The Maldives had been on my bucket list for quite some time. The idea of soaking up the sun, in an over-water villa with nothing but blue seas and skies on the horizon – perfect. And, it absolutely was! I stayed at Kandima, located on Dhaalu Atoll – one of the remotest atolls with 57 islands and only seven of them inhabited. It’s a lively resort with plenty going on from watersports to daily fitness sessions and evening entertainment. But I was there to switch off and make the most of the peace and quiet afforded by the isolated Aqua Villa over-water accommodation. Standing tall over the turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the uninterrupted views from the private deck are quite simply breathtaking.
Back on the mainland ten restaurants and bars provided plenty of variety for sunset cocktails or dinner buffet-style or a la carte. One evening I dined at Smoked an a la carte steakhouse perched on the sands, it was excellent and the service was great. There was a small but well equipped gym, and you could hire bikes to cycle round the island. But if you prefer a gentle stroll you can walk the length of the island all the way out to the deserted Kakuni Point. There are daily snorkelling trips taking you to the house reef, but unfortunately I missed my chance to join as the weather had other ideas! I visited the spa a couple of times and would highly recommend the Maldivian Ocean Dream Massage – pure bliss!
