What to see and do in the Maldives, heaven in the Indian Ocean
The Maldives is an archipelago packed with incredible sights that are linked to the sea in some way or another. The islands are surrounded by clear, turquoise waters, the seabed and coral reefs are teeming with life, and you might encounter an amazing surprise, like the sight of bioluminescence on the beach. Here’s a guide to all the best activities to enjoy, apart from a relaxing swim in paradise.
- Malé: the capital of the Maldives
- Local islands to visit
- Local food
- Snorkelling and diving
- Surfing
- Dolphin spotting and boat trips
- Sandbanks
- Bioluminescence
- The best hotels in the Maldives
Malé: the capital of the Maldives
Not all travellers to the Maldives end up visiting Malé, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. But the truth is that it’s well worth spending a day in the archipelago’s capital, especially to find out what life is like for Maldivians, their customs, and some of the stricter laws ‒ at the end of the day, it’s a Muslim country.
One place you mustn’t miss in Malé is the Fish Market and the local markets. You’ll spot many of the fish that star in local dishes, and how Maldivians and the city’s inhabitants work and live.
It’s also worth visiting Sultan Park, the National Museum and especially the Grand Friday Mosque, a place that’s vastly different from the palm tree-lined beaches with soft sand and turquoise waters that everyone pictures in their heads.
Local islands to visit
The Maldives has 1,192 coral islands; only 203 are inhabited but it’s extremely hard to pick just a few to visit. Most of the land is grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, which makes it easy to travel from one island to another if that’s what you plan to do.
One of the most popular is Ari Toll because it’s one of the islands with the most sea life, making it perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.
And if you’d like to see bioluminescence, one of the most incredible natural phenomena of the Maldives, travel to Vaadhoo where you might just catch a glimpse of it off one of the island’s beaches. Picture a magical scene of waves shimmering as if they were covered in tiny little fireflies, and that’s Vaadhoo for you.
If you’re a diving expert and would like to explore the best seabed in the area, then head to Baa Atoll. The islands in this atoll are full of the most incredible animals, including the famous whale sharks and manta rays.
And while it might not be the most spectacular island in the Maldives, Malé is also interesting to visit, especially spending a few hours strolling from the market to the mosque, stopping off at the artificial beach, to see how Maldivian people live.
Local food
The best way to try local food is to get out of the big hotels and sample a dish at the street food stalls you’ll spot in villages and cities. Almost all the food in the Maldives is based on fresh or dried fish and it’s the basis of people’s diet. They also eat bajiyas, which are like fried dumplings made with potatoes, peas, and dried fish. Gulhas, battered and fried tuna meatballs, are also popular and are served as an aperitif, perhaps before a bowl of garudiya, a typical tuna soup.
You should also try mas huni, grated coconut with tuna, onion, and chilli, which is served with typical Maldivian bread.
Snorkelling and diving
Scuba diving is one of the activities on the islands that attracts the most tourists. Experts say that the Maldives is one of the best places in the world for both beginners and experts because the dive spots are hugely varied. The seabed around the archipelago is covered in large coral reefs that are swarming with sea life. So, on any snorkelling or diving trip, it’s easy to spot many different species of shark — the most famous being hammerhead and whale sharks — and you might also see manta rays, turtles, tuna shoals, sea eels, and much, much more.
The best way to do these activities is by booking with a diving centre. Many of the top hotels have their own, and you can even book a private scuba diving trip that takes you to the best spots in the Maldives for a guided dive.
Surfing
This archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a surfers’ paradise because the coral reefs surrounding the islands and the tides create waves that you can surf all year round.
The best months for surfing in the Maldives are from May to October, when the swells are larger, and the best winds blow.
When choosing a place to go surfing, experts normally recommend the north atolls where you can catch the Sultans and Chickens surf breaks, and the Jailbreaks, a really fun exposed reef break.
Dolphin spotting and boat trips
One of the most delightful experiences you can enjoy in the Maldives is going on a boat trip and spotting dolphins. These trips are normally run in the Addu zone, in the south of the archipelago, where dolphins live peacefully in their natural habitat.
What’s even better is taking the trip as the sun goes down, when the dolphins leap and play in the light of an incredible sunset. This is also usually the busiest time for these excursions.
The best time of year for spotting dolphins is between May and September, when they gather in large herds to feed and breed in the islands’ clear waters before carrying on their way.
Sandbanks
Rasdhoo Island is one of the most famous places to enjoy archipelago’s sandbanks in the middle of the ocean, and you can book a boat trip from Rasdhoo to experience these remarkable islands for yourself. Sandbanks are slivers of sand surrounded by an intense blue sea where there is nothing, and virtually no one, else. The most well-known are the sandbanks at Madivaru Finolhu ‒ some are completely submerged when the tide comes up.
One of the surprising things about these sandy mounds is that they change position in the lagoons at least twice a year, along with the changing seasons, so it always feels as though you’re visiting a brand-new island.
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence on Vaadhoo Beach is one of the most magical natural phenomena in the Maldives. It’s created by dinoflagellates, a type of microscopic plankton, which produce a bright blue light when they react with oxygen, covering the waves in tiny little lights.
The best time of year to see this phenomenon is from the middle of summer to the beginning of winter, when the largest number of plankton accumulates in the area. But don’t forget that it’s a random occurrence and there is no guarantee that it’ll happen during your visit.
If you’re lucky enough to see it, just stir the water with your feet to activate the plankton and it will cover the ocean in tiny dots of light. It’s often easier to see if you go out on a boat and are further from the shore.
The best hotels in the Maldives
One of the best options to enjoy the Maldives is the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives in the south of South Ari Atoll. The resort is in an incredible location with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters; it has 100 villas, 30 Water Villas and 7 Beach Suites with their own private plunge pool.
The hotel has three bars, three restaurants and a snack bar, making it the perfect choice for fans of fine dining. Sea Salt, the main restaurant, serves buffet-style meals, while Aqua serves Mediterranean-fusion dishes with lots of fish and seafood. And you’ll love having a sunset cocktail at Breeze, the Lagoon Pool Bar, because the hotel is superbly located to enjoy the colourful skies at the end of the day.
Guests will enjoy the use of two infinity pools, the Mandara spa with its long menu of personalised treatments, and a fitness zone where you can do yoga and pilates. And if you’re a water sports fan, you can also book snorkelling, surfing and scuba diving trips right from the hotel; its great location is close to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), a brilliant place for spotting whale sharks, among other animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best activities to do in the Maldives?
You can do all the big water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing, and also go on a boat trip to spot dolphins, be amazed by bioluminescence and swim off a sandbank in the middle of the ocean.
What are the most important sights on your trip to the Maldives?
You should visit some of the most spectacular islands, like Ari Toll, Vaadhoo and Baa Atoll, experience the intensity of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and relax on a pristine, deserted beach.
What are the main tourist attractions in the Maldives, apart from its beaches?
The main reason to visit the Maldives is to do water sports ‒ tourists typically travel to the islands to explore the incredible seabed or to go surfing.