A tiny island with a endless beauty, Kandolhu Maldives was voted No.9 Best Luxury Maldives Resort 2025 by Dreaming of Maldives readers in this year’s TOP 10 Dreamy Resorts survey. Known for its exceptional house reef snorkeling, serene ambiance, and personalized service, Kandolhu offers a boutique experience that’s both intimate and extraordinary.
Every year, since 2011, for our TOP 10 Maldives Dreamy Resorts survey, Dreaming of Maldives asks readers and travelers to cast their votes for the top hotels and resorts in Maldives.
Celebrated for its pristine house reef and peaceful atmosphere, Kandolhu Maldives was voted Best Luxury Maldives Resort 2025 by Dreaming of Maldives readers in this year’s TOP 10 Dreamy Resorts survey.
Kandolhu Maldives is a gem among the archipelago’s resorts.
Intimate, typical Maldivian and laidback, Kandolhu is one of the smallest resorts of the Maldives and an idyllic island that will suit honeymooners and travellers seeking for quietness and great underwater adventures.
With only 30 villas scattered across its lush 200-meter-long island, it offers an exclusive retreat where luxury meets simplicity.
The island’s natural beauty is complemented by its vibrant house reef, easily accessible from the shore, providing an underwater haven for snorkeling enthusiasts.
Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a peaceful escape, or a snorkeling paradise, Kandolhu’s blend of comfort, elegance, and stunning reefs creates a dreamy experience.
Located in North Ari Atoll, North Atoll, at 35 minutes from Male Airport by speedboat, Kandolhu Maldives epitomizes boutique luxury with its limited number of villas, ensuring personalized service and utmost privacy. The island’s house reef, teeming with marine life, offers some of the most sensational snorkeling in the Maldives. Offering an ideal balance of relaxation, exquisite food, exceptional snorkeling and diving opportunities, Kandolhu is a perfect choice for honeymooners and travellers seeking for quietness and great underwater adventures.
Intimate Villas with Dreamy Lagoon Views and Iconic Bathrooms
With just 30 villas, Kandolhu Maldives delivers luxury on a deeply personal scale. Each villa is thoughtfully positioned for privacy, whether nestled in the gardens on the beach or perched above the turquoise lagoon. Interiors are a blend of modern elegance, island charm, and decorated with natural materials.
For families, Kandolhu offers Duplex Pool Villas with two-bedrooms.
The overwater villas are especially breathtaking — featuring large decks, direct reef access, and extraordinary open-plan bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. Bathe with uninterrupted views of the sea, or soak in a freestanding tub under the sky. It’s island indulgence at its most intimate.
Dreamy Bathroom with a view
Photo © Dreaming of Maldives
Gourmet Dining in a Boutique Setting
Despite its small size, Kandolhu offers a rich culinary experience with five à la carte restaurants, each with its own flair and setting — from beachfront grills to Mediterranean rooftops.
Guests can savor fine seafood at Sea Grill, Japanese fusion at Banzai, contemporary European dishes at Olive, and international cuisine at The Market, all complemented by intimate service and romantic ambiance. For a cocktail, Ataroa, the beach bar is the ideal place to be.
Ataroa
Olive restaurant
The Market
The resort’s “Dine Around” all-inclusive plan gives full access to every venue, including premium beverages and à la carte options — a rare luxury at this scale.
For something more personal, private beach dinners and in-villa dining create magical moments under the stars. Every meal at Kandolhu is a celebration of taste, simplicity, and boutique sophistication.
A Spa Experience as Intimate as the Island Itself
Kandolhu’s Varu Spa is a peaceful hideaway tucked within the lush vegetation of the island. It features open-air treatment rooms, soft natural light, and a calming scent of essential oils that drifts through the air.
The menu blends traditional and modern therapies — from deep-tissue massages to detoxifying rituals — all using VOYA organic products.
House Reef Wonders and Island Experiences
Kandolhu is a dream come true for snorkeling lovers. Its house reef completely encircles the island, creating one of the richest and most accessible underwater worlds in the Maldives — right off the beach or your villa deck.
Above water, the island remains blissfully quiet. There are no loud activities — only soothing rhythms of nature, romantic excursions, and gentle pampering at the spa.
Guests can enjoy sandbank picnics, sunset cruises, or simply laze in the lagoon. It’s a resort designed for peaceful discovery and uninterrupted rest, with nature always at the forefront.
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About the TOP 10 Maldives Dreamy Resorts
Kandolhu Maldives is one of the most unique properties featured in the TOP 10 Maldives Dreamy Resorts 2025, an annual accolade created by Dreaming of Maldives in 2012 to honor the most inspiring resorts across the archipelago.
Now in its 14th year, this reader-voted award celebrates the places that stir the imagination — and Kandolhu proudly earned the No. 9 position for its boutique charm, incredible snorkeling, and peaceful ambiance on one of the smallest resort islands in the Maldives.
Learn More About Kandolhu Maldives
The resort – Our photos and Review
The All-Inclusive Plan – Kandolhu Maldives, a Snorkeling paradise, launches an Inclusive Plan !
Updated for 2025
This article has been fully updated to reflect the latest Top 10 Maldives Dreamy Resorts rankings, based on this year’s reader votes and resort highlights.
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