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8 things to do in the Maldives

Constance Halaveli, Maldives
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Dreamy villas, idyllic beaches, world-class diving and uber-luxurious spas make the Maldives the perfect antidote to urban living.

Aerial views of the Maldives

Aerial views of the Maldives

Once you’ve indulged in some proper R&R, there’s plenty more on offer too. Here’s our list of 8 things to do in the Maldives.

1. Visit a local fishing village

There is no better way to immerse yourself in traditional Maldivian island life than by visiting one of its fishing villages.

Fishing is at the very heart of Maldivian life and these villages are thriving local communities. Fish is sold daily at the beach or harbour and this is where locals gather and hang out.

2. Spend the day on a deserted island

The Maldives is made up of many atolls (rings of reef or coral islands). Take a boat and a picnic and spend the day on an untouched beach on your own deserted island, then swim in quiet waters for a uniquely Maldivian experience.

3. Night fishing

Set sail at sunset in a traditional dhoni (a wooden Maldivian fishing boat) and experience the tranquillity and peace of floating over the reef at night. Try the traditional Maldivian pole and line fishing technique, then take your catch back to shore where it can be cooked for a late night feast by a world-class chef.

Coral reefs at Constance Moofushi

Coral reefs at Constance Moofushi

4. Explore the Maldives by seaplane

The air is the perfect place from which to take in the stunning Maldives landscape of turquoise ocean scattered with beautiful coral islands of white sand and lush greenery. Pick out the luxury resorts and deserted islands from the air as well as the reefs and even some of the larger marine life. This is a once in a lifetime experience so be sure to bring a camera.

5. Explore the rich coral reefs

Whether you’re snorkelling or scuba diving the combination of stunning coral reefs and year-round high visibility has made the Maldives one of the reef diving hotspots of the world.

The sheer number of reefs in the area means that you can explore a different dive site every day with a wide variety of beautiful marine species from Giant Manta and Whale Sharks to turtles, lionfish, snappers and eels. The area has 187 different species of coral, home to more than 1,000 species of fish.

6. Visit the oldest mosque in the country

The Hukuru Miskiiy, or Friday Mosque, in the capital Malé dates back to the mid-17th century with outer coral-stone walls intricately carved with patterns and Arabic text. Inside, the elaborate woodcarvings are a stunning feature well worth visiting. Just opposite the mosque is the white Munnaaru Minaret, also dating back to the 17th century, historically used for calling the people of Malé to prayer.

Shop til you drop in Malé

Shop til you drop in Malé

7. Shop ‘til you drop in Malé

Whether you like the vibrant buzz of local markets or prefer shopping for arts and crafts or modern handbags and fashion there’s plenty to keep you happy in the country’s frenetically paced capital. The bustling Malé Fish Market at the northern waterfront where the fishermen from across the region bring their catch. Down the road is the general Local Market where produce including fresh fruit and vegetables, street food and handmade sweets from across the atolls are sold. For everything from clothes and perfume to electronic goods visit Majeedhee Magu and for souvenirs and local crafts check out Chaandanee Magu.

8. Experience the history of the Utheemu Palace

Utheemu Island in the Haa Alifu Atoll is famous as the birthplace of one of the Maldives’ greatest heroes, Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu who defended the islands from the Portuguese in the 16th century. His stunning wooden palace is perfectly preserved on Utheemu and is a historic treasure showing how Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu and his wealthy dynasty of sultans lived.

Read more

  • Find out more about our Constance Halaveli and Constance Moofushi both in the Maldives.
  • Discover the barefoot luxury of Moofushi
  • Check out these amazing shots of bioluminescent phytoplankton washing up on the sand in the Maldives on thisiscolossal.com.

 

 

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5 Comments

  • Reply
    TravelBench
    June 14, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Lovely tips fr this little Paradise on Earth! Thanks a lot for sharing! Made me daydream…

    • Reply
      Constance Hotels
      June 17, 2016 at 9:44 am

      Ah, that’s nice. Thanks for taking the time out to read our blog. We’ll keep trying to inspire you.

  • Reply
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    February 7, 2023 at 8:41 pm

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  • Reply
    betine
    June 13, 2023 at 7:41 am

    Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
    It’s the littl changes that produce the most significant changes.
    Thanos a lot for sharing!

    My web site; betine

  • Reply
    Cohen F. W. Estes
    August 9, 2023 at 12:43 pm

    I want to express my appreciation for the writer of this blog post. It’s clear they put a lot of effort and thought into their work, and it shows. From the informative content to the engaging writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

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