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Gili Lankanfushi Maldives is a short 20 minute boat ride from Male, the capital of the Maldives. It is a tiny coral island in a sparkling lagoon, with jetties threading across the water out to spacious villas. The forty four stilted villas plus the vast Private Reserve are crafted in a traditional style from natural materials and offer rooftop 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, Maldives 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 seeking the aquatic paradise.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Gili Lankanfushi is celebrated by guests for its pristine cleanliness, with eco-friendly practices that maintain its beaches and villas. The service at the hotel is frequently described as unparalleled, with staff providing attentive and personalized care that often exceeds guest expectations. Nestled in a paradise-like location, the hotel offers a plethora of activities, and while the costs are high, many travelers find the value undeniable, thanks to the exceptional experiences and services provided.
Luxurious overwater villas, diverse activities, top-notch food, and the opportunity for seamless snorkeling right from the room are just some amenities that earn rave reviews. The spacious rooms, complete with luxurious amenities and personalized touches, add to the serene and sustainable atmosphere that guests find so inviting.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
World-class
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Recently spent 4 magical nights in Gili with my wife on our honeymoon. I've run out of superlatives to describe our stay, but perhaps the easiest way to characterise it is what I said to my wife on the second day - not only is it the best place I've stayed in my life, but it is better than any place I could have imagined existed. Everything from our pickup in male all the way to our departure (which includes personalised drop off to the checkin line at the airport) was perfectly smooth.
The rooms are sensational, with generous proportions, breathtaking views and comfortable amenities. The food is phenomenal, not just the sheer variety but also the excellent quality of every dish. But most of all, the staff are the perfect combination of hardworking, caring and charming. All the staff will go out of their way to make sure your every need is attended to. Like many of the other reviewers, we'd like to give special thank to our Mr. Friday Makif - his personalised care made the stay that much more special.
Some people may be reading this and wondering if it's worth the hefty pricetag. The answer is undoubtedly yes. We told ourselves we would only do this once as it was for our honeymoon, but before we even left the island we were planning our return trip. Do yourself a favour and book today.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Resort Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Jan 28, 2020
Dear 120michaelz, Thank you for sharing this complimentary feedback of your recent visit to Gili Lankanfushi. Congratulations on your wedding and thank you for giving us the opportunity to offer you a memorable honeymoon. It is flattering to read your generous comments and to see that our resort is better than any place that you could have imagined. We strive to achieve high levels of service through the exceptional dedication and passion of our hosts. We are glad to know that our team attended to all your needs, especially your Mr. Friday Makif. We look forward to welcome you back for a new chapter in your Gili story. Warm regards, Nicolas
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Gili is like a 5 Star Eco resort, they have extensive allotments for producing their own veg and herbs. The residences are large and made from wood, and the whole place seems more sustainable than most Maldives resorts, which can only be a good thing. The layout of the island is good and you can reach everything fairly quickly, they have buggies that pick you up in no time at all, and there are also bicycles with large baskets you can ride around. The house reef is very good on the side that gets the breaking waves, but the current is really strong there and hard to swim against to get out to the reef, but the corals are wonderful and healthy due to the oxygenated water. Elsewhere round the island the corals aren't as good due to bleaching, but you will still see plenty of marine life, octopus, rays, sharks, and a myriad of colourful fish.
The Lagoon Residence has a large living room with lockable doors, which was great for us as we have two young kids, so no worries about them walking into the sea, it also keeps the air conditioning in nicely. The little window in the floor of the villa is a nice touch and we saw plenty of creatures through that. Outside of the main room connects at one side to a large bathroom and outdoor shower connected by a bridge. At the other side there is the minibar, which has some eye wateringly expensive wines in (don't drink the wrong one by mistake, one of them was $12,000). Connecting to that is the bedroom which is large and well laid out.
In front of the living room was the expansive deck, with sun loungers etc. and steps leading down to the lagoon, which is shallow and easy to snorkel in. Above the living room up a winding staircase there is a large roof terrace with daybed.
