Boat to our Crusoe Residence
Living Room
Bedroom
Outdoor Deck
In-Villa Lunch
Crystal Clear Water
Sleeping under the stars
Beach
Spa
Manger’s cocktail evening
Breakfast
See our full feature on Breakfast HERE
Over Water Bar
See our full feature on Over Water Bar HERE
Asian Street Market
See our full feature on Asian Street Market HERE
By The Sea
See our full feature on By The Sea HERE
See our full feature on Gili Churrascaria HERE
Chocolate Tasting
Learning to drive a buggy
Billiards
Table Tennis
Tennis lessons with the resident coach
Dinner set up on the beach
crystal clear waters
Returning to Gili Lankanfushi for our fourth visit felt less like arriving at a resort and more like coming home to our little corner of paradise. There is an unmistakable sense of calm from the moment you step onto the island, where shoes are quickly abandoned and bicycles become the preferred mode of transport. Gili has perfected its own interpretation of barefoot luxury, relaxed and wonderfully natural, yet faultless incorporating exceptional service and an island that remains beautifully maintained and luxurious.
This time we stayed in one of the Crusoe Residences, standalone overwater villas sitting away from the main island and accessible only by boat. Spanning 250 square metres across two levels, ours featured a spacious master bedroom, air-conditioned living area, semi-open bathroom, rooftop terrace and expansive overwater deck with direct access to the lagoon. Being surrounded entirely by water gives the Crusoe experience an incredible sense of privacy, while our Ms Friday was always just a message away.
Days at Gili have an effortless rhythm. We cycled barefoot along sandy pathways, spent hours on the beautiful beach and explored the reef before retreating to the picturesque overwater spa. The kids also took tennis lessons with the resident tennis pro, and it was lovely to see how much both Ever and River improved during our stay. Some of our favourite moments, however, were the smallest and most personal ones: a chocolate tasting, the afternoon our Ms Friday took the kids for a buggy driving lesson before proudly issuing them their very own Gili driving licences, and a magical evening when the team transformed the rooftop terrace of our Crusoe Villa into a bedroom beneath the stars. A proper bed was set up outside so Ever and River could fall asleep under the Maldivian night sky, surrounded by the ocean. It was such a simple but beautifully executed experience, and exactly the kind of thoughtful touch that makes returning to Gili feel so special.
Food is another huge part of the experience. Breakfast beneath the palms was one of the best resort breakfasts we have encountered, while lunches at the Over Water Bar combined freshly baked pizzas, Maldivian curries, burgers and colourful salads. By the Sea offered a beautiful Japanese-meets-Maldives dinner with an omakase-style selection of nigiri and sashimi, while themed evenings ranged from the atmospheric Asian Street Market, with Peking duck, Sri Lankan hoppers and sizzling wok stations, to the wonderfully fun Gili Churrascaria, where charcoal grills laden with skewers of meat and seafood were wheeled directly to our table. We also loved having breakfast and lunch served on our own overwater deck, proving that some of the most memorable meals at Gili require barely leaving your villa.
What continues to set Gili Lankanfushi apart is its deeply personalised approach to hospitality. The Mr and Ms Friday concept is designed around having a dedicated host available throughout your stay, but it is the warmth and intuition behind the service that makes it memorable. Nothing feels overly formal or orchestrated; instead, there is a genuine sense that the team knows you and understands how your family likes to spend its time.
Four visits later, Gili Lankanfushi remains one of those rare resorts that still manages to feel special every time we return. Between the turquoise lagoon, pristine beach, beautiful overwater villas and wonderfully personal service, it embodies barefoot Maldivian luxury at its best. More than anything, though, it is the feeling of familiarity, warmth and belonging that stays with us. For our family, returning to Gili really does feel like coming home to paradise.
Maldives, Lankanfushi Island 08290 North Malé Atoll, Republic of Maldives
+960 6640304