The much rewarded Soneva Gili Resort is set on the tiny private tropical island of Lankanfushi in the Male’ Atoll, one of 19 atolls that stretch over 800 kilometres through the Indian Ocean, and is one of the 1190 islands which are the Maldives. This amazing spa resort is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the International Airport at Male’, the capital of the Republic of Maldives.
Soneva Gili offers just 45 sumptuous over-water villas, including 7 Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached only by boat. Each villa has not only been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail, but are also environmentally-friendly and reflect the harmony of life by the water’s edge. Each has its own private water garden and sun decks, and the bathrooms have a separate shower accessed along an open-air walkway.
These spacious over-water villas are connected by long jetties threading across crystal clear water, providing spectacular ocean views from every room. In addition to the sparkling waters, this tiny island provides a very intimate atmosphere, fused with the uncompromising standards that have made Soneva Gili so popular with many visitors and resort and spa reviewers alike. The resort prides itself of the fact that here, like at their beautiful sister resort resort Soneva Fushi, you will be assured of a wonderfully serene and natural experience, described by Soneva as ‘Intelligent Luxury’.
Though a tiny tropical island and admittedly somewhat close to the Male International Airport, the Soneva Gili Resort is all about escaping the cares of the world. For the ultimate in relaxation visit the over-water Six Senses Spa where guests can choose from a wide range of holistic therapies. Experience a sensual massage, whilst gazing through the glass floor at the underwater world, or get back to basics with a traditional Maldivian sand massage.
Click here to view their entire spa menu which includes treatments such as wellness activities, Spa journeys, facials, Hand & Foot Care and of course the famed Six Senses Signature Treatments.
You can also indulge in their Special Packages during your stay – click here to review the options.
The Gili Resort also offers great culinary experiences and journeys. Begin a romantic evening with a sunset cruise on a traditional dhoni. Head back to your villa and enjoy an evening under the stars, as you sit out on your private deck sharing a gourmet dinner for two, accompanied by a choice of fine wines from the island’s wine cellar. Or wine and dine at one of Gili’s restaurants of which their Underground Gourmet Cellar is the most spectacular and unique.
Click here to review all wining & dining options at Soneva Gili.
The resort have claimed many top rewards since opening a few years back including several Conde Nast Traveller Awards in 2007, 08 and 2009.
So how did recent visitors like this resort ?
Here are some guest reviews to consider :
A couple from London, UK had these praising words from their visit to Gili :
We stayed for 10 days and it was the best vacation we had so far (see my other reviews). This is 5 stars PLUS. Incredible expensive (especially when the food is not included and the wine list too long) but worth every penny and more! The only complain I had was our client relationship director, who was arrogant and answered every simple request with “let me see if that can be done”. But all the other staff was so amazing, we figured we just had a bad luck (and so did he as we tipped absolutely everybody but him). But it still bugs me, especially after we requested something complimentary but extra from the pool boy who replied “Of course, you pay a lot of money here, i will do anything for you”. Hmm, the pool boy got it, but not the manager!
RESORT: very private and intimate, well maintained, top luxury. reached by a boat from the airport and a nice trip to do. Villas with a very private feel, well placed withing the island.
FOOD: out of the world. amazing selection of food and wines all day long. the breakfast was particularly great, staff offering to make fresh smoothies from any fruit you selected. Wide range of holistic potions to take as well. I haven’t even this well at any other resort. Various cosines to taste. Special tables and romantic gestures for honeymooners.
VILLAS: enormous, top luxury. Several rooms: A/C bedroom, large open air sitting room with game boards and steps to the private desk with sun chairs. Enormous changing room/shower room, bathroom with a glass floor peep hole. fantastic.
ACTIVITIES: plenty to do there. Diving sites were fantastic. The reef around the lagoon provided so much marine life, no need to go anywhere else. We did do a fishing trip (loved it as they cooked us the fish for us), snorkeling trip and snorkeling with the mantas. It’s a very relaxing resort but i didn’t manage to read a page:-)
SPA: very big and luxury. We had several treatments and enjoyed ourselves very much.
A Paris, France couple also liked Gili :
Spent 11 nights in celebration of my wife’s birthday. We LOVED everything about the place and were depressed to leave. Food, service, accommodation, etc., all excellent. Particularly liked that they have their own time-zone, one hour ahead of Male…Gave the impression of an extra hour of sunshine!!
Note: They are building a new restaurant which looks like it will be lovely.
Whilst all TripAdvisor.com reviews are positive to extremely positive on the Gili Resort, this review from Conde Nast Traveller also has some negatives to report mainly related to the exorbitant prices of the resort :
Soneva Gili has had more press attention and won more awards since opening in May 2002 than any of its competitors. This is possibly due to expectations raised by Soneva Fushi, Gili’s undeniably attractive sister resort. I thought Gili disappointing, bearing in mind the prices charged. Other guests concurred. One couple moved out of their top-of-the-range ‘Crusoe Residence’ – there are seven of these free-standing, stilted bungalows accessed via boat, not walkway – because the tide was so low they were only just able to get to their room. The all-wood, thatched bungalows are vast and smartly decorated, although their rustic, stilted look smacks a bit of the Kevin Costner movie Waterworld.
Gili is near Malé (15 minutes by speedboat). It attracts Japanese honeymooners who are passionate about over-water rooms, the design formula for all Gili’s 44 bungalows, and this seems to be the only reason the owners chose this location since the island, known locally as Lankanfushi, is too small to build on land. In fact, much of the island is reclaimed. There are three jetties (jetty three, which you can swim off, is the best).
Read the rest of the CNTraveller review here to get the full picture.
Pre-visit this truly beautiful resort by browsing their photo gallery here or watch a video from the resort in the below.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0VAiqWvGk
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UYoU9Aa5iY
Contact details:
Tel: +960 664 0304, Fax: +960 664 0305
E-mail: reservations-gili@sixsenses.com