Things to do in the Maldives: 18 ideas

Holidays in the Maldives are associated, first, with white sand, wonderful beaches and a wide variety of comfortable accommodation. What could be simpler than choosing a place on the archipelago, finding the appropriate hotel, water or coastal villa and booking transfers? Like a piece of cake! However, after a few days on the spot, it often turns out that your “easy-going” rest looks too dull, and you want to diversify it with activities. At first glance, you might say that there’s not much to do in the Maldives. But if you look deeper, it turns out that your holidays will not be enough to try everything the Maldives offers. Therefore, we will tell you about the most popular activities that tourists who are the fans of the Maldives prefer.

Active vacation in the Maldives

Attractions of the capital

The major part of foreign tourists arrives in the Maldives through the capital - Male. The Ibrahim Nasir International Airport - Velana - is located a few kilometres from it, on the island of Hulhule. Moreover, many tourists spend the first night in Male first because seaplanes (if it's this mode of transport that takes them to the spot of their vacation) fly only in the daytime. So, what places of interest to see in the capital?

Male - the capital of the Maldives | Asad Photo Maldives

Islamic Centre and Grand Friday Mosque

At a 10-minute walk from the pier, there is the largest mosque in the Republic of Maldives, on the territory of the Islamic Centre - the mosque of Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. Its huge golden dome can be seen from anywhere in the city and even windows of an airplane landing in Male. The Islamic Centre was opened in 1984. The inside of the mosque is quite impressive. This beautiful building can receive 5,000 orthodox at the same time.

The Maldives is a Muslim state, and the mosque is a shrine to the locals. You should always remember the rule, for example, a man in shorts and with bare shoulders will look inappropriate on the territory of the temple. You cannot wear such clothes here. The mosque is open for tourists at certain hours on weekdays.

Islamic Center and Grand Friday Mosque | Asad Photo Maldives

Hukuru Miskii and Munnaaru

Not far from the Islamic Centre and opposite the palace Mulee Aage, there are two Maldivian sights built under the Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I on Medhuziyaarai Magu Street. These are the mosque Hukuru Miskii (established in 1656) and the minaret Munnaaru (established in 1675). The old Male Mosque has a peculiarity: it was built from corals, without cement. There is also an old cemetery nearby, where you can take a walk.

Minaret of the Hukuru Mosque | Asad Photo Maldives

Jumhooree Maidhaan

Jumhooree Maidhaan is the main square of Male. It’s a popular meeting place for locals. It was built in 1988, near marina No. 1, from which most speedboats depart. Nearby, there is the Presidential Palace with the largest national flag in the Maldives. The square has benches, pigeons, a fountain, as well as the monument to the victims of the destructive tsunami of 2004 caused by the Indonesian earthquake. The monument is dedicated to their memory of 74 Maldivians became victims of that fateful earthquake.

SinaMale Bridge

This new bridge built several years ago connects the capital of Male with the neighbouring island of Hulhumale and the airport. Either side of the bridge offers beautiful ocean views. SinaMale Bridge is one of the largest sea bridges in the city. It’s a good place for an evening walk or jog.

Mulee Aage

In the centre of the island, not far from government buildings, the police and the local prison (in fact, the island is so small that everything is side by side), there is the palace Mulee Aage built at the beginning of the last century for Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. In 1953, it was this palace that became the first presidential palace. The building is built in the Senegalese style and has a subtle, elegant look.

Mulee-aage Palace | Asad Photo Maldives

National Museum

The National Museum is situated in a beautiful building on the territory of Sultan Park. It will hardly give you any extraordinary impressions after the visit, but it has many exhibits that attract the attention of people interested in the history of the archipelago and, in particular, the life of the Sultans. The museum also includes personal belongings of the former rulers, their outfits, jewellery, as well as coral sculptures and weapons. After visiting such places, you realize that the Maldives is not only beaches and corals but also a country with an interesting history. Besides, the museum is air-conditioned, so it’s a great occasion to run away from a hot day for a while.

Artificial Beach

The small artificial beach in Male is located 10 minutes from the pier, on the northern outskirts of the capital. After your vacation on the island resort, it is unlikely to impress you, although the place is quite comfortable and clean. It has sun loungers and umbrellas, as well as shower and toilet. The water in the bay is separated from the ocean by a dam. The number of locals wishing to spend time near the water is always significant. You can also go there to see the crabs on the rocks or take a walk. Artificial Beach is the only beach in the city.