The food was good, the breakfast and general buffets not quite as good as some other 5 Star Maldives resorts we've stayed at, but still good and plenty of choice. They even have Mangosteens if you ask at the fruit counter. They also have a fascinating concept of an Asian street food market one night of the week which was incredibly well made, and added a really exciting element, and the fact they do different cuisine each night means you don't get bored at all. The best restaurant by far was the Teppenyaki, which was superb and also a great show to watch.
The Spa is very good at Gili, it is perfectly positioned with sublime views from the upstairs lounge out across the turquoise lagoon. The staff are very friendly and do extremely good treatments.
My final word is about the dive centre and marine biologists, they are an amazing team and have a deeper understanding than at most resorts. They're also very good with kids and explain all the marine life in a very engaging way for youngsters.
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Date of stay: February 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:The Lagoon Residences have lockable doors which are perfect if you have young kids, as the deck...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Resort Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Jan 12, 2020
Dear 238musah, Thank you for taking the time to share this detailed review of your recent visit to Gili Lankanfushi. We are glad to see that you enjoyed the Lagoon Residence Villa with its rustic chic design and its different areas that allow for ultimate privacy and relaxation. In the same time, it is wonderful to learn that you appreciated the eco-concept of the resort. We aim introduce to our guests to the natural beauty of our island and encourage them to live a more responsible lifestyle while moving towards a zero-waste existence. Our Marine Biologists play an integral role in our commitment towards the environment and the development of the Marine Life. We are delighted by your appreciation of their efforts and the vast amount of knowledge that they share with our guests. We look forward to welcome you back to continue your Gili story. Warm regards, Nicolas
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We went on a six day trip to Gili, and since the moment we arrived in Male Airport everything was perfect. We were greeted by one of the Gili staff, who took us to our transfer boat immediately. No waiting time, no complications. On the boat we were greeted by very friendly staff, offered a welcome drink, and were asked to remove our shoes, in the spirit of the island motto “no news, no shoes”. From that moment on, I knew it would be a holiday to remember.
Upon arriving at the island we were greeted by the general manager, David, and welcomed by our miss Friday (what they call your butler), Miki. Miki was awesome throughout our stay, always making sure we were comfortable, and helping us book daily activities (spa, jungle cinema, snorkeling, diving etc) and dining reservations, as well as making sure any additional requests were met in a Timely and responsible manner. Miki we miss you!
Everyone on the island was very friendly and we were impressed with the level of service. For example, Siyam would always welcome us in breakfast and remember our preferences for food choices, and would bring our drinks without us even asking for it. We miss you Siyam!
We were also very impressed by the Vilas, which are beautifully decorated, well-kept, and very spacious. Favorite amenities in the room where the bathtub, where you can relax while looking at the beautiful blue water, direct access to the beach through a set of stairs from your “backyard”, terrace with bed that can be set up for you to have a night under the stars... and the delicious cinnamon almonds from the minibar!!!
Top experiences: • destination dining: you pick any spot on the island, and they set a beautiful table, with candles and your own private chef, who will make sure to cook one of the best meals ever! Thanks Rodri and Miki for helping us organize, and chef Praveen for the great food. • Spa: you’ll be facing down to a glass floor where you’ll be able to see marine life, and treatment will be followed by a wonderful flower bath. Thank you Pat, Sara and Su • Japanese dinner: you’ll try the freshest sashimi and most delightful local tuna. Thanks Abraham for the delicious food and Niam for the great service • Snorkeling: we were lucky to see two big manta rays right before the season ended, and then were taken to an area called the fish tank, where we saw many different fish, eels, stingrays, it was amazing! Thank you Tiana for the tour and captain Mohamed for steering the boat! • Asian street food and Mediterranean market: two special theme nights organized in the main restaurant, with live music, multiple food stations, all of the highest quality. Thank you chef Hari for such incredible meals and for your constant attention!!
