Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

I’m writing this review on the plane home, still soaking in the memories of what was truly the most perfect getaway. Gili Lankanfushi was a highly recommended resort from our travel agent for 5 star luxury, great service and food. We couldn’t be happier with our choice. Since we only had five nights, we wanted something close to the airport, and the 20-minute speedboat ride was ideal. From the moment we met the Gili airport representative to the moment we were dropped back off, everything about this trip was incredible. We booked just two weeks before traveling, so the lagoon villas were already taken, but our villa suite with a pool turned out to be perfect. The villa itself was stunning—huge, beautifully designed, and equipped with everything you could think of. The private pool made our lazy afternoons even better and quickly became one of our favorite spots. Our Mr. Friday, Bobbo, was an absolute star. He had such great energy and genuinely cared about making our stay unforgettable. He was funny, insightful, and just a joy to be around. We’ll miss his cheerful greetings every morning! Every single staff member we met at Gili was amazing. They were always smiling, so friendly, and clearly proud of their work and the island. A big thank you to ToBi, Ameen, and Alisha, who took such great care of us during meals. We loved hearing their stories and were always greeted with warmth and laughter. A special mention also goes to Rohan, the island’s sommelier—his knowledge of wine blew us away, and the wine cellar tour was a highlight of the trip. The food at Gili is everything people rave about and more. We were absolutely blown away by the Mediterranean and Indian buffets, which had an incredible variety of dishes made with top-quality ingredients. The Japanese restaurant was fantastic too. If you’re visiting during high season, I’d recommend booking it in advance, as it can be tricky to get an 1st sitting dinner reservation. I also had a massage with Nailar, and it was hands down one of the best treatments I’ve ever had. I left feeling so relaxed and refreshed—it was the perfect way to unwind. Now I completely understand why so many people return to Gili again and again. It’s truly a magical place that ticks every box, and we can’t wait to come back someday. Until then, we’ll treasure the memories we made in this little slice of paradise. I've uploaded pictures but not a single picture does the resort justice.

So much to say about Gili but I don't know where to start! Perhaps I'd start by saying this is the most amazing place I've ever visited and the staff are the most attentive and friendly too. From the moment you arrive at the airport and jump into the speedboat until the moment you pass through passport control on departure, there is a representative from Gili to accompany you. The stay itself is marked by the stunning views, the amazing food, the incredibly high standard of the villa accommodation and the ability of the staff to always be available but also to make you feel like you are the only couple in Gili. We will definitely be back and I would have no hesitation to recommend Gili to anyone planning a Maldivian trip.

This was the most beautiful and relaxing resort for our honeymoon! The villas are spacious, clean and offer the most amazing views. Being able to swim right off your villa is such a treat. And the food throughout the resort is incredible, every meal is so delicious and creative! Highly recommend getting the half or full board options, there's so much variety and quantity in the food that you'll never be hungry. The excursions the resort offers are so fun and special, there's something for everyone. From snorkeling to surfing, to sunset sails on the water, we had the best time! Every staff member at Gili was so kind and went above and beyond to make our stay special! Our honeymoon wouldn't have been the same without them. Our Mr. Friday, Miffy, made sure we had everything we needed during our stay. He arranged for so many special experiences and treats during our stay that elevated every day we spent there and meant so much to us. Lolzy took care of us at every meal and provided excellent service. And Brendan taught excellent surfing lessons with Tropicsurf, making it easy for us to learn even with no prior experience. Matthew and Coraline at the marine activities center were great snorkel guides for the nearby reef and taught us a lot about the local marine life. We couldn't recommend this place more and are already looking forward to coming back! Gili Lankanfushi is truly a special place.

This review is about our 15th stay at Gili Lankanfushi in September 2024. Ever since first stepping foot onto this beautiful out of the world island in August 2021, all other hotels were spoilt for us! We were 'forced' to go visit another Maldives resort (back then ranked #1 on Tripadvisor) in February 2022 once, as Gili was fully booked. The experience was underwhelming in many ways (simply because of the wonderful experience we had at Gili the times prior) so we made the choice to stick to what in our view represents the best holiday possible and not to do experiments (like some other travelers, who try out different islands each time). Our experience since was that the more often we return to Gili, the better the experience gets. Gili Lankanfushi's core strength are its staff members. And it is so wonderful to know this wonderful group of people better on every return! The following list is not exhaustive, but the following people have made a particular difference to our stay: Our biggest gratitude once again has to go to Chef Hari! His excellent cooking, his entertaining and at the same time sensitive nature, catering to any culinary preferences, are second to none and simply cannot be praised highly enough! Please, Gili, make sure to keep him so happy that he stays part of the team :) The Gili family would not be complete without Ramandi and Rohan (the most kind and warmhearted sommeliers), Bobbo (our wonderful Mr Friday!), Sue (who gives the best massages in the world!), John (from in villa dining, who due to his excellent skills for sure will have a great career in hospitality ahead of him!), Mafas (boutique assistant, now promoted to boutique supervisor - so well deserved!) and of course Sanjay (the biggest Kashiveli hero, supported by the great Lolzy and Bo!).

Our trip to Gili Lankanfushi (Honeymoon) We got married a few months ago and decided to travel to Dubai (3 days) and the Maldives for 6 days. Our travel agency recommended Gili Lankanfushi, and we didn't know what to expect - at this price, we naturally assumed it would be a special experience. We always place a high value on quality in our travels and have quite high standards. What we experienced is hard to describe, so we will try to share a few examples: 1. Friendliness: everyone - from the manager who greets you with a handshake to every staff member in service, cleaning, etc. - everyone is super friendly and helpful on the island! 2. Hotel complex: there are different categories (only water villas), we had a villa with a pool and found the villas very spacious, very clean, and with a lot of privacy - the rooms are cleaned twice a day. 3. Gastronomy: every evening has a different focus. From Brazilian to Mediterranean, Chinese, Japanese, etc. Both breakfast and dinner are 10 out of 10 points. We recommend booking half board, as the extras can be relatively expensive. Particularly noteworthy is the well-stocked wine cellar (which we did not expect) and Lolsy - he was our "own" waiter during our stay, and we are sure he will soon become the new restaurant manager! ;-) 4. Extras: there are countless ways to pass the time; for example, we took a sushi course, but diving in all its forms, fishing, excursions, etc. are offered - we contented ourselves with snorkeling at the beautiful house reefs and were delighted: every kind of fish, sharks, rays, etc. can be found right by the villas. 5. Our Ms. Friday: when you arrive on the island, a Mr. or Ms. Friday takes care of you. She made our stay perfect - she organized excursions, restaurant visits, and did something special for our honeymoon every day. If you come here, ask for Rayaa - you couldn't wish for a more delightful Ms. Friday! Our conclusion: we are thrilled and can recommend this resort to anyone who wants to visit the Maldives - we will definitely come back! Doris and Florian N. (39, 39, Austria)