Gili Lankanfushi

This was our second time to Gili - we toured around Sri Lanka first on this trip then flew to the Maldives to relax. We think we enjoyed Gili more this time than before. Maybe it’s because we picked up more this time on the attentive and personal service that really marks this place out. It’s a rustic luxury vibe that we really enjoy with the spacious villas being in keeping with the natural environment. We had villa 28 again but there probably isn’t a bad villa they all have pros and cons in terms of their situation. The villas are very large with lots of living space, superior to other places where we have stayed in the Maldives. The service is outstanding nothing is too much trouble and every member of staff is warm and welcoming. Ali who looked after our villa did an exceptional job - he remembered exactly how we liked things we didn’t have to ask. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner we were often looked after by the same people who again remembered us and how we liked our drinks/food it made us feel so looked after. Florian was a member of management that was always available talking to the guests at mealtimes and ensuring that everything was working as it should we appreciated his presence and Interesting information about Gili. The food itself is amazing so well cooked and presented by chef Hari and his team everything is bespoke with so much choice. Worth coming here just for the food. Armani, Rohan, Ali, Previn, Monica, young James to name just some of them all looked after us so well. Our Mr Friday was Tesla who we had on our last visit. He is a lovely person and we looked forward to seeing him every day. He was always available to make our stay perfect even organising some lovely experiences for our 30th wedding anniversary. He made the whole trip so special for us he is a true jewel in a place where great service is the standard. As has been mentioned it’s a short boat ride from Male which we really like but if you want a more isolated location where you can’t see other islands, boat traffic, Male in the distance then Gili maybe isn’t for you. If however you value amazing service, rustic luxury, large villas with plenty of living space, fantastic food then Gili is just perfect.

We are so happy we came back to Gili for the second time. We rarely return to the same resort but are so glad we did. It was like coming back to old friends. The resort was as beautiful as ever and the service, attention to detail and warmth of everyone is amazing. Special thanks to our Ms. Friday Rayaa for taking such great care of us again: Hari for his delicious butter chicken and pesto and endless energy; Santo, Charito, Wahid, Alisha, Monica and Lolzy for making every meal so enjoyable, and Shazu and Rodrigo for their care! The trip was so relaxing knowing we were in such good hands. and being in a truly special place. It was exactly what we needed!

Loved this resort. Close to Male (Valena) airport and only a 20min boat ride away. Truly relaxed with my family in two different villas. The service is incredible and catered to our dietary needs. Highly recommend I preferred the lagoon side with sunset views. The sunrise pool villa is shallower affecting swim from villa if you enjoy swimming in the sea water.

Gili Lankanfushi is truly heaven on earth. If you can’t be happy here, chances are you can’t be happy anywhere else. This place is paradise perfected—overwater villas that feel like floating dreams, turquoise water in every direction, and an atmosphere of barefoot luxury that makes every moment feel magical. Our Friday, Tesla, was absolutely incredible. From the second we arrived, he anticipated everything we could possibly need—sometimes before we even realized we needed it. His genuine kindness, warmth, humor, and thoughtful attention made us feel so cared for and so welcome. We genuinely feel like we made a new friend. He is the heart of why this stay was so unforgettable. The food at Gili is hands-down the best resort food we’ve ever had. I’m sensitive to palm oil, and every single meal was prepared without it—no questions asked, no compromises on flavor or variety. We never had a single disappointing dish. The Asian Street Food Market dinner and the Japanese dinner were our absolute favorites—fresh, creative, and bursting with flavor. Breakfast was another highlight: the servers and hosts remembered our favorite coffees and brought them over with a smile before we even sat down. The attention to detail across every restaurant was extraordinary. Small touches everywhere elevated this from great to phenomenal. Personalized name tags on our bikes made us smile every time we rode around the island. Those thoughtful, unexpected details are what make Gili stand out—they show how much care goes into every guest’s experience. To address a couple of things others have mentioned as potential downsides: Yes, being only a 20-minute speedboat ride from the airport means you’ll occasionally see boats passing by and commercial jets flying overhead (roughly once every couple of hours). There’s also a bit of a motorboat “freeway” in front of the resort. For us, though, it added to the charm—we actually enjoyed watching the boats glide past and the planes reminded us how remote and special this place is. The sound and activity were never intrusive; the vastness of the lagoon and the serenity of the island more than balance it out. Gili Lankanfushi is pure perfection on planet earth. It does not get better than this. We’re already dreaming of our next visit. Thank you, Tesla, and thank you to the entire team—you made this the most memorable vacation. We can’t wait til our next visit!

Absolutely beautiful rooms, and huge, choose carefully as some have better outlooks than others. Special mention to the chefs who bowled me over with their willingness to accommodate my gluten allergy. Nothing was too much trouble - they came to my table at each meal to discuss how the menu could be adapted, rare service indeed. The staff are all very friendly and super helpful.