Kandooma Maldives begins new chapter as independent, all-inclusive island resort
Today (1st October) marks a new chapter for Kandooma Maldives, one of the South Malé Atoll’s best-known island resorts as it officially begins life under its new brand. For the past 17 years, travellers have known the island as Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. From today, the resort steps forward simply as Kandooma Maldives – refreshed, all-inclusive and with an experience-led approach designed to make family holidays easier, richer and considerably more fun.
It is less a reinvention than an opportunity for Kandooma to be fully itself. The same easy-going island character, familiar faces and warm Maldivian welcome remain. At the same time, a significant product refresh introduces new accommodation, new villa configurations and private pools to more of the resort’s family accommodation.
Eight new Family Beach Pool Villas combine direct beach access with private splash pools and dedicated children’s sleeping spaces. Pools have also been added to Kandooma’s two-bedroom Beach Houses, while two spacious three-bedroom Pool Villas offer another option for larger and multi-generational families.
At the centre of the new Kandooma is a simple proposition: an experience-led Maldivian island where the family holiday is taken care of, leaving everyone free to discover, experience and celebrate.
All-inclusive, beyond the meal plan
Kandooma Maldives is now all-inclusive, but its interpretation goes well beyond breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks.
For qualifying stays of 4 nights or more, experiences such as a sunset splash cruise, sunrise fishing, a 30-minute spa treatment and guided reef snorkelling form part of the holiday. Certified divers can also take advantage of Kandooma’s Dive Free programme, with one complimentary guided dive per day, including standard dive equipment, boat transfers, and air/Nitrox fills.
Longer stays unlock additional experiences and benefits, with selected inclusions resetting every four nights.
Andrew Drummond, General Manager of Kandooma Maldives, said: “For us, all-inclusive was never going to be simply a meal plan. We wanted it to change the way guests experience the island. A family shouldn’t spend its holiday constantly deciding what something costs or whether to add another experience. We want them out on the water, trying something new, sitting down together over dinner, slowing down at the spa or discovering a little more about the Maldives.
“Kandooma has always had an incredible energy and personality. This new chapter gives us the freedom to put that at the centre of everything we do. We’ve taken many of the experiences people come to the Maldives hoping to have and made them part of the Kandooma holiday from the outset. That’s what experience-led all-inclusive means to us.”
One island. Five ways to experience it.
Bringing the new brand to life are the five Kandooma Signatures, designed to make it easy for guests to discover different sides of the island throughout their stay.
Kandooma Blue – Days spent on, in and under the water
The ocean is Kandooma’s playground. Diving, guided reef snorkelling, fishing and cruises connect guests with the waters of the South Malé Atoll, while the resort’s established PADI 5-Star Dive Centre provides access to some 28 nearby dive sites. Certified divers staying four nights or longer can make the most of Dive Free with one complimentary guided dive each day.
Kandooma Table – Every meal, now part of the holiday
Food becomes part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to stop between activities. Alongside all-inclusive dining are beach barbecues, sunset dinners, themed island nights and informal social dining. Kandooma Café now operates around the clock, while the new Beach Club provides an all-day social hub that transitions from relaxed daytime hangout to cocktails after dark.
Kandooma Flow – Slow the day down
A counterpoint to Kandooma’s more active side, Flow brings together Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala, yoga, pilates, sound healing and time to simply stop. Every qualifying four-night stay includes a choice of a 30-minute back, neck and shoulder massage OR 30-minute foot massage as part of the all-inclusive experience.
Kandooma Social – Evenings worth staying up for
As the sun goes down, Kandooma becomes somewhere to gather. Sunset sessions, live music, campfire nights, group games and island events create an easy social rhythm where families, couples and friends can spend time together, or meet someone new.
Kandooma Ways – A closer look at island life
The Maldives is more than a beautiful backdrop. Local island and Malé visits, nature walks, sustainability initiatives, Maldivian culture and hands-on learning give guests, particularly younger travellers, opportunities to understand more about the people, environment and traditions of the destination.
Made for families
Family remains firmly at the heart of Kandooma. Kids Stay and Eat Free continues under the new all-inclusive concept, while Kandoo Kids’ Club welcomes children aged four to 12 from 8AM until 8PM daily with supervised activities, arts and crafts, gaming, a splash zone and waterslide.
Young adventurers can also take their first underwater breaths through PADI Bubblemaker from age eight or learn to ride their first waves through children’s surf lessons with Kandooma’s surf partner, Perfect Wave.
Elsewhere on the island, the new Beach Club (due to be completed in the coming weeks) creates a natural gathering place for families and teenagers, while the resort’s 24-hour dining means early starts, late arrivals and sudden holiday appetites don’t need to follow a timetable.
“Families don’t necessarily want to do everything together all day,” added Drummond. “A great family resort gives everyone room to have their own holiday and then creates the moments that bring them back together. That’s very much the Kandooma we have built.”
Located 35 kilometres south of Velana International Airport and approximately 45 minutes by speedboat, Kandooma Maldives features 146 villas across garden, beachfront and overwater settings.
And while the name above the door has changed, much of what guests have loved about the island has not. The team remains. The warmth remains. The ocean is exactly where it was. The next chapter is simply Kandooma. Discover. Experience. Celebrate. Visit: www.kandooma-maldives.com.