Out of many places I have traveled to, I can truly say that Gili is a magical place where I look forward to going back! Thank you to all the hosts and Nic for making this such a wonderful experience!
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Date of stay: December 2020
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Feb 12, 2021
Der Y9215DXstephaniek, Thank you for your positive and detailed review of Gili Lankanfushi. As you have alluded to, there are a plethora of activities and experiences to be had at the resort; from private dinners on the beach, surrounded by countless candles, to snorkeling or diving trips with the resident marine biologist, to a treatment at the iconic Meera Spa – there really is something for everyone. The cornerstone of the Gili experience, is of course the care and attention of every single member of the team. Form your dedicated Ms. Friday, to your assigned waiter in the restaurant, to the boat team who welcome you at the airport. It is heartwarming to see that you connected with so many individuals during your six day trip - I will be sure to relay your lovely comments to Miki, Siyam, Praveen, Rodrigo, Hari, Tiana, Mohamed, and the rest of the Gili team. We hope to welcome you back to the resort in the near future, for more Gili stories. Warm regard, Nicolas
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Can’t say enough about this place. There are so many options in the Maldives and my wife did so much research. We were not disappointed. The resort is a quick 30 minute boat ride from Male airport but you feel very remote. The theme of the resort is “no shoes, no news”. They place your shoes in a Gili canvas bag when you get on the boat and deliver to your room. Your encouraged to be barefoot the whole time at the resort. When you arrive you are greeted by your “Mr. Friday” which is your personal butler your entire trip. Our Mr. Friday was Ismail and he was amazing. It’s truly impressive how attentive they are at the resort. Ismael attended to our every need. He even unpacked my wife’s luggage and hung everything while we were out enjoying the beach. The staff set up our wedding on the beach which was private with great decor and incredible. We used the resort photographer and he did a fantastic job. Besides the wedding we also did many excursions including scuba diving, swimming wit whale sharks, sea turtle snorkeling and sunset cruise. Mr Friday (Ismail) was with us for all our major excursions to make sure we had all we needed. The food was also amazing. They take great pride in the food quality at Gili. Head chef Hari comes and greets your personally and will accommodate any special needs. He is a man passionate about food and you will see this as soon as you meet him. The villas are great and cleaning staff comes multiple times per day. I can’t say enough about Gili Lankanfushi. I could write so much about this destination. I felt like I was at home and staff made you feel like family. We have stayed at many high end resorts and this is second to none. We will return to Gili again and I foresee many times. One really awesome thing I love about Gili is your mr Friday is assigned to you for life. Each time we return Ismail will be our mr Friday again. Really cool concept. Thanks gili for making our wedding and trip so memorable.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Resort Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Feb 21, 2020
Dear HBwes, Thank you for selecting Gili Lankanfushi to have your wedding and honeymoon at and also thank you for sharing your experience with our TripAdvisor readers. We are delighted to be part of one of the most important events of your life; most importantly we are elated to know that our team of hosts were able to make this special occasion a memorable one. Ismail takes pride in offering his guests a fully personalized experience; the same for Chef Hari who as you mentioned his passion about food is second to none. We wish you many happy years of marriage and we do hope that you will return to celebrate your future anniversaries with us. Warm regards, Nicolas
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This was our second visit to Gili after 3 years. We stayed at this beautiful family villa in jetty 3 with a gorgeous lagoon view.
The stay was awesome especially the location of our over water family bungalow with exclusive access to the breathtaking 3 palm island with its amazing corals and sea animals!
Our days were spent snorkeling in the beautiful lagoon which can be accessed from 4 different points of the villa! We spotted some baby sharks , hermit crabs stingrays & some of the most exotic colorful fish everyday of our stay. My favorite spot was the hammock where I chilled most evenings. We also love chef Hari’s food which is one of the reasons that brought us back to this resort. Every time we speak to this gentleman ,we are always enthralled and inspired by his passion and commitment to excel.
