Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

This beautiful island resort is a short 20 minute boat ride from Male International Airport. It is a tiny coral island in a sparkling lagoon, with jetties threading across the water out to spacious villas. Everywhere you look, marine life abounds. And the gleaming waters beckon.

Concept

The forty-four stilted villas plus the vast Private Reserve uphold the philosophy of Intelligent Luxury. They are crafted in a traditional style from natural materials and offer roof-top and over-water sundecks, featuring open air bathrooms, sumptuous daybeds and a personal entertainment center. For ultimate privacy, we have seven Crusoe Residences that are only accessible by personal boat. Come ashore for some great dining and equally great wines or perhaps a romantic moonlit dinner delivered right to the villa. The possibilities are endless.

The interior decoration has been devised to recreate a natural habitat, using sustainable woods, natural materials and traditional fabrics, whilst still offering all the modern day amenities and creature comforts of true luxury. At Gili Lankanfushi we are very sensitive to the environment. The utmost care has been taken in developing the island with respect to its ecological balance.

The Maldives is a paradise for snorkeling and diving and the resort has its own fully -equipped PADI diving school plus a variety of water sports. This place tops the list of must-do destinations for those in the know.

Management

Gili Lankanfushi is managed by HPL Hotels & Resorts, who have developed and operate unique properties in the Maldives, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia (Bali) and Malaysia under the brand names Concorde Hotels, Boutique Hotels and Hard Rock Hotels.

Accommodation

Gili Lankanfushi offers just 45 sumptuous over water villas, including Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached only by boat. Each villa is designed with the utmost attention to detail and built to be environmentally friendly. Each has its own private water garden and sun decks, as well as a separate shower linked to your bathroom by and open-air walkaway allow you to live right by the water’s edge.

Villa Features

– Overhead fan, air-conditioning, extensive mini bar, personal safe, coffee machine (Nespresso), binoculars and many other amenities

– Chess and backgammon tables

– CD, DVD player, iPod adapter, stereo system with speakers in bedroom and bathroom

– 160 GB iPod with docking station

– Extensive DVD and CD library

– Open-air bathroom with separate glass walled shower area

– Large over water net seating areas in most villas

– Complimentary broadband and Wi-Fi internet access

– Mr Friday/Butler service

– IDD telephones

Food & Beverage

Savour grilled seafood over the water, sip champagne in a traditional dhoni as the sun sets, or venture into the underground cellar for a unique dining experience. Luxury comes in the form of a private dinner on a secluded island. The cuisine will whet your appetite with fresh offerings and local produce, while the extraordinary settings will leave an indelible impression.

Main Restaurant

Located on the west side of Lankanfushi offering a superb natural environment to enjoy a relaxing breakfast or romantic dinner. The style of food caters to all requirements and offers a combination of dishes that allows East to meet the West in culinary terms.

By the Sea Restaurant

The restaurant presents a fusion Peruvian-Japanese culinary adventure combining breathtaking views to the ocean with intimate dining for just 26 guests. Located on the elevated top level of a double story facility located on the island, the restaurant includes a Sushi Bar featuring daybeds plus five tables, each seating up to four guests, and an open kitchen station which can be used for live cooking classes.

The expansive tasting menu includes a quintessential fusion of food; from traditional Japanese to indigenous European, Asian and Peruvian flavours. Local ingredients are used and include the daily catch and fresh organic produce picked from the resort’s own gardens. Guests have the ability to select from an array of signature dishes accompanied by a fine selection of Japanese sakes and an extensive list of wines.

By the Sea restaurant is another innovative dining experience at Gili Lankanfushi. It can be found amongst the treetops on the sunrise side of the island and features an intimate dining experience for just 26 guests. The simply sublime fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavors is only outdone by the breathtaking view over the starlit ocean.

Over Water Bar

The Bar is a stunning construction over the shallow lagoon and offers snacks and light meals throughout the day. The lunch buffet at the bar is a very casual experience, where you can create your own menu from the wide selection of fresh salad leaves from the garden, sushi, Mediterranean delicacies, daily catch of fish, imported meats and local spices and herbs.

The Underground Wine Cellar and Chocolate Cave

Situated between the restaurant and the garden is the gourmet cellar, initially visible only by the softly undulating wood-shingled roofline. Entering through a doorway sculptured from copper sheeting and deco-like carved wood embellishment, a softly lit glass staircase descends beneath ground level to the cavernous cellar. Lined with a softly dappled satiny-smooth stucco plaster finish, recessed free-form wine racks display more than 300 labels. Running almost the entire length of the cellar is a six-meter (twenty-foot) driftwood tree trunk, slotted with eight individual glass table tops and personal wine glass shelves. Wine tasting and wine dinners are hosted by the wine sommelier as to the requirement of each guest. Guests may either order at the cellar or from our wine list and have the wine of their choice delivered to the restaurant or their villa in time to enjoy it with their meal.

Our unique underground wine cellar has recently had a truly unique experience added. In addition to our artisanal cheese and deli room, you may now also experience our handmade, gourmet chocolate cave. Our Executive pastry chef has created a chocolate menu using only the finest chocolate, with some very interesting and unusual flavours. To further the experience ever more, our Sommelier would be delighted to create a fantastic chocolate and wine pairing which may be enjoyed before or after dinner.

Meera Spa

The Meera Spa offers a wide range of holistic therapies and programmes with internationally trained therapists, wellness instructors and a resident Ayurvedic Doctor. Glass floor-panels beneath massage tables heighten the sensual experience, whilst a Maldivian sand massage presents yet another new encounter. Other facilities include five over water treatment rooms, Yoga/Tai- Chi champa, steam rooms, chill rooms, sauna and a fully equipped over-water gymnasium.

Ocean Paradise Dive Centre

The Ocean Paradise Dive Centre’s multi-lingual PADI instructors as well as the small dive group sizes ensure that guests of all experience levels get the best service at all times. PADI dive centre is equipped with the latest equipments and many renowned dive sites including world famous Manta Point are within 10 minutes boat ride from the resort.

The Fitness Centre

The Fitness Centre at Gili Lankanfushi takes on a new dimension in fitness adding on the latest state of the art Lifestyle and Kinesis fitness equipment. The new vibrant techno savvy Gym located at the water’s edge amidst greenery gives a panoramic and clandestine view of the ocean seen though glass walls. The natural taste in decor, lighting and the ambience created with an option for ones own iPod music appeals to your psyche making the regular workout more exhilarating and a daily must do experience.

Garden

The garden area in Gili Lankanfushi supply many of the fresh fruits, salads, herbs and mushrooms for Gili kitchen.

Library

The library offers a vast selection of easy reading and reference books, DVD and CD for rental.

 “Gili Gallery and Sifani” Gift shop and jewellery shop

Both shops offer great gift and souvenir ideas.

As if in a dream, the tiny coral island of Gili Lankanfushi appears along one of the loveliest lagoons in the Maldives. Connected by jetties, its 45 stilted villas float surreally above the luminous waters; for total seclusion, seven Crusoe Residences are accessible only by boat or pontoon. There’s a full PADI diving school and plentiful watersports; at the oversea spa, the lapping waves are as healing as its ages-old therapies. Among the many dining options is an underground wine cellar, accessible by glass staircase; sit down to a special dinner pairing or tasting with handmade chocolates.

Plan a candlelight dinner on the tip of the sandbar that extends into the water. It’s pure magic, with hundreds of candles and sublime food! Distance from Maldives Airport (MLE): 7 mi/11 km