MALDIVES, November 2018 – Following the recent rise in solo travel, luxury Maldivian eco-resort Gili Lankanfushi is introducing a new package for single travellers. Launching in January 2019 and eschewing the traditional single supplement, the package will offer those in search of a solo travel adventure a 25% discount on room rate alongside a combination of rejuvenating individual down-time and immersive group activities.

Located in the tranquil North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi makes the perfect spot for peace and personal healing. Guests are encouraged to spend their time on the island barefoot, and those looking for total solitude can opt to stay in one of Gili’s Crusoe Residences, set apart from the main island and accessible only by boat. Recognising the therapeutic powers of writing, solo travellers will receive a beautifully-designed journal for self-reflection and thought exploration on arrival at their villa. The solo travel package will also offer guests the chance to immerse themselves into a range of holistic therapies including mediation, reiki, crystal and ancient singing bowl sessions at Gili Lankanfushi’s overwater Meera Spa, as well as including a stress-alleviating 120-minute massage, encouraging guests to unwind and switch off.

A range of expert-led experiences will present the chance for self-growth, including a traditional Maldivian cooking class where travellers can sample local flavours and fresh produce from the island’s organic garden, and a therapeutic photography session teaching guests how to best capture the white-sand landscape and rustic design details. Inviting guests to immerse themselves into the natural surroundings, a snorkelling excursion with the island’s resident Marine Biologist introduces guests to the kaleidoscopic array of marine life that roam the surrounding waters, whilst those wanting to take their education a step further can join the team on monthly reef cleans and coral watch dives to check on the island’s pioneering Coral Lines project.

Traditionally considered a romantic destination for honeymooners and couples, Gili Lankanfushi will offer solo travellers the opportunity to meet new friends and share experiences with like-minded travellers through a range of group activities, including sunrise yoga in the outdoor yogashala, ocean-based excursions and a weekly group supper club at the island’s underground wine cellar.
To book: The Solo Travel Package at Gili Lankanfushi starts from USD 4,896 per person for four nights including a 25% saving on room rate, daily breakfast, return speedboat transfers, 120 minute massage combined with Gili Cuisine and Spa Juices, a photography session with Mr. Friday, wine cellar supper club or “Dine in the Dark” Dinner Experience, sunset sailing, snorkelling excursion, choice of Maldivian Cooking Class Experience or “Make your own BBQ” at One Palm Island with complimentary cooking class, 11% reduction on items from Gili boutique, journal, waiver of tray charge for in-villa dining orders. Package availability from 9 January 2019.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]
www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:
Gili Lankanfushi: Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager
at [email protected]

BIRD Travel PR: [email protected] / +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends –

Editor’s Note
Gili Lankanfushi: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

MALDIVES, June 2018: This summer, Gili Lankanfushi heralds a dynamic new culinary direction with the relaunch of its signature island restaurant as Kashiveli — showcasing locally-sourced, nutritious ingredients and vibrant Maldivian flavours. Overseen by executive chef Aldo Cadau, the restaurant will celebrate the bounty and abundance of the island’s lush tropical location, marrying the very best produce from land and sea.

Located where the island meets the sea, Kashiveli is named after the coralline white sand which fringes the shoreline and plays a central role in traditional Maldivian home life. For generations, islanders throughout the archipelago have collected the brightest kashiveli sand and used this to decorate their homes, changing the white sand floors every Ramadan to represent the new beginning.

To celebrate the restaurant relaunch, the island is set to introduce the Gili Culinary Journey, a rotating selection of international dishes which offer guests a global tasting tour without stepping foot off the spectacular beaches of the North Malé Atoll. Offered three nights per week at Kashiveli, the Gili Culinary Journey will celebrate the heritage and talent of Gili Lankanfushi’s culinary team with a diverse range of signature dishes, including handmade culurgiones pasta with lobster, artichoke, Vermentino wine and saffron, inspired by Cadau’s home town of Cagliari, Sardinia, and richly spiced lamb aatukkari kuzhambu, hailing from executive sous chef Harinath Govindaraj locale of Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. The rotating menu of signature dishes will touch upon nine global gourmet hotspots in all, reaching from Alicante, Spain to Nosy-Be, Madagascar and Padang, Indonesia.

