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Secluded, sustainable paradise Gili Lankanfushi reopens on Sept 1

Published

5 years ago

August 29, 2020

On September 1, the Maldives’ much-loved Gili Lankanfushi will reopen its doors to a secluded and sustainable paradise.

With just 45 spacious villas spread over three jetties, the resort offers guests the utmost privacy in awe-inspiring natural surroundings. It fuses ethical design, unparalleled service and vast open-air spaces.

Gili Lankanfushi has spent its unexpected closure developing its operation with new health and safety protocol and refined guest experiences to ensure a safe and stress-free island escape for guests.

New health, safety protocols

While Gili Lankanfushi is a spacious, low-density resort in an isolated location, where guests can distance from one another at ease, they have developed extensive Covid-19 health and safety guidelines to ensure the safety of guests and hosts.

Following a short and private 20-minute speedboat ride from Male, guests’ temperatures will be taken on arrival to the resort, and a health declaration will be required.

The resort’s dining destinations and Meera Spa are naturally built to allow for social distancing, and there will be the availability of hand sanitiser and face masks in public areas.

Guest rooms will be cleaned using new high-tech disinfecting equipment and the housekeeping hosts will be provided with protective equipment to ensure the safety of themselves and guests.

The pool and beach seating and loungers will be spread out and sanitised after use, as well the equipment at the gym and spa.

Unparalleled privacy

Gili Lankanfushi is an ideal destination for guests seeking a post-lockdown retreat in total seclusion with options for ultra-private accommodation.

The Private Reserve, at 1,700 square metres, is the largest overwater villa in the world, with a location 500 metres from the island and 300 metres from the nearest residence.

Comprising five vast buildings, linked by open-air walkways, it offers four bedrooms with spectacular lagoon views, extensive private living space and open-air bathrooms, as well as a well-equipped gym, pampering private spa with sauna and steam room, open-air private cinema with cosy seating and large open-sided dining area – perfect for extravagant feasts by a private chef.

Outdoor space includes a sparkling infinity pool and waterslide directly into the lagoon, where guests will find corals, reef fish and eagle rays drifting through the shallows.

Guests can also take out the resort’s boats for tranquil days at sea.

Guests can exclusively hire The Private Reserve from $74,970 for seven nights for up to eight guests including daily breakfast, lunch and dinner (plus minibar and beverages), 60 minute massages, a snorkelling trip with the resident marine biologist, a luxury yacht experience, manta ray excursion and daily private yoga classes.

Alternatively, seven Crusoe Residences also offer complete solitude, with a private location in the lagoon, accessible only by boat. Flexible living arrangements can create one or two bedrooms, in addition to an open-air bathroom with private coral garden, roof terrace and sun deck with direct ocean access.

Emotional wellbeing, physical immunity

Wellbeing and balance in body and soul is central to Gili Lankanfushi’s ethos and the Meera Spa offers holistic healing in a spectacular overwater setting: open air walkways link the treatment rooms, steam room and sauna with the vast relaxation areas.

The range of global therapies, draw on age old cultures and knowledge, and therapeutic treatments use Meera products created on the island from the finest oceanic and plant extracts.

Recognising that strengthening our defences and taking care of our emotional wellbeing is more important than ever, the immersive wellness journeys, which range from one to five days in length, include bespoke and restorative experiences with long-lasting benefits.

All programmes are tailored to guest needs with a choice of experiences ranging from lymphatic drainage to encourage cell regeneration, points therapy such as ‘Chi New Tsang’ for abdominal relief, crystal healing to balance the inner chakra and a purifying ‘four hands, one heart’ massage to relieve stress and anxiety.

Gili Lankanfushi also offers new active programmes which combine surfing or scuba diving with tailored spa treatments to allow guests to reach their full potential whether under the sea or riding the waves.

Fresh, seasonal, plant-based menus

From ocean to plate, Gili Lankanfushi’s gastronomic vision embraces the bounty of the surrounding waters alongside carefully sourced seasonal ingredients, which feature across the island’s three restaurants; Kashiveli, By the Sea and Overwater Bar.

Executive Chef Hari Govindaraj oversees the culinary vision on the island, with a penchant for nourishing plant-based dishes that celebrate local ingredients sourced from the resort’s very own organic garden.

Chef Hari’s signature dishes include Pan Seared ‘Scallops’ made from homegrown daikon; Aloe Vera Coconut Ceviche; and indulgent ginger dairy-free ice cream.

For those in no rush to leave the comfort and privacy of their villa, Gili Lankanfushi offers a full in-villa dining service throughout the day, with specially-designed menus of delicious dishes, and remote destination dining experiences, ranging from secluded, lantern-lit feasts among the towering palms of Palm Beach to private sunset cruises with locally-sourced spreads.

Located in the North Male Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original overwater resort, Soneva Gili.

In 2012, the island was acquired by Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world.

Voted number one hotel in the world by Tripadvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from the Maldives main Velana international airport.

Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

The wellbeing of the planet is at the heart of the Gili Lankanfushi, with each stay contributing towards preserving the natural environment, protecting the fragile marine ecosystem and treading lightly.

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi start from $1,440 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. For bookings, please visit www.gili-lankanfushi.com.

