Last updated on January 17th, 2025
When it comes to choosing a resort in the Maldives there is a lot to consider. Are you someone that wants to simply lounge around or are you someone that prefers keeping things exciting with fun activities for you and your family? Luckily, there are resorts in the Maldives that cater to all preferences. If you’re looking for a bit more to do than just lay on the beach all day, then I would recommend checking out Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, an IHG Hotel. Not only does this property offer beautiful accommodations, it has a sizeable amount of activities to keep everyone satisfied during their next holiday.
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Actually, I paid my first visit to the resort in 2018 which you can read about in a separate article here. This year, I made my second visit to Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives and got to experience several amazing activities which added a lot of value to my trip. I’ve made a list of my favorites below and believe that they are strong reasons to consider Holiday Inn Kandooma for your next Maldives getaway!
Snorkeling
I’ve now visited four different resorts in the Maldives, and thus far, the snorkeling at Holiday Inn Kandooma has surpassed the others. I believe there was a major reef bleaching event in 2016 and by my first trip in 2018 a majority of it hadn’t yet recovered. However, in 2021 the conditions were much better all over the Maldives and I was shocked to see a resurgence of colorful corals in places that used to be colorless!
There are so many colors and varieties of marine life to enjoy! At Holiday Inn Kandooma you’ll have a few options of where to get your snorkel on.
On-Site Snorkeling
The first and most convenient would be right at the resort itself. When you’re looking at the surface of the water around the Water Villas, it’s really hard to tell that there’s so much going on underwater. However, once you dive in from the beach, or directly from your water villa, you’ll discover an incredible underwater community teaming with life!
In this area there were tons of creatures to enjoy as well as coral that has definitely rebounded from my last visit. Along with all of the common reef fish that I found, I’ve also seen stingrays and sharks in this area as well. Definitely worth checking out!
Snorkeling Excursions
Where snorkeling becomes a lot more interesting, is just surrounding Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. There are several vibrant reefs to explore and I was able to try two different excursions to accomplish this.
The first that I experienced was an included snorkeling excursion that all guests can participate in, free of charge. If I’m being honest, this was the best snorkeling I have ever had in my life. This reef was incredibly colorful and I even got to see an eel as well as some other exotic fish!
The second I attended was one of the resort’s premium excursions. On the premium excursion I was able to see more varieties of coral and more dramatic underwater landscapes than I had ever seen previously. This all was very beautiful but had less marine life than the included excursion did. This may have simply been because of my luck that day, it’s very difficult to guarantee sightings.
Water Sports
All resorts offer some variety of watersports but I believe Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has way more than its competitors. During my last holiday I was able to try catamaran sailing, ocean tubing, as well as banana boat riding. My favorite of these three had to be catamaran sailing. This was my first time on such a boat and I was sincerely impressed with how smoothly and effortlessly it was able to cut through the water. When we caught the wind, we cruised! Among these activities they also have others such as kayaking, surfing, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Spa Treatments
After all the more exciting activities on or in the water it was great to treat myself to some more relaxing varieties as well. Luckily, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has their incredible Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala. A nice massage was just what I needed to slip into that true holiday mood!
The Kandooma Spa has a true island feel with its appearance and layout. The treatment rooms are large and have attached private pools. The whole area continues the tropical oasis theme and is very peaceful.
For the treatment, I went for a signature COMO Shambhala Massage. I found out that my therapist has been working at the resort for nearly 3 years arriving just after my first visit in 2018. Once the massage commenced, I found that her skills had truly been perfected in that time. The COMO Shambhala Massage technique was very soothing and sensual. I love when a therapist slows down and uses long relaxing strokes. I might have dozed off because I was so relaxed! All in all, a very lovely massage that I can easily recommend to you.
Conclusion
When it’s all said and done, you can see why Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is so desirable for guests looking to stay active during their holiday! The property has something for everyone from the youngest to the oldest. I look forward to returning yet again in the years to come to experience it all again. It was just what I needed to refresh my mind and body after being locked down for so long. Without a doubt, for those that enjoy a wide variety of experiences, I can easily recommend Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. Have a happy holiday in paradise!
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives
Hotel
Kandooma Fushi, South Male’ Atoll, Republic of Maldives
Phone: +960 664 0511
