Maldives Destination Guide

They say The Maldives are the closest thing to heaven on earth.
This amazing collection of coral islands within the heart of the Indian Ocean is a visual spectacle to behold. Many of Destinology’s luxury hotels give you panoramic ocean views where the brilliant beaches simply melt into the sea.  Transfers to many of our hotels will involve a seaplane journey from the capital, Male. Here, you will experience an amazing journey to your chosen island where you’ll encounter natural beauty like nowhere on the planet. This amazing place is a wonderment of nature and perfect for relaxation and water based pursuits such as coral reef diving and snorkelling. The Maldives are also home to some of the world's greatest spa hotels.
Prepare to be amazed, and expect your first visit to the Maldives not to be your last.

Maldives Attractions

Holidaymakers travel to the Maldives for its visual splendour, empty coves and vast, blissful beaches. It’s also one of the world’s best diving sites and is home to thousands of incredible underwater atolls housing some spectacular marine life. The warm waters are a divers and snorkelers paradise and there are many PADI approved trips to be taken advantage of. You can also choose to hire several different categories of cruising vessel from Male to discover the hidden secrets of the Indian Ocean. Male offers the most built up environment of all the islands, but in truth the majority of attractions you are likely to discover will be ones accessible from your hotel of choice, such is the island make up of the Maldives. If your hotel happens to be in one of the larger atolls such as North Male, then you'll have a few more options to experience whilst away.

Maldives Excursions

Excursions in the Maldives are focused around the natural island environment, and utilise to a large extent the wondrous surrounds of sea, coral reefs and beaches. Some of the most popular Maldives excursions include:

Night & Day Fishing
Experience the thrill of a live sea catch with one of the most popular excursions in the Maldives. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets with a night trip or sunrise visages with a day trip. Bandos Island is located around 6km from Male International airport and is particularly recommended for big game fishing. Yellow fin tuna are plentiful to this area early in the year, and marlin and sailfish occur all year round.

Fisherman’s Island

No, it’s not another fishing trip, but an insight into the lives of villagers on Fisherman’s Island. You’ll learn about their culture and heritage and see some of their local handicrafts. This is a memorable and highly popular excursion.

Island Hopping

A popular pursuit in the Maldives is island hopping, and hotels vary in terms of services to this effect.  Please check excursions offered by whichever hotel you might be interested in staying in. Follow the link above for more information.

Maldives Shopping

Maldives is not really the place to come for shopping! Whilst Male features some shops and a market, we wouldnt recommend making a special trip here. If you find yourself in Male with time to explore, we'd suggest you take a trip to the Presidents House first and foremost. If you do fancy a bit of authentic shopping you'll find the market and emporium stock a range of food and trinkets, but as many items are imported, dont expect to find too many bargains. 

Maldives Restaurants

Being surrounded by the Indian Ocean means one thing: superb, freshly caught seafood at a premium. There are several wonderful restaurants that showcase an amazing array of culinary creations. Organic Garden Restaurant at Soneva Fushi serves delectable cuisine including pan seared tuna steak and fresh rib eye of beef. Salt at Huvafen Fushi is equally as impressive, and the dreamlike surroundings perfect for romantic dining. Medium Rare at The Beach House at Manafaru is a stunning location where freshly prepared Maldivian dishes are always on the menu along with refined daily specialities. And finally the Sunset Bar & Grill at Conrad Maldives gives a stunning split level seating view over the Indian Ocean, the perfect spot for intimate fine dining.

Maldives Bars & Nightlife

Whilst Male is the busiest island in the Maldives, its not somewhere where you will find a lot of independent bars or nightlife. Indeed, it's worth pointing out that The Maldives are not somewhere you would come to if this was a holiday priority. However, you will find some good bars within the many hotels showcased by Destinology, with many featuring stunningly picturesque settings to enjoy a cocktail or beer in the evening.
Try the Babuna Bar at Kuredu Island Resort for a mixture of long drinks and a disco atmosphere, or enjoy a quieter experience with a brandy and cigar at the excellent Banyan Tree Maldives.

Maldives Family Attractions

The sounds of Bodu Beru can often be heard in the Maldives, there is a troupe on almost every inhabited island and their music can be heard during functions and festivals, which bring people together of all ages. You'll find many of our hotels offer speciality classes for the whole family, these can range from cookery schools to canvas painting, fitness including yoga and nature tours. Male features several interesting mosques that can be visited, along with a museum featuring artefacts of the explorer Thor Heyerdahl when he was a guest on the islands. You can take a trip aboard the submarine in Male which offers an underwater experience to explore the coral reefs without pulling on a wetsuit. It goes without saying that beaches and water sports are the leading family attraction on these idyllic shores. 

Other Maldives Travel Information

Currency – Rufiyaa, which is divided into 100 Larees. Most hotels will also accept US Dollars.
Time Difference – +5 hrs from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Language –  Dihevi is the native language
Flight time –London Heathrow – Maldives: 10 hrs 25 mins
Voltage – 110v or 220v.  An adapter is recommended.