Top 20 Things To Do In 2018 In The Maldives
The Maldives, otherwise known as the island of the Maldives, officially as the Republic of Maldives, is one of the most popular no-distraction, best weather, tourist destinations.
The Maldives is a destination you and many others have on their travel list. If you are reading this, you probably have plans to visit the Maldives this year and need ideas of what you can do. Adventugo has an updated list of ideas for you if you are wondering what to do in the Maldives in 2018.
The Maldives is one of the most beautiful, sunny islands in the world with white sands, warm weather and warm waters. It is a South Asian country located in the Indian Ocean of the Arabian Sea, flanked by India and Sri Lanka.
Something unique about the Maldives is that it is what is known as an archipelago – a group or collection of islands. It is a collection of 1192 coral islands, roughly 1200 according to some statistics, which are grouped into 26 magnificent coral atolls. This comes to an amazing 80 to 100 islands of tourist resorts and 170 to 200 islands inhabited by its about 400,000 people. This tourist destination is famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters
The tourist islands of the Maldives play an economic or commercial role dedicated to tourism and agriculture which are the more dominant enterprises of the Maldives. The tourism aspect amounts to about 28% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 60% of its foreign exchange transactions
This destination offers you a choice of dynamic islands as no two are the same. Of course, the choice of activities might also depend on the island you have chosen to stay on. If you really want to go all out, you can check out as many of them as possible and plan an extensive trip just touring the different possibilities.
The Maldives runs a Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic government with the state government generating over 90% of its income from import duties and taxes tied to the relatively high tourism activities. The currency of the Maldives is Rufiyaa, its language the Maldivian Dhivehi with English spoken by some.
The time zone for the Maldives is UTC +5, its country telephone code is +960 with European or British 220V, 50Hz plugs.
The Maldives, even by description, is nothing short of breathtaking. Attracting tourists since the early 1970s, this beautiful island destination is famous for its tropical climate, having plenty of sunshine and its temperatures ranging from 26-30°. There is considerable rainfall from April to October yearly. Prices are lower around this time due to the weather although the weather is not bad enough to spoil your holiday. So, don’t worry.
That’s another attraction. It’s always holiday season in the tropical resort islands.
High season of the Maldives starts from November to April yearly. Christmas and New Year are part of the high season for the Maldives and the most expensive time to visit. To get the very best, ideal visits are from January to March. Notably, the Maldives experiences monsoon season in November although there are no tornadoes. It is advisable to avoid this period as the weather can be unpredictable.
The religion in the Maldives is mostly Sunni Muslim and it has a local culture combining Arabian, South Indian and Sinhalese cultures. This means that for most of the Maldives, alcohol, drugs, pork and observing non-Muslim religions is banned. However, the tourist or resort islands are not subjected to this.
Armed with this information, you may be wondering what you can do while visiting the Maldives.
Here are some ideas for you:
- Resort hotels: One top reason for many to visit the Maldives are the resort hotels and the variety of services, facilities and views they offer. There are sophisticated, luxurious yet private places to stay that offer a relaxing and activity filled stay even if you never leave your hotel. They have villas, island luxury, great restaurants, beaches, private pools, and even diving and water sport activities.
2. Snorkelling: For those unfamiliar with this, snorkelling involves swimming through water with a diving mask, fins and a breathing tube called a snorkel. Obviously for islands such as the Maldives, this is a must try as the beautiful waters will surely call to you. The equipment you need will be provided by those who offer the services, maybe even at your hotel. The best options are run by diving schools or services.
3. Touring the Islands or Island Hopping: As mentioned earlier, there are quite a number of tourist islands in the Maldives and an even more vast number inhabited by its people. All the islands in the Maldives are unique. Touring the islands are a definite must if you are adventurous and have the time for it. You can even venture into the other non tourist islands if you would like a feel of local life. Some islands to visit are the Fua Mulaku Island), Isdhoo island, Male Island – the main island in the capital and Velaa private island. The Fua Mulaku island of the Maldives is a popular choice for most as it is the largest island. It is exceptionally fertile and fruitful with many attractions for both adults and kids.
