Kandolhu Maldivian Resort: This Little Maldivian Island is Magical

The Island

Kandolhu is pure understated elegance. It is the perfect small island. Very unpretentious on one hand and on the other hand working hard to give a 5-star experience, which it does beautifully. It is the prettiest island we have been on so far; large wide swaths of white powdery sandy beach encircling the small shimmering island, which we strolled around in 10 minutes..

The accommodations

We loved our rooms 106 and 201 and think they are the best on the island. For the first four nights, we chose a duplex beach villa Room 106, which was spacious and upscale with two levels – the bedroom being on the 2nd. There were 3 bathroom areas, including a wonderful outdoor shower and soaking tub. The pool was set almost right on the beach with nice unobstructed views of the ocean. We spent time enjoying both the deck by the private pool as well as the upper deck off the bedroom. It was great to hang out in the evening and watch the sun set since it faces west. The bed was super comfortable and we slept well.

We spent the last four nights in Overwater Villa 201, which was smartly decorated and furnished. The views are stunning and panoramic since it is located on the end. Just exquisite! The deck is huge with several sitting areas to relax in.

Food

We were impressed with the quality and variety of the five (yes 5!) restaurants on this small island. We loved them all, especially the entertaining private dinner we had at Bonzai. The chef was talented in his presentation as well as preparing the gourmet dinner itself. The breakfast and sea grill were our favorites! Sea Grill is a great value with generous portions of tandoori or grill. All the restaurants are in romantic settings and we looked forward to our evenings out! The veggie pizza was delicious, also with a thin crust and piled high with all sorts of vegetables. The bar has a wonderful ambiance right on the beach. We were pleasantly surprised the resort offered us complimentary massages as well as a lovely candlelit dinner on the beach with champagne for our anniversary. They went above and beyond to make sure our stay was memorable in every way.

Water sports

We enjoyed complimentary kayaks and paddle boards daily. They also give each guest a go-pro for snorkeling.

Spa/gym

Pat is wonderful and her Kandolhu massage was probably the best massage I’ve ever had and I have had quite a few; we worked out everyday in the gym and thought it was well kept with a good choice of machines, weights etc.

Snorkeling

The snorkeling was good to very good, and we snorkeled around the island at least once a day. The reef is easily accessible from the beach. We saw rays, a lot of turtles, black tip, white tip and sleeper sharks. The usual abundance of colorful fish and squid. My husband went diving with Danny and reported back a fish soup in the extreme at fish head! One of the best dives he’s ever done.

Staff

They were all outstanding, consistent 5-star service from all areas and from all the staff. It was impressive and very genuine. The personable managers Mark and Laura, the host and hostess “with the mostest” are dedicated to providing every guest with a very high level of service. They are doing everything right and round out the all-star team! They take care of their staff as well as their guests, and there is a wonderful, cohesive atmosphere that feels like family.

We loved every minute of our stay and highly recommend Kandolhu to anyone looking for that perfect island. I honestly couldn’t think of anything they could improve upon!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Maldives. In need of further inspiration? Check out Judy & Glenn Tudor’s guide, Paradise Found in the Maldives: A Tale of Two Islands.