David ( the general manager ) and Nikholas ( resort manager) were there to give us a warm welcome on our arrival. David took the time & ensured he was always around , chatting us up and other guests which was quite impressive.
However, the only downside was Mr Friday who seemed a little switched off from day 1 . There was no tour of the villa given especially since this is a large property with en-suite gym/jacuzzi and steam room & had to figure our way around . We had to make a request to explain the operations of the steam room / jacuzzi ,music system on different occasions etc. We also noticed that the some of the staff never say thank you whenever they’ve been tipped which was a bit surprising.
Another point to note was that the villa cleaning service would not be done unless the Man Friday was informed everyday be it general cleaning or the turn down service ,although I believe it is the responsibility of Mr.Friday /staff to find out when & what time the guests would like the room to be serviced or care to find out the timings for lunch or dinner reservations and communicate / coordinate the same to the house keeping Team. Well we have never had to stress about coming back to a messy villa as we’ve always had this part covered wonderfully well in other resorts without us having to make any special request.
Taking the staff training a notch higher goes a long way in keeping your repeat guests happy.
Also since there are no motorized water activities at Gili , to respect the privacy & not disturb the guests , they ought to do something about the neighboring resort’s motorized activities disturbing the peace and serenity of this place .We had jet skis and other motorized boats traveling few meters from our villa almost every hour. Overall a lovely stay as it was my parents first visit to to Maldives and they absolutely loved it!
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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Response from Nicolas K, General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Feb 12, 2021
Dear ShiblinSarfraz, Thank you for your review of your most recent stay at Gili Lankanfushi. The family villa which overlooks three palm island, in which you stayed, is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset, and direct access to the pristine waters that surround the accommodation. Just a stone’s-throw away is three palm island, one of the most desirable locations for a private dinner. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the comforts of the villa, and the iconic hammock, located just in front of it. Thank you for highlighting the culinary component to your stay. Chef Hari and his team work tirelessly to ensure each guests experience is unique and memorable, and it is delightful to see that he once again exceeded your expectation in this regard. I will be sure to pass your comments onto him and his team. Thank you also for your constructive feedback regarding certain service hiccups you experiences while at the resort. We are always striving to improve, and these comments will go a long way to ensuring we remain focused on that goal. It was a pleasure to welcome you back to the resort, and I am delighted that your parents thoroughly enjoyed their stay. We hope to see you again in the near future, for more Gili stories. Warm regards, Nicolas
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From the minute you are picked up from the airport, you can expect excellence! Travelers from the US will see paradise first hand in a laid back Robinson Crusoe vibe. Before arrival, you are asked to let them know what type of bath salts, pillows, and other extra amenities you would like in your spacious overwater villa. Scuba gear is sanitized and waiting for you along with a pedal bike so you can bike the island.
At the dock for your 20-minute boat ride to the island, your captain provides a bag for your shoes if you are interested in their No News, No Shoes. experience. The manager Nicolas greets you at the dock and introduces you to your Mr or Ms. Friday. Your butler for the entire trip is there to ensure every detail of your stay is perfection. Ismail our Mr. Friday knew exactly what activities we wanted to squeeze into our 10 days. I say squeeze in because I can be an active traveler. Make your first trip to the island over to the spa for a back or foot massage. Kai and Yagden are some of the best massage therapists I've experienced.
Of course, my husband Chris has the opposite travel style to mine so Ismail did a great job of balancing my wish to be very busy, and Chris's wish to simply hang out and relaxing by our pool in the overwater bungalows villa. We were celebrating our 20th Wedding anniversary, Rodrigo ensured every dinner seemed to celebrate us from monogrammed menus to all staff members greeting us by name and know food and drink preferences. If you want to feel like royalty come here!
