Pirate crafts, shipwreck safaris and a Santa appearance are all part of the festive line-up at Kandooma Maldives, which has announced a Christmas and New Year programme running from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027. The resort, set on a private island in South Malé Atoll, is pitching the season under a 'Pirates' Festive Adventure' theme that folds into its experience-led all-inclusive offering.
Families get the biggest share of the schedule. Kandoo Kids' Club will run pirate-themed crafts, treasure games, festive card-making and gingerbread sessions, plus Christmas cookie decorating and a visit from Santa himself. The programme doesn't cut off on Boxing Day either — kids' activities and marine excursions continue into January, ending with Orthodox Christmas celebrations on 7 January 2027, a nice touch for guests from Orthodox-majority countries.
The ocean side of the programme leans into the pirate theme with shark snorkelling, turtle-point snorkelling and shipwreck safaris, alongside sunset cruises and night fishing. Surf lessons and guided Jet Ski tours are on the menu too. Certified divers staying four nights or longer can dive daily as part of the all-inclusive package, and Kandooma Café runs around the clock to catch odd arrival and departure times — a practical detail given how many international flights land in Malé at strange hours.
Food is the other centrepiece. Plans include a Maldivian-themed buffet with traditional Bodu Beru drumming and a fire dance, a multi-course Christmas Eve gala dinner, and special New Year celebrations mixing local cuisine with classic festive fare. Anyone needing a break from the revelry can book into Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala, which will offer couples' treatments, a three-day wellness programme and recovery treatments aimed at surfers.
General Manager Andrew Drummond framed the season as combining ocean adventure, shared meals and downtime with family — which, honestly, sums up why people pick the Maldives for Christmas in the first place: swapping grey December weather for 30-degree sunshine and a lagoon outside the villa door.
A few practical notes before booking. Some excursions, watersports and spa treatments cost extra on top of the package, and the resort recommends checking the festive schedule in advance since popular activities will need pre-booking. With the programme spanning 17 days, guests have flexibility to travel before Christmas, over New Year, or into January when rates typically soften.
For families, the draw is a kids' club that actually covers the whole festive stretch with structured activities; for couples, it's the gala dinners, sunset cruises and spa time. Either way, it's a snapshot of how Maldivian resorts are increasingly packaging the holidays as a full themed experience rather than just a dinner on the beach.