Sultan Park

This pretty park, where many fascinating plants grow in a small area, is a kind of oasis in the stone jungle of the capital. The park has a large fountain illuminated in the evenings. There is also a centennial tree, which is considered a wish-fulfilling tree. Besides, there is an open stage, benches, a playground and a swing, ladders, bridges and a slide. You can find here also a “wonder of wonders” for the Maldivians living on the equator - a small indoor ice rink.

Entrance to the Sultan Park is paid. The cost of tickets is different and depends on the day of the week, as well as citizenship (for locals, it costs less).

Victory Monument

The snow-white Victory Monument is located in a relatively quiet place of the city, away from the tourist routes. The monument is dedicated to the incident that happened in the Maldives in the autumn of 1988. In early November of that year, about a hundred terrorists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization arrived from Sri Lanka in Male for a military coup. However, the Indian military helped to prevent the overthrow of legal power.

Male Fish Market

The Male fish market is small in area, and you can absorb the local atmosphere without even going inside by observing the catch of local fishers and the professional fish processing. Tuna weighing from 20 to 100 kilogrammes at very affordable prices will impress you. If you live in Male, and you have cooking facilities, the market is an excellent place to buy fresh sea fish, shrimp, squid and crab. Many travellers admit that it’s the cheapest fish market they have ever been to.

Fishmongers | Asad Photo Maldives

Diving

Without exaggeration, diving is the main favourite activity for vacationers in the Maldives archipelago. And there’s no surprise since there are not many places on the planet where the underwater world would be as colourful and vibrant as here. But the Maldives stretches for more than 800 kilometres... So, how to find the most beautiful atolls and resorts that would be suitable for diving? You should pay attention to several points to answer this question.

Diving in the Maldives | Sebastian Pena Lambarri

Reef condition

A reef, as you know, is an elevation of the seabed in shallow water. The most common among the reefs (and the most beautiful as well) are the coral reefs, for which the Republic of Maldives is so famous.

• Knowing the reef condition is very important for divers, but it’s not easy to find accurate information about what it is like in a particular place and right now. Let’s consider a house reef at Alila Villas Resort in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, as an example. A few years ago, it was a gorgeous reef, but now it has died out. If in 2016, the corals on the reef looked faded but were still alive, today they are covered in grey film and destroyed. The most eye-tearing picture is the area where the limestone table-shaped colonies with bright colours lived, the so-called “table coral”. These coral polyps pleased the eyes of everyone who saw them. Fortunately, there is hope that corals will recover over time. However, it’s not possible to predict when.
• Interestingly, even if a reef is ill or apparently dying, the life around it still rages. Marine inhabitants - turtles, sharks, brackets and moray eels - are still engaged in their affairs. In some places, you can already see tiny isles of very young corals, which means that the reef is gradually coming to life.
• Why does a reef die? First, a rise in water temperature by a couple of degrees due to global climate change upsets the natural balance. Secondly, a reef gets polluted due to construction work in the resorts and the presence of a large amount of treated wastewater in places of villages or resorts. Thirdly, El Nino. The latter happens regularly, manifesting itself weaker or stronger. We will speak about this phenomenon further in the article.
• If you are not interested in corals, then any island with a narrow lagoon will do for diving. After all, marine life still feels good on bleached corals. Besides, if you do want to see this living creature, pay attention to the season rather than the island’s location since the water transparency depends on this above all. In summer, the water transparency is always lower because there is a lot of plankton in the water.

Maldivian ecologists ask divers to follow a few rules to preserve the local underwater world: 1) do not climb corals; 2) behave underwater carefully because these are very fragile creatures; and 3) do not buy souvenirs made from corals, mussels, turtles and other marine inhabitants.

Coral reefs and their inhabitants

Season

The ideal time for diving and snorkelling in the Maldives is winter. The water is as clear as possible, and the northeast wind reigning during this period brings dry, hot weather. Although torrential rains sometimes occur in December-February, they do not change the general trend, and nor do they affect the underwater life. Another important thing is that the ocean is calm at this time of year, and there are almost no storms. Another huge plus is long daylight. If you want to feel the difference in the water transparency (rather, cloudiness) compared to what it was in winter, welcome to the Maldives since April.

