# Six Senses Maldives 2026 — Laamu vs Kanuhura Compared

> Both Six Senses Maldives resorts compared: Laamu (wellness flagship, surf, MUI marine conservation) vs Kanuhura (family rebuild). IHG One Rewards strategy and prices.

Source: https://luxatolls.com/six-senses-maldives/ · Last updated: 2026-10-15 · Language: en · Prices in US dollars (USD) unless stated otherwise

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Independent Comparison

# Six Senses Resorts in the *Maldives*

Six Senses runs two resorts in the Maldives, both anchored in marine conservation and design-led architecture. Six Senses Laamu is the wellness flagship deep south, one of just two resorts in Laamu Atoll; Six Senses Kanuhura is the playful Lhaviyani sister property, which reopened under the Six Senses name in September 2023.

2

Resorts

2

Atolls

188

Villas

Reviewed by [Tym Lewtak](https://luxatolls.com/about/) · Founder, LuxAtolls Last updated 14 Oct 2026

Both At A Glance

## Six Senses' Maldives *Roster*

Six Senses runs two Maldives properties under one brand banner — both anchored in design-led architecture and marine conservation, but built for different trips. Laamu (April 2011) sits deep south as the wellness flagship and one of just two resorts in Laamu Atoll. Kanuhura (1 September 2023) is the playful Lhaviyani sister property, reinvented after HPL Hotels & Resorts acquired the previous Kanuhura Maldives in April 2021. Entry rates range from $875 to $1,010/night.

| Resort | Voice | Atoll | Transfer | Villas | From / night | Lux Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) | Wellness Flagship | Laamu | Seaplane / Flight | 97 | **$875** | 4.5 · 6,240 reviews |
| [Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) | Playful Family | Lhaviyani | Seaplane | 91 | **$1,010** | 4.4 · 1,388 reviews |

The Properties

## Each Six Senses Maldives Resort, *Side By Side*

Editorial summaries drawn from our full independent reviews. Tap any card for the deep dive — villas, restaurants, reef rating, real pricing, FAQ.

[Wellness Flagship Six Senses Laamu Laamu Atoll·97 villas·Seaplane / Flight Barefoot luxury where the Maldives is still wild. Six Senses Laamu is one of just two resorts in Laamu Atoll — one of the planet's designated Hope Spots. If sustainability is more than a buzzword for you, this is your property. The house reef is exceptional, the surfing is world-class, and the no-shoes philosophy extends from the sand to the spa. It trades polish for … Lux Pulse **4.5** Steady From $875 /night 6,240 reviews Full review](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) [Playful Family Six Senses Kanuhura Lhaviyani Atoll·91 villas·Seaplane Three islands, one barefoot Six Senses soul. Six Senses Kanuhura is the brand's second Maldives property and arguably its most family-friendly. Spread across three islands with 91 villas, it pairs Six Senses wellness DNA with a genuine castaway feel. The Lhaviyani Atoll location delivers outstanding diving and a private-island lunch experience that few resorts ca… Lux Pulse **4.4** Cooling Off From $1,010 /night 1,388 reviews Full review](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/)

Rooms & Rates

## Villas, Rates & *Meal Plans*

Entry rates and villa categories across Six Senses's Maldives resorts, with each property's meal-plan options. “From” prices are lead-in nightly rates and move with season — tap any resort for its full review and live pricing.

| Resort | Villa type | Size | Pool | From / night |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) | Beach Villas | 238 sqm | All pool | **$875** |
|  | Water Villas | 108–126 sqm | 4 of 7 | **$1,050** |
|  | Family Villas | 253–285 sqm | All pool | **$1,340** |
|  | Signature Collection | 730–1,728 sqm | All pool | **$4,690** |
| [Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) | Beach Villas | 87–170 sqm | 3 of 4 | **$1,010** |
|  | Water Villas | 115–305 sqm | All pool | **$2,010** |
|  | Family & Two-Bedroom Villas | 195–262 sqm | All pool | **$3,010** |
|  | Signature Collection | 170–415 sqm | All pool | **$2,970** |

### Meal plans & all-inclusive

[Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) HB / FB No AI plan

[Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) BB / HB / FB No AI plan

Dining

## Dining at *Each Resort*

The signature tables worth planning a night around, across Six Senses's Maldives resorts. Tap any resort for its full dining write-up and meal-plan inclusions.

[Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/)

[Longitude International Grab a couples-only table upstairs at dinner](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) [Leaf Mediterranean Book for your first night — it fills fast](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) [Zen Japanese Go omakase — let the chef surprise you](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/)

[+3 more at Six Senses Laamu — see all dining →](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/)

[Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/)

[The Market International Request the terrace table for unobstructed sunset](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) [Bottega Italian Go for the sourdough pizza — best on the island](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) [Drift Seafood Book for a full castaway day with wine hamper](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/)

[+3 more at Six Senses Kanuhura — see all dining →](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/)

Getting There

## Getting to *Each Resort*

How you reach each Six Senses resort from Velana International Airport (Malé), and the round-trip transfer fare — charged on top of the room rate. Seaplanes fly in daylight only; speedboats run around the clock.

| Resort | Transfer | Duration | Round trip / person | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) | Seaplane / Flight | ~65 min | **~$600** | Seaplane or domestic flight — daytime |
| [Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) | Seaplane | ~40 min | **~$690** | Seaplane — daylight hours only |

Loyalty Strategy

## IHG One Rewards at *Six Senses Maldives*

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) acquired the Six Senses brand on **13 February 2019** for $300M. Six Senses properties joined IHG One Rewards in 2022. Both Laamu and Kanuhura earn IHG One Rewards points on paid stays, and points *can* be redeemed for free nights at either resort under IHG's dynamic award pricing. The redemption math is rarely the headline reason to use points here, though — typical valuation lands at 0.5–1.0 cents per point against the cash rate.

**The Six Senses elite-benefits quirk**: unlike at most IHG-branded properties, standard IHG One Rewards Platinum and Diamond elite perks (free breakfast, confirmed room upgrades) are **explicitly excluded** at Six Senses. The IHG One Rewards programme specifies elevated Six Senses benefits only for three specific status tiers — **InterContinental Ambassador**, **Royal Ambassador**, and **Kimpton Inner Circle** — and their members get complimentary breakfast for two, a signature amenity (50-minute spa massage for two OR a local experience), one-category upgrade subject to availability, and 4pm late checkout. Everyone else gets an in-villa wellness welcome amenity. If you have IHG status but not those specific brands, plan around it.

**Premier credit-card benefit applies**: the IHG One Rewards Premier card's 4th-night-free benefit on award stays is honored at Six Senses Maldives. That's the strongest reason to redeem points here — book a 4-night award stay and the 4th night is free.

**The stronger cash-booking channels** for both properties are Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and Virtuoso — both deliver the upgrades, $100 property credits, and breakfast that IHG elite status fails to. Stack with cardholder benefits if you have FHR-eligible cards.

Where They Are

## Six Senses Maldives *on the Map*

Both properties plotted on the Maldives. Tap any pin or legend entry to jump to the full review.

Both, keyed to the map

1. 1 [Six Senses Laamu](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) Laamu · Seaplane / Flight
2. 2 [Six Senses Kanuhura](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-kanuhura/) Lhaviyani · Seaplane

The Decision

## Which Six Senses Maldives Is *Best For You?*

There's no "better" Six Senses in the Maldives — Laamu and Kanuhura target different trips. Here's the angle-by-angle call:

Best for wellness + sleep Six Senses Laamu Sleep With Six Senses programme, the brand's signature Six Senses Spa screening, plus deep-south stillness. Spa pavilions and integrated wellness packages eclipse Kanuhura.

Best for families with kids Six Senses Kanuhura Grow With Six Senses kids club (ages 3–11), 3-bedroom Beach Reserves, playful island design rebuilt around shared family time. Spanish-Italian-Asian dining variety holds attention through long stays.

Best for surf Six Senses Laamu Yin Yang — a famed right-hand reef break — sits a boat ride from the resort. Tropicsurf runs the on-island school. Kanuhura has no surf-specific access.

Best for marine conservation Six Senses Laamu The Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) is the most-resourced marine team in the country — 10+ specialists, three NGO partners (Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, Olive Ridley Project), 150+ reef mantas catalogued.

Best signature restaurant Six Senses Kanuhura Bottega — full Italian programme with from-scratch pasta — anchors a four-restaurant lineup. Laamu's Zen (Japanese) is the close second.

Best for easy access Six Senses Kanuhura 40-min seaplane OR a 30-min domestic flight (to Madivaru) + short speedboat. Laamu's 65-min seaplane is the longest in the Six Senses Maldives pair.