The island’s vast organic garden — amongst the largest in the Maldives — will provide an abundance of fresh produce for Kashiveli, from herbs and spices to fruit and salad leaves. Additional fresh, seasonal produce, including reef fish, meat and vegetables, will be sourced sustainably through local Maldivian suppliers, fishermen and farmers.

Kashiveli joins the island’s two existing dining options — By the Sea, serving delicious Japanese fusion dishes using locally-sourced seafood and reef fish overlooking the calm waters of the island’s northern shore, and the Overwater Bar, offering lighter lunches and sundowner cocktails with a view of visiting sharks and rays. The island also offers an enticing array of destination dining locations, from BBQ dinners on secluded sandbars to lantern-lit feasts amongst towering palms.

To book: Rates at Gili Lankanfushi (www.gili-lankanfushi.com / +960 664 0304) start from $1,400 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]
www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:
Gili Lankanfushi: Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager
at [email protected]

BIRD Travel PR: [email protected] / +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends –

Editor’s Note
Gili Lankanfushi: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

June 2018: Original Maldivian eco-resort and pioneer of barefoot luxury, Gili Lankanfushi, is introducing a new range of castaway adventures for children aged 4 and over in time for the summer holidays. This summer, the islands littlest guests will discover the Indian Ocean haven in Robinson Crusoe style, through scavenger challenges, immersive cultural experiences and underwater exploration, all led by Gili Lankanfushi’s experienced Mr. Fridays.

Holidays will kick off with a Pirate Party on nearby One Palm Island, where budding explorers will spend the afternoon marooned on the secluded sandbank sipping from coconuts, hunting for lost treasure and learning to build ocean rafts and island shelters using scavenged construction materials.

Adventurers will bring their scavenging skills back to the main island for a wild art class using natural materials such as palm leaves and coconut coir, and a natural cooking class with the island’s chefs, collecting tropical fruits, fresh vegetables and fragrant herbs from the island’s vast organic garden to make their own traditional Maldivian curries, juices and smoothies.

Working with the local community on nearby island Himmafushi for an introduction into Maldivian island culture, music classes will teach children the traditional Bodu Beru drumming technique, whilst local Dhivehi language classes will allow them to greet and communicate with islanders and staff through basic Dhivehi phrases.

Taking to the seas, conservationists-in-making will explore the crystalline waters with Gili Lankanfushi’s marine biology team for an educational underwater treasure hunt. Snorkelling through the shallow lagoon, children will learn about the kaleidoscopic array of Maldivian marine life, identifying colourful fish species, friendly eagle rays and paddling sea turtles.

Whilst children are occupied, parents can head to Gili Lankanfushi’s overwater Meera spa for an afternoon of peaceful pampering, or to the wine, cheese or chocolate cellars for something more indulgent. Families can continue to explore the island together with range of activities including family film screenings in the open-air Jungle Cinema, beach picnics, buggy driving lessons, family cooking classes and kayaking, snorkelling or surf lessons.

To book: Seven nights at Gili Lankanfushi for a family of four in a Villa Residence starts from $9,002, including daily breakfast and dinner and three family activities. This package offers a 20% saving. Valid until 20th December 2018

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]
www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR
[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ENDS-

Editor’s Note
Gili Lankanfushi: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Coral Lines Project: Launched in 2014, the Coral Lines Project aims to rehabilitate the coral reef – damaged by an intensive El Niño event and Crown of Thorn Starfish outbreak – through direct transplantation of mature corals onto lengths of rope suspended in mid-water and through indirect coral spawning from the nursery. Currently the nursery has 180 lines, each containing approximately 50 coral fragments, and is home to more than 8,500 corals. Frames are placed in a sheltered site, with optimal current and lighting conditions, are periodically cleaned and checked, and monitored every three months for fragment size and survival rates. The innovative project has now been adopted by six other Maldivian resorts.

