10 Things to do in the Maldives

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In April I spent a week in the Maldives and, for some reason, I never got around to writing about it! SO, here I go. Here’s 10 things to do in the Maldives. It’s not just all chilling by the beach and getting married (thank Christ). There’s a lot more to this tropical paradise.

FYI – This post contains affiliate links.

10 Things to do in the Maldives

1 – Go Diving

The water in the Maldives makes it arguably one of the best places in the world for diving. There’s plenty of tropical fish to be seen as well as manta rays, hammerhead sharks, turtles and more. This depends on the time of year and dive site of course. Just make sure to ask about conditions etc at the dive centre before you head out.

*If you’d like to read more about DIVING, check out my posts on OPEN WATER & ADVANCED OPEN WATER diving.

2- Have a Cocktail by the Beach

Simple yet effective. The resorts in the Maldives make some mean cocktails. I favoured the peach bellini while I was sunning myself. And by sunning myself I mean desperately seeking the shade because this skin was not built for sun! Make sure to drink plenty of water too! Hydration is key.

3 -Fly on a Sea Plane

Make sure you get a window seat; the views are phenomenal. Until my recent visit to the Maldives I had only seen sea planes in movies. It was incredible to climb aboard a floating plane and take off and land on the sea. I recommend Trans Maldivian if you’re planning on organising it yourself. This is one of the best things to do in the Maldives. Don’t miss it!

4 – Visit the Glowing Beaches 

Bio-luminescent phytoplankton being disturbed cause this beautiful light display. Vaadhoo Island is where the famous photos were taken but it’s impossible to guarantee a beach sighting. It’s a bit like the Northern Lights, you either see it or you don’t. However, if you do a night dive, turn your torch off and wave your hand through the water around you, you’ll likely see a miniature version of this display.

5 – Go Island Hopping

There are over 1,000 islands in the Maldives, why stick to just one? Wherever you stay you’ll have no problem organising an island hopping trip around the local atoll.

6 – Buy Local Crafts

The Maldives is known for it’s lacquered wood ware and woven mats. You’ll find them at local markets, and in gift shops too but that seems mildly less authentic, right? Thulhaadhoo in Baa Atoll produces the majority of the lacquered goods and Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is the best place to find the woven giftware. There are also some great local artists that tour the resorts selling their paintings etc.

7 – Get Pampered

Have a Maldivian massage with hand-made local products. You can’t get a more perfect setting for a bit of rest and relaxation. I loved the products so much that I brought home a big tub of frangipani flower moisturiser. It’s my new favourite beauty product. A massage should be high up on your list of things to do in the Maldives if you need some down time.

8 – TAKE A LOT OF PHOTOS!

The Maldives is a #nofilter kind of place. You could take a photo anywhere and it would be ready to frame straight off the bat! Essentially, it’s a photographer’s dream. I used my Samsung Phone and my under water camera (TomTom Bandit Action Cam) to take all my pics. Here’s an example.

9 – Take a sunset cruise

NO, it’s not just for newly wed couples. There were families and singles on the boat too. You’ll get a couple of drinks and snacks on the boat and probably see a few dolphins splashing around. Definitely worth doing if you get sick of sitting on the beach (as if) and want to mix it up a little.

10 – Check out Male

It’s not just all about resorts!  Male is the capital of the Maldives and a bustling, colourful city. If you’re into religion and history and all that stuff then there’s a few mosques here worth visiting. This wouldn’t be TOP of my list of things to do in the Maldives (hence why it’s number 10), but if you have a day or two either side of your trip it’s worth doing as it’s very close to Hulhule island where the airport is.

Let’s Wrap it up.

SO, there you have it! A few suggestions of things to do in the Maldives. If you’re off to the Maldives soon, have a great time! I am jealous, I wish I was going back. If you’re thinking about going, just BOOK IT!! You can get some SERIOUSLY reasonable trips to some beautiful resorts. I highly recommend using a travel agent for this as they usually get a much better rate with the resort.

If you’re on a super tight budget and think you can’t afford the Maldives then think again. Make sure you read this ultimate guide to the Maldives on a budget by Janet of JournalistOnTheRun.

ANYWAY I’ll be doing some more posts on the Maldives in the next few days so keep an eye on the site.

If you want to see all my wonderful photos from my trip to the Maldive make sure you follow
my Instagram – @whereistarablog. 

Recommended Reading

5* Review – Hulhule Island Hotel Maldives

Travel Blogging is NOT Glamorous (Funny story about splitting my pants in the Maldives)

The BEST Place to Stay in the Maldvies – ROBINSON CLUB MALDIVES

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