Featured
Ten ways to stay, play, feel safe at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives
Hidden away on a private island in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi provides a luxurious, refreshing and above all – safe – escape for those living in the GCC.
Known as one of the most beautiful eco-resorts in the Maldives, guests can relax with peace of mind that their health, wellbeing and safety are at the heart of Gili Lankanfushi’s guest experience.
From travelling to the destination – just a 20-minute boat ride from Velana International Airport in Malé – to additional hygiene measures, here are 10 ways Gili Lankanfushi is going above and beyond to ensure their valued guests have the safest and most rejuvenating stay possible.
Compulsory PCR tests
In compliance with the Maldives tourism ministry and Health Protection Agency, all visitors arriving from an international destination must conduct a Covid-19 PCR test within a maximum of 96 hours prior to departure.
It is requested that the negative test results are sent to the Gili Lankanfushi reservations team for verification, ensuring guests can step onto the island and enjoy Gili Magic straight away.
For those arriving from another resort within the Maldives, a PCR test must be conducted within a maximum of 48 hours prior to arriving at Gili Lankanfushi.
Guests will also have their temperatures checked upon arrival as well as when departing if required.
Protective face masks
An extra layer of protection, Gili Lankanfushi hosts are required to wear protective face masks indoors at all times as well as in public areas where social distancing is not possible.
This measure aims to safeguard the wellbeing of guests, hosts and partners.
Luggage sanitisation
Gili Lankanfushi’s dedicated team will sanitise all guest luggage upon arrival and departure, reducing any Covid-19 exposure within the resort.
Hand sanitisers will also be available in all public areas and at the entrance of restrooms, allowing guests to sanitise whenever they wish.
Cleaning and disinfecting procedures and frequency have also been increased to maintain sparkly-clean public areas such as restrooms, restaurants and buggies at all times.
Gili Cares
Everything you need to stay safe at Gili Lankanfushi can be found in the ‘Gili Cares’ kit, a welcome hygiene package given to every guest upon arrival.
Including face masks, hand sanitiser and thermometer, the special pack is placed in the guest’s villa and replenished as required.
Each villa also comes with a personal guest experience host known as Mr or Mrs Fridays, named after Robinson Crusoe’s loyal assistant. Day or night, these trusted hosts will be on hand to help with anything guests may need.
Three feet apart, please
While social distancing is now the norm, guests will notice that visual markers are placed around the resort with recommendations to keep one metre apart.
Gili Lankanfushi’s hosts will also provide guidance surrounding social distancing for the safety of everyone enjoying the freedom of barefoot luxury on the island.
Swimming pool
A key element of any Gili Lankanfushi stay, the beachfront infinity pool is the perfect place to unwind, cool off and enjoy a cold beverage or two.
In line with social distancing measures, only 30 guests will be permitted in the pool at any given time – allowing pool goers to have a worry-free experience.
Your own private sanctuary
For those looking for the ultimate socially distanced escape, Gili Lankanfushi’s villa and suites with private pools cannot be beaten.
The resort itself is home to just 45 villas – all located on stilts in the water – across 11 categories including The Private Reserve, the world’s largest standalone overwater villa.

Each villa offers open-air living spaces, roof terraces and private decks with direct access to the exotic underwater world below – ideal for snorkelling adventures or quick dips.
Let Gili team serve you
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.
To minimise interaction, the self-service buffet experiences have been suspended with guests now served by chefs.
Spa safety
A truly luxurious way to relax during a stay, the Meera Spa offers six overwater treatment rooms with glass floors providing a glimpse of the aquatic world below.
A diverse range of therapies and ayurvedic treatments inspired by age-old cultures and knowledge are conducted by the spa’s therapists wearing face masks during treatments.
Same dose of Gili Magic
Despite the new world we now live in, the team Gili Lankanfushi is dedicated to giving guests the same unforgettable and luxurious experiences they are renowned for.
From aquatic activities such as surfing, diving, snorkelling with manta rays and big game fishing to tennis, sunset dolphin cruises, tours of the organic garden, cooking classes and sleeping under the stars, all experiences will be conducted with an extra level of health and safety in mind.

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 Trip Advisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20 minute speedboat transfer from 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.
Featured
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa unveils family-focused Family Fun Summer package
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, a family-focused package designed to encourage guests to spend time together through dining, leisure and recreational activities in a private island setting.
