Eager to calm her raging hormones while also enjoying some much-needed R&R, one balance-seeking traveller tried the ancient wellness ritual of moon bathing under the Maldives sky at Gili Lankanfushi. Here’s how she got on.
I’ll be the first to admit that ‘moon bathing’ sounds like the kind of wellness trend I’d usually approach with a healthy dose of scepticism. After all, can the moon really help have an influence on our periods as it does on the tides?
But after a chaotic few years, balancing my social life, career and the arrival of my son in 2024, my body had effectively gone on strike. My menstrual cycle was no longer a cycle; it was a random event. So, when the team at Gili Lankanfushi suggested their lunar-based wellness approach could help reset my hormones through relaxation, I decided to put my scepticism aside. I traded the rainy streets of London for the North Malé Atoll to see if a bit of celestial alignment could do what endless supplements couldn’t.
WHAT IS MOON BATHING?
“Deeply rooted in ancient holistic systems like Ayurveda, moonbathing for period regulation involves the rather simple act of spending time outside under the moonlight, specifically while relaxing, meditating, or just being present. Some people like to track their cycle alongside the moon phases too,” explains CF’s beauty director Becki Murray. “The idea stems from the fact that the lunar cycle is about 29 days, which is almost the same length as the average menstrual cycle. Because of this similarity, some people believe that exposure to moonlight – especially during the full moon – can naturally help regulate periods and your hormones.
“It’s important to note that, from a scientific perspective, there is no strong evidence that moonlight directly regulates menstrual cycles, so we certainly aren’t advocating for it to replace professional advice,” Becki continues. “However, light exposure can influence melatonin, a hormone involved in sleep, which can indirectly affect reproductive hormones. Additionally, stress reduction, which forms a key part of moon bathing, is known to support hormonal health, making it a potentially luxurious approach to balancing things out a little, especially when trying moon bathing as part of a wider wellness retreat. The Maldives offers a particularly lovely opportunity to try it. The minimal light pollution, clear skies, and unobstructed views of the moon over the ocean, plus quiet beaches and an overall sense of seclusion, makes it easier to relax, disconnect from stress, and engage fully in the reflective practice, with some fascinating results…”
THE LOWDOWN
Gili Lankanfushi is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé, but it feels a world away from the frantic pace of the mainland. The moment you step onto the jetty, your footwear is tucked into a linen bag as part of their ‘No News, No Shoes’ philosophy, and you are introduced to your ‘Mr. or Ms. Friday’– a dedicated host who caters to every wish.
Despite being a pioneer of barefoot luxury in the Maldives, the resort feels remarkably unstuffy. The 45 overwater villas are sprawling, rustic-chic sanctuaries, built from sustainably sourced teak, bamboo, and recycled telegraph poles. My villa was intentionally open-air, designed to let the Indian Ocean breeze act as natural air conditioning. Having a private rooftop meant I could moon bathe in total privacy, which is crucial when you’re trying to let go of the day’s stresses and reconnect with a sense of self that often gets lost in the London commute.
THE RETREAT
For those looking to support their hormonal health alongside more traditional sources of relaxation (of which there are many at the resort), Gili Lankanfushi effortlessly encourages you to take notice of – and adapt to – the influence of the lunar cycle. It sounds woo-woo, but the negative correlation between light pollution and cortisol is real, so even being able to see and notice the moon every single evening makes you feel calmer and more composed.
To make moon bathing in the Maldives easy and something you’ll be eager to do, every overwater villa features a dedicated roof-deck star bed, made up with luxurious linens to provide the perfect spot to soak in the moonlight (and have a peaceful doze too, should you wish). I relaxed here every evening, helping sync my body back to natural light rhythms, while hopefully giving my hormones a little boost.
To support this journey, I opted for the Mindful Dream Journey experience too. This 110-minute treatment takes place in your villa between 19:00 and 22:00. It combines mindfulness breathing, aromatherapy, and sound healing with a specific massage technique designed to aid a restful night’s sleep. What surprised me most was how much my body responded to the total lack of artificial light: guided by the natural transition from dusk to dawn, felt like a factory reset for my nervous system.
For those wanting to go even deeper, the Meera Spa offers Elemental Pairing Journeys based on Earth, Water, Fire, Air – and Space too. These use tailored techniques like Tibetan singing bowls and Ayurvedic massage to release emotional tension, therefore deepening the stress-relieving and hormone-balancing benefits of your time in the spa.
THE DINING
Wellness clichés die quickly at Gili’s restaurants and anyone seeking a hormone balancing diet can find plenty of delicious dishes to suit. Most importantly, there are no uninspiring menus here; instead, Executive Chef Hari Govindaraj oversees a gastronomic vision and the island’s own organic Gili Garden.
Breakfast at Kashiveli is a colourful, beachside affair, while, by night, the same space becomes a buzzing market experience, ranging from Asian Street Markets to Mediterranean Spice Souks. For something more intimate, By the Sea offers authentic Japanese fusion cuisine and an extensive sake collection.
My favourite experience, however, was the plant-based menu in the Gili Garden, which was also where I unlocked the most health benefits. I spent lunches eating fresh salads and seed-cycling nutrients (like pumpkin and flax seeds) designed to naturally balance oestrogen. It was a place that made making healthy choices actually feel indulgent. If you want to escape the heat, the Underground Wine Cellar – built around a huge piece of recycled driftwood from an Indonesian tsunami – is the ideal spot for a romantic wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting too.
THE TO-DO LIST
Beyond the lunar rituals, there are several ways to ground yourself. A treatment at the overwater Meera Spa is essential; the rooms have glass floor panels so you can watch the reef life flitting amongst the coral while the therapist works. If you’re feeling active, the resort has its own Surf Shack and Ocean Paradise Dive Centre too – and the underwater sights are truly unforgettable.
For a shot of pure serotonin, the sunset cruise to see the spinner dolphins is genuinely moving; there’s something about seeing them in the wild that no structured treatment can replicate. I also suggest taking the garden tour and visiting the Eco Centre to see why Gili Lankanfushi is one of the most sustainable resorts in the Maldives. It’s a humbling lesson in sustainability that helps shift your perspective away from the autopilot of home life.
THE FINAL WORD
So, did moon bathing work for me? To my genuine surprise, yes. It’s always hard to pin health improvements on a single week, but the results were undeniable. A few weeks after returning home, my cycle returned to a regularity I haven’t seen in years. Whether it was the moon, the seed cycling, or simply the permission to stop worrying, something shifted.
Gili Lankanfushi Maldives is a special place for the person who is doing all the things but still feels out of sync; it gives you a toolkit to understand your own body better. For anyone struggling with the physical manifestations of burnout, this experience is a gentle, effective way to find your way back to centre.
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