Gili Lankanfushi

I have already written about Gili as a hotel in my previous reviews. Returning to Gili always feels like coming home, a home with a stunning lagoon, authentic villas, a lush jungle, and top-tier food and service. However, the most beautiful part of Gili is its people. They are incredibly kind, warm, and professional. Huge thanks to Rodrigo and the entire team for another wonderful stay. It is a rare place where every visit manages to be even better than the last.

To one of the best trips of our lives. I’m usually not the type to name-drop, but when something is this amazing, it deserves to be called out. Gili Lankanfushi was that for us. It genuinely felt like we were home. “No news, no shoes” indeed. Firstly, let’s start with the property. When I say it’s beautiful, that doesn’t even begin to do it justice because it is beyond stunning. The villa we stayed in was impeccable. I realized I kept using the words “magical” and “mesmerizing” throughout this trip, but there really are no better words to describe it. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay, not just because of how incredible the place itself was, but because of all the people who took care of us like we were their own. We were genuinely so emotional when it was time to leave. Let me tell you why. We had the best chocolate and wine tasting with Rohan, who gave us some incredible wines to taste and paired them with the most exquisite homemade chocolates. Then there was our cocktail-making class with Stanley, who taught us how to make a coconut martini and an apple lemongrass mojito. When I casually mentioned that I liked Negronis, Stanley ended up teaching me how to make one too. And a little extra mention for Stanley because this was so special. My wife had mentioned once, completely in passing, that she would love to taste their Butterbeer since they had featured it as their cocktail of the month a while ago. So he decided to make it from scratch, just for us, and surprise us with it. Next is Matthew, who took us for our snorkeling lesson and was an absolute delight. He was so patient, excited, and enthusiastic. I think he was even more excited by the fact that neither of us knew how to swim and yet had still decided to go snorkeling with him. He showed us what felt like a zillion different kinds of fish, sharks, a turtle, and even an octopus that decided to make an appearance! Rodrigo, the General Manager of the property, was one of the warmest and most wonderful people you could ever meet. He is genuinely the sweetest, and we shared so many fun stories and laughs with him. And then comes one of the absolute stars of the trip for us, Chef Hari. We connected with him instantly. He is quite possibly one of the most passionate people we’ve ever met. He talks to his food, and somehow made us experience and enjoy food in ways we didn’t even know we could. He gave us some of the best food of our lives. He made us a butter paneer pizza on a flaky Malabar paratha, and hands down, it was one of the best meals we have ever had. He personally came over and served us pani puri and dahi puri live, which was just the best. Before we left, my wife asked him if she could get some comfort south indian rasam rice and potato curry before heading home, and of course, he made that happen too. We mentioned just once that we loved their olive tapenade and sun-dried tomato dip with bread, and from then on, it magically appeared on our table at every meal. I mentioned that I loved the Maldivian chilli, and bam, it was on our table every single time. My wife casually said that she wished she could have Maldivian chilli back in Toronto, and Chef Hari actually packed some for us to take home. Husain, who was with us throughout our special dinner and made the evening even more memorable. Ono and Azmi, a special mention for taking such wonderful care of us at the bar and at Kashiveli. And lastly, but most importantly, Alif. Our Mr. Friday and our best friend at Gili. Thank you for being the absolute best, for making all of this happen, and for taking such incredible care of us. Alif made sure everything was exactly the way we wanted it, often before we even had to ask. He knew where we liked our pillows, how we wanted the blinds, which scents we preferred, and somehow made sure that everything we could possibly need was always right there. It’s the little things that make a place feel like home, and everyone at Gili gave us that feeling. Thank you for the bestest time, Gili. For spoiling us, feeding us, surprising us, making us laugh, and making it so unbelievably hard to leave. We cannot wait to come back and live the Gili life all over again. No news, no shoes, and apparently, no wanting to leave.