Luxury Maldivian eco-resort, Gili Lankanfushi is celebrating World Oceans Day on 8 June 2018 with a series of sustainable initiatives for guests and staff to encourage healthy oceans, free of plastic pollution.
The celebrations will kick off at the resort’s dedicated marine biology shack and central hub for all conservation issues, Gili Veshi, meaning Gili Environment in the Dhivehi language. This World Oceans Day, guests will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the island’s innovative Coral Lines project — which aims to protect and replenish the house reef, maintain biodiversity and mitigate episodic bleaching through long-term growth of coral along midwater lines.

In addition to the creation of a brand new coral line, guests will also learn about the delicate process through which corals are transplanted to the house reef, and have the chance to explore the dedicated wet lab to learn about the research being undertaken by the marine biology team in partnership with visiting scientists, including Crown of Thorns starfish eradication, Manta Ray and Turtle identification, and restoration of the region’s vital seagrass habitat. All participants will receive a small gift from the team to thank them for their support and remind them of the importance of protecting our oceans.
As dusk approaches, guests and hosts alike will be ushered along a candlelit path to the island’s outdoor Jungle Cinema for a screening of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, the inspirational sequel to Al Gore’s game-changing 2006 documentary about climate change.

Sustainability is at the heart of the island year-round, with Gili Lankanfushi achieving silver certification from sustainable tourism advisory body EarthCheck in 2017. Beyond marine conservation, the island has a strict no-plastic policy, fully-functioning Eco Centre to recycle glass, plastic and aluminium and compost food waste, sustainable sourcing of products across the island, sustainability tours for local community schools and Sustainable Living Training for all staff. Guests are encouraged to get involved through visiting Gili Veshi and the organic garden, participating in reef clean dives, removing any waste they bring to the island and leaving only footprints behind.

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi (www.gili-lankanfushi.com / +960 664 0304) start from $1,400 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]
www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR
[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ENDS-

Editor’s Note
Gili Lankanfushi: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Coral Lines Project: Launched in 2014, the Coral Lines Project aims to rehabilitate the coral reef – damaged by an intensive El Niño event and Crown of Thorn Starfish outbreak – through direct transplantation of mature corals onto lengths of rope suspended in mid-water and through indirect coral spawning from the nursery. Currently the nursery has 180 lines, each containing approximately 50 coral fragments, and is home to more than 8,500 corals. Frames are placed in a sheltered site, with optimal current and lighting conditions, are periodically cleaned and checked, and monitored every three months for fragment size and survival rates. The innovative project has now been adopted by six other Maldivian resorts.

MALDIVES, March 2018: This month, in celebration of both Earth Hour and Global Recycling Day, luxury Maldivian eco-resort Gili Lankanfushi is adding to its stellar environmental credentials with a campaign against single use plastics and a range of new marine conservation initiatives.

Kicking off on 18^th March 2018, to coincide with Global Recycling Day, Gili Lankanfushi will host a Paddle against Plastic, which will see several members of the island’s marine biology team undertake a 12km paddle around three Maldivian islands on stand-up paddleboards whilst collecting waste plastic from the oceans. The endurance event aims to help clean up the surrounding seas, raise awareness of the overuse of single-use plastic in the Maldives, and encourage neighbouring resorts and hotel guests to put down their plastics for good. Trailblazing the movement towards sustainable travel in the Maldives, Gili Lankanfushi eschews the use of all single-use plastics on the island, providing guests with earthenware toiletry dispensers, distilled water in glass bottles and linen tote bags.

24^th March 2018 will see the island celebrating Earth Hour with a day of marine conservation activities. Gili Lankanfushi’s marine biology lab, Gili Veshi, will host a workshop for both local marine biologists and hotel guests, educating visitors on the island’s pioneering Coral Lines project — which sees coral fragments grown in mid-water to replenish the local reefs — including how to monitor, protect and maintain the lines of growing coral. When evening falls, guests will be invited to Palm Beach to create an intricate lantern artwork in the shape of a branching coral. As Earth Hour approaches, the island will switch off all lights and plunge into darkness, and the lanterns will be lit to highlight the importance of protecting the fragile marine ecosystem. Guests wishing to further their conservation education can head to the open-air Jungle Cinema for a late-night screening beneath the stars of award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.

