Soneva Gili by Six Senses

A Paradise for Nature Lovers

Lankanfushi is one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. Apart from the crystal-clear waters for which the Maldives are world famous, the island and lagoon combine natural lush vegetation on the island and an abundance of fish in the surrounding waters.

Rates:

(depending on season and booked villa):
USD 985 to 3,500 per night per villa.

Price for the Private Reserve on application.

Location

Soneva Gili Resort, the first totally-overwater-bungalow resort in the Maldives, is set on the private tropical island of Lankanfushi. This is situated in the Malé Atoll, one of 19 atolls that stretch over 800 kilometres through the Indian Ocean, and is one of the 1,190 islands that make up the Maldives.

Accommodation

The overwater villa suites and residences have all the luxuries found in the most exclusive resorts. The cantilevered sundeck sits just above the water level, so dining in your villa is a panoramic dream. The amenities, including a mini-bar, personal safe and quadrophonic hi-fi, are concealed, along with the television and VCD, in a hand-fashioned wooden cabinet. Three jetties stretch out from the island and along each jetty you will find our Soneva Gili Villa Suites and Soneva Gili Residences. Each has been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail in order to ensure total comfort for the guests.
The 29 Soneva Gili Villa Suites, 8 Soneva Gili Residences and 7 Soneva Gili Crusoe Residences are located in such a way that more than twenty metres separate each from its neighbour, affording total privacy. A favourite pastime is to lie on the cantilevered sundeck or the roof sundeck and just gaze off into the horizon or marvel at the night sky. The seven Crusoe Residences stand side by side in the lagoon looking out to the coral reef and the open sea. Each has its own private rowing boat for travelling between bungalow and beach.

The Soneva Gili Private Resort (1,400 square meters; view slide show for pictures) is the epitome of luxury in the midst of the Indian Ocean. It is situated 500 m from Soneva Gili and 300 m from the closest villa. This Private Resort is only accessible by boat. The villa enjoys an uninterrupted view of both the coral reef fringing the islands and the Indian Ocean. It comprises 2 master suites, each with ceiling to floor windows on 3 sides, and 1 guest room with en suite bathroom located on the 2nd floor.

The spacious villas and residences have stylish wooden floors. The bathrooms have been designed with a separate shower accessed by an open-air walkway with its own private water garden. The roof sundeck (some with a jacuzzi) is your own private oasis of luxury, and the cantilevered sundeck an equally inviting location just above the water level.

Dining

At Soneva Gili they pride themselves not just on the quality of their food and the excellence of their service, but also on the enjoyment of the dining experience. Open-air dining can be romantic, private and unique. A moonlit dinner on the sundeck of your villa or on the pontoon boat as it cruises under the stars in the lagoon, breakfast in the living room of your residence, or lunch over the water in the al fresco restaurant – the settings are as memorable as the cuisine.

Activities

Diving, windsurfing, waterskiing, fitness centre, canoeing, and catamaran sailing.

Best time to travel

If you are looking for a few extra hours of sunshine then you should visit the Maldives between December and April, which is the dry season.
It is still warm between May and November, but the skies can be cloudy, humidity is higher and rain is more likely. The transition months of November and April are said to be associated with increased water clarity and better visibility for divers.

Getting there

There are regular flights, as well as many charters from European centres. Malé International Airport is the only international gateway; departure tax is USD 10. Just a 15-minute boat ride from Malé, the capital of the Maldives, Soneva Gili is easily accessible by speedboat from the international airport.

Fly with Emirates and enjoy one of the highest standards of comfort, service, and facilities in every class. With the award winning, international cabin crew and one of the youngest, most modern fleets in the skies, Emirates’ aim is to provide the most comfortable and relaxing environment for your travels.

Soneva Gili in the press:
Soneva Gili wins again at World Travel Awards

Soneva Gili by Six Senses has won ‘World’s Leading Villa Resort and Spa’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards 2011 held in Doha on Wednesday 11th January. This compounds last year's success when Soneva Gili won the World Travel Awards 2011 awards for ‘Maldives Leading Luxury Resort’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort’. Soneva Gili is also one of the only three Maldivian resorts to have been included in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2012 Gold List.

General manager Iain McCormack commented, ‘We work tirelessly on ensuring not only the highest possible quality of service and comfort for our guests but also a happy and fulfilled team. We are so pleased to have again received such an accolade from the World Travel Awards, which involves 213,000 votes from within our industry. It is an absolute honour to have been selected, especially against so much competitive choice.'

Soneva Gili beauty lies in her elemental simplicity. Water, sky, space to breathe. Dramatically perched on stilts above the Indian Ocean, the over water villas offer extraordinary luxury, space, privacy and 360 degree sea views. With its Six Senses Spa, world class food and wine, dinner under the stars, cocktails on the beach, days spent diving with manta rays, or sailing a traditional dhoni, Soneva Gili fills your days with the stuff that dreams are made of.

Address:

Vladi Private Islands GmbH
Ballindamm 7
D-20095 Hamburg
Germany
Tel. +49-40-33 00 00
Fax +49-40-33 00 81
travel@vladi.de

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