Located 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the resort is offering the package as a year-round experience, despite its summer branding. The programme is intended for families seeking a stay that combines accommodation, meals and activities in a single offering.
The experience includes daily breakfast at Feast, where guests can access buffet selections for adults and children. Lunch is served as a three-course beachside meal, while evenings include buffet dinners, à la carte options and access to the resort’s speciality restaurants.
As part of the package, adult guests receive a USD 45 dining credit per night, which can be used at selected outlets including Baan Thai and Sea Salt. The offer is designed to expand dining options within the resort’s full board arrangement.
The package also includes activities aimed at different age groups. Children have access to the Sheraton Adventure Club, while families can take part in pool activities, water sports, sunset dolphin cruises and guided snorkelling excursions.
For guests seeking wellness experiences, Shine Spa for Sheraton offers a range of treatments, with the package including 15 per cent savings on selected services. The resort has also introduced a spa experience designed for parent and child. Additional recreational options include sunrise beach yoga, as well as access to tennis and football facilities.
Other inclusions within the offer include a complimentary family photoshoot and dining benefits for children when eating with their parents.
Family Fun Summer is available for booking until 15 June 2026, for stays through to 20 December 2026. Through the package, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is presenting a family-oriented resort experience centred on dining, recreation and shared time together.
Featured
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau to mark Mother’s Day with wellness and dining offerings
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced a Mother’s Day programme centred on wellness, dining and family experiences, offering guests a range of activities designed to mark the occasion in Raa Atoll.
Set within the resort’s island setting, the programme will feature a series of experiences aimed at encouraging families to spend time together through relaxation, dining and shared activities.
At AVI Spa, the Mother’s Day offering will include signature treatments focused on rest and balance. Guests will also have access to holistic sessions led by visiting practitioner Dr Afsana Aradhana Ghyas, whose work focuses on integrative wellbeing and emotional balance.
Dining experiences will form a central part of the programme. These will include floating breakfasts served in private villas, interactive cooking sessions with the resort’s chefs, and private dining experiences ranging from sunset beach dinners to sandbank dining under the stars.
The resort will also offer family-focused activities for the occasion. These will include craft sessions for children, ocean-inspired guided art activities and a family photoshoot intended to capture the day’s experiences.
Through the Mother’s Day programme, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is presenting a combination of wellness, dining and family activities shaped around personal and shared experiences in a resort setting.
Drink
W Maldives unveils The Wavemaker Edit with global talent collaborations
W Maldives has launched The Wavemaker Edit, a new ongoing series of curated collaborations with international talent, aimed at introducing a range of guest experiences across mixology, wellness, cuisine and music.
The series is designed as a rotating programme, with each edition bringing a different creative perspective to the resort. According to W Maldives, the initiative is intended to create a continuing calendar of experiences that combine social, cultural and wellness-led elements.
The first edition of The Wavemaker Edit will run from 3 to 14 June 2026 and will feature two themed chapters, titled Island Alchemy and The Restore Ritual.
Island Alchemy will focus on mixology. On 3 June, Kwok will lead a guest shift at SIP, presenting three cocktails that explore contrast and balance, including a bespoke creation inspired by the Maldives. The collaboration will continue on 6 June at WET Deck, where a poolside day party will feature a curated cocktail menu.
The second chapter, The Restore Ritual, will centre on wellness and movement in recognition of Global Wellness Day. Led by Mumbai-based yoga and movement educator Samiksha Shetty, the programme will include sessions focused on breathwork, mindfulness and alignment-based practice.
The wellness programme will include Sunset Yoga sessions at FIRE Beach on 12 and 14 June, as well as a morning meditation session at AWAY Spa on 13 June. The main event within this chapter will take place on 13 June, when guests will be able to join a Sunset Yoga session aboard the Horizon Yacht. This bookable experience will also include healthy refreshments and a 60-minute massage at AWAY Spa.
W Maldives said future editions of The Wavemaker Edit will expand into culinary, music and art-led experiences under a number of themed series, including Flavors Unscripted, Sound Wave and Make A Scene.
Commenting on the launch, General Manager Amila Handunwala said the initiative reflects the resort’s approach to continuously evolving the guest experience through collaborations with international talent.
W Maldives is positioning the series as part of its broader effort to offer more structured and experience-led programming for guests. In addition, the resort is promoting its Original Wavemaker package, which includes seaplane transfers and a half-board meal plan for two adults with a minimum stay of four nights.
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