Throughout the year, Gili Lankanfushi encourages island guests of every age to get involved in its environmental initiatives first hand, through coral watch dives with the Gili Veshi team to check on the growth of new specimens, Crown of Thorns eradication dives to remove the invasive starfish species, and monthly reef clean efforts to remove oceanic litter. Eco-minded little ones can get involved through educational treasure hunts along the shoreline, marine movies and interactive iPad games.

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi start at $1,440 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy.

Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR
[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

 Gili Lankanfushi: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Coral Lines Project: Launched in 2014, the Coral Lines Project aims to rehabilitate the coral reef – damaged by an intensive El Niño event and Crown of Thorn Starfish outbreak – through direct transplantation of mature corals onto lengths of rope suspended in mid-water and through indirect coral spawning from the nursery. Currently the nursery has 180 lines, each containing approximately 50 coral fragments, and is home to more than 8,500 corals. Frames are placed in a sheltered site, with optimal current and lighting conditions, are periodically cleaned and checked, and monitored every three months for fragment size and survival rates. The innovative project has now been adopted by six other Maldivian resorts.

Maldives, February 2018: The Maldives’ original luxury eco-resort, Gili Lankanfushi, is delighted to announce its appointment of Aldo Cadau as the island’s new Executive Chef. Chef Aldo joins the Gili Lankanfushi team in an exciting phase of the island’s gastronomic journey, as he spearheads developments in the resort’s restaurants, news of which will be announced in Spring 2018.  Chef Aldo will oversee operations of the Main Restaurant and Gili Lankanfushi’s other dining destinations, By The Sea – a Japanese fine-dining restaurant specialising in exquisite sushi, Fini Foni – a poolside ice cream parlour and the Overwater Bar, in addition to destination dining experiences and in-room villa dining.

In addition to running the resort’s restaurants, Chef Aldo will be in charge of the island’s imaginative evening dining experiences, including Passage through India and Mediterranean Spice Souk, as well as the Gili Tasting Journey, a unique experiential introduction to the Gili Wine & Dine offering.

Hailing from Sardinia, Chef Aldo’s culinary passion started in his mother’s kitchen, helping her make fresh pasta, pastries and bread. His father reared pigs and sheep and taught him how to make prosciutto sausages and cheese, instilling the importance of food’s provenance from a very early age. Inspired by his upbringing, Chef Aldo continued his culinary journey and trained at the Hotel Institute in Arzachena, Italy. From there, he quickly moved up the ranks in some of the world’s finest restaurants from Hotel Cervo, Restaurant La Mola, Baia-Blu and Aqua in his homeland, and subsequently trained at Four Seasons Hotel Milan, Italy. From Italy, he went further afield to Japan, the UK and Russia, followed by his first two years in the Maldives at Four Seasons Hotel Landaa Giraavaru Maldives. From his first stint in the Maldives, he travelled the Middle East for two years, working at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, Qatar and assisting with the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel in Saint Petersburg and Qasr Al Sarab Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining Gili Lankanfushi, Chef Aldo was Executive Chef at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, also in the Maldives.

Bringing a wealth of international influences and impeccable standards of service to Gili Lankanfushi, Chef Aldo looks forward to introducing sand oven cooking techniques to the island, the first of its kind in the Maldives, inspired by the subterranean cooking techniques he learnt in the Middle East. Chef Aldo will also continue to develop Gili Lankanfushi’s impressive Organic Vegetable Garden, one of the largest in the Maldives, to expand the raw, vegan and vegetarian options available for guests.

David Stepetic, General Manager of Gili Lankanfushi said: “Having worked with Aldo previously, I am very excited for him to bring his wonderful culinary –talent and culture to the island. He has an intrinsic respect for food and ingredients while being a natural creative, always delivering memorable dining experiences for his guests.  We look forward to working with him to grow Gili Lankanfushi’s reputation as one of the Maldives finest gourmet destinations.”

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi start at $1,440 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries:

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR
[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends-

Editor’s note: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport.

Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Maldives, January 2018: Leading luxury eco-resort, Gili Lankanfushi, is delighted to have been voted the number one Maldives resort and top five best hotel in the world in Tripadvisor’s 2018 Traveller’s Choice Awards – two positions that it has held consistently since opening.