Water in the Maldives during the holiday season

Popular atolls

Popular atolls among diving enthusiasts are Ari Atoll (aka Alifu Dhaalu), South Male Atoll and North Male Atoll. In just half an hour, you can get by seaplane from the airport to the resort islands of Ari Atoll - Angaga and Dhiffushi. This atoll also has other resorts, which are no less attractive thanks to good conditions for diving. The atolls of South Male and North Male do not have vibrant reefs, but it is easy to get here from the capital.

No matter what atoll is in question (there are 26 of them in the Maldives, and each has something to see underwater), you should carefully study the location of those “must-see” places for divers. Sometimes, such spots are scattered in one part of the atoll (for example, the north, as in Lhaviyani) or at the eastern tip (as in Baa Atoll). It is important to keep in mind that every time you go diving, you will have to get here from your hotel. Another food for thought is the time of the trip to get here.

Space image of maldivian atoll | Источник - Bing.com

Presence of “house” reef

Many resorts have the so-called “house” reef located near the island or around it. Accordingly, you don’t have to sail to it. This feature is indicated on the booking page, and you can always filter out hotels with a house reef in the Maldives.  

Resort with a "house" reef | Lily Beach Resort and Spa

Consequences of El Nino

The concept of “El Nino” became widespread several decades ago. This natural phenomenon is characterized by temperature anomalies of the surface layer of the equatorial ocean part, which are observed for several months in a row. The causes of the phenomenon have not yet been explained. In the Maldives, a particularly strong influence of El Nino was observed in 1998. In practice, it means that a considerable number of corals fades. It takes a long time for them to recover and for life in the water to return to normal. El Nino severely destroyed some types of corals (table corals, for example), and six months later, you could see only their fragments on the reef, covered with algae. Huvadhu Atoll is least affected by the effects of the unpleasant phenomenon.

“The Magnificent Seven”

• One of the leaders in the richness of ichthyofauna and the beauty of coral reefs is Haa Alifu Atoll (aka Huvadhu). Several costly hotels and a couple of guesthouses are located there. Photos from house reefs of hotels are easy to find online. One of the great places to admire the underwater kingdom is the Dhonakulhi Channel, which is part of the house reef. It is next to the marina, which makes it an ideal place for diving and snorkelling. In season, you can see manta rays playing in the channel with 16-metre depth.
• Ari Atoll is geographically much closer to Male. Its southern part has several resorts with the best reefs (almost like in Huvadhu).
• If you consider the options of islands with captivating coral reefs located even closer to the capital, then it is worth mentioning the Makunudhoo resort island in the North Male Atoll. Prices are generally lower here, and underwater, you can meet many species of fish, sharks, as well as corals.
• Eriyadu (North Male Atoll), a small and cosy resort island with a relaxing atmosphere, is capable of surprising you with stunning views around. Besides, it takes only 45-50 minutes by speedboat from the airport to Eriyadu. According to guests, its house reef is very good - small sharks, a wide variety of fish and young stingrays often playing almost near the beach.
• Within 30-40 kilometres of Male, there are several resorts with a good reef too. This list includes Biyadhoo, Fun Island, Fihalhohi Island (South Male Atoll) and Malahini Kuda (North Male Atoll). All of them have the advantages of a budget resort. Despite the relative modesty of accommodation, manta rays come to the pier almost every evening, and the small stingrays often dine here with the remnants of fish provided by the resort staff. If you want, you can swim with stingrays, as many visitors do.
• It is no coincidence that Thoddoo Island, North Male Atoll, is one of the favourite islands of those interested in ocean life. Around Thoddoo, you can find a nice reef with healthy corals of all colours and shapes. In fact, there are even two reefs: near and far. Thoddoo Island is local. It means that locals live there, and it has hotels and guesthouses. Detailed information for tourist divers can be found, for example, on islandii.com.
• Rasdhoo is a popular neighbour of Thoddoo and the administrative centre of the atoll of the same name. You can get from one island to another in an hour and a half, using the ferry. In addition to staying on the local island for a vacation, you can also order a diving safari on a yacht or other floating craft. There are many places with exciting animals around Rasdhoo. You can choose the optimal depth of diving. Both islands offer dive centres with many services - from instructors and transfers to equipment rental. To see details, go to maldivesdives.com.

