The resort was reopened in 2008 after a major renovation which involved the building of more Beach Bungalows, 8 Over Water Deluxe rooms and a 2 room family villa. The interiors of the rooms and restaurants were modernised and new ideas brought in for entertainments and excursions.
The resort used to have a beach problem, with no sand for the beach bungalows and the waterbungalows stranded on a beach, but this has been completely overcome by pumping.Pumped sand is not as fine as original beach sand and some walls have been built in the lagoon, but now there is beach all around and the waterbungalows are over the water.
A permanent feature is the lovely sandbank that stretches into the lagoon from beside the bar and lounge and restaurant. Soft, white and very fine, the open stretch is ideal for the more communal times - from sunbathing to bocce. And it is from here that guests walk out to the reefedge to snorkel or dive.
Just 40 rooms make this among the smallest resorts in the country. There is, nonetheless, considerable variety in the room locations. Some beach bungalows are tucked behind a little vegetation at the very start of the sandbank. 3 more are hidden in the jungle interior and the others are strung around the perimeter with good privacy but varying amounts of sun, beach and vegetation. 12 waterbungalows face west from their large, private deck while the other 4 are on a new jetty snaking out into the lagoon with coral all around. 2 face north and 2 face south.
The waterbungalows are larger than the beach bungalows but otherwise very similar. The interiors are spacious, cool and dim. Dark wood is used extensively, combined with covers and curtains that pick up the black, brown and white designs of the great Maldivian Thundu Kunaamats. Tinted glass sliding doors show off the great views but keep the interior shaded and private.
90% of guests here are from Italy but it is too smart a place to be run in a club style and any non-Italian that liked the sound of the place is welcome and would surely rejoice at their choice.
It is not a club, then, but there is somehow a sense of being bound together. Everyone comes on an all-inclusive basis. There is just one bar and lounge and a small routine of events and entertainments that mould the day and the week. A second restaurant, Thari, has been built at the end of the over-water jetty. This is the premier restaurant and is not included in the holiday package but it is immensely tempting as it looks directly out to the sunset from its broad deck, surrounded by coral.
With few guests and fewer divers, attention is on an individual basis and the diving is terrific. Gangehi is located in a quiet corner of North Ari Atoll with no competition for nearby sites and within striking distance of some world famous sites to the south as well as the hammerheadshark spot of Rasdhoo to the east. For snorkelers, there are 2 trips a day on the resort’s dhoni. Other regular events are the sunset fishing trips and a nightly film projection.
Finally, the dining is second to none. 5 star resorts are coming up around the country and the food standard continues to soar but still dinner on Gangehi competes with the best. Breakfast and lunch are large buffets but dinner is served at the table. Never heavy, never too much, varied and perfectly paced. What a delight that is.
Gangehi is a delight all round. You’ll want to string the experience out as far as possible, and then come back the following year.