The Travellers’ Choice award winners were determined using reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travellers worldwide. Achieving a 94% ‘Excellent’ vote, Gili Lankanfushi blows guests away with its exceptional accommodation options, that include 45 all overwater villas and the Private Reserve, the largest overwater villa in the world spanning 1,700sqm. When guests are able to tear themselves away from the heavenly surroundings of their villas, Gili Lankanfushi provides guests with unforgettable experiences throughout the island, from the warm service of each villa’s own personal hosts, an inspiring plethora of dining options and Meera Spa, which offers holistic healing in a spectacular overwater setting.

Gili Lankanfushi is hailed as the Maldives’ original eco-resort and puts sustainability at the heart of the island’s vision, with an emphasis on preserving the natural environment, protecting the fragile marine ecosystem and leaving only footprints behind – a philosophy which its guests, around half of whom are repeat visitors, continue to be impressed and inspired by.

General Manager of Gili Lankanfushi, David Stepetic says “We are honoured by this year’s results and thank our loyal guests for taking the time to provide valuable feedback. Listening to our guests enables us to keep improving our resort and inspiring our team to keep delivering memorable experiences.  In a market as competitive as the Maldives, we are very proud of the service and experiences we offer our guests, and that this is recognised on a global scale.”

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi start at $1,440 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries,

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR

[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends-

Editor’s note: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport.

Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives, introduces innovative 2018 wellness programme 

Maldives, January 2018: Luxury Maldivian eco-resort, Gili Lankanfushi, is debuting a revolutionary new wellness programme for 2018. Four world-leading international wellness practitioners, working in areas as diverse as transformational breathwork, sound therapy and hypnotherapy, will be leading island residencies throughout the year, offering revolutionary treatments and workshops for guests, and passing on their skills to the team at the island’s Meera Spa.

The international wellness residency programme will kick off in March with bestselling author, Ayurveda enthusiast, cook and wellbeing entrepreneur Jasmine Hemsley visiting Gili Lankanfushi from 12 – 19 March 2018. Jasmine will be leading immersive and soothing sound bath sessions, helping guests to switch off their minds, open their hearts and nurture their spirits with waves of therapeutic crystal tones to balance the chakras. Wellbeing warriors can enjoy a masterclass on the ancient principles and wisdom of Ayurveda, and Jasmine’s own journey of discovery over the past decade, whilst foodies will be treated to a live cooking masterclass, with Jasmine teaching a number of signature recipes from her new Ayurvedic cookbook, East by West.

10-18 April 2018 will see the arrival of international author, breath coach and founder of Breathing Tree, Rebecca Dennis. Rebecca trained in the cutting edge breath technique Transformational Breath, used to harness the power of conscious breathing to unblock emotions and release tension, and specialises in treating issues such as stress, anxiety, addiction and sleep problems.  Rebecca will be offering in-depth conscious breathing workshops for island guests to help them to find clarity and deal with any issues they left back home. Whilst on the island, Rebecca will be offering private breathwork sessions for a deeper immersion, and guests will be able to continue their individual breathwork journey in their villas with the help of guided conscious breathwork tips on achieving better sleep and starting the day well.

Meditation guide, inspirational speaker, writer and intuitive mentor Jody Shield will be taking over the island from 22 – 29 August 2018. Jody is fast becoming a household name amongst London’s high-fliers as the go-to healer to solve all manner of modern woes, supporting people to process the past, be present and build a life they love. She will be helping Gili Lankanfushi’s guests to switch off, clear emotional debt and restore their energy abundance through meditation, mindfulness and her transformative LifeTonic classes. One-on-one private sessions will be offered exclusively to the island’s guests, whilst audio guided meditations in the villas will help them to make the most of the island’s serene surroundings.

The final international wellness residency of the year will be hypnotherapist, anxiety expert and bestselling author Chloe Brotheridge. Chloe will be leading hypnotherapy workshops on the island for guests from 10-17 November 2018, to help with issues including anxiety, confidence and sleep problems. Chloe will also be offering a talk on the Anxiety Solution, her practical guide for women suffering from anxiety, allowing them to achieve a calmer life with a quieter mind. Guests looking to explore hypnotherapy on a deeper level can book in for one-on-one sessions with Chloe to work through deep-rooted emotional issues and make positive changes to negative thoughts, habits and behaviours.