Don't be fooled. Even though the vibe is laid back, the service is stellar. Every member of the staff aims to remember every desire requested. For example, if you order a cappuccino at your first breakfast, expect to be greeted with one the next morning with your assigned wait staff ours was Ameen for breakfast and Zeon for dinner. Sommelier Gedon paired the master chefs' meals perfectly with wines. Try the wine dinner it won't disappoint you! Drinks from Brian and Stanely at the Overwater Bar by the Sea is a must! Try any of their personal cocktail creations, FABO!
Whether your goal is to relax and hang out by your own personal pool in the ocean and distress or enjoy swimming with the manta rays, Gili will not disappoint. The only problem is you will surely wish you booked more days on the island.
You come as a guest, you leave as family!
Thank you, Ismail, Nicolas, Rodrigo, and the entire staff!!
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Date of stay: October 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:We stayed in jetty 1 at the end and had both a sunset and sunrise view!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Guest Services / Front Office at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Dec 7, 2020
Dear candiuss, Thank you so much for taking the time to share the time to share this complimentary review through TripAdvisor. We are elated to know that you had a wonderful stay with the best 'service ever'; most importantly we are proud that you came as guest and left as family. Our team of hosts strives to create memorable and unique connections with our guests that will last for a lifetime and it is great to know this was accomplished. It was a true pleasure to meet you know and be at your service, we truly hope to welcome you back in the not so distant future. Warm regards, Nicolas
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We have visited 3 different high end properties in the maldives. Gili was by far our favorite. The simple laid back luxury it exudes is second to none. The sea is amazing with an abundance of sea life. The beaches are beautiful and pristine and afford a great sense of privacy and isolation if that is what you seek. The two restaurants although may appear too few actually provide a huge variety of cuisines and dishes that appeal to every taste. The quality of the dishes was superb and breakfast was an experience in of itself. Enjoyed the best wasabi martini i ever tried in my life at the Japanese restaurant. The crusoe villa was exceptional in every detail. Simple rustic yet luxurious. The sense of privacy and isolation it offered is hard to beat. The spa was also fantastic and very reasonably priced. Our Mr Friday Ismail was superb making us feel like we were at home and had been there for years. From the simple check in directly in the room to the quick turn around time on virtually any request it was an incredibly high level of service and attention. Returning after five days at another island i was pleasantly surprised to see that Ameen at breakfast remembered my favorite morning juice cocktail and had it on the breakfast table waiting for me as i toured the buffet. You truly appreciate the sense of comfort you felt throughout until you had two slip your shoes on once again and bid them farewell. Will hopefully be going back for another visit in a matter of months. The only thing they can improve on is supplying pillows similar to the ones used at four season hotels
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Date of stay: December 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Mar 21, 2021
Dear kgheit, Thank you for your delightful review of Gili Lankanfushi. We are truly humbled to hear that this was your favorite resort during your visit to the Maldives. The overwater villas, which give direct access to the crystal clear waters of the lagoon, are a great place to spend the afternoon, as you watch an array of sea life swim by. Alternatively you can enjoy the upstairs decking for a romantic outdoor meal, or a sleeping under the stars experience, where you can fall asleep to a sky full of stars. Having been recently renovated, the spacious villas have plenty to offer. I am overjoyed to read that the food and beverage program exceeded your expectations from food variety and quality, to service and personalization. While there are only three defacto restaurants on the island, as you rightly mentioned, the food options and dining locations available are far more extensive. I will pass on your lovely comments to your Mr Friday, Ismael, as well as Ameen in the restaurant. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for more Gili stories. Warm regards, Nicolas
