While many may be content with a flop-and-drop holiday in the Maldives, this collection of breathtaking islands is home to a wealth of incredible experiences for couples, families and friends alike. From stargazing to snorkelling, picnics to padel tennis, there are countless things to do across the archipelago’s 26 atolls – the hardest part will be choosing what to do first.
Read on for our list of things to do in the Maldives.
Best resort we’ve ever stayed at . Everything is included, staff and amenities fantastic. Food and drink unbelievable. The only downside is that it takes a monumental journey to get there and back ( we basically wasted our first and last day of the trip in transit)
10.0
Jorge V.1 escape · 1 review
Stayed at the Pullman for my honeymoon and I can’t say enough good things. It’s a long journey there (from Canada) but so worth it. Food was delicious, villas are stunning, activities are endless. This is a true 5 star experience. My only regret is not staying longer! Do 7 nights minimum!
10.0
Calli T.3 escapes · 1 review
A stunning resort and overall experience. We had peace of mind with all flights and transport taken care of by the wonderful Luxury Escapes team. Once we arrived, we know the Pullman was the epitome of relaxation and luxury. We stayed in a sunrise overwater villa with a pool – absolutely worthwhile. The room is luxurious with an outdoor bathroom and stunning vista and amenities. The dining was all fabulous, expansive range of foods and drink, with everything freshly made. The breakfast pastries at Melange are to die for, and the atmosphere, food at Phat Chameleon delicious and unique & Souq Oven’s pastas were just divine. All inclusive and unlimited dining and drinks is exactly what you would dream of. All of the staff are friendly, helpful (but not overbearing). Our package included a complimentary photoshoot, excursion and activity, we selected a sunset cruise (stunning views) and massage at Pullman Spa. The staff were very attentive to our needs and made us even more relaxed (which we didn’t think was possible after a few nights here)! What a time! Thank you Pullman Maldives & Luxury Escapes for an unforgettable experience!
10.0
Craig R.16 escapes · 1 review
Pullman Maldives All inclusive Villas really is 100% all inclusive – 5 star resort at it's best with first class professional and friendly staff who can't do enough to ensure guests have a first class island resort experience. The reality is every bit as displayed in the glossy advertising brochures.
Simply can't rate this resort highly enough. Well done Pullman Maldives and Luxury Escapes!
10.0
Kathryn R.10 escapes · 1 review
Absolutely amazing holiday, firstly I must mention how friendly, accommodating and professional all the staff were, exceptional service from all staff., they always went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed and more. We stayed in the beach villa with private pool for first 5 days. Very spacious, great outdoor areas and large outdoor pool surround by tropical plants and just steps away from the crystal clear beach. Then stayed in the over water villa with private pool, watched glorious sunrises over pristine water, surrounded by precious sea life, watched turtles, stingrays, reef sharks and many types of tropical fish swim by. Both villas were very well appointed, mini bar replenished twice daily along with house keeping.
So many activities to do or just relax with a cocktail. Superb food and drink menus at all restaurants and bars. We absolutely did not want to leave and planning to return with family so they experience how amazing the Pullman is.
Zip-line to dinner at Soneva Fushi
Tighten your harness, it’s time to take to the skies before dinner at Flying Sauces – the world’s first fine-dining zip-line experience at Soneva Fushi. Glide from The Den along a 200m zipline, taking the scenic route to the elevated dining platform sitting 12m above the ground. Gaze upon the sparkling ocean as you savour a seasonal menu inspired by ingredients picked from the resort’s organic gardens and seafood caught by local fishermen.
The stay at So was better than expected. Room was great, staff were awesome and food was exceptional
10.0
Sandra p.AU · 3 escapes · 1 review
SO/Maldives exceeded all expectations, the jaw dropping photos are more stunning in reality. The team members went above and beyond to ensure our stay was flawless, highly recommend this resort.
10.0
SERGEY S.AU · 2 escapes · 1 review
SO/ Maldives is exceptional. Room, ocean, food and service. Our special thaks to Maria.
10.0
George G.AU · 6 escapes · 2 reviews
Our over water, ocean villa was spectacular. The staff, facilities and location were all 5 star.
