7 BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE MALDIVES
Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean composed of a chain of 26 ring atolls, which are made up of more than hundreds of islands. Each resort is different than the next and they each offer their own unique activities! We decided to make it easy for you and put together a list of the 7 best things to do in Maldives.
1.) STAY IN AN OVERWATER BUNGALOW
If you didn’t stay in an overwater bungalow, did you even go to Maldives? We loved our stay at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s overwater bungalow villa. The villa was spacious, complete with a living room, king size bed, bathroom, large indoor bathtub and an indoor and outdoor shower. Our absolute favorite part of the villa was the deck with a private hot tub overlooking the Indian Ocean. The deck was the perfect spot to enjoy room service, lay in the sun or just walk down the steps into the ocean!
2.) HAVE LUNCH AT ‘ITHAA’ UNDERWATER RESTAURANT
Sip on some champage/canape under the sea at Conrad’s underwater restaurant: ‘Ithaa’. Ithaa’is actually the FIRST under water restaurant in Maldives and in the world! For those wondering, it was actually built in New Zealand and shipped to Maldives. It was the craziest experience to dine under the sea while fish, sharks and rays swim all around you! It is definitely a must see if you’re visiting Conrad Maldives. Bucket list material for sure.
3.) SNORKEL THE ATOLLS
Maldives is an archipelago of 22 coral atolls, separated into more than 1,200 islands. Among these islands are the world’s largest coral atolls that remain above the ocean surface. Snorkeling is one of the best activities to do in the Maldives because it’s fun, it’s a workout and the best part? It’s FREE. In Maldives, most resorts are located on their own islands. Each island is surrounded by its own reef, referred to in the Maldives as a “house reef.” Most resort islands have their own house reefs, where you can walk off the beach and snorkel freely!
4.) GO ON A SUNSET DOLPHIN CRUISE
Sunset. Dolphins. Cruise. What more could you want? Spend the night on a yacht, searching for dolphins, sipping champagne and watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean. On your cruise, you’ll pass other islands/ resorts, many which was uninhabited! Keep your eyes open for mantas and whale sharks as well!
5.) INDULGE IN THE MALDIVIAN CUISINE
Since Maldives is almost 99% sea, it is not surprising that fish is the most important food in the Maldivian diet. Maldivian food is a mix of Indian, Sri Lankan and Arabic influences. Maldives, like India, is a fan of curries, which is locally called riha and is usually accompanied by roshi, the Maldives’ version of India’s flattened bread.
Fish is a huge part of Maldivian cuisine since the country is surrounded entirely by water. Coconut is another major element in Maldivian traditional cuisine, which adds a milky flavor to dishes, particularly to curries. And like in most Asian countries, rice – together with side dishes made up of lime, chilies, and onions – completes a Maldivian meal.
Some local favorites include: Garudhiya: (a fish broth served with rice, lime, chili and onions), Mas huni: (shredded smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions) and Fihunu mas: (a barbecued fish dish)
6.) SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS
Swimming alongside the largest shark in the sea was one of the craziest experiences to date! Whale sharks stay year-round in South Ari Atoll, Maldives and most resorts in the South Ari Atoll offer their own tours. These creatures are gentle giants and grow from 18 -33 feet. It’s well worth booking a tour and checking this bucket-list item off your list.
7.) RENT YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND
Looking for the ultimate getaway on a secluded island? Well you can actually rent Lonubo Private Island, which is Maafushivaru’s “twin island”. The island is stunning and SO tiny, it takes just 3 minutes to walk across the whole thing! Maafushivaru organizes daily morning and afternoon boat trips from the island for those who want to swim, snorkel or relax in the sun!
