Kandolhu Maldives

Kandolhu is a circle of sand in North Ari Atoll that takes seven minutes to cross and fifteen to walk around, with thirty villas set back in the vegetation or standing on stilts over the reef edge. The resort opened in 2014 and has kept its scale since; in 2025 the Deluxe Ocean Pool Villas were revamped. Twenty-four of the villas have a private pool, and there is no kids club: children are welcome from the age of eight, and the island is clearly set up for couples.

The house reef encircles the island a short swim from the beach, with three entry points and snorkelling channels leading out to the edge, where turtles and blacktip reef sharks are often seen. Snorkelling gear is free, the Noovilu dive base runs PADI and SSI courses, and the drop-offs of the atoll are minutes away by dhoni.

Back on land the dining is unusually broad for thirty villas: Banzai for teppanyaki, Olive for Mediterranean cooking, Sea Grill on the sand, Ata Roa for Latin flavours and The Market for the rest, none of them more than a few minutes' walk from any villa. Varu Spa works with VOYA seaweed products. Non-motorised water sports are included and motorised ones can be arranged on request. Getting there takes a 25-minute seaplane flight and a ten-minute speedboat ride, so plan to land at Velana in daylight.