic or sunset drinks and for families in particular, it makes the whole experience much more seamless. Above all, we wanted to create that sense of freedom and castaway adventure that has always been such an important part of Gili Lankanfushi.”

Design & Facilities

Designed primarily for up to four guests, the two-bedroom Gili Lagoon Retreat combines generous indoor and outdoor spaces with Gili Lankanfushi’s signature laid-back approach to luxury. The spacious en-suite master bedroom features a king-sized bed and daybed, while a separate guest bedroom comes complete with its own en-suite facilities, outdoor shower and pantry.

At the heart of the retreat lies an expansive deck overlooking the lagoon, complete with a dedicated dining area, overwater sun deck and direct ocean access. Indoors, a comfortable living and dining space is joined by a pantry with mini wine chiller, while a private steam room, wellness and workout room offers guests the opportunity to maintain their fitness routine in complete seclusion.

A semi open-air private bathroom continues Gili’s signature connection with nature, featuring a bathtub, separate glass-walled shower and its own direct ocean access. Upstairs, a private rooftop terrace provides another peaceful hideaway, with a daybed and traditional Maldivian swing creating the perfect setting for lazy afternoons and sunset watching.

Additional touches include a bamboo bicycle for each guest, Bose sound system with Bluetooth connectivity, Nespresso machine, minibar and chess table, while the resort’s renowned Mr./Ms. Friday private butler service is available 24/7 to arrange everything from private dining to bespoke island experiences.

A Private Island Experience

Guests looking to embrace their inner Robinson Crusoe can make Three Palm Island entirely their own. Private sandbank picnics, sunrise breakfasts and sunset cocktails can be arranged, while refreshments can be provided on the island for days spent drifting between the beach, sandbank and lagoon. Private dining is also available within the villa, allowing guests to enjoy an intimate meal without leaving their retreat.

The new walkway connecting the Gili Lagoon Retreat with Three Palm Island was designed and completed entirely by Gili Lankanfushi’s in-house engineering team. Led by Ahmed Majid, Director of Engineering at Gili Lankanfushi, who has worked at the resort for 16 years, the project uses Yellow Balau timber across the upper deck, with Pine timber beneath and marine-grade fittings and fasteners selected to withstand the island environment.

Ahmed Majid, Director of Engineering at Gili Lankanfushi, comments: “The new walkway is particularly special as it showcases the skill and craftsmanship of our in-house team here at Gili. One of the greatest challenges was integrating the new extension with the existing structure while minimising disruption to the resort but completing it ourselves gave us greater control over quality and allowed us to make decisions quickly.”

“Thanks to the new walkway, Guests can now stroll directly from the villa to Three Palm Island and its secluded beach, creating a completely new experience. For me, the Gili Lagoon Retreat is elegant, spacious and timeless – it enhances the villa while remaining true to the character of Gili Lankanfushi.”

Gili Lankanfushi enjoys an unspoilt island location in the Maldives’ North Malé Atoll, just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé Airport with direct flights from London now available. Perfectly suited for couples, families, solo travellers and groups alike, the resort combines rustic eco-design, unparalleled service and stunning natural scenery.

Nightly rates at Gili Lagoon Retreat at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives start from $5,200 (£3,846), based on four guests sharing and are subject to seasonal variations. Offering exceptional space and privacy, the villa can accommodate up to six guests, either six adults or four adults and two children. For more information or to book please visit www.gili-lankanfushi.com.