Featured

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo marks global wellness initiative with three-day celebration

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2025

m@ldives

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has announced a series of complimentary and signature wellness experiences to mark World Wellness Weekend, scheduled for the third week of September 2025. The programme is designed around Westin’s five Pillars of Well-Being — Feel Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well, Move Well, and Play Well — encouraging guests to restore, move, and connect in the natural surroundings of the Maldives.

The activities commence on Friday, 19 September, with a game of water volleyball, combining light-hearted competition with physical activity under the Maldivian sun. As evening falls, the practice of Yoga Nidra will be held, guiding participants into a state of conscious rest and restoration.

On Saturday, 20 September, the agenda features Craft Your Glow, a workshop where guests create body scrubs using natural ingredients and tropical botanicals. The day continues with runWestin, an invigorating sunset beach run that highlights the benefits of movement and outdoor exercise.

The programme concludes on Sunday, 21 September, with Sunrise Yoga at the resort’s Yoga Pavilion. This gentle morning practice harmonises breath and movement, offering a balanced start to the day. Later, a Massage Workshop will provide guided techniques for easing tension in the head, neck, and shoulders, offering couples and individuals alike skills they can apply beyond their stay.

Situated in Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort integrates its well-being philosophy across the guest experience. The resort positions World Wellness Weekend as more than a schedule of events, presenting it instead as an opportunity to embrace mindful living, movement, and rest.

Guests considering a stay may also opt for the ‘Earn, Eat, Enjoy; package, which includes breakfast for two adults and two children, a resort credit of USD 70, and a range of complimentary wellness activities to enhance their island experience.

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SO/ Maldives to host three-day wellness retreat with Anna Kanyuk

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2025

m@ldives

This September, SO/ Maldives will host SCULPT. STRETCH. SHINE., a three-day wellness retreat in collaboration with international wellness figure and founder of Top Stretching, Anna Kanyuk. The programme will take place in the setting of Emboodhoo Lagoon and aims to combine movement, mindfulness, and contemporary lifestyle elements within a luxury resort environment.

The retreat will span three days on the resort’s private island, offering participants a structured experience designed to support physical fitness, skincare, and overall wellbeing. Activities will include sunrise sessions on floating decks, evening programmes on the beach, and a series of workshops and classes delivered by Kanyuk and other experts.

Mornings will begin with workouts on the ocean-facing yoga deck, ranging from full-body flows and posture-focused core exercises to high-intensity cardio sessions. These will be followed by small-group workshops at the Pavilion at Hadaba, where participants can join sessions such as Kanyuk’s Facebuilding 101, skincare practices, and talks on nutrition, motivation, and lifestyle balance. In the evenings, activities will move to Lazuli Beach, where stretching, breathwork, and reflection will take place as the sun sets.

The retreat is designed not as a detox programme but as a curated approach to rebalancing and rejuvenation. Each session is intended to help participants enhance physical strength, improve skin health, and adopt practices to support mental clarity.

SO/ Maldives describes itself as a private-island fashion resort that combines avant-garde design with natural surroundings. Villas are located either overwater or within the island’s vegetation, with minimalist interiors, private pools, and wide lagoon or jungle views. Social and dining venues include Lazuli Beach Club, which offers a Mediterranean-inspired experience, and Hadaba, the resort’s signature Middle Eastern dining concept.

With its design-driven identity and wellness-focused philosophy, SO/ Maldives is positioning the retreat as an opportunity for guests to pursue wellbeing within a high-end leisure setting. SCULPT. STRETCH. SHINE. will be held as an intimate programme with limited participation available.

Featured

Summer Island Maldives rewards guests with 10th anniversary holiday giveaway

Published

4 days ago

September 10, 2025

m@ldives

Summer Island Maldives is celebrating a decade of barefoot charm and Maldivian hospitality with the launch of a special 10th Anniversary Giveaway. The award-winning resort is offering one winner and a companion the opportunity to enjoy 10 nights in paradise, entirely complimentary.

The Grand Prize Includes:

Ten nights for two in a Water Villa
All-inclusive meals and beverages
Roundtrip speedboat transfers from Velana International Airport
A Serenity full-body massage for two at Firuma Spa by Serena
A 10-dive package per guest with Diverland Maldives, or an Open Water certification course for beginners
Curated experiences including a Beach BBQ Dinner, Sandbank Picnic, Sunset Cruise, and non-motorised water sports

“This anniversary marks a decade of incredible memories and meaningful connections with guests from around the world,” said Mohamed Thaufeeq, Resort Manager at Summer Island Maldives. “As a way of saying thank you, we are inviting our guests to join the celebration and have the chance to experience everything that makes Summer Island so special.”

To enter, participants are required to:

Follow @summer.island.maldives on Instagram
Like the giveaway post
Tag two friends in the comments (the tagged friends must also follow the page)
Share the post on their Instagram story and tag the resort (private account holders must send a screenshot of the tagged story)

Key Details:

Open to all nationalities aged 18 and above
Travel period: 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026 (blackout dates apply and bookings are subject to availability)
International flights are not included
Winner will be announced on 1 October 2025 via Instagram
Prize is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash

The giveaway reflects the resort’s ongoing commitment to offering authentic, joyful, and eco-conscious holiday experiences.

Located just 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé, Summer Island Maldives is managed by Kaimoo Resorts and Hotels. The resort is recognised for its relaxed barefoot philosophy, sustainability initiatives, and warm hospitality. Its accolades include the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2024 and the TUI Global Hotel Quality Awards in both 2024 and 2025.