My review of Six Senses Kanuhura Maldives
Location & accessibility
Six Senses Kanuhura is located in Lhaviyani Atoll, north of the capital Male, and is therefore a short seaplane flight from Male International Airport. After landing your international flight, you will be greeted directly by the Six Senses team and escorted to the lounge while the staff arrange your transfer flight to the resort. Although the seaplane flight is slightly more expensive than a boat transfer, the view over the atolls is unique.
The concept behind Six Senses Kanuhura
Six Senses Kanuhura only opened at the end of 2023. A former resort was taken over and completely renovated. Some of the restaurants, villas and other facilities were newly built, while many others were renovated in the familiar Six Senses eco-luxury style. For this reason, the outdoor areas of the new Beach Retreat Villas in particular still need to gain some vegetation before they reach their full charm. Fortunately, in a climate like the Maldives, this happens very quickly.
Six Senses is our favourite hotel brand because the connection to nature and our environment flows through every vein of the concept. At the same time, the resorts are very luxurious, designed for wellness and incorporate local traditions and special features. It is an ‘all-inclusive package’ that guests can also experience at Six Senses Kanuhura. Starting with the barefoot concept and a personal welcome for each guest, to your own butler, the so-called GEM, and unique cuisine and wellness treatments.
The villas at Six Senses Kanuhura
We tested various room categories during our stay, and these were our favourites:
Beach Retreat with Pool
The newest villas are the so-called Beach Retreats on the beach with their own pool. They can be booked for couples as well as small families, as they comprise two separate buildings.
Each Beach Retreat is unique and slightly different in layout, but they all have the same features: the first villa has a large living room with bathroom and an open-plan kitchen, where a large selection of snacks, fruit, coffee, tea and other refreshments, and a bottle of sparkling wine awaited us. A staircase leads up to a small TV lounge, which can be converted into an additional bedroom.
The second villa mainly comprises the cosy bedroom and the open-plan bathroom with a bathtub, rain shower and access to the outdoor shower.
Outdoor showers are usually my favourite. However, at our beach retreat, the newly planted vegetation still needed to grow a little before we could enjoy complete privacy. Thanks to the weather in the Maldives, this happens very quickly.
The private outdoor area is not only incredibly large, but also flows seamlessly into the quiet beach in front of the villa. It overlooks the blue lagoon and a private island belonging to Six Senses Kanuhura (more on that in a moment) and is usually deserted.
There is also a covered terrace, sun loungers and a large pool. However, we mostly spent our time swimming in the warm waters of the lagoon.
For large families and friends travelling together, there are beach retreats with up to three separate bedrooms and plenty of space!
Water villa with pool
Of course, we also tested one of the popular water villas and were surprised at how much space they offer. All water villas have their own pool and a spacious terrace. However, I found the terraces to be relatively close to the neighbours. Therefore, the water villa furthest to the left was my favourite, as it overlooks only the water and the island from the pool.
Inside, there is of course a comfortable bed with a view of the ocean, as well as a lounge area, a small work area and a walk-in wardrobe. My favourite feature is the spacious and bright bathroom with its own completely secluded outdoor area, which not only has an outdoor shower but also a hammock suspended above the blue water. The perfect place for a morning shower.
Wellness & Spa at Six Senses Kanuhura
Wellness naturally plays a major role in the Six Senses concept. Six Senses Kanuhura offers not only ‘classic’ massages and treatments, but also special treatments with various holistic or scientific influences. These include singing bowl healing, guided meditations, biohacking for rapid recovery of the body, and much more. If we had had more time, I would definitely have tried one of their wellness programmes, which last several days and include the right treatments, massages, therapies, meals, etc. to achieve a specific goal such as detox, fitness, better sleep or something else. As you can see, everyone can tailor their wellness experience to their own needs 🙂
These are the features of the large spa facility:
Eight cosy treatment rooms – one of which is a couples’ suite
a water treatment area – separate for ladies and gentlemen – with a hot and cold swimming pool
a spacious yoga and meditation studio for guided sessions
a well-equipped gym
a nail salon
the Alchemy Bar for DIY workshops
an extensive shop with various wellness gadgets and accessories
Pools
In addition to the best pool in the world – the Indian Ocean – there are two additional pools on the island of Six Senses Kanuhura. The second of the two absolutely blew us away!
Sip & Sand Pool
First, there is a ‘simple’ but very beautiful pool on the beach, which is perfect for lounging and is particularly suitable for families with children. It is surrounded by palm trees and tropical plants, which makes it very cosy. It is located directly next to the Sip & Sand bar and snack restaurant.
