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Things to Do in Maldives with Family

Witness Maldives from the locals’ perspective as you sail on a traditional wooden boat known as a ‘Dhoni’. The clear waters and tropical climate create a perfect setting for this ride. You can embark on a sunset cruise where you chase the setting sun over the Maldivian horizon.

Enjoy the hues of golden and red spread all across the sky while you admire the view.  This voyage will take you to wonderful places through clear blue waters of the Hulhumale islands. Make sure you capture memories on your camera to relive the moments spent on this enticing cruise.

Location: Hulhumale, Male

Timings: 02:00 PM to 06:00 PM

One of the best things to do in Maldives with family is to go scuba diving at Maaya Thila. You can indulge in this activity throughout the year but December to May is the best time. The sea is usually calm with great visibility under water during this time period. Temperature of the water is comfortably warm, almost always ranging between 26-29C/79-84F.

You can observe diversified fishes such as the eagle rays, moray eels and long nose hawkfish along with others. A trained instructor will guide you through the safety procedures essential for the dive and afterwards you can embark on this outstanding experience.

Location: Maaya Thilla

Timings: 08:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Explore the barrier reefs of Kaafu Atoll on the Maafushi Island  while snorkeling in the natural habitat of dolphins. This is one of the activities which every tourist indulges in on their trip to Maldives. Maafushi Island is quite popular for dolphin watching worldwide.

Take your family on an expedition to observe marine life and capture fun moments underwater. Say hello to sea turtles swimming with you or admire the vibrant colors of fishes' shoals as they pass by. Colorful reefs and warm water combine together to create a perfect experience for you and your loved ones.

Location: Maafushi, Male

Timings:  08:00 AM to 09:00 PM

One of the most popular adventurous things to do in Maldives with family is kayaking along the coastline of the islands. You get to explore the clear waters of the Indian ocean in a long streamlined Kayak.

Take control and feel every drift as you conquer the waves sitting low in this boat paddling through water using an oar. The best time to enjoy this thrilling sport is between April and October as the tropical climate favors you.

Location: Several Islands such as Hulhumale, Male, Fihalhohi, Maafushi, Veligandu and Biyadhoo

Timings: 08:00 AM to 06:30 PM

Maldives is the perfect hub for exploring water sports which is favored by tourists looking to have a fun time on their vacation. Hop on a Banana boat with everyone to enjoy the most exciting thing to do with family in Maldives.

You will be strapped on the inflated boat wearing life jackets to ensure maximum safety as a speedboat pulls you. Skimming over water at an exhilarating speed of 15 mph will surely blow your mind away. You can indulge in this activity even if you do not know how to swim.

Location: Baa Atoll, Hulhumale and Male islands

Timings: 08:30 AM 06:30 PM

Spend quality time with your family and friends enjoying a beachside dining experience and watch a movie under the stars to feel like a part of some hollywood movie. This exotic experience is offered by a few resorts in Maldives where you get to indulge in mouth watering local and international cuisine sitting by the ocean.

You can even enjoy the movie in the middle of a jungle, munching on popcorn accompanied by refreshing drinks. Lose yourself in the moment and get carried over by the cool tropical breeze flowing through to conclude a perfect Maldivian evening.

Location: Medhufushi, South Nilandhe Atoll & Kunfunadhoo Island, Eydhafushi

Timings: Post sunset 

Diving underwater in a Whale Submarine and exploring the seabed is one of the best things to do in Maldives with family. The Tear Drop Reef is filled with black corals and over 100 types of fishes. You get to discover the underwater world in a 45 minute dive with your kids as well, who generally face difficulty in scuba diving or snorkeling.

It is extremely fun to be a part of this activity as there is a great chance of you being greeted with schools of yellow or blue-striped Snappers at the depths of up to 50 meters below the surface.

Location: Laccadive Sea, Maldives

Timings: 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM Sunday to Thursday,
                01:00 PM to 04:00 PM on Friday
                & closed on Saturday

Embark on a fishing escapade to catch fishes from the belly of the majestic Indian Ocean and enjoy one of best things to do in Maldives with family on a fish charter. A leisurely day spent fishing several species such as Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Red Emperor and many more in the blue waters is just what you need to relax and enjoy.

Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen along with high levels of enthusiasm as you will be hooked on finding bigger catches and creating memories.

Location: Malé, Guraidhoo, Bodufolhudhoo and Fulidhoo

Timings: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM; some Fishing Charters are operational 24 hours as well

Maldives offer the best dolphin watching experiences that you should definitely participate in with your family and capture beautiful memories underwater. Embark on a sunset cruise around the atolls where the dolphins playfully jump around to see them up close in their natural habitat. This activity is relished by tourists throughout the year but the best time to interact with these friendly beings is from January to April.

The weather is perfect in these months and you are more likely to witness striped dolphins, spinner dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins and Risso’s dolphins among others while snorkeling or sailing on a Dhoni boat.

Location: Maafushi, Male

Timings: 08:00 AM to 09:00 PM

Get insights about the lifestyle of local people of Maldives while on a tour to the Himmafushi Islands with your family. This small island in the group needs some dedicated time to uncover all the treasure of this beauty. You can catch a ferry from Male which will take you to Himmafushi in under 35 minutes and you can roam around the island exploring places.

Enjoy local delicacies at the restaurants before you head out to select the perfect souvenir to take back home from the shops offering local handicrafts. You can end your day by watching the sunset walking along the white sand beaches admiring the picturesque views.

Location: Himmafushi, Maldives

A remarkable movie experience in the middle of a jungle is surely one of the delightful things to do in Maldives with family. This outdoor cinema at Gili Lankanfushi offers you the best of both worlds as you relax in a luxury sunbed catching a classic film surrounded by the beauty of nature all around.

Snack on a freshly popped bowl of popcorn and share fresh drinks with your loved ones enjoying the tropical breeze. This unique experience is enhanced by the canopy of the starlit sky which adds charms to your movie night.

Location: Lankanfushi Island, North Malé Atoll Republic of Maldives, Maldives

A perfect list of things to do with family in Maldives is incomplete without visiting the National Museum of Maldives. It  is an ancient building located in the Sultan Park which used to be a part of the Royal palace that contains a well-maintained collection of history’s remains. All of these artifacts help in uncovering the historical events that formulated this archipelago into the present Maldives.

Divided into two buildings and multiple storeys the museum features a  massive congregation of royal outfits along with arms and ammunition from the Buddhist and Islamic era. Everyone who appreciates history and culture will find themselves losing track of time while on their visit to the National Museum.

Location: Chaandhanee Magu, Malé, Maldives

Timings: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Friday Closed)

In order to explore the lifestyle of local people residing in the 200 wonderful islands of this huge archipelago you can embark on an island hopping tour with your family. Several villages are scattered throughout the country where you can indulge in the Boduberu shows featuring the traditional music of Maldives and dance along with the localities for maximum fun.

Local ferry boats connect the islands with each other and you can even take a seaplane ride to get to the desired destination. Prepare a list of villages that you wish to visit from the 200 islands and make sure you include Kanuhura, Hulhudhoo, Maradhoo and Feydhoo Islands in it.

Explore the Maldivian heritage through a traditional Boduberu Show, easily the best thing to do with family in Maldives. A stunning performance presenting the "music of Maldives" in the most artful manner with the help of bells and drums is the best way to enjoy the culture of the archipelago.

The performers begin the show with slow tranquil music enticing the audience and then gradually gain speed picking up the tempo until they reach a climax and drop the whole thing in a trice leaving the viewers swamped and wanting more. Boduberu is also referred to as ‘Baburu Lava’ by the commoners and is accompanied by dancing & clapping of hands in sync with the beats.

Visiting the smallest national capital in the whole world, Male, is a must do item on your list of things to do in Maldives with family. You get to discover the cultural treasures of Maldives on this densely populated island surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

Offer your prayers in the largest mosque in Maldives and admire the stunning architecture along with the splendor of the awe-inspiring golden dome of this islamic center. Explore the busiest street featuring the best local food stalls in Male on ‘Majeedhee Magu’ and take home memorabilia from your wonderful trip.