Unique things to do and activities in Maldives
Let’s be honest: the Maldives has long been typecast as the poster child for barefoot luxury – a place where the most strenuous activity is deciding between a massage or a mojito. Beyond the overwater villas and spa menus, the archipelago has also been known for its underwater adventures – snorkelling with Nemo, diving into coral cathedrals and the occasional encounter with a reef shark. But for many, that’s where the narrative and things to do in the Maldives end.
Not anymore. Many resorts are rewriting the script to showcase the destination’s less known side. Yes, you can still sip Champagne in a hammock. But you can also learn to weave palm fronds into birds, drum to the beat of ancient rhythms and plant coral that will outlive your tan.
To help us navigate this new Maldivian mood, we turned to someone who knows the islands like the back of his hands.
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Traditional Boduberu performance
Meet the insider: Ali Shameem
Hailing from the northern island of Nolhivaran, Ali Shameem – affectionately known as Sambe – has watched his homeland transform from a destination virtually unknown to the global travel scene (a 1960s UN development mission famously concluded that the Maldives was unsuitable for tourism) to a tourist mecca it is today.
His love affair with music began at the age of four, eventually leading him to form a Boduberu ensemble and mentor the first all-female group on his home island. Sambe joined Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort 18 years ago, first tending to the gardens, then captaining boats, before becoming the resort’s Cultural Insider in 2013.
Today, he welcomes guests with the thunderous heartbeat of the Boduberu drum, weaves palm leaves into whimsical creatures and crafts the resort’s farewell gifts by hand. At sunset, he leads the end-of-day ritual – a rhythmic send-off that imbues the Happy Hour with spirituality.
Here, Sambe shares his shortlist of Maldivian must-dos – some led by him personally.
Kudhimaa Wreck lying very close to the Machafushi house reef
Headfirst into the deep: shipwrecks and night dives
The Maldives’ underwater realm is legendary. But for those after something a little less “been there, snorkelled that,” it pays to look deeper. Literally.
At NH Maldives Kuda Rah, the team invites aquatic daredevils to explore Kudhimaa, a medium-sized steel freighter that now serves as both dive site and living art installation. Just a fin-flick from the house reef, the shipwreck is ideal for beginners and budding underwater filmmakers alike, with wide cargo holds ripe for exploration. The hull, meanwhile, is a bustling neighbourhood of sponges, coral polyps and sea squirts – a slow-motion turf war in technicolour.
Prefer your underwater encounters with a side of mystery? One unique thing to do in the Maldives is a night dive. This is when the reef’s more elusive residents come out to mingle – octopuses, lobsters and other nocturnal mischief-makers. Visibility is reduced, yes, but what you lose in daylight, you gain in atmosphere – quiet, intimate and unexpectedly thrilling.
Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll during peak manta season
For a more high-profile affair, head to Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll during peak manta season – July through October – when the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve becomes a host of up to 200 gentle giants gathering to gorge on plankton funneled into the bay by just-right tidal conditions. Some liken the spectacle to an underwater ballet, though truthfully, it’s a little more organic than Swan Lake. Access is tightly managed to preserve the bay’s delicate ecosystem – diving is off the menu, but snorkelling gets you front-row seats, with most of the action unfolding just below the surface.
Staying within Baa Atoll brings you closer to the action. Resorts such as NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort and Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort offer guided snorkelling excursions to Hanifaru Bay during the permitted season, while the surrounding reefs reward everyday exploration with turtles, reef sharks and flourishing coral gardens.
SEA at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Subsix at Niyama Private Islands Maldives
This being the Maldives, of course there’s a way to go beneath the waves without so much as dipping a toe – underwater dining. At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, SEA pairs caviar with vintage pours from the world’s first underwater wine cellar, as reef sharks, sea turtles and rainbow-hued fish go about their day beyond the glass.
World’s First Underwater Nikkei Dining at Niyama Private Islands Maldives
While at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Subsix has launched the world’s first underwater Nikkei dining experience, bringing Japanese-Peruvian haute cuisine six metres below the surface.
Malé Island, the capital of the Maldives
Step off the sandbar: a stroll through Malé
Malé Island, the capital of the Maldives, counts around 200,000 full-time residents – a staggering figure considering the island spans just over eight square kilometres, making it one of the most densely populated urban areas on the planet. To see how locals live in a place where scooters outnumber cars and every square metre earns its keep, book a guided tour with a local guide.
Covering key landmarks such as the Grand Friday Mosque and the bustling fish and produce market, the walking excursions may also include extras such as tastings of traditional Maldivian cuisine
The National Museum in Malé, Maldives
For many, the highlight of the tour is Malé’s National Museum – equal parts royal archive, archaeological dig (don’t miss the six-metre skeleton of the Longman’s Beaked Whale, which has never been seen alive in the wild) and cultural time capsule. Housed in the former Sultan’s Palace grounds within Sultan Park, the museum spans both a colonial-era building and a sleek, modern wing. It’s a compact but compelling stop – perfect for those who want to understand the Maldives beyond the beach.
Taste the real Maldives
Another way to understand a place is to eat like its people. Dhivehi cuisine – Maldivian to the core – is a celebration of simplicity and the sea, with rice, fish and coconut forming the holy trinity of every meal.
