The Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located south-southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It consists of 1,192 islands, of which only about 200 are inhabited. The country’s highest point is the lowest-elevation point on Earth. The Maldives archipelago is spread across roughly 90,000 square kilometers (34,410 square miles). The Maldives is the lowest country on Earth, with the lowest natural point on the Earth’s surface; at 1.3 meters (4.3 ft)

I am a frequent traveler and whenever I plan a trip, I do a lot of research about the destinations. I do check different websites for information and I also check the opinions of fellow travelers on TripAdvisor. I did a similar exercise before going to the Maldives. While I was reading reviews, someone said ‘The Maldives is one of the places that you cannot read enough about. There is no denying the fact that you need to be prepared before visiting the Maldives.

If you have been reading our blog for a while, you would know that I am a travel blogger. Back in January, I went to the Maldives for the second time. The first time I went was with my family, but this time I was traveling solo. So I thought of sharing my experience of traveling to the Maldives from a Nepali traveler’s perspective.

Best Things to do in the Maldives:

The Maldives is an Indian Ocean country made up of more than 1,000 small tropical islands. It is located southwest of India, near Sri Lanka and the Lakshadweep islands. It is part of a chain of atolls known as the Chagos Archipelago. The country has a tropical climate and many beautiful beaches. There are many things to do in the Maldives including scuba diving, snorkeling, island hopping, sunbathing, surfing, and swimming with dolphins.

Here are some of the best things to do in the Maldives:

Snorkeling at Noonu Atoll

If you want to experience what it’s like to be a fish, take a trip to Noonu Atoll. This beautiful island has sandy beaches and clear water that make it easy for snorkelers to spot sea creatures swimming just beneath the surface. You can also go diving in this area or spend an afternoon on one of the many uninhabited islands nearby**

Diving
Diving is one of the most popular activities in this country, so there are dozens of dive shops around Male’ and Dhivehi villages offering tours both day and night. Most dive shops have their own boats that sail out into open waters where divers can explore wrecks from WWII or explore coral reefs filled with colorful fish.

Visit Male Atoll
One of the most important islands in the Maldives is Male Atoll, which is famous for its coral reefs and underwater beauty. You can enjoy scuba diving here or snorkel at any time of the year. If you want to go for a sunrise cruise, then this should be your first choice because it provides an opportunity to see some amazing natural spectacles such as turtles swimming around with their young ones or dolphins playing in shallow waters near coral reefs.

Watamu Island
The best way to see Male Atoll is by boat. The island has a number of resorts, but they’re not all that comfortable and aren’t as good as the ones on private islands. If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, head to Watamu Island instead — it’s only about eight miles from Male City, but feels like a world away. You can get there by speedboat or plane from Malé City (one hour). Watamu’s beaches are long and stunningly beautiful and there are plenty of activities on offer, including scuba diving and snorkeling

Maafushi Island
Maafushi is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Maldives with its white sandy beach and clear blue water. It is home to several luxury resorts that cater to honeymooners and couples seeking relaxation away from the chaos of Male City. The island also features several beaches where you can swim or snorkel while exploring underwater caves.

There are many hotels, resorts, and guest houses on Maafushi Island, which can accommodate all kinds of visitors. All these hotels are well maintained and provide excellent services to their customers. You will find everything here from excellent food to entertainment activities like diving, snorkeling, swimming, and many more. The best part about staying on Maafushi is that it offers you complete privacy as there are no other tourists around you at all times.

Malé City– Capital of Maldives
Malé is the capital of the Maldives and is a popular tourist destination. The city is located on the southern coast of Male and has several sites that are worth visiting.

The Malé City Museum, which is situated on Maafushi Island, has historical artifacts from the Maldives as well as artworks from other countries. A visit to this museum will give you an idea about the history of the country and its people who have lived here for centuries. There are also various water features on display at the museum that will add to your experience of visiting this place.

Thilafushi Island
Thilafushi is an uninhabited island located in the middle of Lhaviyani Atoll. You can only reach Thilafushi by plane or speedboat from Malé, but it is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Maldives. There are no hotels or guesthouses on Thilafushi, but there are some resorts on neighboring islands that offer day trips to Thilafushi (such as Paradise Island Resort).

