Article Published 23 March 2020
With dreamy blue skies, impossibly turquoise waters and pristine white beaches complete with swaying palm trees, the pretty coral islands of the Maldives are the perfect destination for families looking for a luxury all-inclusive trip into nature. Younger visitors just love exploring our warm shallow coastlines and playing games of hide and seek in our lush tropical gardens, and there’s plenty for them to do in our specially designed kids and teens clubs.
However, there’s more to discover beyond our beautiful resorts of plush overwater suites and spacious holiday villas in this idyllic string of islands. The Maldives are blessed with vibrant wildlife and rich cultural experiences, perfect for an adventure with the kids.
Here are our top 10 family-friendly Maldives excursions and things to do in paradise:
Treat your family to a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a guided swim alongside gentle sea turtles. The warm waters of the Maldives are the perfect habitat for sea turtles, with Hawksbill turtles foraging for sponges along the reef and green turtles gliding through the peaceful lagoons. Snorkel along with these graceful sea creatures and make memories that will last a lifetime.
The Indian Ocean is home to lots of amazing wildlife from peaceful whale sharks to dappled sea turtles. However, one of our liveliest inhabitants can be spotted during Club Med’s daily sunset cruise. Head out into the sea and you’ll find schools of dolphins waiting to leap and dance alongside your boat. Watch these elegant creatures perform acrobatic jumps and flips, listen to your family laugh in amazement, and wonder at the natural beauty of their tropical home.
The Maldives is one of the best destinations in the world for diving thanks to the warm, crystal clear water and vibrant wildlife of the Indian Ocean. Take an excursion out to our blue lagoon and you’ll get the privilege of a guided tour around a protected coral reef. Your family can snorkel or scuba dive alongside the Maldives’ most colourful natives including neon parrotfish, friendly clown fish, striped butterfly fish and peaceful gliding manta rays, and take in unforgeable views of these amazing underwater habitats. Afterwards, you can even visit one of the islands for a taste of local life and to pick up some authentic Maldivian arts and crafts.
Though there’s no doubt your children will love snorkelling around your overwater suite, there’s no reason to end the water fun there. The Maldives enjoy calm, warm seas all year round, perfect for a wide variety of water sports. Go on a relaxed tour of the island on a Stand Up Paddleboard, exhilarate your senses with some fast-paced water-skiing, wakeboarding or tubing, or discover the thrill of a lifetime with a ride on a water-powered flyboard.
The bustling capital of Malé offers a lively change of pace to the islands. Instead of rivers of fish, here you’ll find rivers of scooters as the islanders zip around the tiny streets between brightly painted buildings. At Club Med, we’ll provide you with a local guide to show your family around the city and tell you about the island’s culture and history.
Gaze up at the golden dome of the Grand Friday Mosque and explore one of the Maldives most striking points of interest. This modern mosque is a well know landmark on Malé thanks to its beautiful white walls and impressive dome. Venture inside and you’ll find intricate examples of Islamic calligraphy written in gold on the walls.
The mosque is open between 9am and 5pm, but the best times to visit are before noon and between 2pm and 3pm.
Find out where our Maldives resorts get all their produce at the Malé market. Go for a wander around this lively cornerstone of Maldivian life and let your family try new exotic fruits like papaya, palm fruit and custard apples. If you’re feeling brave, take a look around the fish market for fresh-off-the-boat tuna, octopus and seafood and get a real feel for island life. The market is open from 7am until 8pm every day.
Head down to the beach around sunset and you might experience a classic Maldivian sight. Named after the coconut wood drums that accompany the dancers, Boduberu is a traditional dance usually performed after the day’s work is done. Drums and singing accompany dancers in white shirts and sarongs as they “vibrate the island” with their rhythmic stories of heroism or romance.
One of the best ways to truly appreciate the beauty of the Maldives is with a scenic flight over the islands. Hop aboard a sea plane for a 20-minute tour of the surrounding atoll and take in astounding views of corals reefs, deserted tropical islands and turquoise ocean as far as the eye can see, before gliding back down into a neighboring lagoon for the ultimate island adventure the whole family will love.
From big game fishing to line-fishing, make sure you try your hand at catching your own dinner while you’re visiting the Maldives. Our expert fishers will take your family out to sea and guide you and your children, whether you’re after snapper or marlin, and help you land your first catch. Once your family have mastered the art of angling, you can head to a nearby beach to cook up your feast and share your brand new fishing stories, while the sun goes down on another perfect day.
One booking which takes care of everything.
The family-friendly holidays adapted to every age.
Wide range of included sports and activities for all.
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