Gangehi Island Resort, Italian Hospitality in the Heart of Maldives

Gangehi Island Resort is nestled in the beautiful North Ari Atoll among some of the Maldives’s healthiest and most vibrant reefs. As a popular resort amongst Italian travelers, Gangehi has a strong Italian heritage. Decades of Italian influence is reflected in the resort’s warm hospitality, vibrant attitude, exciting communal activities and delectable cuisine.

Getting There

The journey to Gangehi is as beautiful as the island itself. Soar above the archipelago’s ombre shades of turquoise in a quick 30 minute seaplane ride from Velana international airport. Upon landing in the resort’s pristine lagoon, the general manager will greet you like an old friend. Step aboard a dhoni, the traditional Maldivian boat, that will take you from the seaplane to the island resort.

Featured Image: Gangehi’s Main Beach 

Stay 

The Maldives’ first over-water villas were built in Gangehi! Stay in the iconic over-water villas that distinguished the destination and forever influenced Maldivian resort architecture. Gangehi has a traditional Maldivian resort architecture with beautiful teak wood that blends seamlessly with the lush natural environment.

Featured Image: Over-Water Deluxe Room

The property has four different room categories; over-water deluxe, over-water villa, beach room and garden villa. Wake up with a dip in the ocean directly from the private deck of the over-water villas. The beach room gives you private access to the beach to soak up the Maldives’ equatorial sun. Immerse yourself in the tranquil tropical nature that surrounds all of the island’s rooms.

Dining 

Veli, the island’s primary restaurant, is open air, overlooking the pristine beach. Indulge in Veli’s buffet three times a day, serving Italian, Maldivian, Asian and continental cuisine. Enjoy a fresh omelet in the morning or pasta in the afternoon from the live cooking chef. Thari is an upscale secluded restaurant at the end of the long jetty. Enjoy a romantic dinner from the open kitchen or an apéritif at sunset. The Kandu Bar is open all day, serving cocktails, beer, wine, coffee and juice.

Featured Image: Thari Terrace

Underwater World 

Gangehi is a paradise for those enchanted by the ocean. North Ari Atoll is home to some of Maldives healthiest reefs and best dives. The island’s house reef is teeming with beautiful marine life and is easily accessible from the beach. Just steps from the shore see kaleidoscopic corals, colorful schools of fish and black tip reef sharks. Explore the reef independently or join a group snorkeling session with trained guides.

Gangehi’s house reef is on a 2.5 km long oceanic channel that connects the atolls’ calmer lagoons to the open ocean. It is a privileged position to be in as the open ocean and intra-atoll marine life intermingle in the channel. Big pelagic species, reef sharks, octopus, moray eels, eagle rays, and vast schools of fish can be spotted. Stingrays, leopard sharks and white tip reef sharks rest on the channel’s sandy bottom.

The Dive Center is SNSI, PADI and SSI certified with professional, multilingual instructors. Join the daily snorkeling or dive trips to the atoll’s most beautiful reefs. Experienced divers will be stunned by the Maldives’ remarkable coral gardens, diverse marine life and crystalline visibility. Guests curious to try scuba diving can participate in a Discover Scuba Dive or achieve a higher level international certification by SNSI, PADI or SSI.