Welcome to the Maldives, a place of tropical beauty, with stunning white sand beaches and bright blue waters. It is an exotic travel destination for people all over the world. The Maldives is an island country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean, located southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It consists of a chain of 26 atolls, which consist of more than 1,192 atolls and more than 90 resort islands.
Male, the capital has an international airport and you can take a seaplane or speedboat from the airport to reach one of the many islands. It is the smallest country in Asia and is famous for its white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, diverse marine life, and rich coral life.
Often marked as a honeymoon destination, it is also a great place to vacation with your family or take a trip with your friends. The second I saw the wonderful view of small islands scattered in the middle of an open ocean from the round window of my plane – I knew this was heaven!
But what can one do in heaven? To be honest, at first, I was a bit skeptical, thinking this was going to be one of those relaxing vacations where you just lay on the bed and the beach as time went by. As sweet as that sounds, I wanted to explore, I wanted to wander, I wanted adventure, so did I get one?
I will tell you The best 7 things to do in the Maldives That will make your vacation one of the most unforgettable!
Stay in an overwater villa
If you go to the Maldives and don’t stay in an overwater villa, have you actually been to the Maldives? Accommodation in the Maldives is mainly categorized into two ways – on the beach and over the water.
Water villas are a premium property for most resorts and the best part is that they have direct access to the island lagoon. The second I entered my water villa at COMO Cocoa Island, I threw on my swimsuit and ran onto the deck to embrace the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. I saw some fish swimming by and almost screamed when I came across a small shark that completely ignored my presence. Another highlight of staying in an overwater villa is the open shower and the decks overlooking the most magical ocean view.
Imagine sipping your morning coffee on this roof. What a peaceful experience!
Explore our resorts and overwater villa options here.
Experience a sunset cruise in the Maldives
I love watching the sunset, be it anywhere in the world. If there’s one guaranteed beautiful view you can always count on, it’s a sunset. And the sunset in the Maldives is honestly the best I’ve ever seen.
This sunset cruise took me on a journey through many beautiful Maldives islands. I could see the sky in front of me slowly changing color – from a pale blue sky to vibrant shades of orange and pink.
When it finally happened, it was hypnotizing. Let me paint you a picture, imagine a pastel orange sky, big and fluffy white clouds, an endless blue ocean, two islands filled with lush greenery and in the middle of these islands – there is the yellow sun slowly setting. I promise it’s dreamier than it sounds. The number of pictures I have clicked does not do justice to the real view.
The sunset in the Maldives will be one of the best sunsets you will ever see.
Snorkeling in coral reefs at home
Most resorts in the Maldives have coral reef snorkeling, which is a free activity, and also rent snorkeling equipment for free for the duration of your stay. I have completely used this to my advantage. On the first day, I was in my swimsuit and fins, ready for an underwater adventure.
You can either go reef snorkeling on your own – this is to explore the aquatic life close to the island’s coral reefs. Or see if there is Guided snorkeling with coral reef Activities.
I enjoyed a guided session at COMO Cocoa Island, and how exciting it was. Tons and tons of vibrant coral and tiny fish darting in and out. But the highlight of the show was the majestic sea turtle, this gentle giant continued to snack on the algae, unfettered by our presence. We spent about 20 minutes, just looking at this attractive sight until the turtle got too much attention and swam away from us.
If you go to the Maldives, don’t miss the opportunity to dive into this underwater paradise.
Snorkel with sharks in the Maldives
COMO Cocoa Island gave us the opportunity to have an exhilarating and captivating shark-diving adventure. This was my first shark adventure, was I afraid? naturally. Were you excited? A little is a lot.
Eddie, our dive instructor with years of experience, swam effortlessly in the ocean like a fish while I was splashing around like a puppy and struggling to breathe through a tube. But once I got the gist of it, it was the most exciting experience.
We slid deeper and deeper into the water and I almost screamed when I saw a blacktip reef shark for the first time. I couldn’t speak through the tube in my mouth. But my mind is screaming ‘Oh, my God! That’s a shark! Shark! Wow, it’s huge!
I watched him slide down to meet his friends and soon we were surrounded by four sharks and my phone was vibrating as I tried to take a video. This is a memory I will share and revisit frequently.
A memory I urge you to create for yourself.
Dolphin-watching tours in the Maldives
Who doesn’t want to watch dolphins? I doubt there’s anyone out there who would shout “I”.
I was so excited about this. The marine biologist showed us the species of dolphins and then we set out into the ocean to find these playful creatures. It took us a while to spot the capsule, but as soon as the first glimpse appeared, everyone started cheering and marveling. Seeing these curious aquatic babies effortlessly entering and exiting the water, jumping and flipping playfully, left me in complete awe.
Note that when it comes to nature, there is always a 50-50 chance. Sometimes the pod will show you a display, and sometimes you may only see a few dorsal fins. Until then, it’s a fun experience you shouldn’t miss.
Enjoy a walk on the beach
This is your chance to enjoy a private getaway away from the world. Put on your best beach clothes and enjoy a picnic in the Indian Ocean. Look at the horizon blending seamlessly with the sky and forget all the worries of everyday life.
You can ask the hotel to prepare a special picnic or arrange something yourself. We went to the island beach, a little away from the crowds and had a great time. The chef served us delicious food and we enjoyed it during sunset.
It’s your chance to be in the moment, eat, talk, play on the white sand, walk in the ocean, listen to the sound of the waves, enjoy the beautiful scenery, make happy memories, take many photos, and feel grateful!
Discover the Maldives
Now this may sound very cliche, even trivial, but let me tell you why exploring your island is an experience in itself.
I assure you that each island will have something different to offer you. I spent my stay at SAI Lagoon Maldives exploring the gorgeous island on bikes, doing sunrise yoga, relaxing at the spa, taking an evening swim in the infinity pool, trying free water sports, exploring the conservation center, and enhancing my knowledge of nature. The marine ecosystem, playing volleyball on the beach, and wishing the journey would never end.
Here’s to an amazing vacation in the Maldives!