Diving in the Maldives | Lily Beach Resort and Spa

Snorkelling

Many snorkelling enthusiasts are convinced that the archipelago is much more comfortable and interesting than the Red Sea (for example, in Egypt). The Maldives has a lot more inhabitants impressive in size and shape. As for watching corals, experts still advise going to the country of the pyramids. But let’s focus on the Maldives now.

• Snorkel, as this activity is often called, is partially reminiscent of diving, but this is just about swimming with a diving mask, tube and swimfins under a body of water. While scuba diving means serious training and instruction, snorkelling can be done without special skills, although diving rules must be still observed.
• In no case should snorkellers forget about sunscreen. It is best to use one of those with a protection index of at least SPF30 because time spent in water flies, and you can get burns. It is also advisable to wear covering clothing when snorkelling.
• Locals advise observing such a schedule: swimming from morning until afternoon, then rest and sleep. It’s better to go “spearfishing” in the late afternoon - no earlier than 16:00 - and do what you love until sunset.  

Snorkeling in the Maldives

Stingrays and other living creatures

The most interesting inhabitants of the ocean, attracting the attention of tourists in the Maldives, are manta rays, or giant sea devils. They are really huge and have a fantastic appearance - fins looking like wings, with the help of which they seem to fly in the water column. The manta ray season on the archipelago lasts from May to October. During this period, the water is cloudy due to a large amount of plankton, which the giant sea devils eat. 

• An ideal place for observing sea devils is considered to be Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll, where the only Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives was created under UNESCO. The manta ray season lasts here in summer and autumn. These fantastic creatures wander in a huge stock of up to 200 species. If less luck, you can see groups of 20-30 species.
• Those who want to see stingrays most often stay at one of the hotels on the nearest local island of Dharavandhoo, from where you can sail to the reserve by boat. Getting to Dharavandhoo itself is easy since it has a small airport (domestic terminal). Thus, organizing a trip without a tour operator will be quite simple.
• If you don’t have enough courage to do snorkelling on your own, but you still want to look at stingrays and other marine inhabitants, you can buy a special group excursion for snorkelling. Many resorts in different atolls offer guests such tours. The price depends on the number of people in the boat and, as a rule, is several tens of dollars. It also depends on the reef to which you are taken.
• Whale sharks are another highlight of the Maldives. It’s quite possible to know them better. They often swim in search of plankton, together with stingrays.
• You can often find dolphins in the Maldives archipelago - about a dozen species live in these parts. The most widespread are bottlenose, Risso’s, striped and pantropical spotted dolphins. These curious creatures swim close to the shore or the ferry connecting the islets of the atolls. There are special tours for those who want to watch or swim with the dolphins. Many hotels and resorts offer this service.
• Manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins and turtles live almost year-round within the Alif Dhaal Atoll, where many pristine corners of the wild have been preserved.

Manta ray ("devilfish")

Windsurfing

The main condition for fans of windsurfing is the presence of the “right” waves. Windy weather, which helps form a good breaking wave, is most often observed on the archipelago from March to November. Usually, surfers book a room in a resort and hire a boat from the island to the surf areas. Another option is to buy a safari cruise on a yacht, accompanied by an experienced surf guide who knows the specifics of the local waves. It’s great if such a boat has the fishing gear and snorkelling equipment, in case you can’t ride the waves for any reason. There is one law: the best waves, according to surfers, form near the outer reefs of any of the atolls from the southeast side.

Windsurfing

Seaplane or helicopter flights

A seaplane in the Maldives is not only air transport delivering tourists from Velana International Airport to remote atolls. Seaplane flying is also an exciting attraction. The cost of such entertainment is quite high and amounts to hundreds of dollars for a couple of minutes. However, the impressions received during your air trip will remain for life. The water of all possible shades of blue, many uninhabited islands around, resorts, and the ocean from all sides to the horizon...

