Sun, sand and sweat. Why can Maldives Kandima be an ideal holiday destination for athletes?
Most people would picture the Maldives and picture honeymooners curled up on sun loungers, cocktails in hand, doing absolutely nothing. While there are many options for relaxation, I visited Kandima, Maldives, which completely recreates the scenario of paradise.
Kandima is a 3 km long island in the remote Daalu Atoll, may be the most active resort in the Indian Ocean and if, like me, you struggle to sit still for more than twenty minutes, it is nothing short of paradise.
Playground in the Indian Ocean
From the moment the seaplane hits the turquoise water, you feel that Kandima is different. The island stretches out before you like a lush, green ribbon, fringed with powder-white sand and lined with palm trees. At nearly two miles long, it is one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives, and the scale is unusual in its use.
The island really does have something for everyone and, being a typical runner with a sense of exploration, within an hour of arriving I had already spotted a soccer pitch, a tennis court, a beach volleyball court and what, at nearly 100m, was one of the longest outdoor swimming pools in the country. This is a place built for the active as well as those with relaxation in mind.
Running Retreat:
The main running route is a firm sandy track that runs along the spine of the island, with options to go to the golden sands if you want to make things a little softer underfoot. With a few minor deviations from the road, it was an easy 5km loop through paradise.
The decked path across the ocean to the sea-facing villas also makes a handy loop for breaks and repeats, being almost half a mile around.
What sets Kandima apart from other Maldivian resorts is the range of land-based activities. BURN Fitness Center is the equal of any city gym, with free weights, cardio machines, a treadmill and a daily schedule of group classes including aerial yoga and Pilates. I joined a sunrise beach yoga class and discovered that even for the least flexible of distance runners, saluting the sun while actually watching it rise over the Indian Ocean adds a dimension that no studio class can duplicate.
Tennis and badminton courts are located in the sports arena, and beach volleyball nets are scattered along the sand.
A water sports paradise
For anyone who loves to be on, in or under the water, Kandima delivers in spades. Aquaholics Water Sports Center is at the heart of the action, offering everything from kayaking and paddle boarding to jet skiing, wakeboarding and kitesurfing.
Dhaalu Atoll has 32 dive sites and the dive center caters for everyone from beginners to advanced divers. For those who prefer to stay closer to the surface, snorkeling from the resort’s inshore reservoir reveals baby sharks, stingrays and clouds of tropical fish, all without the need for a boat, in water just a few feet deep.
Recovery and recharge
All activities require proper recovery and Kandima does not disappoint. Eskape Spa offers treatments ranging from traditional Balinese massages to detoxifying body wraps, many of which take place in open-air pavilions with the ocean as a backdrop.
Ten restaurants and bars mean you won’t eat the same meal twice. Sea Dragon, a Chinese-inspired restaurant, Azure served fresh Mediterranean dishes, and Zest’s main buffet had enough variety to satisfy every craving.
Who should order?
Kandima is a unique island experience. It’s luxurious yet affordable, from studios to ocean pool villas perched over the water. Families are exceptionally well catered for, with Candyland, the kids’ club, one of the largest in the Maldives, complete with a pirate ship and mini water park. But the resort is equally suited to groups of friends, active couples or solo travelers looking for more than a week of sunbathing.
For a vacation where you can come back in better shape than you left, where every day offers a new challenge, and every night a different restaurant, it’s hard to imagine a better place.
The Maldives has long been synonymous with relaxation, but Kandima proves that it can also be about speed, adrenaline and adventure without sacrificing natural beauty. I swam with turtles, ran past coconut palms, played tennis in the jungle, and watched dolphins at sunset. And yes, I also spent an afternoon in a daybed with a book and a cocktail, because sometimes that’s the best kind of recovery.
For athletes, fitness enthusiasts or anyone who believes that vacations should leave you feeling energized, not sluggish, Kandima Maldives is a revelation. Pack your trainers alongside your swimsuit.
