Things to Do in Maldives: 12 Experiences with Costs

Quick answer

The best things to do in the Maldives are snorkelling your resort's house reef, a sandbank picnic, a sunset dolphin cruise, swimming with whale sharks in South Ari Atoll and, from June to November, mantas in Baa Atoll. Add a try-dive, a local-island visit and a short Malé walk. Most excursions cost ₹3,500–13,000 per person, with resort prices at the top of that range.

12 things worth your time in Maldives

01
Snorkel the house reef
Nature
A good house reef puts turtles, reef sharks and parrotfish a few metres from your villa. It is the single biggest difference between a great and an average Maldives resort.
1–3 hours a dayFree at most resorts; gear hire USD 10–20 (₹880–1,760) a day where charged
Check the resort's house-reef reputation before booking — some lagoon-only resorts have little coral near the shore.
02
Sandbank picnic
Experience
A strip of white sand in the middle of a lagoon with snorkelling all around. Local-island operators run shared trips cheaply; resorts sell private set-ups for couples.
Half dayAbout ₹3,500–13,000 (USD 40–150) per person; private resort set-ups cost more
Go in the morning, when the light is softer and the sand is cooler underfoot.
03
Sunset dolphin cruise
Experience
Spinner dolphins are common around many atolls at dusk, and the boat ride doubles as a sunset outing. One of the most reliable excursions for families with children and parents.
1.5–2 hoursAbout ₹2,600–7,900 (USD 30–90) per person
Local-island operators charge the least; sightings are frequent but not guaranteed.
04
Swim with whale sharks, South Ari Atoll
Nature
The South Ari Marine Protected Area is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks are seen year-round. Trips run from Dhigurah, Maamigili and South Ari resorts.
Half dayAbout ₹5,300–13,000 (USD 60–150) per person
Keep at least 3 m away and never touch them; good guides enforce this. Sightings are likely, not certain.
05
Manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
Nature
From roughly June to November, plankton draws dozens of mantas into this small bay inside a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Snorkelling only — diving is banned inside the bay.
Half dayAbout ₹8,800–17,600 (USD 100–200) per person including the boat
Practical only if you stay in Baa Atoll or nearby; rangers cap the number of swimmers.
06
Try-dive or PADI Open Water course
Experience
Warm water, 20–30 m visibility and gentle reefs make the Maldives a good place to learn. Resort dive centres start you in calm lagoons.
Half day (try-dive); 3–4 days (course)Try-dive about ₹8,000–13,000 (USD 90–150); Open Water about ₹48,000–70,000 (USD 550–800)
Do not dive in the 18–24 hours before your flight home.
07
Seaplane flight
Experience
Seen from 300 m, the atolls look like turquoise rings. For resorts in Baa, Ari or Lhaviyani it is also your transfer, so it doubles as a sightseeing flight.
30–60 minutes each wayAbout ₹44,000–79,000 (USD 500–900) return per person, usually billed by the resort
Seaplanes fly only in daylight; international arrivals after mid-afternoon usually spend the first night near Malé.
08
Malé city walk
Landmark
The Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy), built from carved coral stone in the 1650s, the midday fish market and Sultan Park show a side of the country resort guests never see.
2–3 hoursFree; taxis about ₹140–290 (MVR 25–50)
Cover shoulders and knees. Entry to the Old Friday Mosque may need permission — it is worth seeing from outside either way.
09
Local-island day
Experience
Islands such as Maafushi, Guraidhoo and Thoddoo show everyday Maldivian life — schools, small cafés, fishing boats — with cheaper watersports and fresh fruit.
Half daySpeedboat about ₹1,700–3,000 (USD 20–35) each way; public ferry much less
Alcohol is not sold on local islands, and swimwear is allowed only on designated bikini beaches.
10
Sunset fishing trip
Experience
Traditional Maldivian handline fishing at dusk, with the crew grilling your catch afterwards. Popular with families and groups of friends.
2–3 hoursAbout ₹2,600–7,000 (USD 30–80) per person
Vegetarians can enjoy the boat and sunset; ask for a snack platter instead of the barbecue.
11
Underwater restaurant
Experience
A few resorts, including Conrad Rangali Island and Hurawalhi, have restaurants below the waterline. Expensive, but a popular honeymoon splurge.
1.5–2 hoursFrom about ₹22,000 (USD 250) per person
Book weeks ahead; non-resident guests usually need the host resort to arrange transfers.
12
Surfing near Thulusdhoo and Himmafushi
Experience
North Malé Atoll's reef breaks work best from March to October, when monsoon swells arrive. Beginners can learn on gentler breaks with a local coach.
Half dayBoat trips or lessons about ₹4,400–8,800 (USD 50–100)
The reef is shallow — wear booties and surf with a guide who knows the tides.

How to plan your days in the Maldives

Most activities in the Maldives happen in the water, and where you stay decides what is easy. Resorts price excursions in US dollars, add a 10% service charge and 17% tourism tax, and charge well above operators on local islands such as Maafushi or Dhigurah. A sandbank trip that costs USD 40 from a guesthouse can be USD 150 from a five-star resort. Neither is wrong, but know the difference before you book.

What can families with children and parents do?

Dolphin cruises, glass-bottom boat rides, sandbank picnics and lagoon snorkelling all work for non-swimmers in a life jacket. Many resorts have a kids' club and shallow lagoons. Parents who do not snorkel usually enjoy sunset fishing and a Malé walk. If anyone is nervous about small aircraft, choose a speedboat resort in North or South Malé Atoll instead of a seaplane one.

Which experiences are worth the money?

Worth it	Often poor value
Whale shark trip in South Ari	Expensive private sandbank dinners
House-reef snorkelling (free)	Photo packages sold on arrival
Try-dive in a calm lagoon	Jet-ski rides — short and costly
Dolphin cruise	Vague excursion vouchers bundled into packages

Getting the timing right

Calm seas from December to April make boat trips and snorkelling easiest; see the best time to visit the Maldives. Mantas in Baa Atoll are a June–November experience. Build a realistic budget with our Maldives trip cost guide, choose an atoll with where to stay in the Maldives, and use the 4-day Maldives itinerary for a day-by-day plan.

Carry US dollars in small notes for tips and local-island trips; resort bills settle by card. Our foreign exchange service can arrange currency before you fly.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in the Maldives besides the beach?

Plenty, though most of it involves water: snorkelling, diving, dolphin cruises, whale shark and manta trips, sandbank picnics, fishing and surfing. On land, you can walk past Malé's Old Friday Mosque and fish market, spend a day on a local island such as Maafushi or Thoddoo, and book spa treatments at resorts.

Can non-swimmers enjoy the Maldives?

Yes. Most resorts provide life jackets and run snorkelling sessions in shallow lagoons where you can stand. Dolphin cruises, sandbank picnics, glass-bottom boats and sunset fishing need no swimming at all. Choose a resort with a gently sloping beach and a shallow lagoon rather than one with a steep reef drop-off.

Are excursions cheaper on local islands than at resorts?

Usually, often by half or more. A shared sandbank or dolphin trip from Maafushi or Dhigurah can cost USD 30–60, while a similar outing from a luxury resort may be USD 120–200 per person once the 10% service charge and 17% tax are added. Resort trips are more private and need no extra transfer.

Is swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives worth it?

For confident swimmers, yes. South Ari Atoll has year-round sightings, trips are short and the encounter happens at the surface. Choose an operator that follows the protected-area rules — no touching, no flash photography and a 3 m distance. Weaker swimmers should wear a life jacket and stay close to the guide.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.