No less exciting can be a guided helicopter flight over the islands. Those who have never flown before in this mode of air transport get special feelings. If you like this option, you should ask about the possibility of organizing it at the reception (the general price list of services may not include it).

Seaplane in the Maldives | Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

Excursions to resort islands

Resort islands are a landmark of the Maldives, and every guest of the country wants to see how everything works there. Since some vacationers choose cheaper apartments (which are numerous on local islands or in the capital itself) rather than staying in such luxurious hotels, they are provided with the excursions to resort islands. They can be organized in hotels and guesthouses of any class. What is such an excursion like? Those who wish are brought to a resort located nearby and left there to relax for the whole day.

It is important to know that a visit to the resort must be agreed with its administration. And, of course, a stay on the territory of such an island costs separate money. The price of the tour depends on the number of people and includes transfer and entrance fee to the resort. Sometimes, the price also includes lunch or even the all-inclusive programme for one day. The entrance fee will cost 50-100 USD, depending on the level of the resort hotel and the season (in low season, prices are reduced). Expensive resorts have a different system - immediately at the entrance, you pay a certain amount, which will be your deposit. During the day, you can spend all this money on food and drinks. If you spend less, the difference will not be returned, but if more, you will have to pay extra. In some cases, local fishers can deliver you to the resort island in their boats. Such a trip will be cheaper than the one organized by the hotel, but the rest of the rules are the same.

Island resort | Cocoon Maldives

Fishing

Fishing is one of the popular options offered by Maldivian hotels for fans of different levels. Since the underwater world is very diverse, you can choose a way of spending time as you wish.

Every year, fans of trophy sport fishing come to the archipelago. However, you can throw a fishing rod or a spinning just for fun as well, at any time of the day. You can catch tuna and marlin, sea bream and sailfish, as well as many other kinds of fish.

Popular types of fishing include:

• Fishing from a small dhoni boat, not far from the coast (many hotels offer it, but don’t wait for a big catch)
• Deepsea fishing (you will have to rent a specially equipped vessel for catching large predators)
• Spinning fishing (to catch a big fish, you need to go on a boat outside the reef and have good fishing gear that can survive a massive catch)
• Fly fishing (it is allowed only on deserted islands)

The dry season (November-March) is ideal for fishing. The ocean is calm at this period, and it rains a little. However, autumn has its advantages too - a lot of plankton appears in the water near the coastal zone, so even without going far into the sea, you can catch a rather large trophy.

The main thing is to observe the rules. Their violation entails big fines. Therefore:

• You cannot fish near coral reefs, in reserves and coastal zone (except for uninhabited islands).
• It is forbidden to use gear that can seriously damage fish - harpoons, traumatic hooks, as well as explosive and poisonous substances.
• It is forbidden to catch dolphins and whale sharks.
• The norm is the amount of fish that can be cooked and consumed at dinner, and the rest should be released.

Fishing at maldivian resort | Hurawalhi Maldives Resort

Bike rental

Bicycle rental is available almost everywhere, and resorts often provide them free of charge. However, you will unlikely have plenty of riding since the length of the largest Maldivian islands hardly exceeds two kilometres. This is a feature of this island state.

Bicycle rental in the Maldives | Meeru Island Resort & Spa

Canoe

The Maldives has well-developed kayaking. In addition to a standard kayak or canoe, there is also a canoe with a see-through bottom, which is often used to explore the underwater world.

You can take a canoe to one of the deserted islands nearby and feel like Robinson - birds nest nearby, crabs and hermit crabs run along the shore, and ripe coconuts are scattered all over the sand. 

Kayaking in the Maldives | Lily Beach Resort and Spa

Vacation with children

Many hotels in the Maldives focus on family vacations. Therefore, they offer special children’s clubs with the staff who speak your language. Such clubs, as a rule, have creative corners, libraries, cinema halls and interactive game rooms. Often, they feature pools and treehouses. Kids learn there to paint their faces and cook. They also study the basics of fashion design and learn how to use slides, pools and other interesting things. Babysitting services are also available.

Children's vacation in the Maldives | Shangri-La’s Villingili Island Resort & Spa

Night life

Maldives and nightlife are by no means synonymous. There are few nightclubs and discos here unlike some resort islands. During the day, they work like regular bars or restaurants, and at night, they hold various events or have live music performances. Fans of this type of entertainment should pay attention to the resort hotels of Lhaviyani Atoll: Cocoon Maldives and Kanuhura Resort.

