Maldives Activities

Although the Maldives are not home to an abundance of attractions aimed specifically at children, the holiday infrastructure is well geared to receiving families and the natural environment offers endless hours of play opportunities. Beaches are generally safe places to let little ones do their own thing on the sand, while many of the big hotels offer excellent swimming pools, facilities and services for young guests.

Beaches
The beaches are without doubt the greatest attraction for families in the Maldives, offering abundant play and leisure opportunities for youngsters. Safety is rarely a major issue here, allowing parents to relax while the kids enjoy everything from sandcastle building to kite flying or a lively game of Frisbee. Facilities at the beach include dining and refreshment outlets, making it easy to while away the day without any need to venture elsewhere.

Whale and Dolphin Spotting
As home to more than 21 species of dolphins and whales, the Maldives are one of the best places on the continent to experience these creatures up close. A boat trip to see these magnificent underwater animals is an experience not to be missed. Boat trips are widely available through resorts and hotels, and are typically inclusive of lunch.

The Maldives, essentially a destination for beach-loving holidaymakers, has plenty of places of interest for those visitors seeking more culturally-enriching activities. The island of Malé, the nation’s capital, is where you will find the greatest concentration of cultural sites, although there are also some locations of cultural interest on some of the smaller islands. On Malé, the Grand Mosque is perhaps the nation’s cultural highlight, while the National Museum is a must for anyone with an interest in the history of the Maldives.

Day Market, Malé
Malé’s main day market is the perfect place to grab a slice of local culture. This bustling location offers an abundance of sights, sounds and smells that typify the daily lives of the residents. Enjoy a pleasant stroll allowing you to watch the locals engaging in business, socialising or taking a relaxing nap in the shade. Take the opportunity to sample some of the local edible delights while you are here.

Friday Mosque (Hukuru Misikiiy)
Located close to the President’s Palace, Hukuru Misikiiy is among the oldest mosques in the Maldives, with its oldest parts dating back to 1656 and featuring a drum-shaped minaret which was added in 1675. The mosque’s interior is home to some magnificent Islamic art as well as some unique wooden carvings.

Grand Mosque
Otherwise known as the Grand Friday Mosque (not to be confused with the Friday Mosque) or the Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu-al-A'z'am by locals, the Grand Mosque is deserving of its title. Presenting to visitors a magnificent white exterior and encompassing an area capable of accommodating up to 5,000 worshippers, it is a must-visit. Access to the mosque’s interior is only permitted by appointment.

Muslim Graveyard
Across from Malé’s Botanical Gardens is the Muslim Graveyard, which offers some interesting sights in the way of old tombstones dedicated to some of the nation’s most famous deceased characters.

National Museum
Located on the island of Malé, the National Museum is housed in a small colonial building situated adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. The museum is home to an interesting collection of artefacts collected from Malé and a number of other islands. Among the objects on display are traditional costumes, royal antiquities, Buddhist relics, a miniature hand-written copy of the Koran and an engraved wooden panel from the Friday Mosque, which dates back to the 13^th century. Phone: +960 3323400 7.

President’s Palace
Take a stroll along Malé’s beach promenade and you’ll come to the splendid building that is the President’s Palace. The official residence of the President of the Republic of the Maldives is not open to the public; however, visitors are able to get close enough to take some good photographs of its exterior. The structure was the work of Sultan Shamsuddeen III and was built just before WWI. Later in 1936, after the banishment of the sultan and his son, the building became government property. Phone: +960 323 701.

Republic Square
Malé’s Republic Square is something of a focal point for local life on the island, with many of its most important government buildings located here including the police headquarters and the National Security Service building. In centre of the square flies a giant Maldivian flag, the largest flag of its kind in the whole of the island nation.

Food is one of the highlights of the Maldives and visitors wanting to get a complete Maldivian experience should be prepared to be adventurous and sample the local delicacies, of which there are many.

Maldivian cuisine is based largely around the ingredients that are readily available and provided by the tropical marine-based environment. Coconut, fish and its derivatives as well as starches such as rice provide the basis for most dishes. Coconut milk is a primary ingredient in Maldivian curries, while fish sauce and fresh fish are used in a plethora or recipes with skipjack tuna often being the fish of choice. Rice is eaten in its natural form or ground and made into a variety of different starchy creations.

Garudhiya is one of the nation’s staple creations made from tuna fish or frigate mackerel which is boiled in salt and served with rice. Rihaakuru meanwhile is a fish paste also made from tuna and served with rice, sweet potato or breadfruit, or cooked with chilli, onions and curry spices to create a dish known as theluli rihaakuru.

Opportunities for sampling the local cuisine are plentiful, with all of the main islands offering eateries in a variety of classes and price ranges. Holidaymakers invariably stick to the establishments along the beaten track; however, there are also plenty of places frequented by locals. These eateries invariably offer the most traditional and authentic cuisine.

The big hotels all have their own restaurants where both Maldivian and international cuisine is served. The food at these establishments is usually of a high standard. Malé, as a popular beach destination, has an abundance of visitor-friendly restaurants where prices are reasonable and the food is tasty, with western cuisine usually available. Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine is also popular in many restaurants.

Shopping in the Maldives is more about buying local handicrafts and traditional arts than branded goods, electronics or designer clothing. All of the large resorts have their own souvenir shops however prices tend to be over-inflated at these establishments. It makes more sense to wait until you have the chance to purchase goods from local market traders. Trips to the smaller islands provide good opportunities to buy unusual handmade products such as carved wooden items, sarongs and natural jewellery.

It’s popularly misconceived that vendors in the Maldives are not open to bargaining. While this might be true in establishments where the prices of products are clearly marked, it is not applicable in places where no prices are displayed. Customers should be prepared to haggle if they want to get a good price for souvenirs.

As an island nation, the Maldives is blessed with hundreds of ideal locations for pursuing outdoor activities. The beach is, unsurprisingly, the most popular setting for activities with both sea and sand-based pursuits on offer. Local companies take the hassle out of getting started by providing all the know-how and equipment necessary. Diving is especially popular, with the coral reefs around the atolls lending themselves perfectly to this enthralling activity.

Golf
Golfers can take advantage of the relatively newly-built facilities at the Kuredu Golf Club situated on the eastern side of Kuredu Island. Set in beautiful natural surroundings, there are few places in the world where a game of golf could be any more tranquil. A six-hole Par 3 course provides the main action, while a full size driving range is on hand for those wanting to practice their swing and a large putting green for those wanting to hone their sinking skills.

Fishing
Fishing is popular in the Maldives, and visitors will find that most resorts offer fishing trips on which all equipment is provided, as well as food and drink. Both day and night fishing is available, the latter allowing anglers to enjoy a beautiful Maldivian sunset before settling down to try their best at grabbing a few grouper or red snapper. Big-game fishing is also available for those anglers who fancy hauling in a few marlin or tuna.

Scuba Diving
The Maldives has some excellent areas for scuba diving and a variety of local operators providing the knowledge and the equipment for dive trips. As one of the most coral rich regions of the world, the undersea areas around the atolls of the Maldives are home to a myriad of sea life species. With excellent visibility, divers are guaranteed a truly unique experience.

Water Sports
Besides scuba diving and fishing, the Maldives offers a host of other water based activities including windsurfing, snorkelling, waterskiing, jet-skiing, body surfing, knee boarding and parasailing. Most activities are open to novices and all equipment is provided by local operators.

Beach Activities
Besides scuba diving and fishing, the Maldives offers a host of other water based activities including windsurfing, snorkelling, waterskiing, jet-skiing, body surfing, knee boarding and parasailing. Most activities are open to novices and all equipment is provided by local operators.