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Just returned from our 4th visit to Gili and I have to say it is better than ever. With so many new 5* resorts to choose from now I checked a number out before rebooking to see if I was missing anything and could be tempted. But no. I couldn’t. Gili wins hands down again. Being only a 20 minute speedboat ride away from the airport there is no need to hang around any longer for a seaplane transfer. Refreshing towels and drinks on the boat set the scene whilst they take your shoes away as they won’t be needed during your stay. After greetings on arrival from management and your ‘friday’ you are whisked away by buggy to your villa. Your enormous villa I should say! You can read on their website about all the amenities they have, water sports, spa, dining options etc but it can’t perfectly express how luxuriously laid back it feels, how they all know your name, how they will always fulfil any request as they don’t know the word no. This visit I saw sharks, rays, a turtle, octopus and starfish before I even went snorkelling to the house reef. The spa therapists are out of this world. The menus and food choices are so varied that you can never get bored with your meals. I think there will always be something new to discover or try at Gili so of course we will hopefully return. You all make a brilliant team. Thank you all for a wonderful holiday.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Resort Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Jun 18, 2020
Dear PatC559, Thank you for your review of your recent stay at Gili Lankanfushi. With so many resort options in the Maldives, it is truly humbling that you have to chosen to return once again. I and elated that we have been able to live up to your expectations, and provide you with another delightful and memorable holiday. The 20 minute speedboat ride from the airport, makes for a short and comfortable final stint to any international journey; I’m glad you were able to appreciate this. Of course, once you step foot on the resort, it is easy to disconnect from the hectic world behind, and enjoy the natural seclusion that is Gili Lankanfushi. Whether you choose to spend your time relaxing on the decking of your over-water villa, soaking in the sun at the poolside, or exploring the island on your bamboo bicycle, there really is an option for everyone. Finally allow me to thank you for your heartfelt compliments of the Gili team - I will be sure to pass them on. As we prepare to reopen on 1st September, we look forward to welcoming back familiar faces, and hope to see you back once again for more Gili stories. Warm regards, Nicolas
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As the first trip for my wife and myself post corona, and our first trip to Maldives. We know what we were getting into for airports and flights, but were apprehensive about the whole Maldives experience from airport transfer to the resort itself to the most important of all, FOOD.
Getting there: as soon as we left the through the doors of the arrivals hall at Male airport, we immediately spotted the Gili Lankanfushi team, who had us on the boat within 4 minutes speeding off to the resort (a 20 minute voyage). We were offered fresh towels and a welcome drink enroute and the team were more than happy to answer any question. 5/5
The resort: check in process? No no, you are immediately greeted by a team, with Mr (or Ms) Friday being your point of contact (in our case Rasheed, who honestly made our trip that much better). You get on a buggy with Friday who gives you a tour of the island which is on the way to your villa. You reach to find welcome drinks (a bottle in fact), bags already placed, AC switched on in the bedroom, and some fruits because why not. 5/5
The Gili Lagoon Villa: be it napping on the deck or waking up in the morning to take a dip with baby black tip sharks (we saw 6 in 4 days whilst swimming around our villa) it was perfect. A deck on the sea level, a deck on the roof, a private area of the sea specific to your villa, luxurious bedroom. 6/5
The Food: usually when we travel, we plan our days around the meals we have in mind, not the other way around. Chef Hari and his exceptional team went out of their way to exceed expectations at every opportunity. Ala-Carte, set menu or impromptu Pakodas (an extremely yummy snack from the Indian subcontinent) we were more than happy. We did not try the breakfast buffet as we would wake up by 11ish (don’t judge), we would order breakfast to the room and we would get exactly what we want at the level we hope for. 6/5
The resort is not cheap, and I have not been to others in maldives so I can’t really compare. But objectively it exceeded every expectation and you can’t wait to come back for more.
