Some overwater villas give you a deck and a ladder into the lagoon. Gili Lankanfushi Maldives has gone a step further: its upgraded Two Bedroom Sunset Villa, now called the Gili Lagoon Retreat, comes with a walkway to a private island of your own.
The 369-square-metre retreat sits on Jetty 3, one of the resort's best sunset spots in the North Malé Atoll. A newly built 65-metre timber walkway links the villa straight to Three Palm Island, a small islet that now functions as an extension of the villa — beach loungers, a secluded stretch of sand and a mini sandbank included. The resort frames it as a castaway-style setup: wake over the water, swim off your deck, then wander across for a sunrise breakfast, afternoon picnic or sunset drinks on your own island.
Inside, the villa is built for up to six guests — six adults or four adults plus two children — with the rate pitched for four sharing. There's a king-sized master with a daybed, a second en-suite bedroom with an outdoor shower and pantry, and a lagoon-facing deck with dining space and direct ocean access. Extras lean toward the indulgent-but-low-key: a private steam room, a wellness and workout room, a semi open-air bathroom with its own ocean entry, and a rooftop terrace with a daybed and a traditional Maldivian swing. Each guest gets a bamboo bicycle, and the resort's 24/7 Mr./Ms. Friday butler service can arrange everything from in-villa dining to sandbank picnics.
One detail worth noting: the walkway was designed and built entirely by the resort's in-house engineering team, led by Ahmed Majid, who has been at Gili Lankanfushi for 16 years. The team used Yellow Balau timber on the upper deck with marine-grade fittings, working around the existing structure without closing down the resort.
Why it matters: overwater villas and private-island beaches are usually sold as two separate (and separately priced) Maldivian experiences. Here they're bundled, which is especially appealing for families or small groups who want space to spread out without leaving their accommodation. The resort is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé Airport, and rates start from $5,200 a night (about £3,846), subject to season.
It's a serious splurge, but for a special-occasion trip it's hard to argue with the formula: sunrise on your own island, an afternoon dip straight off the deck, and someone on hand to mix the sunset cocktails.
