With more than a thousand islands far out in the ocean, it’s easy to see why adults love the Maldives. This Indian Ocean archipelago is the ideal tropical paradise. And children are just as likely to dig days on white-sand beaches and time spent in incredible nature. Dolphin sightings and world-class water fun are everywhere, offering kids constant excitement. A Maldives family vacation is perfect for all.
Looking for even more kid-friendly ideas? Here are some tips for making your Maldives family vacation thrilling for younger travelers. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
City Streets and Deep Dives
Journeys to the Maldives typically begin and end at the airport in Malé. Take your kids for a street tour of the Maldives’ compact capital, which you can stroll around in about an hour.
Start at the National Museum of the Maldives to explore its collection of antiquities including armaments, furniture, and clothing from different royal eras, and then visit the Malé Fish Market, where fishermen haul in the catches of the day. While it’s only wholesale, there are many cozy cafes and eateries for Maldivian-style dishes and seafood within a few blocks.
For an exciting adventure underwater, take the kids on the Whale Submarine Maldives. Despite the name, you won’t see any cetaceans — but you will descend 100 feet on the world’s deepest passenger submarine dive for great views of angel fish, wahoos, and pristine coral reefs.
Ocean Escapades, with a Twist
As if the Maldives weren’t already out-of-this-world beautiful, there are bioluminescent beaches to explore.
Take teens bent on posting super-likeable content, and anyone who is excited by otherworldly natural sites, to the beaches where nighttime surf glows in blue. It’s tricky, though: Not every island is home to these indigenous bioluminescent crustaceans. The glowing crustaceans also don’t follow a fixed schedule, though moonless nights are best to see them. Ask your resort for expert tips; they will know best!
For another distinctly Maldivian experience, head for the high seas on a dhoni, a traditional handmade boat of the Maldives. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa and W Maldives offer sunset whale-finding excursions or tours around the islands on these vessels (respectively). The most authentic versions are lateen-sail-driven and crafted out of coconut wood by shipwrights on the island of Alifushi on Raa Atoll, where the white-sand islands settle in an azure ocean.
The Great Escape
Kids clubs are key to making a Maldives vacation a perfect escape for parents and children alike, offering children a chance to go solo and join beachfront kite-flying, join cooking classes (check the resort calendar), or snorkel under supervision. Babysitting services are also available for younger kiddos at clubs like the Family by JW™ Little Griffins Kids Club at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. Parents rely on excellent resort kids clubs throughout the Maldives to keep young ones entertained while they skip out to scuba, spa, or suntan.
Meet the Maldivians
Give kids a glimpse of local life and learning through your resort. Extreme Maldives offers guests at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa on Furanafushi Island a local experience tour of Himmafushi Island, just a quick speedboat trip away. Touring this quiet community of 1,200 provides opportunities to connect with and learn about beautiful art, culture, and history, take home stunning crafts, and explore the isle’s best swimming and wildlife-spotting spots.
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