Thank you Gili Team, we really felt like family!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicolas K, Guest Services / Front Office at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Oct 14, 2020
Dear suhalls536, Thank you for your delightful review of Gili Lankanfushi. Travelling at the present time certainly presents additional challenges and commitment; I am honoured that you choose to entrust us with your holiday during this maiden trip to the Maldives. No Gili experience would be complete without the care and attention of your dedicated Mr Friday, there to offer guidance, assist with reservations, and be your main point of contact while at the resort. It’s wonderful to hear that Rasheed was worthy of a special mention I will be sure to pass on your comments to him. There is a charm and ease to having the check-in experience take place in your own villa, rather than at a traditional front desk, and I am glad you were able to appreciate this nuance. The villa themselves, are of course spacious, newly refreshed, and ideally located in the lagoon, with direct access to the crystal clear waters. It would be all too easy to spend the whole day lying on your private deck, watching the fish swim by, with the occasional snorkel around the villa. The culinary portion of any stay is paramount to its success. Thank you for recognising the Food & Beverage Program, and Chef Hari who works tirelessly to create unique and personalised experiences for each and every guest. While there are countless options in the Maldives, we find that so many guests choose to return to visit us time and time again. I hope we have the chance, in the same spirit, to welcome you back in the near future for more Gili stories. Warm regards, Nicolas
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Our trip to maldives this time was even more unique. As we are a couple that travels to Maldives every year this was actually our 7th resort. Although We thought we knew what a good 5star hotel can offer this one makes the difference. From the time we landed we felt special and important. The staff went above and beyond to satisfy every need. Our Mr Friday (Shyan) took a perfect care of us and the staff at the restaurants and the pool bar were polite and so well trained . Also special thank for taking care of us to Angeline Mohamed Shadeed Mahid
The food is extraordinary and the head chef Hari is very passionate and committed to what his is doing . He even comes to every table to meet the guests and once i mentioned him that i love potatoes the next night prepared 12 different recipes only for me!! We had the half board package so we were eating buffet at the Kashiiveli restaurant or the Over water bar each night, with different theme, or set menu at the By the sea restaurant (fish and sushi) However we also tried the teppaniaki at By the Sea with additional charge and was totally worth it. The resort also has wine tasting in the Cellar which we did not try.
The Lagoon is as shown at the pictures. Well taking care of and many shades of blue and turquoise waters. From the one side is was shallow and the other was deep enough to swim comfortably.
Gili indeed is the best place for a luxury vacation so close to nature and eco friendly.
Tip : from the moment you put your feet on the island you can forget about flip flops and shoes.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Response from Nicolas K, Resort Manager at Gili Lankanfushi
Responded Jun 4, 2020
Dear 223margaritaf, Thank you for your detailed and complimentary review of your recent stay at the resort. We are particularly humbled by your feedback, considering your familiarity with the Maldives. The no shoes no news concept lends itself perfectly to those who wish to relax and connect with the natural surrounding the resort has to offer. I am elated to hear that this was a point worthy of emphasising. Another highlight is the turquoise lagoon, which surrounds the over-water villas; it really is the perfect place to swim and watch the marine life pass by. A stay at Gili Lankanfushi would not be complete without the care and attention of your personal Mr. Friday; there to assist you with any request you may have. It’s wonderful to hear that you were so well received by Shaan, and indeed the rest of the team. I will certainly pass on your comments to him, as well as Angeline, Mohamed, Shadeed, and Maheed. Regarding your culinary experience; we seek to make every meal unique and memorable, and are delighted to hear that you found it particularly enjoyable. Chef Hari and the team are committed to ensuring that each interaction is a special one. The Teppenyaki experience in By the Sea is a continued source of positive guest feedback. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back, to create more Gili stories. Warm regards, Nicolas
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was in jetty 2 at the end of January, pool villa too. Had no problem with grass, it didn't mix with the corals.
The only problem you may encounter is low tide, if your date is around full moon. Our date was full moon. Could swim around the jetty 2-3 hours per day only.
Only affects south beach though, the other side is always there for you. Near one palm island is the best.
We have visited Gili three times the past two years and have never experienced any problems or issues with diesel smell. Boats passing is an everyday thing of course on an island but I can’t recall any smells.
There are more places to choose from in the Lankanfushi area.
PRICE RANGE
$1,809 - $3,483 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MaldivesKaafu AtollNorth Male AtollLankanfushi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
45
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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