The Maldives is the ultimate luxury travel destination and enjoys a spectacular Indian Ocean location that attracts affluent travellers in search of sun, sea and relaxation from across the globe. Home to pristine white-sand islands, vibrant coral reefs and a plethora of stunning high-end resorts, you don’t need to look very hard for reasons to visit, and it’s easy to see why it’s at the top of many people’s bucket lists.
Reachable in under 12 hours via direct flight from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the getting there doesn’t require too much thought, either. Let’s face it; the decision to be made is never about whether or not to come, but rather, where to stay when you do, and with such a vast array of lavish five-star retreats (172, to be precise) to take your pick from across the Maldives’ 26 paradisiacal atolls, you’ll likely find yourself spoilt for choice.
So which of the many resorts to settle upon for your long and luxurious stay? I’m not here to tell you – but I am about to make it a whole lot easier for you.
My visit to the Atmosphere Kanifushi resort earlier this year wasn’t my first foray into Maldivian luxury, but it was certainly one of the most memorable – and it’s fair to say, one of my very favourite experiences of this stunning destination so far. Just a short 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male, you’ll have barely stepped off your long-haul international flight before you find yourself unpacked and luxuriating in your villa – but that’s just one of the perks.
Here are the many other reasons you’ll almost certainly fall in love with it, just as I did.
Resort
Set within the picturesque Lhaviyani Atoll, the Atmosphere Kanifushi is the stuff dreams are made of, and landing after a short seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male is the closest thing to arriving in paradise there is. The aerial views of the resort’s water villas as you come into land make you feel like you’ve just stepped inside of the Instagram discovery page, and the warm Maldivian welcome received by the staff at the jetty is like no other, with the gentle sound of bodu beer drums leading you to check in.
Just 2km in length and 90 metres wide, the island is small but perfectly formed. The resort boasts an expansive stretch of powdery white-sand beach, fringed with swaying palms, immediately to the left as you arrive – but although spectacular in its own right, it’s just a taster of the vast expanses that extend around the island. And yes, the water really is as turquoise as it looks in the pictures.
The resort’s architecture seamlessly blends with the natural landscape, with spacious villas and overwater bungalows designed to maximise privacy and comfort and surrounded by lush, green vegetation for the utmost in tropical vibes. There are 172 stand-alone villas, an array of restaurants and bars, a main pool, fitness centre and a lavish spa spread across the island, but all within easy reach.
Because one of my very favourite things about staying at Atmosphere Kanifushi is that guests are provided with bikes to use for the duration of their stay to ensure they can get around the island with ease. Given the hot and humid weather, cycling from my room to the SPICE restaurant for lunch and back or to the Akiri spa for an appointment with the wind in my hair was a daily highlight, and a great way to get a feel for the layout of the resort, helping me to get my bearings early on.
There are also a regular stream of buggies ferrying guests to and from different parts of the island, and there’s even an app where you can keep track of where they are at any given time so that you can time your journeys perfectly to catch a lift. They pass in front of all of the villas, and being able to jump on one directly outside was really convenient – particularly in the evenings when I didn’t want to get sweaty cycling to dinner.
Guests at the resort can enjoy the benefits of the full all-inclusive ‘Kanifushi Plan,’ which includes your return seaplane transfers from Male – and means you can fully relax and enjoy from the moment you arrive in the Maldives.
Villas
Now this is where things get really luxurious. The resort offers an array of different villa types, ranging from Beach Villas (with and without pools – the Sunset option is perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway) to lavish and ultra-private Water Villas and – the piece-de-resistance if you’re travelling as a family – the Kanifushi Residence. This sprawling property sleeps up to seven and offers a spacious living area, a freeform swimming pool with sofa seating, semi-submerged sun loungers, and a shallow area for kids – plus a roomy wooden deck with a Maldivian swing sets the stage for creating cherished memories. Spread over a total area of 594 metres squared, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and of course, the facilities are all top notch.
I, however, was travelling alone – so imagine my delight when I was shown to my own personal Kanifushi Grand Pool Villa. Designed for up to four – that’s two adults and two children, or three adults and one child – it was nothing short of stunning. Think high wooden ceilings, classic décor and plush furnishings, with a huge four-poster bed at its centre and a generous living area with a sofa (or sofa bed, if needed), a coffee table and some more seating. And as a warm welcome, there was a bottle of champagne on ice ready and waiting for my arrival, along with a delicious array of cakes and sweet treats, which kicked my stay off perfectly.
There was also an area towards the back of the villa for storing clothes and getting ready, with plenty of wardrobe space – and a well-stocked mini bar with an array of both soft and alcoholic beverages and a tasty array of snacks that were replenished daily. The outdoor bathroom was another highlight, and featured a huge rainfall shower and a free-standing tub – which I was delighted to find had been filled and decorated with flowers for me one afternoon when I returned for some chill-out time after lunch. It also featured a sprawling double vanity with huge mirrors, and it was a joy to get ready each morning and evening listening to the sound of tropical birds and wildlife.
I’ve saved the best bit for last though, because opening the glass double-doors from the main bedroom area and heading outside, there was an enormous private deck area for relaxing, with a swing seat, cuddle chair and various other places to sit and relax – but most importantly, a 42 m² sunset view pool (which yes, is long enough to swim lengths).
