How old telephone poles ended up as foundation for one of the Maldives' finest resorts

Gili Lankanfushi was originally named Soneva Gili. It was built over 20 years ago by the visionary founders of Soneva, who created a resort that, in our opinion, still ranks among the very best experiences in the small archipelago.

The resort has since been sold, but the new owners have preserved and continued the style and concept that was groundbreaking at the time and still sets Gili Lankanfushi apart from the rest. One of the details is the story of the poles that still elevate the large wooden villas above the water.

But how do you build an entire resort out of wood without cutting down forests? Driftwood is one element, and there is a significant amount of it on Gili Lankanfushi. However, it is not easy to use as a foundation, and that is where the old telephone poles come into play.

The creation of the resort coincided with the transition from landline to mobile telephony. This pivotal moment in world history rendered countless telephone poles obsolete. And that is how a few of them ended up as the foundation for one of the Maldives' best resorts.

The story of the telephone pole is a central image of the style and atmosphere that prevails here. A consistent focus on recycling and responsibility creates a rustic and simple look that fits much better with the Maldives than all the more modern alternatives that now dominate the archipelago.

That contributes to an atmosphere that is unpretentious and down-to-earth. Simplicity in its purest form, and yet, or perhaps precisely because of that, Gili Lankanfushi is, in our view, one of the best resorts in the Maldives.

Natural beauty over an abundance of amenities

Gili Lankanfushi is in one of the Maldives' largest and most stunning lagoons. The water is more transparent, calmer, and turquoise than in most other places, and reef sharks and stingrays are regularly spotted around the villas. Here you will find the finest palm-fringed beaches on land, with only a few discreet buildings to disrupt the picturesque scenery. 

Like most other places, they could have quickly filled the island with beachfront villas. Instead, they have chosen the opposite approach, so Gili Lankanfushi has only 43 villas, all of which are situated over the water.

Gili Lankanfushi is, therefore, for those who do not need a multitude of facilities, restaurants, and activities. Not that it is boring whatsoever - the activities are simply focused on what nature has to offer, rather than various motorized water sports and a new restaurant for every evening.

You can snorkel or plant corals with the marine biologist, learn to surf, paddle on a SUP board, or take a kayak tour.