Location & Access at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo

The location of Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort amid lush native vegetation on Kooddoo island, part of Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the southern Maldives. Access is via a 55-minute direct flight (90 minutes indirect) from the capital, Malé, to Kooddoo Airport. There are only four or five propellor aircraft flights daily, which preserves the tranquility of the island. No further speedboat journey or seaplane flight is required to reach the location. Our staff will be waiting with a warm welcome at Kooddoo Airport to bring guests by buggy to Mercure Maldives Kooddoo.

Mercure welcomers will meet guests at Velana International Airport in Malé, escort them to the executive lounge and take care of check-in for the domestic flight (the total journey from Male international to the resort can take up to 8 hours, on average 4 hours). Upon arrival at the Kooddoo Island airport, guests are further welcomed by our Front Office team who also takes care of the luggage, help with all the check-in formalities and escort the guests to their beautiful villas.

About the Atoll:
Gaafu Alifu (also known as Northern Huvadhu Atoll or Huvadhu Atholhu Uthuruburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives. With a huge stretch of marine and island area, the northern half of the giant natural atoll of Huvadhoo is considered to be one of the largest coral atolls in the world. Gaafu Alifu has 11 inhabited islands and a population of around 9300. Popular for its pristine white sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters, the atoll is known for its rich marine bio diversity. With water temperatures lower compared to the other atoll, the atoll is popular for a wide variety of species that include,  eagle rays, sting rays, different species of turtles, manta rays, different types of sharks – black tips, white tips, nurse sharks, tiger sharks amongst others.

The atoll also has some productive agriculture, much of it on the island of Kondey, which is also home to four hawittas (Buddhist prayer mounds), evidence of ancient Buddhist settlements. In the centre of the atoll, the island of Dhevvadhoo is famous for its traditional textile weaving and coir-rope making. There are also mosques from the 16th and 17th centuries.