Beyond the deck, it gets even better still (if that’s possible) because just another couple of steps and you’re walking on soft, powdery white Maldivian sand, with a semi-private slice of beach all to yourself. You get your own set of sun loungers and an umbrella, and although other villas along the beach also back onto the beach, everyone tends to keep to themselves. For me, this was perfect, because I do love a dip in the sea but also really appreciated the privacy and exclusivity of my own deck, which was more secluded, and together, they offered the perfect balance.
In all, the Grand Pool Villa offers an area of 243m², which was way more than I needed as a solo traveller – but I revelled in having it all to myself and spending a few days in the very lap of luxury.
Food and drink
The culinary offerings at the Atmosphere Kanifushi Resort are a gastronomic delight, with a diverse array of dining options to suit every palate.
The Spice, which is the resort’s main restaurant, offers a vibrant mix of international cuisine, with live cooking stations and themed dinners showcasing flavours from across the globe. It offers seating spread across a sizeable deck which offers lovely sea views during the say and a calming soundtrack of ocean waves in the darkness of dinnertime.
For a more secluded and intimate dining experience, Just Veg – the very first a la carte vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives offers a creative array of innovative dishes that will tempt even the most dedicated of meat-eaters. Drawing inspiration from Mediterranean, Arabic and Indian regions, it places a contemporary twist on simple ideas to elevate them to truly special dishes you’ll want to savour – all of which can be enjoyed in an intimate setting overlooking the spectacular turquoise waters that surround the island.
The resort’s Teppanyaki Grill was my personal favourite, and where guests gather around a sizzling iron griddle for an evening of performative Japanese cooking and decadent cuisine. Sitting directly in front of the action to watch and interact with the chef as your dinner is being cooked, things can certainly get a little hot, but from sushi to beef rib-eye and fruit flambé, the stream of delights being cooked up is seemingly endless and together, it all makes for a tasty, fun and lively dining experience.
The food and drink options at Atmosphere Kanifushi don’t end there though, because there’s also overwater fine dining restaurant Pier Six, which can be found on the resort’s new overwater peninsula and is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two.
Ceylon Bliss serves up authentic Sri Lankan street food (Sri Lanka is just an hour’s flight from the Maldives), in the open air from 5pm until 9pm on most days, and is a great place to stop for a post-beach, pre-dinner refuel and a drink in the shade of the trees.
Add to that a selection of beachfront bars and chic lounges, and there’s no shortage of places to unwind with a refreshing cocktail or enjoy a romantic sunset dinner by the sea.
Guests can enjoy one complimentary dining experience at one of the resort’s a la carte restaurants for every four nights of their stay, plus unlimited premium beverages at The Spice, The Liquid, The Sunset Pool Bar and Just Veg throughout.
To do
If you’re keen to mix up lounging on the beach or by the pool and taking periodic dips in the sea to cool off with some other activities, then you’ll find plenty on the island to keep you entertained. The resort offers a daily snorkelling boat trip which takes you out to a reef just off its Water Villas, where you can see a colourful array of fish and other vibrant marine life – including turtles and reef sharks, if you’re lucky. If you’re visiting between May and November, there are also seasonal snorkelling excursions where you can enjoy the majestic experience of swimming with manta rays – a bucket list experience you won’t want to miss.
The resort is also home to a fully-equipped PADI-licensed dive centre run by experienced, multi-lingual team, which offers dive courses for certified divers and you can enjoy 20 percent off your first two regular dives as a guest. The Lhaviyani Atoll offers some of the most beautiful dive sites in the Maldives, and the team are always on the lookout for rare, uncharted diving spots, from the fascinating Anemone Thila to the eerie shipwrecks of The Shipyard, so you can be certain of being in for a memorable experience.
If you like to stay active, then there’s a fully-equipped gym and flood lit tennis courts that you can use at your leisure.
Guests at the resort can take advantage of complimentary non-motorised watersports, including windsurf boarding, stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing, or have a go at jet-skiing. And excursion-wise, you can also opt for a sunset fishing or dolphin watching trip, or head out on a magical sunset cruise, with the Kanifushi Plan entitling you to one of each per week of your stay.
If you’re craving some extra relaxation and rejuvenation, the resort’s Akiri Spa offers a range of holistic treatments and therapies designed to soothe the mind, body, and spirit. Here, you can ndulge in a traditional Maldivian massage, practice yoga on the beach, or simply unwind in the serene surroundings of the spa’s private treatment rooms.
In a nutshell
How to sum up a stay at Atmosphere Kanifushi? It’s nothing short of magical. The moment you set foot onto the island, you can’t help but feel that you’ve arrived in paradise, and everything that happens thereafter only confirms it. The lavish accommodation, decadent dining options and of course, the truly breath-taking setting are complemented with the warmest Maldivian hospitality – and if you’re anything like me then you’ll already be plotting your return by the time you depart by seaplane at the end of your holiday.
Factbox
Two adults can stay at Atmosphere Kanifushi for seven-nights in February 2025 for £2,528pp with Kenwood Travel, flying from London Heathrow. Includes transfers, staying in a Sunset Beach Villa with all the benefits of the all-inclusive Kanifushi Plan. Package correct at the time of pitching and is subject to availability. Package is ABTA protected.
Address: Kanifushi Island, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives
Website: atmosphere-kanifushi.co
Telephone: +960 662 0066
Imagery credits: Atmosphere Kanifushi
