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Barefoot Romantic Luxury in the Maldives

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By Kerene Barefield on 31st January 2023

Whether you are looking to reignite your love, celebrate a special Valentine's day, or simply want to enjoy barefoot luxury with your partner; this little Robinson Crusoe island of Gili Lankanfushi is the perfect place to reconnect and create beautiful memories.

With the sun on my face and the sound of gentle waves hitting the shore, I glance at my husband of nine years, who is casually sipping on a warm cup of ginger tea. I feel totally at peace. For the last week, we’ve spent time reconnecting with one another on one of the Maldives most enchanting and beautiful Islands, Gili Lankanfushi.

The unspoiled island is located in the North Malé atoll, which is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé - in which time you are served fresh juice and offered a cold scented towel. The friendly welcome is just a small nod to the high level of service that you become very accustomed to whilst staying on the beautiful Island.

Gili Lankanfushi has a variety of different villa categories, ranging from jetty villas to the huge Private Reserve. We were staying in one of the Castaway Crusoe Residences for our romantic getaway, giving us just that tad bit more seclusion and privacy. One of the major attractions of this island for me is the raw and rustic decor.  Sustainability has been at the heart of Gili Lankanfushi’s vision since the resort’s conception 10 years ago, with the preservation of the natural environment and marine ecosystem of utmost importance. The entire resort has been constructed with sustainably sourced and recycled materials, and all 45 rooms provide organic toiletries in refillable earthenware containers, keeping plastic use and wastage to an absolute minimum. 


The gastronomic experience at this resort was out of this world! Each night a different theme offers more choice than you could ever ask for, with all the ingredients being carefully-sourced or produced from the resort’s very own organic garden. Three restaurants provide three unique culinary experiences, playing host to a series of themed ‘market experiences’. The Mediterranean Spice Souk, Passage to India, Churrascaria BBQ and one of the most popular nights, Asian Street Market, were definitely our favourites. The resort's Executive Chef, Harinath Govindaraj, is incredibly passionate about every single plate that he creates for the guests. His enthusiasm for flavours and his drive to always push the boundaries of what is possible, makes its way to the plate.  The island also boasts a large palm beach area where the staff are able to host private and bespoke nights booked by the guests, from romantic movie evenings to extravagant proposal dinners. 

Not having the children with us really allowed for my husband and I to make positive choices for our own and each other’s well being. For me, this meant waking early before the sunrise, catching a boat to the island, hopping on my bamboo bicycle (which the staff had always placed ready for me the night before) and making my way to the yoga champa within the lush greenery of the island: a perfect start to each day. Whether you are looking to reignite your love, celebrate a special valentine's day, or simply want to enjoy barefoot luxury with your partner, then this little Robinson Crusoe island of Gili Lankanfush is the perfect place to reconnect and create beautiful memories. 

Nightly rates at Gili Lankanfushi start from £1,070/$1,440, based on two adults sharing a Villa Suite including breakfast. 

https://gili-lankanfushi.com/

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