Why Go?
The second, and most recent, Six Senses in the group’s Maldives portfolio, far-flung Kanuhura exudes that classic Six Senses brand of understated luxury.
Honeymoon Style
This is a ‘no news, no shoes’ resort where guests embrace the barefoot, grounded philosophy. Honeymooners come for the true castaway experience, widest of sandy beaches and plethora of diving opportunities on the metaphorical doorstep.
Set The Scene
The tone is very much set by the contents of the pre-arrival questionnaire, which asks about personal preferences when it comes to pillow scenting – in terms of both fragrance and frequency – amongst other spoiling enquiries.
Guests are also asked which other Six Senses properties they’ve stayed at, an above and beyond touch that allows the GEMS (guest experience managers aka concierge gurus) to further personalise and bespoke the villa and itinerary to a guest’s liking without them even having to ask (and adds a sense of synergy between the group as a whole).
At Kanuhura they are not just paying lip service to the barefoot philosophy, which truly adds to the relaxed island experience. You can walk the whole island here (which disappointingly isn’t possible at all islands) or of course explore on your own personal bicycle.
We loved complimentary extras on the weekly resort schedule which added spontaneity – from cinema under the stars to yoga workshops.
Rooms
The hotel has 91 rooms spread between beachfront and overwater villas, including 12 brand new retreats on the sunset side which are the dreamiest spots to bagsy. Wherever you lodge though, be reassured that Kanuhura adheres to the Six Senses principles of harmoniously blended sustainable and locally-inspired design. That’s the big picture. All the small details are there too, everything from the most chic robes to handy bug spray and SPF in the wardrobes, and fresh milk in glass bottles in the mini bar.
Food & Drink
This is an area where the Six Senses really excels and sets itself apart from comparable resorts – trust me on this. There’s sushi by the pool, Italian Bottega, Spanish tapas at The Point (where you can watch baby sharks circling from the table) and main restaurant The Market, which comprehensively nails the weekly buffet night with the utmost charm and on point ambience (live music, champagne on arrival and the dimmed lighting oh-so-perfect).
And that’s just the main island. The group owns two smaller castaway-style islands nearby, which you can hop to by boat for a barefoot lunch at The Drift, or organise completely private dining moments on the third and smallest slice of paradise.
The Story
Originally founded by husband and wife Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the dynamic pair who went on to create the Soneva group after selling the Six Senses brand, Kanuhura is a natural island (many in the country are reclaimed) and is the newest of two Six Senses resorts in the Maldives (sister property Laamu opened in 2011; and both are now under the ownership of IHG hotels).
Family-Friendly
Let’s start with treats for big and little kids alike, at ice cream parlour Scoops. Open all day, it serves complimentary cones of gelato whatever the weather.
But you didn’t come just for the sugar hits. Grow with Six Senses is the kids’ club that parents will want to have on their radar, catering to ages three to 11. It’s small but mighty, with an outdoor trampoline and modest indoor space for crafts and games. The best part though are the mega friendly staff who go above and beyond to make youngsters feel at home. Not to mention putting on activities like botanist classes at the Earth Lab, palm leaf weaving, beach walks, shell collecting and escorting little ones to pizza-making classes led by one of the hotel’s chefs.
And the fun isn’t restricted to the four walls of the kids’ club. Little ones can partake in facials and massages for children at the spa. There is even a mermaid experience, where parents can book a mythological creature to enchant young Ariel fans poolside.
Families can expect more treats for little ones in their villa, from a welcome backpack with an activity book, pedal bike and a sweet knitted toy that parents will find hard to resist purchasing upon checkout. And with good reason, as toy sales support a local, worthy initiative.
Spa
As a brand, Six Senses is known for excelling at wellness, and the spa at Kanuhura does not disappoint. You can relax knowing you are in the hands of the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to therapists. Service is extra personal and bespoke – request Mux if you enjoy deep tissue – she has a natural gift when it comes to intuitively seeking out points of tension and sensitively working out pressure points.
If you can tear yourself away from the relaxation room post-treatment, the spa is so much more than just facials, compression therapy or even biohacking. Walking into the spa lounge you are greeted by an alchemy bar where spa junkies can craft potions and lotions by hand.
Guests can also take part in daily aerial yoga or sound healing, with many activities (like the helpful yoga for back pain workshop) included as complimentary. For more specialist needs, the resort hosts a roster of changing guest practitioners, such as visiting osteopaths and breathwork experts.
Eco-Friendly
Another one of the brilliant complimentary activities on offer to lure guests away from their sunbeds, is the ‘meet the marine biologist’ talk at the Earth Lab, a space dedicated to engagement and innovation. Other visible commitments to sustainability on the island are the hydroponic farm, which grows 25 varieties of micro greens and herbs in-house (and is well worth a visit); alongside the truly magnificent orchid nursery, which is home to over 3,000 blooms. Less visible is the water bottling plant, which nonetheless avoided the use of over 27,000 plastic bottles in 2023 alone.
Location
Based in the northern Lhaviyani Atoll, the resort is under an hour from Malé via seaplane, making it truly feel disconnected from the real world and as close to nature as possible. Direct flights are available from London, although breaking up the journey with a stopover in Dubai is a tactical move when travelling en famille. More so from next year when the Six Senses is due to open its first UAE hotel on The Palm, making a Six Senses twin-stay a reality.
To book go to: https://www.sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/asia-the-pacific/maldives/kanuhura/
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