Gili Lankanfushi’s international wellness residencies in 2018 will complement the island’s existing programme of unique and holistic visiting practitioners, working in specialisms including crystal healing, neuro-linguistic programming, kundalini therapy bodywork and chi gung healing. Permanent Master in residence Esther Bitongan Balaodan practices kundalini therapy bodywork, harnessing kundalini energy and working through the chakras to promote self-awareness, reduce stress and facilitate physical and mental healing. Devendra Prasad Pokhriyal, the island’s resident yoga and Ayurveda master, specialises in pain relief therapy, using palm reflexology and ancient salt therapy to release deeply-held tension from within the neck, back and shoulders, to optimize emotional health and promote mental wellbeing.

In addition to an exciting programme of wellbeing journeys and practitioners, Meera Spa — meaning ‘Ocean’ in Sanskrit — offers an extensive range of signature therapeutic treatments. Inspired by nature, spa treatments use local flower petals, organic herbs and earth clays to heal and nurture the skin, complemented with organic products by Voya and Sodashi, and Meera products created on the island from the finest oceanic and botanical extracts. Open air walkways link the steam room, sauna and six treatment rooms, where glass floors allow guests to watch fish flitting amongst the coral during treatments. Following treatments, guests are encouraged to relax in the vast relaxation areas, which boast panoramic ocean views, and enjoy spicy pots of freshly brewed Maldivian ginger tea. Gili Lankanfushi offers complimentary daily sunrise yoga classes at the beachside Yoga Champa, as well as one-on-one yoga, meditation and visualization practices with the spa team.

Rates at Gili Lankanfushi start at $1,440 per night on a room-only basis, based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to taxes.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries,

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR

[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends-

Editor’s note: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport.

Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.

Jasmine Hemsley

Jasmine Hemsley is an author, chef and entrepreneur with influence well beyond the culinary world. With a passion for eating well to feel great, Jasmine believes in conscious, healthy and joyful living, and has inspired a global audience to shift their perspectives on food as a founder of Hemsley + Hemsley. For the past 10 years Jasmine’s research and passion for good food has connected her with the ancient healing system, Ayurveda, and she launched her first Ayurvedic cookbook, East by West, in November 2017. She is passionate about a holistic approach to wellbeing, and her projects include Sound Sebastien, offering immersive and uplifting sound baths and crystal alchemy. A well-known personality in the food, wellness and travel industries, Jasmine has both written for and been featured in Conde Nast Traveller, Vanity Fair, Elle, The Telegraph, Vogue, ES Magazine, You Magazine, Goop and W Magazine, among others.

Rebecca Dennis

Rebecca Dennis is an author, breath coach, workshop leader and founder of Breathing Tree, with a practice at Indaba Yoga in Central London. Rebecca studied cutting edge breath technique Tranformational Breath with founder Judith Kravitz in Mexico and Miami, and today specialises in treating issues such as stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, sleeping and focus issues, lack of energy and physical problems through transformational breathwork. She continues to study with inspirational teachers from all over the world, and fervently believes that conscious breathwork is the key to our wellbeing and inner peace. Rebecca’s book, And Breathe, teaches readers how to harness the power of conscious breathing. It’s a practical guide to letting go of the unwanted patterns of emotions, blockages and tension which hols us back, and includes simple to follow exercises, tips and case studies. Rebecca has been featured in Tatler, The Times, The Telegraph, Grazia, Psychologies, and Elle, as well as speaking on the benefits of breathwork on BBC Radio.

Chloe Brotheridge

Chloe Brotheridge is a hypnotherapist, anxiety expert and author of bestselling book, The Anxiety Solution, which is practical guide for women with anxiety, allowing them to lead a calmer life with a quieter mind. Chloe offers 1-2-1 and group hypnotherapy sessions in London, helping clients make positive changes to their negative thoughts, habits and behaviours, specialising in anxiety, confidence, public speaking, weight and sleep issues. Chloe has recently launched a six-week online programme, aimed to equip women with a range of tools to manage their anxiety. Chloe is also a qualified nutritionist, and worked within the NHS for several years helping people to make positive changes to their diet, lose weight and improve their health. In the past year, Chloe’s anxiety prevention advice and tips have been featured heavily in the media, including The Independent, Red Magazine, Stylist, Marie Claire and Women’s Health, among others.