10.0
Flossy P.AU · 15 escapes · 7 reviews
We recently spent a week in a Beachfront Pool Villa at SO/Maldives, and we absolutely loved it! From the moment we were met at Male Airport, to the ease of the speedboat transfer, to the smiling welcoming committee, to meeting our brilliant Butler Limar, we couldn't have been more impressed. We loved the location of our Villa, which was totally private surrounded by lush gardens with direct access to the beach and blue water, and spotlessly clean and modern. Easy walk or cycle to the resort facilities & restaurants. The food & beverages on offer are fantastic, the Spa is so serene, the facilities are great and the staff are all friendly & professional. This is a super stylish modern resort. We loved our stay. Thank you! Terry & Flossy
Take a glass-bottom canoe adventure
Paddle across the sparkling blue ocean while admiring the wonders that lie beneath with a glass-bottom canoe adventure at Kagi Maldives Resort & Spa. When it comes to things to do in the Maldives, there should be no compromise – admire the crystal-clear waters from above, while also glimpsing at the underwater wonderland below. Wave hello to tropical fish as you paddle, admire the colourful coral, or simply take in the stunning views from your perfect perch.
Glamping under the stars
Take front-row seats to all the night-time action at Amilla Maldives, where you can sleep under the stars in a high-tech immersive pod. Hide away in the lush jungle in a private bubble, complete with a plunge pool, steam room and sauna, and wait for the sun to set. Spend the evening gazing up at the millions of stars across the clear night skies, before waking to sights and sounds of birds and butterflies. Enhance your stay even further with added packages: a private barbecue dinner or cinema screening with popcorn and pizza for two. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
Truly exceptional! Everything about this place is next level – the room, the view, the facilities, the food, the staff…. And all-inclusive actually means just that! We didn’t want to leave!
10.0
Paul R.AU · 1 escape · 1 review
Fantastic resort, great facilities and welcoming staff. The sea-life while snokling is amazing. Highly recommend.
10.0
Jeff J.AU · 1 escape · 1 review
From arrival at Kooddoo airport to departure our stay at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo was absolutely perfect. Staff were so welcoming and professional and the resort exceeded our expectations in every aspect. We took the all inclusive package and could not fault the quality and selection of all meals and drinks. Our overwater bungalow was exceptional – supremely comfortable, quiet, very private and well appointed. We felt privileged to be in such a wonderful, beautiful and relaxing resort.
10.0
Anne H.AU · 1 escape · 1 review
We had an amazing time! Staff were so lovely and helpful. Our beach pool villa was stunning and we will definitely recommend it to everyone and be back one day
Live like a mermaid
Delight your inner child by becoming a mermaid for the day at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort, donning an iconic tail while earning a PADI diploma. With four skill levels to choose from, even those with no diving or snorkelling experience can take part. Visit the Suvadiva Diving Centre to collect your full-sized tail and meet the expert instructor, who will share their top tips to get you gliding through the water just like Ariel. If living out your mermaid dreams wasn’t on your list of things to do in the Maldives already, it should be.
Best resort we’ve ever stayed at . Everything is included, staff and amenities fantastic. Food and drink unbelievable. The only downside is that it takes a monumental journey to get there and back ( we basically wasted our first and last day of the trip in transit)
10.0
Jorge V.1 escape · 1 review
Stayed at the Pullman for my honeymoon and I can’t say enough good things. It’s a long journey there (from Canada) but so worth it. Food was delicious, villas are stunning, activities are endless. This is a true 5 star experience. My only regret is not staying longer! Do 7 nights minimum!
10.0
Calli T.3 escapes · 1 review
A stunning resort and overall experience. We had peace of mind with all flights and transport taken care of by the wonderful Luxury Escapes team. Once we arrived, we know the Pullman was the epitome of relaxation and luxury. We stayed in a sunrise overwater villa with a pool – absolutely worthwhile. The room is luxurious with an outdoor bathroom and stunning vista and amenities. The dining was all fabulous, expansive range of foods and drink, with everything freshly made. The breakfast pastries at Melange are to die for, and the atmosphere, food at Phat Chameleon delicious and unique & Souq Oven’s pastas were just divine. All inclusive and unlimited dining and drinks is exactly what you would dream of. All of the staff are friendly, helpful (but not overbearing). Our package included a complimentary photoshoot, excursion and activity, we selected a sunset cruise (stunning views) and massage at Pullman Spa. The staff were very attentive to our needs and made us even more relaxed (which we didn’t think was possible after a few nights here)! What a time! Thank you Pullman Maldives & Luxury Escapes for an unforgettable experience!
10.0
Craig R.16 escapes · 1 review
Pullman Maldives All inclusive Villas really is 100% all inclusive – 5 star resort at it's best with first class professional and friendly staff who can't do enough to ensure guests have a first class island resort experience. The reality is every bit as displayed in the glossy advertising brochures.
Simply can't rate this resort highly enough. Well done Pullman Maldives and Luxury Escapes!
