This place is a collection of over a thousand coral islands in the Indian ocean. It is known for its clear blue waters, eye catching beaches, and the private luxurious villas. The Maldives are known as “the tropical islands” because of its serene beauty. All the islands have heavenly white sand beaches. The sea surrounding is where you will get to see the fishes and the coral. It makes up 99% of Maldives. Let’s now dive into some of the best places to visit here, pun intended.
1. Malé Atoll
This is the capital of Maldives. Male is known to be the commercial centre of Maldives as well. I am going to help you with some tourist attractions here. The first one is an artificial beach. It is almost impossible for you to notice any difference between this man made beach and a real beach here on Maldive Islands. The water on this beach is not deep enough. It is a public beach and therefore has free entry. The second attraction would be Hulhumale Beach which is usually very calm and uncrowded. You can enjoy water sports like snorkeling and scuba diving in the clear blue waters. You have the option to take a 45 minute underwater tour through a tropical garden full of fishes. I want to elaborate on the next attraction here in the next point, and trust me, it is worth it.
2. Banana Reef
The name comes after its curved shape that can be seen from a height. There is a dive site with a lot to explore from the western end, where you can find a large cave. You can explore the coral reef wall, the caves, and the fishes of course. You will get the opportunity to swim with fishes underwater here. You will get to see rare squirrelfish, grub fish, bannerfish, and more! Between November and April, you will also get to swim with the sharks. Terrifying or exciting?
3. Nalaguraidhoo
Now this is the first private island on this list. This island consists of the most exquisite resorts since it is privately owned. You will see a lot of couples here. The luxury you will have here is superior, which is why you will come across some honeymooners here. For entertainment, you can check out activities like scuba diving, windsurfing, squash, volleyball, jet skiing, knee boarding, and more. Not only that, but you will also be able to enjoy beach bars and pool bars, especially if you are an extrovert and love socialising. You can go fishing and watch dolphin shows here as well.
4. Ellaidhoo
Here comes the second private island on the list. This island is situated 42kms from Male Island. The best house reefs in all of Maldives are here. The serenity attracts a lot of divers and is definitely a popular place among them. The white beaches and palm trees bring a sense of rare beauty. You can enjoy a private barbeque, dining under the night sky with stars shining above you, and a seafood dinner at the beach. Needless to say, this is another perfect spot for couples.
5. Himmafushi Island
Himmafushi Island is located just 17 kms north of Male Island, which again should be pretty convenient. The local population here is quite less. Now I am going to unravel an ugly truth about Maldive Islands to you. If you are a woman who loves wearing bikinis, this country is just not the place. Most women here stay covered up mostly because of religious reasons (Maldives is an Islamic country), but the good news is that you can do that here on this Island. There is a beach named literally Bikini beach. You can sunbathe and swim in a bikini here without feeling awkward. There are no house reefs close by so you can surf here. The peak season for surfing is between June and August. This is a pretty undeveloped island so it is not officially known to be a famous tourist spot so if you are looking for quiet from the world and time with yourself, this is the perfect place for you.
6. Tsunami Monument
As you might have noticed, this list consists mainly of water body attraction, and what can I say, the clear blue waters is the most attractive thing about Maldive Islands. I will make an exception here for this 16 feet tall beautiful historical structure with a sad history behind it. This was originally built in the memory of those who lost their life in the tsunami of 2004. More than 100 people lost their lives and buildings were destroyed. Close to two-thirds of Male was flooded after this incident. This is also considered to be a memorial. The steel spheres around the tower symbolise the tsunami waves. This place is open all day for you to visit, so you will not be missing out on anything else and can spare time for it easily with the flexibility.
7. Majeedhee Magu
Here is another non water body attraction. Now if you are a shopaholic or someone who just enjoys shopping and exploring, this is the place you have to visit on your trip to Maldives, and I promise that it is very convenient for you. This is just on the capital of Maldives, Male Atoll. You can shop here for cosmetics, jewellery, handloom, and electronic items, so pretty much what every traveller needs. They also sell a collection of local crafts and Islamic perfumes. You can shop for fish as well. Don’t forget to try the dried fish chips here. This is a one stop shopping destination and you can sense the authenticity of the culture, art, plantations and architecture of the country. You can try buying the traditional Maldives’ dress here which are called “libaas”.
8. Mirihi Island
Unlike most of the listed places to visit here, this is a place you would want to visit if you are here for a calm and peaceful time where you can be by yourself, live carefree and stay relaxed. It is a quiet island with no motorized boats, no discos, and no nightlife. These are some things that you will find on pretty much every island in Maldives, but not here, So if you are looking for some isolation and reflection, spending time here would benefit you a lot.