Best for design-led aesthetic Six Senses Laamu Original 2011 build by Habita Architects — overwater village of thatched-roof villas anchored in driftwood-and-canvas materials. Kanuhura's 2023 rebuild is more contemporary-resort than design-statement.

FAQ

## Common *Questions*

How many Six Senses resorts are in the Maldives?

Two — Six Senses Laamu (April 2011, the wellness flagship and one of just two resorts in Laamu Atoll) and Six Senses Kanuhura (1 September 2023, the playful family-focused reinvention in Lhaviyani Atoll). Both are full Six Senses-brand properties; there is no Six Senses sub-brand structure in the Maldives.

Which Six Senses Maldives is the cheapest?

Six Senses Laamu is the entry point at $875/night — Laamu Atoll, Seaplane / Flight transfer. Barefoot luxury where the Maldives is still wild. See the [full review](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/six-senses-laamu/) for honest trade-offs.

Do Six Senses Maldives resorts earn IHG One Rewards points?

Yes — Six Senses joined IHG's loyalty programme in 2021 (after IHG acquired the brand on 13 February 2019 for $300M): Laamu started earning points on 31 March 2021 and redemptions opened on 27 April 2021, when the programme was still called IHG Rewards Club. Paid stays earn IHG One Rewards points, and points *can* be redeemed for free nights at both Laamu and Kanuhura under IHG's dynamic award pricing. The catch: standard IHG Platinum and Diamond elite benefits (free breakfast, confirmed upgrades) are **explicitly excluded** at Six Senses properties. Only InterContinental Ambassador, Royal Ambassador, and Kimpton Inner Circle members receive elevated Six Senses benefits — complimentary breakfast for two, a signature amenity (50-min spa massage for two or a local experience), one-category upgrade subject to availability, and 4pm late checkout. All IHG members get an in-room wellness welcome amenity.

Was Six Senses Kanuhura previously a different resort?

Yes. The island operated as Kanuhura Maldives under Sun Resorts (the Mauritian group) for decades. Sun Resorts sold the property to HPL Hotels & Resorts (Singapore-based, the same group that owns Gili Lankanfushi) in April 2021. HPL closed it for redevelopment and reopened the island under the Six Senses flag on 1 September 2023. It was never a Soneva property — a common confusion since Soneva's founders started Six Senses in the late 1990s before selling that brand to Pegasus Capital in 2012, who then sold to IHG in 2019.

Which Six Senses Maldives is best for families?

Six Senses Kanuhura — Grow With Six Senses kids club (ages 3–11), 3-bedroom Beach Reserves, and the playful tropical-beach positioning are intentionally family-led. Six Senses Laamu is built around couples and wellness retreats — fewer family touchpoints. See our [family-vacation guide](https://luxatolls.com/family-vacation/) for cross-chain alternatives.

Do Six Senses Maldives offer all-inclusive plans?

Neither resort currently runs an AI plan. Six Senses Laamu and Kanuhura both default to HB or FB meal plans. The Eat With Six Senses philosophy — local, organic, slow-cooked — works against the buffet-and-tap-everything model that AI typically implies. For comprehensive all-inclusive coverage, see our [all-inclusive guide](https://luxatolls.com/all-inclusive/).

What's the best way to book a Six Senses Maldives cash stay?

Two strong third-party channels: **American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts** (noon check-in, breakfast for two, 4pm late checkout, $100 property credit, room upgrade subject to availability) and **Virtuoso** (similar inclusions — breakfast, upgrades, late checkout, property amenity). Benefits are bookable through advisors credentialed in either programme. Six Senses cash rates direct rarely beat the FHR/Virtuoso stack for cardholders.

Keep Exploring

## Related Guides

[Best Maldives Resorts — Editor's Top Picks](https://luxatolls.com/best-resorts/) [Marriott Resorts in the Maldives](https://luxatolls.com/marriott-maldives/) [Four Seasons Resorts in the Maldives](https://luxatolls.com/four-seasons-maldives/) [Maldives Atolls Guide](https://luxatolls.com/atolls/)

## Quote a Six Senses *Maldives Stay*

Share dates + which property you're leaning toward (or "not sure yet — recommend") and we'll build a personalised quote, flagging any extras available on your dates — typically resort credit, breakfast for two or an upgrade, subject to availability. Laamu and Kanuhura both take part in IHG One Rewards, but whether points apply depends on the rate we book, so we'll confirm it on your quote.

[Get a Personalised Quote](https://luxatolls.com/q/)