Evening concert for vacationers | Meeru Island Resort & Spa 

Spa and fitness

Rest on the archipelago in the middle of the warm ocean can hardly go without treatments aiming at soothing your body because like the brains, the soul needs care. Maldives resorts offer a very wide range of services of this kind. Spas are present in almost all resorts. Different massages, thalassotherapy and ancient Indian Ayurveda positively affect the body and put thoughts in order. However, it’s not all that the islands offer. FFreshwaterpools, saunas, steam baths are more likely the rule than the exception for many hotels, not to mention resort islands.

Spa treatments at maldivian resort | Shangri-La’s Villingili Island Resort & Spa

Gastronomy, theme dinners and cooking classes

Maldivian food is light and full of fresh fruit. Nevertheless, if guests are used to other nutrition, it’s not a problem. As a rule, the territory of the resorts offers several restaurants with various types of cuisine - European, Indian, Thai and Japanese. The resorts often hold themed dinners, which are a separate entertainment. If you really liked an exotic dish, you can learn how to cook it at masterclasses and cooking lessons.

Rihaakuru - a traditional dish of the Maldives | Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

Drones and related restrictions

Drones have long appealed to many travellers. It is natural that you want to take a drone with you, especially that it takes up little space. After all, photos and videos taken from above, especially in a place like the Maldives archipelago, are something special. However, there is one important detail. For reasons of security and respect for the privacy of vacationers, it’s forbidden to use any unmanned aerial vehicles (in particular, drones and amateur aircraft models) in most resort hotels.

Entertainment included in All-Inclusive programme

Choosing a hotel accommodation system that would best meet your wishes, it is important to familiarize yourself with the description of the services offered for a particular type of accommodation. One of the interesting questions is what exactly the All-Inclusive programme means. Each resort forms its own set of options. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurant, All-Inclusive may include, for example:

• Free cocktails, local wines and spirits at selected food establishments (premium drinks are charged separately)
• Various sports during the day with provision of appropriate equipment
• Excursion with night fishing for each guest for the entire period of stay or some other nice bonus

Jet ski | Kudadoo Maldives Private Island

Traditional and local holidays

Before visiting any country, especially when you are going there for the first time, it is advisable to read information about the characteristics of its culture. It’s important, at least, to understand the general context in which you will soon plunge and not to miss something interesting. The main holidays in the Maldives are:

• Independence Day (26-27 July)
• Republic Day (11-12 November)

Important Muslim holidays are:

• Eid-ul Fithr (Rorda Mas, end of Ramadan)
• Eid-ul Al’haa (Day of Sacrifice)
• Islamic New Year
• Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday) and others

A day off, when most of the establishments are closed, and transport is almost not operating, is Friday.

Residents of Maldives | Asad Photo Maldives

Excursions to populated islands of the Maldives

Holidaymakers of resort islands have an opportunity to visit local islands nearby. “Local” in this case is the one where the local population lives. Such excursions allow to get acquainted with the life and culture of the Maldivians, as well as buy handmade products made by craftsmen. You can see what folk songs and dances are - for example, bodu beru, a lively dance to the drumming. It is interesting to know that the dance was brought to the Maldives about ten centuries ago, and since then, it has become a real tradition. You can also attend lectures on local culture directly on the resort island, without leaving anywhere.

Bodu beru dance | Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa

Submarine tour

Whale Submarine Maldives is considered one of the largest submarines in the world. You can dive to a depth of several metres and observe the underwater kingdom in all its fabulous diversity. The submarine is “registered” in the capital of the Maldives. During such an excursion, you can see fish and a slightly different marine life. But, honestly, for a real acquaintance with the ocean inhabitants, it is much better to choose diving or snorkelling on the islands.

Resorts also offer submarine tours | Kuramathi Island Resort Maldives

Of course, this article does not describe all the possibilities for an interesting vacation in the Maldives because the tourism sector of the country has creative managers who can surprise tourists with fresh ideas and make more and more people fall in love with this paradise of the planet.

Vacation in the Maldives | Meeru Island Resort & Spa