--- type: "Article" title: "Gili Lankanfushi – Barefoot paradise in the Maldives" description: "Paradisical Gili Lankanfushi is part of the northern Malé atoll and is just a short boat ride from the international airport. Check out our review here!" resource: "https://travelmemo.com/maldives/gili-lankanfushi-barefoot-paradise-maldives" author: "Katja Birrer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 18 tags: ["Beach", "Boutique Hotel", "Luxury", "Mr and Mrs Smith", "Nature", "Maldives"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/maldives" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/resort" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/golf" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/mr-and-mrs-smith" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-07-05T18:08:28+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2015-05-21T17:57:12+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: gili-lankanfushi-barefoot-paradise-maldives.md#photos title: "Original photography by Katja Birrer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer" timestamp: 2026-07-05T18:08:28+00:00 --- # Gili Lankanfushi – Barefoot paradise in the Maldives > Gili Lankanfushi is a barefoot-only luxury resort on a private island in the northern Malé Atoll, Maldives, renowned for its overwater villas, personalised butler service, and unspoiled tropical setting. ## Destination Gili Lankanfushi island, northern Malé Atoll, Maldives. ## Getting there 20 minutes by fast cruiser from Malé international airport; guests are met at the airport and transferred directly to the island. ## When to go The article does not specify a recommended season, though ambient temperatures at night are noted to be around 29°C. ## Why visit A 'No Shoes, No News' barefoot paradise combining overwater villas with direct ocean access, personalised Mr./Ms. Friday butler service, exceptional dining, and a spa — all set in turquoise Indian Ocean waters fringed by palm and mangrove forest. ## What to see - **Water villas** — 45 spacious stilted villas with open living rooms, sundecks with direct water access, open-air showers, and glass floor portholes through which sharks and stingrays can be spotted. - **Palm and mangrove forest** — Lush green interior of the island encircled by turquoise Indian Ocean waters. - **Bob the grey heron** — A resident grey heron that entertained guests around the resort. ## What to do - **Dining at the Main Restaurant** — Rustic wooden restaurant serving themed dinners (e.g. Asian food market, Chef's Gourmet menu) using produce from the island's own organic garden. - **Overwater Bar** — Stilted bar serving light lunches, fruit juices and drinks with a 360-degree panorama of the turquoise sea. - **By the Sea Restaurant** — Japanese gourmet restaurant featuring sushi and sashimi prepared by specialist Michio, with locally caught tuna. - **Wine and chocolate tasting** — Tastings staged in the gourmet wine cellar, led by sommelier Rohan. - **Private dining by moonlight** — Mr./Ms. Friday can arrange private dining on the roof terrace or along the beach at any time. - **Meera Spa** — Overwater spa offering massages (including Balinese massage) with glass floor ocean views, plus sauna, steam bath and fitness studio. - **Yoga and tai chi** — Morning sessions available for guests. - **Diving** — A dive centre is on the island, with a dive master on staff. ## Good to know All guests are assigned a personal butler called Mr. or Ms. Friday who arranges excursions and fulfils requests throughout the stay. The resort operates a strict no-shoes policy from the moment of arrival. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Boat-beach-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Boats on the beach" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Speed-boat-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "By cruiser to Gili Lankanfushi – first, off with their shoes!" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/sun-lounger-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Ready and waiting – your personal paradise." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Gili-Lankanfushi-farewell.jpg" caption: "An entire delegation awaiting our arrival" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Drink-Sundeck-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Now, that’s the way to have a drink..." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Water-villa-Sundeck-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Our water villa’s sundeck" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Shower-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "This way to the open-air shower" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Stingray-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "A “small” stingray comes to visit." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Bathroom-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Bathroom with a view" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Bedroom-water-villa-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Bedroom with view" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/View-bedrom-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Walter thinks he deserves an office like this from his employer..." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/asparagus-starters-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Delectable appetizer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Over-water-Restaurant-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Overwater Bar and Restaurant" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sunset-table-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "Dining in the sunset" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sunset-beach-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg" caption: "What a sunset!..." ```