An island holiday never featured on my list of travel goals, considering that fact that I like to ‘do things.’ In being busy, I find peace. My idea of traveling is focused on exploring historical and cultural aspects.
But little did I know that was about to change when I arrived in Male, the capital of Maldives. Promptly, I was met by the friendly and efficient staff of Kandima Maldives who took matters in their hands right away. Soon, we boarded the domestic flight to Kudahuvadhoo and that’s when everything started to change for me. As the small plane descended into the narrow strip of land in the Dhaalu Atoll, I knew I was in for an adventure. It is impossible to remain calm when you land, literally, on water that blue. Say, did they paint their ocean blue?
From Dhaalu airport, a short speedboat ride brought us to our destination.
As we approached Kandima, I knew my perspective of island living had already undergone a change and it looked as though in pursuance of my travel goals, I had finally changed too.
Kandima Maldives was located on a little over three kilometers long island, one of the biggest islands in the country and it looked straight out of a tropical dream. My fear of being stuck on an island with sun beating down on me was gone the moment I got off the boat and straight into a bunch of smiling faces.
At least, there would be no dearth of smiling faces, I told myself. I didn’t even have to worry about carrying my bags. It had started to feel like paradise already!
I walked to the reception area with so many colourful chairs laid out on soft white sand. A warm feeling spread through me. The cool, soft white sand sank beneath my feet. I wanted to dive into it and roll in it all at once.
We were whisked away in a long golf cart shuttle down a windy path toward the far end of the island where the aqua villas are located. The luggage, we were told, was already delivered to the room!
The water villas of Kandima Maldives
Water villas (aqua villas) are a Maldivian specialty, with all luxury resorts having them. I have never stayed on one, so it was an exciting prospect for me. The shuttle dropped us off to the start of a long pier stretching into the ocean and the water villas (I like calling them aqua villas though) branching off on two sides. The layout of the water villas is excellent. The villas are staggered along the boardwalk and keeps the individual villas very private.
Villa 444 was ours for the duration of the stay and like all others, it stood on stilts on the reef surrounding the islands. Two bicycles stood at the door – ready for use. (This was superb because we had the flexibility to navigate the island without waiting for the shuttle buses all the time).
My villa, like all others had its own deck, jacuzzi, deck chairs and beach umbrellas, and a stairway to the ocean below. The water was shallow (much of the year you can easily swim or wade here, but watch for the tides) and I had to stop myself from jumping straight in. The decor of the villa emulated the colors of the sea. Such attention to details!
Soon, we were fast asleep. From the air-conditioned room, looking out at the blue skies over blue waters was magical.
At night, when walking to dinner, I understood the meaning of sublime. Strategically placed low lighting on the pier and along the sandy path made everything magical.
Waking up in paradise
I woke up to the sound of the blue ocean lapping at the stilts. I ran out to the sun deck with my coffee (yes, I made my own from the thoughtfully provided coffee machine) to admire the magic unfolding right in front of my eyes. I was speechless. The water in front of me stretched endlessly into the horizon, a shade of blue that I had never seen before.
Who knew so many shades of blue existed? Aquamarine, cerulean, turquoise, azure…the many different waves, rolling in gently and sometimes furiously…those reefs…made of coral and so clearly seen with the naked eye, standing right there on the deck. I did feel as though I was looking into a giant swimming pool.
Staying in a water villa has distinct advantages, like I was beginning to understand. I could jump right in without the fear of drowning or watch the sun slowly beginning its upward journey.
If there was paradise on earth, this must be it.
Food and hospitality
We headed to Zest for breakfast and were spoiled for choice at the many cooking stations and buffet spreads. And over the next few days of our stay, we did sample pretty much everything in all the restaurants (I mostly stuck to the Asian-inspired food and fresh fish everywhere, except at Azure, a Mediterranean inspired restaurant). Flavour, a buffet restaurant seemed to be most popular of all.
We dined at Smoked on our first night and ended up with two helpings of Malva Pudding for dessert (as suggested by the young boy at Deli where had coffee in the evening).
The décor at Kandima is contemporary and minimal but vibrant with the colours matching the natural settings. The landscaping is nothing but perfect – white sand pathways meander through the lush tropical green.
*A side note: There was a special kids’ corner laid out with a choice of healthy foods and fun treats. The sandwiches, banana bread and fruit were special hits with the children.
| The staff at Kandima Maldives are the best I have encountered so far – over the course of my stay I spoke to many of them and in a rather subtle kind of way, I could tell that they really enjoy working there. That naturally reflects in their service, which is excellent too. |
Here is what our day looked like –
Swimming
I am a water person, and this meant I was in paradise and there was no way I was going to leave without swimming in every pool, big or small or the ocean. I was most glad that I brought two swimsuits with me – swimsuits. Not a fancy bikini. I meant business, see?
Dolphin Quest
We joined a group of thrill-seekers on the dolphin quest. At 4 pm, we headed out in a smart white motor boat to look for dolphins, and everyone crossed their fingers and prayed (I am sure) because soon enough, the dolphins appeared, literally out of the blue. Our dolphin quest was a success even before it started. They were everywhere, trapsing through the waters, putting up a show for the spectators. I highly recommend this activity, whether you are travelling with or without children. Watching dolphins is therapeutic.
