Paradise in the Maldives
The first stop on our honeymoon was to the eco-friendly Gili Lankanfushi resort in the Maldives which was formerly known as Six Senses Soneva Gili. Upon arrival at Male International Airport we were welcomed by the resort staff and taken to our comfy speedboat. The resort has a “no news, no shoes” philosophy so while on board the speedboat our host offered to take our shoes along with our luggage and that was the last time we wore shoes for the week, even at dinner! Of course, you can wear shoes if you like but we loved the barefoot luxury of Gili Lankanfushi. The location of the resort is a huge advantage as some resorts involve a seaplane transfer which only operate in daylight hours so depending on the arrival time of your international flight, you may be required to overnight in Male on your arrival or departure day. Within 15-20 minutes of boarding our speedboat we arrived at Gili Lankanfushi.
Arriving here is like arriving in paradise! The scenery is breathtaking. Powdery white beaches, lush tropical vegetation with plenty of palm trees, and turquoise, clear waters in the stunning lagoon. The staff here are absolutely fantastic and so attentive but not intrusive. Upon arrival at the island, you will be met by the general manager and your personal butler, called “Mr or Ms Friday” (in line with the Robinson Crusoë ambiance of the island). Whenever you need something during your stay, you just press a button on the villa phone and it will connect you directly to your Mr./Ms. Friday. The Fridays will also be there to wave you off when you leave (something you will be reluctant to do).
All 45 overwater villas are massive, amongst the largest in the world, and come in 4 categories; villa suites, residences, Crusoe residences and the Private reserve. They are built of natural materials, with beautifully appointed bedrooms and bathrooms, and with maximum use of deck space to soak up the sun. As we were on our honeymoon, there was a bottle of champagne, fresh fruit platter and a “Happy Honeymoon” cake waiting for us which was a lovely touch. From the steps of our villa we had direct access into the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon. Each villa also comes with a rooftop terrace, perfect for stargazing every night. We availed of the in-villa dining for our first few nights as our villa was just so stunning it was hard to leave!
The food here is amazing and plenty of dining options to choose from. Now that the wedding was over I was able to indulge a bit more!! Four evenings per week the beach and overwater bar are transformed into a buzzing market experience. We love Asian food and were lucky enough to experience the ‘Asian Street Market’ themed night where the beach was lined with stalls of different types of Asian food, it really was spectacular. They also have ‘Mediterranean Spice Souk’, ‘Passage to India’ and’ Maldivian Seafood Grill’ themed nights. We also booked wine tasting in their stunning underground wine cellar. We mingled with other guests and had great fun with the extremely knowledgeable sommelier!
There are a wide range of activities and excursions guests can avail of. I booked one of the amazing treatments at the incredible Meera Spa. With its over water treatment rooms and glass floor panel, this spa really has the wow factor.
After 8 nights of pure R&R at this idyllic paradise, it was time for us to leave and travel to our next destination – Thailand.