Sunset Point
But the second pool is the absolute highlight and has been completely rebuilt. The circular infinity pool at Sunset Point is located at a lofty height and is an architectural masterpiece! As the name suggests, it is the ideal place to enjoy the sunset and sip a cocktail from the bar. The water turns into a mirror and reflects the different colours of the sky. But even during the day, it is an incredibly impressive spot to look out over the endless blue lagoon.
The private islands of Six Senses Kanuhura
Six Senses Kanuhura consists of not just one, but three private islands. The resort is located on the largest island, while the others can be visited during the day.
A small water taxi transports guests from the jetty on the main island to Drift. A tropical island with a beach that is perfect for sunbathing and snorkelling, as well as the cute Drift barbecue restaurant. Here you can sit under palm trees with your feet in the sand, listen to the gentle sound of the waves, enjoy a fresh meal and feel like a luxurious Robinson Crusoe! 🙂 Lunch at Drift is an absolute must during a stay at Six Senses Kanuhura!
In addition, there is another small island behind the Drift that can be booked for a private picnic. A setup is erected under a protective canopy of leaves, and you have the entire island to yourself – for as long as you like. You can’t get more privacy than that! Accordingly, the picnic excursion is a bit pricey at USD 500, while a visit to Drift Island is free of charge.
Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the core values of the Six Senses concept – and not just since it became ‘trendy’, but since the brand was founded. That’s why the idea of sustainability runs through every fibre of Six Senses Kanuhura. Starting with a ‘no plastic’ policy, it extends to its own garden, a recycling station, the Earth Lab, where something new is created from waste, a turtle conservation programme and much more.
Breakfast & Restaurants
Six Senses Kanuhura offers a wide range of culinary options, so we had the chance to try a new restaurant at every meal during our stay! Here are my highlights:
Scoops
Scoops is undoubtedly in first place. We already know and love this café from other Six Senses hotels, because it offers free ice cream all day long! Homemade and as much as you want! How awesome is that?
The Market
The Market is the main restaurant at Six Senses Kanuhura! Not only is breakfast served here, but dinner is also available. Once a week, The Market even transforms into an Asian food market in the evening!
As in every Six Senses resort, breakfast at The Market is incredibly good! I am always delighted. It consists of a large buffet and many à la carte options, including lots of healthy food choices, but also some ‘sinful treats’. There is something for everyone here! 🙂
The Point
Directly below the legendary infinity pool, The Sunset Point, is the Spanish restaurant The Point. (The name givers were particularly creative here 😉 ) As the restaurant is run by a genuine Spanish chef, the tapas are authentic and just as delicious as in Barcelona. Whether croquetas de jamon, pimientos de padron or crema catalana – here you will find all the classic tapas as well as special variations!
The Drift
As mentioned above, The Drift is a small restaurant on a private island off the coast of Six Senses Kanuhura. It is only open for lunch and offers a delicious menu of freshly grilled dishes. With just a few tables set up on the sand right by the water, it has a rustic, romantic atmosphere and serves incredibly delicious food!
Other restaurants at Six Senses Kanuhura:
Sip & Sand – A snack restaurant and bar by the main pool, perfect for a light lunch or a cocktail in the sun.
The Sunset Point Bar – The Sunset Point infinity pool also has a great bar for sundowner drinks. Every evening, a DJ plays music here at sunset and there is a great atmosphere!
Private Beach Dinner – Private dinners on the beach can be organised for special occasions. With candles in the sand, a private chef and a glowing starry sky. Pure romance!
Summary of our stay at Six Senses Kanuhura
As Six Senses fans, we were incredibly excited to try out the new Six Senses Kanuhura, and it exceeded all our expectations! We were absolutely thrilled with the service, the food, the huge range of wellness options and the size of the island. It is the ideal luxury resort for couples, and thanks to the great kids’ club and various villa categories with multiple bedrooms, Six Senses Kanuhura is also perfect for families!
I have already been asked whether the new Six Senses Kanuhura is better than Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives, which opened in 2011. And the answer is no. But it is different. While Six Senses Laamu is a small island with a rustic luxury ambience, Six Senses Kanuhura is more modern and a larger island with numerous activities. For me, both resorts have their own special charm and are an ideal choice for a luxury resort in the Maldives.
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We had a sponsored stay at Six Senses Kanuhura, which does not influence my opinion and rating of the resort.