About Kandima Maldives
Kandima is built on over three kilometers land– a white jewel in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There are 264 units here, including water villas, sky and beach studios and each of them are competitively priced. Every unit overlooks the ocean. The water villas come with a sun deck and jacuzzi and direct access into the sea.
There are ten restaurants, a spa, children’s play area, swimming pools, pool bars, games room, gym, tennis and badminton, beach volleyball, DJ nights etc.
The resort offers affordable luxury with rooms starting at just $200 a night (upward from there, depending on the season) and is designed with a lot of care and attention to details – from accommodation to the sustainability.
The Kandima Resort is large – like a small town and I felt that we hardly scratched the surface with all the activities there were. But between eating, watching the blue sea, swimming and spa…there was frankly not much time for anything else – which makes Kandima a great option for a longer stay.
Kandima has struck a great balance between affordable and being family friendly. It’s extraordinary setting coupled with genuine hospitality definitely makes for lasting memories.
Summary of activities
Aquaholics: The hub of water activities on the island. If you want to sail, snorkel, dive, kayak, do a refresher course in diving or simply go on a dolphin or turtle quest, this is the place to go.
Art Classes: I am not a fan of art classes but at Kandima, I did enjoy spending time with Zima the art teacher and some colours. Pic of me with my creations!
Jet Skiing: Not your regular jet skiing, these are high-powered water-crafts cutting easily through the waters.
Seabob: This is a high-end underwater scooter (something out of an adventure movie) and is a cross between a jet ski and an underwater scooter and allows you to dive into the water.
Spa – If you need a break from the sun, they have an incredible spa (esKape) with views of the water and relaxing sounds of waves. After your treatment they have a lovely lounge to relax and enjoy some tea before your next activity.
Snorkeling: Do not (I stress, do not) leave Kandima without snorkeling. The house reef provides plenty of exciting marine life and you can easily see the underwater beauties.
Top 5 reasons to choose Kandima Maldives
- It never feels crowded.
- It is one of the largest island resorts in Maldives.
- Food and drink is a big part of the overall experience. There are 10 fantastic dining options to choose from – two buffet restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a la carte restaurants (Smoked, Sea Dragon, Azure), bars, coffee shops and shops.
- The evening is enlivened with live entertainment at some of the restaurants, and late into the night at the Breeze Bar.
- You can stay on for weeks and never get bored.
Great for children
The Kids Club, or Kandiland as its called, is haven for kids and is among the largest kid’s club in Maldives. From playdough to books to the trainset to running around in the water outside, there is everything to keep you child occupied while you grab yourself a drink.
Reach out to Kandima Maldives Resort
- Website:https://kandima.com
- Resort Flight: https://mantaair.mv
- Rates:$200-$1400/night plus extras
Verdict
Kandima delivers its mission to be “inclusive” resort rather than exclusive. You feel as though you have rediscovered your family.
Here, you enjoy a luxury getaway without breaking your bank.
One island, one resort
The Maldives archipelago is a collection of 1,192 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The islands are grouped into 26 natural atolls—ring shaped coral reefs that encircle lagoons and islands with white sandy beaches and tropical vegetation. Of these only around 200 islands are populated, with capital Male having around 20% of the country’s approximately five hundred thousand people.
Often tourists ignore Male, going straight to the resort after landing at Velana airport. While there is not a lot to see or do in Male, it is still rather interesting to see and observe the local life, which you may not get to see on the island. The islands are private and secluded, with arrivals from outside limited to guests.
Know a little about Maldives before you go –
- The Maldives is made up of more than 1,000 islands, some artificial
- You can’t bring alcohol or pork into the country. (You can consume alcohol at the resort you are staying. Most resorts serve pork)
- You cannot take away seashells, coral and tortoise shells.
- The Maldives isn’t too far from Sri Lanka or India. The UAE is a four-hour flight away.
- December to April is the most expensive months.
- It is among the top diving destinations.
- Some resorts have their own time zone.
- You will need a high factor sun cream.
- There are bioluminescent beaches in Maldives.
Best time to visit Maldives
The dry season in the Maldives is from mid-December – April and the wet season begins in May and lasts through November. December to March is the high season and often the most expensive time to visit.
There is water everywhere!
To experience Maldives, you must love water, because Maldives is 99% water and 1% land. You do the math. It goes without saying that everything here is related to water in some way or the other. For the water-loving tourist there are plenty of options to explore the blue waters – traditional wooden boats (or dhoni), speedboats or sailboats, but no matter how you choose to do it, you cannot get away from the charm of the blue. It’s an experience you will cherish forever.
Useful info
The Maldivian language, Divehi has its roots in Sanskrit. However, majority of the population speak English. The currency is rufiyaa, but dollar is the accepted mode of currency at the resorts. All the resorts have wi-fi connectivity all over the island, so making wi-fi calls are not a problem unless one is in the middle of the ocean.
Island Time
Some of the islands operate in their own time zones. So please make sure you check with your resort for the right time for checkouts or scheduled flights or boats. Many resorts move their clocks one hour ahead of the country’s time zone.
