If you would like to spend some time visiting the capital check whether your resort offers a day trip excursion.

Male is an island itself, though not particularly large, you can walk around the whole island in just more than an hour — it’s approximately 2km long by 1km wide.

A view of Male from the Seaplane

Despite its small size Male is home to 70,000 residents. Male runs many land reclamation projects to try and increase the amount of space available on the island. You’ll see many of the services you would expect in a capital; book shops, internet access and a myriad of places to eat.

If you do plan a trip to Male here are a few places of interest you should look out for.

• Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque in Male and dates back to the 1650s. It is one of the grander structures in the city.
• The National Museum hosts displays of various artefacts once owned by the Sultans. You’ll see anything from clothing to weapons.
• The Muleeaage was initially built as a palace but has also been used as the presidential residence.
• Chandanee Magu and Orchid Magu will be of interest to shoppers for their clusters of souvenir shops and cafes.
• Sports enthusiasts should head to the National Stadium where soccer and cricket games are played.
• If you get hungry Male has several tea shops offering non-alcoholic drinks and hedhikaa (small snacks). These tea shops are often cheap and cheerful, serving simple foods for low prices. For a larger meal there are several higher priced restaurants to choose from offering a wide range of cuisines, including American, Chinese, Thai, Indian and Italian.
• If you’d prefer to stay in Male for longer than a day trip you will find several hotels and guest houses to suit a varity of budgets.

Editor: Caitlyn Howells Post from: Beauty Maldives

Maldives Capital – Male

No related posts.

Uninhabited Island

You might be quite surprised to discover that the Maldives islands aren’t particularly plant-friendly because the soil lacks the nutrients needed to support a large and diverse range of plant life. That’s not to say that the island is bare, you will see coconut and banyan trees, vines and mangroves. You’ll also find breadfruit trees and bamboos as well as flowering Bougainvillea and Frangipani.

The Maldives islands have an incredible range of colourful tropical fish which you are bound to see during your vacation. You should keep an eye out for dolphins, butterfly fish, angelfish, parrotfish and flutemouth. These colourful fish are as interesting and varied as their names suggest. Divers are sure to have the experience of a lifetime!

A crane flying over the Maldives

There are more than 100 species of birds inhabiting the islands, from crows and parakeets to waterhens and koel birds. You might also see cranes, seagulls, herons and noddys. Land-based animals include flying foxes, garden lizards and geckos. You might also spot a snake or two — but don’t worry, they are not dangerous.

Editor: Caitlyn Howells Post from: Beauty Maldives

Maldives Wildlife

No related posts.

Maldives Island Hopping by Boat

Maldives Island Hopping

If you want to really get away from it all on your Maldives vacation you should book an Island Hopping excursion. These fabulous trips allow you to spend half a day or even a full day on one of the untouched Maldivian islands.

Many of the resorts will offer Island Hopping trips, and you may find that with all-inclusive packages the trip is included. If not you will need to pay for the trip separately. With most trips you will be taken by boat to an uninhabited island and then you can spend time lazing in the sunshine, enjoying a beach barbeque or doing some snorkelling.

Night Fishing

If you fancy an excursion with a difference ask if your resort offers night fishing. You’ll be taken out in a dhoni (boat) with the tools that you need to catch your own fish. You’d better hope that you get a bite as you’ll be eating what you catch for dinner! When you get back to the resort the chefs will turn your catch into a tasty meal for you to enjoy.

Water Sports

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to water sports. Many resorts on the island have excellent water sports facilities and you’ll be able to try your hand at wind-surfing, surfing, water skiing, catamaran sailing and even parasailing. Most resorts will charge additional fees for tuition and use of the water sports equipment and facilities. If you want to spend a lot of time doing water sports look for an all-inclusive resort when the activities are included in the price. If you do plan on doing any of these activities please make sure your travel insurance covers water sports.

Canoeing

If you want to spend some time on the resort lagoons you should consider renting a canoe. You won’t be able to island hop in a canoe though for safety reasons.

Diving in the Maldives

The Maldives are a paradise for divers and there are options available for all experience levels. Almost all of the resorts will offer diving facilities of some kind and some even have their own diving schools. If you’re lucky your resort may have it’s own reef that you can snorkel to from the beach itself.

If you plan to go diving during your vacation in the Maldives then you should plan to travel between January and April. During these months the weather is at its calmest, which means placid seas and clear waters — exactly what you need for the best visibility.

If you are a qualified diver then you will need to bring your C-Card and log book as the diving centres will want to check them. As a more experienced diver you should ask about the diving safaris where you will have the opportunity to visit various diving sites or a night-time dive where you will see different kinds of marine life.

Land Based Sports

If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land you’ll still find a wide variety of activities to keep you occupied during your vacation. Most resorts offer beach volleyball, tennis, basketball and even soccer. You should also find a games room with ping-pong and pool tables and a variety of board games; all of which will keep you entertained during the evenings.

Maldives best, last minute offers

Editor: Caitlyn Howells Post from: Beauty Maldives

Activities For Your Maldives Holiday

No related posts.