A resort’s website – or a review created by AI – can tell you how many restaurants, bars, and other facilities are available, but what they can’t tell you is how the place, the staff team, and the special little touches make you feel. Travel writer Angie Aspinall shares how a trip to Maldivian all-inclusive five-star resort Atmosphere Kanifushi made her feel.
Feeling welcome
What a welcome we received as we disembarked from the seaplane after a 35-minute flight from Malé. We were greeted with the ‘red-carpet’ treatment: smiling faces, handshakes and introductions, traditional drummers, palm leaf necklaces, cool face flannels, fresh coconuts, and sparkling wine. Our welcome procession ended with a crescendo and champagne in the Reception Lounge while our luggage was delivered to our villa.
After a personalised orientation meeting in the the light and airy arrival area, my husband (underwater photographer and journalist Richard Aspinall) and I were whisked away to our luxury villa via electric buggy whilst watching the local chickens and white-breasted water hens on the ground and fruit bats flying overhead.
Our sunset beach villa was a luxuriously spacious 255m². Our welcome included chilled canapés and champagne, a fruit basket, a fully-stocked minibar, and our very own wine fridge. Impressive! The canopied bed, romantically draped with a floaty mosquito net, was beautifully decorated with a carefully constructed welcome message created with palm leaves and flowers and, in the majestic bathroom, I discovered an inviting freshly drawn bubble bath topped with hibiscus blooms.
As my husband’s diving assignment started immediately, I took advantage of the bubble bath whilst enjoying the canapés, but not before taking in the impressive 36m² private pool: not merely a plunge pool, but long enough to swim laps. Screened on either side by lush, tropical vegetation leading to a private view of the pristine white sandy beach and Indian Ocean, our pool would rapidly become my favourite place on the island. When temperatures soared into the high thirties between 10am and 3pm, the pool was the coolest place to be: a secret haven for me to enjoy simultaneous floating and sunbathing in total privacy. And as if that was not enough decadence, we had not one, not two, not three, but four private sitting areas in our secluded garden, plus our own sun loungers on the beach. Immediately outside the villa was a circular daybed and sitting area. A few steps out onto the deck, was a dining area, which led to a wooden swing daybed for two.
Feeling pampered
Included in a four-night stay like ours, the Atmosphere Kanifushi Plan™ offers one 45-minute treatment per couple at the elegant Essens Spa (with additional treatments included the longer the duration of the trip). But, in addition to the couple’s massage which was booked for our last day, I also indulged in some extra pampering beforehand.
First up was the 1-hour Oriental Foot Massage with Gua Sha. While travelling, I always like to try unique spa treatments to broaden my experience of well-being rituals – and this one was out of this world. My Balinese therapist skillfully massaged my feet and lower legs, then incorporated two different Gua Sha (jade reflexology tools) to work on pressure points. As a result, I had very happy feet! And, I didn’t even have to walk back to the villa as there’s a regular ‘bus’ service (think elongated golf buggy) continually running from one end of the 2km-long island to the other, trackable by the handy Kanifushi shuttle tracker app.
The next day, I hopped on a bus for another visit to the spa, where the ambiance, temperature, and friendly therapists made me feel instantly relaxed. After a short walk through the stunning landscaped garden, past the dedicated yoga pavilion, I reached my treatment room (complete with bathroom and separate changing room with a choice of gowns or sarongs).
My treatment was the Balinese massage – a centuries-old Indonesian technique which incorporates long, slow strokes, kneading, and aromatherapy oil (I chose ‘Romance’ from a range of perfectly-crafted signature blends). I left feeling pampered, relaxed, calm, and content.
Feeling grounded
Kanifushi atoll is rich in vegetation, which provides shade, seclusion and fresh coconuts. A key landmark at the centre of the island is a banyan tree which is over 200 years old. While first impressions give the appearance of a copse, this specimen is actually a single banyan tree, its aerial roots having grown down from the branches like witchy fingers plunging into the ground. To a nature-lover like me, standing inside the cluster of roots was a real privilege. I felt instantly connected with the history of the atoll and grateful that so much of its flora is being preserved.
The other grounding feeling was discovered paddling in the warm Indian Ocean, whether that was to cool down in the heat of the day, while enjoying the sunset, or before enjoying some exemplary star-grazing. Sometimes, you just have to stop and really take in your surroundings – the sights, the sounds, and the scent of hibiscus and frangipane flowers on the breeze.
Diving highly recommended
Snorkelling and scuba diving are very popular activities in the Maldives and there are several popular diving sites near Kanifushi, including the fascinating Anemone Thila and the eerie shipwrecks of The Shipyard. Even as a non-diver, I was able to enjoy seeing some exciting marine life: we were lucky enough to see turtles, rays, and a small shark from the veranda at Pier Six one evening.
The Atmosphere Kanifushi Plan generously includes equipment for unlimited snorkelling for all guests, and an excursion to neighbouring Naifaru island to the turtle sanctuary. Other available water sports included in the plan are catamaran-sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. (A selection of motorized water sport activities is available at an additional charge.)
Feeling healthy
Many of Kanifushi’s activities focus on health and wellbeing – from the state of the art gym and sports arenas to morning yoga classes and evening pilates sessions. But the focus doesn’t stop there: healthy eating is high on the agenda too. It was easy to find healthy choices in every restaurant at Kanifushi and, at The Spice buffet, we were literally spoiled for choice with fresh fruit, salads, stir fries, fish dishes, and curries. Thankfully, many of the desserts came in bite-sized portions, so we could enjoy a sweet treat without over-indulging.
Kanifushi also boasts the first à la carte vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives, the innovative Just Veg, which serves plant forward cuisine from Mediterranean, Arabic, and Indian regions, with an additional menu specifically for Jain Cuisine. Alongside Just Veg, the Lantern Bar offers health-focused drinks including a range of therapeutic mocktails crafted by an Ayurvedic specialist. More indulgent à la carte dining is available at Sunset (Asian and Mediterranean cuisine), Pier Six (seafood) and at the exciting Teppanyaki Grill.
Feeling celebrated
While our trip was primarily for work (for my husband), it was also a romantic getaway to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and boy did the hospitality team pull out all the stops for us. Word had spread, and each member of the team, from the spa staff to the General Manager manager wished us a happy anniversary. And, on returning to the villa from the spa, I was delighted to discover another bed decoration and decorated bubble bath, along with a chilled bottle of prosecco.
But the pinnacle of hospitality was the private dining experience. And private it certainly was – we had the whole beach to ourselves outside the Sunset restaurant. Our table for two was enveloped in a heart of twinkling white fairy lights on the soft, warm sand, and surrounded by lanterns. We had our own waiter who was friendly and attentive, and we also had the opportunity to meet and thank our chef who had prepared us the most wonderful array of dishes and a celebratory chocolate cake. We felt like movie stars and will never forget our milestone anniversary and the wonderful people who made our day not just memorable, but magical.
Feeling happy
During our stay at Kanifushi, I enjoyed meeting so many members of staff, from the drummers on arrival, to the highly-skilled chefs and therapists, to the gardeners who brought us a fresh coconut as we lazed in our pool. Each encounter started with a warm smile: each one I happily returned in kind. And all those smiles – theirs and mine – made me feel very happy. Thank you, Team Kanifushi!
