Outdoors · Maldives
8 best outdoor things to do in Maldives
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Start with Hanifaru Bay manta rays, Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll and Banana Reef. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 24–32 hours across 4 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 24–32 hours
- Areas
- Baa Atoll, Ari Atoll and North Malé Atoll
Outdoors in Maldives
Nature · Baa Atoll
1.Hanifaru Bay manta rays
Stay at a Baa Atoll resort or guesthouse that runs regular trips, as sightings depend on tide and plankton and are not predictable days ahead.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
Nature · Ari Atoll
2.Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll
Go with an operator that follows the code of conduct: keep at least a few metres away, never touch the shark and limit swimmers in the water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · North Malé Atoll
3.Banana Reef
Ask for a morning dive when currents are usually gentler and visibility better.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
Nature · Ari Atoll
4.Maaya Thila and Fish Head
Book the Maaya Thila night dive only once you are comfortable with currents and torches; it is busy but memorable.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
- After dark
Nature · North Malé Atoll
5.Lankan Manta Point
Stay low and still on the sand near the cleaning station; mantas approach calm divers more closely.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Active
Experience · All atolls
6.Sunset dolphin cruise
Sit near the bow for the best views as dolphins ride the boat's bow wave.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Couples
- Nature
Beach · All atolls
7.Sandbank picnic and snorkel
Take shade, reef-safe sunscreen and plenty of water; there is no shelter on a sandbank.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · North Malé Atoll
8.Thulusdhoo surf breaks
Visit between about March and October for the most consistent swell, and bring reef booties for the shallow reef.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Baa Atoll | Hanifaru Bay manta rays | Half a day |
| Ari Atoll | Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll and Maaya Thila and Fish Head | Half a day + Half a day |
| North Malé Atoll | Banana Reef, Lankan Manta Point and Thulusdhoo surf breaks | 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours + Full day |
| All atolls | Sunset dolphin cruise and Sandbank picnic and snorkel | 1.5–2 hours + Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 mid-priced, 5 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Thulusdhoo surf breaks; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 8 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Baa Atoll): Hanifaru Bay manta rays, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Ari Atoll): Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Ari Atoll): Maaya Thila and Fish Head, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (North Malé Atoll): Banana Reef, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (North Malé Atoll): Lankan Manta Point, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 6 (North Malé Atoll): Thulusdhoo surf breaks, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 7 (All atolls): Sunset dolphin cruise, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 8 (All atolls): Sandbank picnic and snorkel, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. Usually the driest month, with clear water and excellent visibility on the eastern side of the atolls.
- March: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 5 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot, sunny and calm with glassy seas; a superb month for diving and snorkelling.
- January: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and calm in the north-east monsoon; peak season with the highest resort prices, especially in the first week.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- North Malé Atoll — Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo
- Ari Atoll — Whale sharks, manta points and large resorts west of Malé
- Baa Atoll — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home of Hanifaru Bay's manta gatherings
More of Maldives
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Maldives?
Hanifaru Bay manta rays. When monsoon currents trap plankton in this small, shallow bay, dozens and sometimes more than a hundred manta rays gather to feed, along with occasional whale sharks.