Jody Shield

Jody Shield is an inspirational speaker, meditation guide, writer and intuitive mentor. She’s fast becoming a household name amongst London’s high fliers as the go-to healer to solve all manner of modern woes, named as “a shining light in the new-gen spiritual movement” by Red Magazine. She supports people to process the past, be present and create a life they love. She’s the first European meditation ambassador for global brand Lululemon Athletica, and has residencies across London including Stella McCartney, Soho House and Fremantle Media (X Factor). Previously a Business Director in advertising, she has first-hand experience of the stress epidemic that plagues the corporate world. As a consultant, she now works with brands to inspire, teach and change lives. Jody’s a regular speaker at popular events such as Stylist Live, Be:Fit and Red magazine’s #smartwomen. Jody writes for the Huffington Post UK and has been featured in The Sunday Times, Stylist magazine, Red, Psychologies, Glamour magazine, Metro, Women’s Health, Sheerluxe.com and Hip and Healthy.

Maldives, January 2018: A secluded island sanctuary tailor-made for romance, luxury Maldivian eco-resort Gili Lankanfushi is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a brand new tasting journey, taking guests on a gastronomic voyage across the island.

Launching on Valentine’s Day, the Gili Aphrodisiac Journey will take couples on a culinary adventure through the island’s most romantic and isolated spots, whilst sampling a deliciously curated menu of aphrodisiac-infused dishes with carefully-paired cocktails and wines.

The journey begins by the beach as the sun sets, with Japanese canapés prepared by the island’s resident sushi chef alongside a tasting flight of quality sakes. As the sky turns inky blue, guests will wander through the jungle-lined paths to the west side of the island, where a spread of French delicacies awaits, including fois gras macarons with glasses of chilled champagne.

Gili Lankanfushi’s underground wine cellar sets the scene for the third stage of the journey, with a range of delicious cheeses and charcuterie paired with red, white and rosé wines, before heading high amongst the treetops for panoramic ocean views accompanied by canapés of the freshest local fish and a selection of unique and flavoursome spirits. The island journey ends above the sea, with a refreshing and palate-cleansing fruit sorbet and an aphrodisiac-infused cocktail, whilst listening to the sound of the gently lapping waves.

Gili Lankanfushi’s romantic dining experiences don’t end with the Aphrodisiac Journey; there are a host of private spots available for guests seeking extraordinary culinary experiences. A table dug into the sand beneath swaying coconut palms offers the best sunset vistas on the island, whilst foodies can dine at a table hidden within the lush greenery and fragrant herbs of the Maldives’ most extensive organic garden. Lovebirds seeking the ultimate seclusion can escape by dhoni to a secluded sandbar, bedecked with candles and paper lanterns, as live music sets the scene for the ultimate dining experience.

There are romantic experiences at Gili Lankanfushi to delight all couples, from enamored explorers to starry-eyed sun-worshippers. Wildlife lovers can spot dolphins leaping by the bow of the boat on a sunset dolphin cruise, whilst those looking for something more low-key can escape to the open-air Jungle Cinema for a private film screening, or to the overwater Meera spa for an indulgent couple’s massage. At night, guests can spot shooting stars as they slumber, from a bed set up on their private villa roof terrace. For those seeking the ultimate elopement, Gili Lankanfushi’s secluded overwater chapel, adrift in the turquoise waters of the lagoon, is the ideal location for a private and barefoot wedding or vow renewal.

To book: The Gili Celebrates Valentine’s package starts from $1,807++ per couple per night, including daily breakfast and dinner, return speedboat transfers, one Gili Aphrodisiac Journey for two, one private film screening in the Jungle Cinema, one couples jet-lag massage and one round of beachside sunset cocktails. There is a minimum four-night stay.

Call +960 664 0304 / Email [email protected]

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

For media enquiries,

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

Tammy Gan, Marketing Communications Manager at [email protected]

BIRD Luxury Travel PR

[email protected] or +44 (0) 20 7112 882

-ends-

Editor’s note: Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL (Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy 20-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport.

Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled privacy.