Hulhule Island
For a chance to get away from it all and enjoy some solitude, Hulhule Island has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Maldives. The island has an interesting history as well as beautiful beaches and stunning scenery. It’s also possible to hire boats on Hulhule Island where you can explore its waters while enjoying breathtaking views of coral reefs and uninhabited islands.

Hippo Reef
The hippo reef is a small, shallow reef that is famous for its abundance of large pelagic fish, including barracuda, wahoo, tuna, and mahi-mahi. Getting to the reef is easy—it’s just a few minutes away from the airport. The dive site itself is only about five meters deep and features a variety of dive sites with different coral formations.

The reef sits 18 meters (59 feet) below sea level, which makes it one of the best snorkeling areas in the Maldives. The reef is also home to sea turtles, stingrays, and moray eels.

You can expect to see up to 100 species at Hippo Reef, which makes it one of the best spots in the Maldives for divers who want to see lots of marine life but don’t want to spend all day at sea.

This colorful coral reef is located on the southern side of Malé Island, just minutes away from the capital city. Snorkeling trips are available here as well as scuba diving excursions.

Maldives National Museum
The Maldives National Museum is located on the island of Sirri at the southern tip of the archipelago. It was built in 1930 and designed by renowned architect, Fazlur Rahman. The museum has a collection of artifacts that have been collected over the years by various visitors to the country, including Europeans who used to live in the Maldives during colonial times. There are also displays of Islamic art and architecture, which are particularly impressive given that they were created during a time when there was no electricity or running water in the country.

The museum contains many different types of artifacts including statues, pottery, and coins dating back to ancient times when the Maldives was considered part of India. There are also some beautiful paintings that were done by local artists who painted scenes from everyday life in their respective villages. One painting even depicts a recent event: it shows a man fishing with his son while sitting on a wooden boat alongside other people who appear to be enjoying themselves after eating a meal together at sunset.

This museum houses ancient artifacts and displays cultural relics from Maldivians who lived more than 1,500 years ago. Visitors can also watch live demonstrations of traditional dances and music from island life.

Accommodation
Accommodation in the Maldives is a very popular choice for tourists and honeymooners. There are many resorts to choose from, ranging from luxury 5-star resorts to budget guesthouses. Most resorts offer both half board and full board options, with the latter being more expensive but offering more privacy and luxury.

With prices starting around 625 MVR per night, private rooms guesthouses are your cheapest option in the Maldives. The first resorts cost around 6,000 MVR per night (excluding private speedboats and seaplane transfers). The second resorts cost up to 30,000 MVR per night, making this the perfect place to use hotel points.

Best time to visit (seasonality)
The best time of year to visit the Maldives is from November through April. This island nation is warm and sunny year-round but has two main seasons: the dry season and the wet season.

The resorts are also more expensive during this time since it is the busiest time of year. Nevertheless, because each resort occupies its own island, there will be no crowds like you might encounter in another destination during the high season. Rainfall on the islands is generally between 5 and 10 inches per month between May and October.

It is likely that those visiting the Maldives at this time of year will find better deals (though “deal” is relative since it is a pricey location year-round.) Surfers, however, will definitely enjoy the waves at this time of year as the area sees higher swells and bigger waves.

Conclusion:
A country with more than 1000 unique islands and 30 atolls, Maldives is definitely a paradise worth considering if you are planning a holiday. Comprising 4 major groups of islands; namely North & South Male, and the Ari Atolls, this country is known for its natural beauty and atmosphere. The capital city of the country is Male, which is also its only city, and has a population of nearly 44,000 people. Most tourists that visit the Maldives tend to arrive by means of domestic flights to reach their desired location by boat. The Maldives is an archipelago composed of around 1192 islands. With an area of 298 square kilometers, Maldives is spread across 90,819 km2 territory.

The Maldives is an archetypal representation of paradise. This is a short guide, showing you the best things to see and do in the Maldives. These may inspire your next holiday destination.