4. The National Museum: The Maldives offers more than just beach paradise. It has a national museum aiming at preserving its history and promoting patriotism. It was established on November 11, 1952, a day observed as the National Day. It is the first national museum in the country and a tourist attraction for history lovers.
5. The Maldives Islamic Centre: An architectural landmark in the Maldives capital of Male is its Islamic Centre, officially known as Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. It houses the Grand Friday Mosque, the largest mosque in the Maldives. It is named after a Maldivian hero, one of its most celebrated, Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. The Grand Friday mosque accommodates over 5000 worshippers. The architecture of the mosque and the location of the centre make it a major tourist attraction.
6. Mulee’aage Palace: This is a colonial style palace in the capital of Male built by Sultan Mohammed Shamsuddeen III in 1906. It is the private residence of the President of the Maldives. While this long standing structure is not open to the public, it is worth viewing for its intricate designs.
7. Underwater spa: One of the main attractions for an island country like the Maldives is the unique underwater spa experience offering more than the usual spa treatments and relaxation but also the surrounding turquoise crystal clear waters of the Maldives and the marine life within.
8. The local market: For those who would like a feel of local life and food in the Maldives, the local market offers that dose of the Maldivian reality. It’s a no-brainer.
9. Scuba Diving: Another fantastic activity in the Maldives is scuba diving in Banana reef, Maldives Victory Dive, Bluetribe Moofushi dive and others. Banana reef is a famous destination for scuba divers in the Maldives as it is one of the first scuba diving sites in this destination.
10. Dolphin spotting: Every marine town is bound to have unique sea life and in the Maldives, one of those are dolphins. Sighting or spotting dolphins through the clear beautiful waters of the Maldives are a tourist’s dream.
11. Surfing: In the resort cities of the Maldives, tourists can also enjoy surfing it’s clear, crystal turquoise waters.
12. Stand up paddle boarding: Water sports never run out in this exotic destination. You can enjoy paddle boarding along the serene waters of the Maldives.
13. Scenic flights: An activity you surely want to try is viewing the landscape of this archipelago by taking scenic flights over the islands. It is sure to blow your mind!
14. Beach hopping: With so many beaches available across the Maldives and its resort cities, beach lovers can make an activity of touring the beaches. You can go from the artificial beach in Male to the Maadhoo beach, Fulhadhoo beach and many more. The artificial beach in Male is a peculiar attraction as it is a man-made haven. The capital city was not originally made with one but this beautifully structured beach provides the opportunity for foreigners and locals alike to enjoy the fun that comes with beaches.
15. Deep sea fishing or reef fishing: Fishing is one of the sources of livelihood in the Maldives and one of the options is deep sea fishing or fishing from the edge of the reef. Once permission is obtained and the fishing regulations followed, you can have lots of fun catching reef fish and other unique prices. Even if you are not a fishing enthusiast, you will enjoy fishing through these beautiful waters, so clear you can see the marine coming!
16. Over the water bungalows and swimming: You definitely don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to live above the beautiful waters of the Maldives, having your own private access to its unique qualities and opportunities. Imagine being able to jump in for a late night swim whenever you choose.
17. Male fish market: You have probably heard so much about this already and all that’s left is for you to experience it yourself. You can find almost any kind of fish or seafood in this open fish market in the Maldives capital of Male.
18. Maverick style watersports and Dive shop: For the more adventurous and enthusiastic tourists of the Maldives, you can visit watersports companies and dive shops that provide you with amazing adventures in the waters or the Maldives.
19. Fishing: Fishing is a really great option in the Maldives. You can learn to fish or experience the Maldivian way and techniques using a guide service. There are many kinds of fishing to experience including shore fishing, night fishing, and big game fishing.
There are other options such as extreme water sports, Theemuge – the Supreme court, private islands, Tsunami monuments and many more. You can see why the Maldives is such a great tourist destination.
If you need more information on things to do in the Maldives, you can check out adventugo.com/blog. You can also get a custom itinerary from adventugo.com/travel-plans/.
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