Begin your journey into Maldivian cuisine and local flavours at your resort’s buffet, where eggs Benedict and beef sliders can (and should) be flanked by mas huni (shredded tuna and coconut), fihunu mas (grilled fish) or garudhiya – a clear, soothing fish broth. All best enjoyed with roshi flatbread and ocean views. Come afternoon, skip high tea and make time for hedhika – a parade of golden, deep-fried snacks like fish cutlets, crispy rolls, sweet cakes and a strong cup of black tea.
Fushi Cafe at Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort
Maldivian Night Buffet
When you're ready to commit, Fushi Café at Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort hosts a Maldivian Night buffet every Thursday – with not a miso-glazed black cod in sight. And for those who prefer their souvenirs edible and look for hands-on things to do in the Maldives, the Spice Spoons cooking class is your ticket to mastering island flavours, culminating in an alfresco lunch of your own creation (so yes, you'll want to focus).
Boduberu at Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort is a unique, cultural experience
Where rhythm meets the sea
Boduberu – literally “big drums” – is the Maldives’ answer to samba, soul and storytelling. This percussive tradition dates back to the 11th century and is performed during festivals, weddings and whenever the mood strikes. Similarly to the Dreamtime framework of Aboriginal Australian cultures, Boduberu preserves and transmits cultural knowledge using music and movement to connect people to their heritage, reinforcing communal identity and continuity across generations.
If you’re staying at Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, you can experience this living tradition when you’re greeted with the beats of ancestral memory upon arrival. Come evening, the rhythm returns – first soothing, then soaring – as the resort team performs a medley of traditional songs. As the tempo builds, so does the energy, until even the shyest guest is on their feet, dancing barefoot under the stars.
First-of-its-kind service of a traditional Maldivian dhoni delivering handcrafted drinks
Yet culture in the Maldives has always been shaped as much by the sea as by the shore. The same wooden dhonis that once carried fishermen across the atolls remain icons of island life. At Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, that heritage takes a playful turn with the Ambaa Adventure – a floating dhoni bar that sails between overwater villas. Guests raise a flag from their deck and watch as the vessel glides across the lagoon with handcrafted cocktails in tow. Rooted in seafaring tradition yet unmistakably modern, it turns a simple sunset drink into part of the island’s living rhythm.
Tourist activities in the Maldives: palm weaving
In the Maldives, palm weaving is a cultural heirloom. Alongside the art of coconut crafts, the practice of transforming natural materials into everyday essentials is still very much alive on the inhabited islands. At Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, guests can learn to twist and fold coconut fronds into baskets, mats or whimsical birds – under the expert eye of Sambe himself.
These age-old skills once roofed homes and bound ropes; today, they offer a tactile connection to tradition, and a gentle reminder to move at the rhythm of island time.
The Maldives houses the world’s seventh-largest coral reef system
Adopt a coral and watch it grow
Coral reefs do more than dazzle – they defend coastlines and cradle entire ecosystems. These intricate habitats protect the Maldives’ pristine beaches and support an astonishing array of tropical fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Yet for all their seeming sturdiness, coral is surprisingly fragile – sensitive to weather extremes and environmental change.
In 1998, an intense El Niño event raised sea temperatures by 4°C, triggering a mass bleaching event that decimated over 90 percent of the country’s shallow reefs. Since then, much of the coral has regenerated – but with future temperature fluctuations looming, resilience requires a helping hand.
That’s where the Coral Reef Adoption Programme at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas steps in. During their stay, guests can join the resort’s resident marine biologist to collect broken coral fragments, tie them to ropes and plant them in a reef nursery – a gentle intervention with long-lasting impact.
These “baby corals” mature into vibrant colonies before being relocated to the house reef or snorkeling trails. You’ll receive photo updates of their progress every six months – a postcard from the sea, a legacy beneath the waves and a living reminder of one of the most unique activities in the Maldives island.
Maldives' first overwater observatory, SKY invites you to step into a world of wonder
Stargaze with the Sky Guru
While the Maldives is not currently certified as an International Dark Sky Place, many of its remote islands – far from urban light pollution – offer naturally dark skies that rival certified locations.
Thanks to its equatorial position (so that celestial objects pass directly overhead) and minimal atmospheric interference, the Maldives is a stargazer’s dream, especially during the dry season from November to April.
When the sun dips, the show begins. Head to the Maldives’ first overwater observatory at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, where a resident astronomer guides you through constellations with the help of a research-grade telescope. Spot Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s belts and the glittering Omega Centauri – all while sipping a cocktail under a sky unspoiled by city lights.
As if the Maldives' stunning celestial ceiling weren’t enough, nature has reserved one of its most magical spectacles for ground level. Enter Vaadhoo Island, famous for its glowing shoreline that shimmers underfoot like the Milky Way whenever waves stir microscopic phytoplankton emitting bursts of bioluminescent light. The phenomenon, known as the Sea of Stars, is best viewed between June and October. Bring a camera, a bit of patience and a sense of awe.
Cinema Under the Stars experience at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Alternatively, let the stars be your backdrop for a romantic evening at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas – recline beneath the Maldivian sky and enjoy classic films on a big screen, with your personal butler on hand to serve favourite bites and tipples. For more inspiration on where to stargaze around the world, explore our guide to top astrotourism destinations.
Did our list of things to do in the Maldives give you an urge to pack? Find a stylish home in paradise at NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort.
