Beauty Maldives

The shopping experience in the Maldives will vary depending on which resort you are staying in and whether or not you plan to visit Male during your package holiday.

Your resort will certainly have a gift shop and even a boutique selling clothes and other items. The prices will usually be higher than if you bought items from local sellers but it is certainly the most convenient shopping location.

If you venture out onto your island, or you visit islands on excursions, you will have the chance to buy local handicrafts such as woven mats, wooden jewellery boxes and sarongs. These are the best souvenirs to buy as they support the local community.

If you love to shop then you will need to plan a trip to the capital. Male really is a treasure trove for shoppers. You’ll find everything from clothes to perfume, jewellery and cosmetics, electronics and even canned fish!

Maldives Souvenir Shopping

Here are the various shopping areas to look out for:

• The local market. You’ll find numerous stalls displaying local produce from the atolls. It’s the perfect place to sample local fruit and vegetable and bottles of homemade sweets and pickles. The bunches of bananas hanging down from the ceiling are quite a sight to see!
• The Majeedhee Magu. The Majeedhee Magu is situated on the main road of Male and has numerous shops selling virtually everything you could ever need. You’ll find a great variety of clothes and watches, perfumes and handbags. The shops stay open until 11pm but close for 15 minutes at prayer times.
• Chaandanee Magu. If you want souvenirs to take home to family and friends then head to Chaandanee Magu. You’ll find a vast array of gifts and souvenirs including the thudu kuna which is a Maldivian mat woven with natural fibres. Keep an eye out for the wooden miniature dhonis which will make a great gift.
• Prohibited purchases. A word of caution, while products made from black and red coral, pearl oyster shells and turtle shells may look like great souvenirs their export is prohibited so please don’t buy any of these products.

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