We became engaged at this resort, so returning ten years later was incredibly special and brought back so many wonderful memories. From the seamless boat transfer to the warm welcome at the arrival jetty, the resort team made us feel thoroughly spoilt. Our overwater villa was a delight, with quirky details that perfectly captured the Robinson Crusoe theme. Best of all, we could step straight into the crystal-clear lagoon and discover an abundance of marine life right on our doorstep. We loved relaxing with cocktails on the bar deck and were impressed by the wonderful selection of food during the Mediterranean evening. The talented local Maldivian music duo made the occasion even more memorable. A tour of the resort’s waste-management and recycling operation was another highlight. The facility was exceptionally clean, meticulous, and well organised—so much so that there was even a dining table set up in the middle of it. It was an unexpected and memorable example of the resort’s commitment to sustainability. A truly memorable return visit, made exceptional by the setting, service, and thoughtful touches throughout. We are already looking forward to coming back—the sooner, the better.

Our stay at Gili Lankanfushi was truly special. It’s one of those rare places where you naturally slow down, disconnect from the outside world and simply enjoy being present. What I loved most was the beautiful back-to-nature concept. Everything feels effortlessly connected to the island — from the barefoot experience and bicycles to the natural surroundings and the incredible overwater villa. It’s peaceful, private and beautifully unpretentious. The service was warm and genuinely personal. The team made us feel very welcome without ever being intrusive, and the attention to detail throughout our stay was wonderful. The food was another highlight — fresh, beautifully presented and consistently enjoyable. I also loved the little touches that make Gili feel different from a typical luxury resort. There’s a sense of simplicity and freedom here that is difficult to find elsewhere. You can spend the day doing absolutely nothing, yet never feel bored. Gili Lankanfushi reminded me that luxury doesn’t always have to mean grandeur. Sometimes, luxury is having time, space, nature and the freedom to just breathe. Definitely one of my favourite island stays, and somewhere I would happily return to.

An experience that is almost impossible to put into words. We had visited the Maldives two years ago, so we already knew that this part of the world was paradise. That is exactly why we chose to return. But we could never have imagined what awaited us at Gili Lankanfushi. Gili is much more than a luxury resort. It is a world of its own — a beautiful, intimate island where every detail, every place and, above all, every person comes together to create an experience that is truly unforgettable. And we say this having stayed in some of the finest hotels around the world. THE VILLA ✨ Simply breathtaking. The photographs cannot possibly do it justice. Our villa felt like an entire private home, surrounded by nature and the ocean, with beautifully designed spaces and an impeccable level of cleanliness. Every single day, everything was taken care of to perfection. It felt as though we were the first people ever to stay there. THE RESTAURANTS 🍽️ Exceptional locations, extraordinary food and an incredible attention to detail. The quality of the cuisine is something you have to experience to understand. Outstanding ingredients, imaginative recipes and flavours that genuinely surprised us. There is “hotel food”… and then there is Gili food. At Gili, you feel as though you are dining in some of the finest restaurants in the world — from breakfast all the way through to dinner. And the themed evenings were simply incredible. THE PEOPLE — THE HEART OF GILI ❤️ This is where Gili truly becomes extraordinary. The hospitality is, without a doubt, the most special part of the entire experience. From the waiters to the management, every single person we met was exceptional. Warm, kind, professional, discreet and genuinely attentive. The communication between everyone is remarkable. They somehow know what you need before you even have to ask. And that is something very rare. You don’t simply feel like a guest at Gili. You feel like family. The people here should be teaching the world what true hospitality, service and professionalism really mean. And then there is Mr. Rasheed — our Mr. Friday. ❤️ He was one of the reasons our stay became so incredibly special. From making sure we had the exact villa we wanted, to taking care of every little detail, to making our anniversary truly unforgettable, he was always there. Always kind. Always discreet. Always attentive. He would simply appear at the right moment, making sure everything was perfect and asking if there was anything we needed — never intrusive, always thoughtful. And what makes the experience even more remarkable is that it doesn’t begin when you arrive at the island. It begins the moment you are welcomed at the airport and continues until the very last moment, when you are taken back to the airport and personally looked after until your check-in is complete. This is not simply luxury. This is genuine hospitality. Thank you, Gili Lankanfushi, for giving us an experience we will remember for a very long time. Thank you for the beautiful villa, the incredible food, the unforgettable moments — but most of all, thank you for the people who made us feel so welcome and so special. We came back to the Maldives looking for paradise. We found something even more special at Gili. ❤️ Until next time… We will see you again very soon. 🌴✨ Villa 37 18/8-26/8/26 Ch.E- S.D