10.0
Kathryn R.10 escapes · 1 review
Absolutely amazing holiday, firstly I must mention how friendly, accommodating and professional all the staff were, exceptional service from all staff., they always went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed and more. We stayed in the beach villa with private pool for first 5 days. Very spacious, great outdoor areas and large outdoor pool surround by tropical plants and just steps away from the crystal clear beach. Then stayed in the over water villa with private pool, watched glorious sunrises over pristine water, surrounded by precious sea life, watched turtles, stingrays, reef sharks and many types of tropical fish swim by. Both villas were very well appointed, mini bar replenished twice daily along with house keeping.
So many activities to do or just relax with a cocktail. Superb food and drink menus at all restaurants and bars. We absolutely did not want to leave and planning to return with family so they experience how amazing the Pullman is.
Snorkel with a marine biologist at Soneva Jani
Discover the biodiversity of the Noonu Atoll with a snorkelling adventure led by a marine biologist at Soneva Jani. Keep an eye out for native sea turtles and manta rays as you admire magnificent Maldivian marine life, creating new memories with the entire family. For a unique experience, wait for the sun to set to join the creatures below for a night snorkel. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
Embrace your competitive side at One&Only Reethi Rah
A list of things to do in the Maldives shouldn’t just include water-based activities: there’s plenty to pique your interest on land too. At One&Only Reethi Rah, play is the name of the day at the exclusive Club One. Choose from padel, tennis, beach volleyball, pétanque and football, with dedicated courts for each dotted around the tropical gardens. Looking for an individual activity? The outdoor climbing wall, The Rock, is sure to challenge your upper body strength. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
This was our first time visiting the Maldives and it was as beautiful as we imagined it would be. The Standard was exceptional, the accommodation was amazing, the snorkeling unbelievable, the food absolutely delicious and then there is the staff who couldn't do enough for you. Special shout out to Youssef our host, Shaq, Dee and the many more friendly staff who made our stay magical. We would thoroughly recommend the resort to anyone, you can do as much as you want or as little as you want. Very relaxing!!!!
10.0
Ellie N.AU · 3 escapes · 1 review
Wooow, serenity, healing, service on another level, I mentioned I didn’t like the Oatmilk brand at the Buffet, the next day they changed it.
We loved every dish we ate.
The buffet spoils you with immense variety.
The Mocktails are incredible and bursting with flavour and freshness, special mention to Bilal his concoctions.
I trusted all the staff with my drinks and ordering and just said “surprise me”, they never disappointed.
I did a painting, special thanks to Hridoy Khan who was a great teacher and made a memorable clip.
Thanks to Yusuf, Shaq, Mohammed, Hamza and Shan for bring so welcoming.
The Chefs were also brilliant and visited my table.
10.0
Zamilah D.US · 4 escapes · 1 review
It was amazing especially the staff . They were so attentive much hospitality. I highly recommend this hotel they made the maldives an experience of a lifetime. The bungalows and beach villas were absolutely beautiful . The food was amazing as well.
10.0
Alison M.AU · 3 escapes · 1 review
Outstanding service and the best holiday ever! Staff went above and beyond – the food was amazing, the room so clean. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an exception hotel in the Maldives!!
10.0
Keely C.AU · 3 escapes · 1 review
Our stay at The Standard Maldives was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The resort and its surroundings are breathtaking—no matter how many photos you take, they simply don’t do the scenery justice.
One of the highlights was being able to step straight off the back of our villa and snorkel in the crystal-clear water. Our villa was beautiful, the food was exceptional, and every member of staff made us feel genuinely welcome. A special mention must go to Shaq, who was exceptionally attentive and helped make our stay even more memorable.
We also had so much fun riding around the island on the provided bikes. Half the adventure was never quite knowing whether your bike would still be where you left it—or whether you’d simply be choosing another one for the trip back!
The entire experience was luxurious, relaxed and fun, and we honestly couldn’t fault a thing. We were very sad to leave and would return in a heartbeat.
Learn the lost art of lacquer at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
Small-scale arts and crafts have fallen out of fashion the world over, but the artisans of Thulhaadhoo are working to keep the art of Maldivian lacquer handicraft alive. Play your part as you join local craftsmen to discover the technique behind ‘Liye Laajehun’ at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. Watch as these talented artisans demonstrate this unique skill, before trying your hand at your own lacquerware pieces. You can even take a souvenir piece home with you, a great way to remember a fantastic holiday. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
Greet the sunrise at The Signature Collection by Hideaway
Start your day with an unforgettable sunrise cruise at The Signature Collection by Hideaway. Board a traditional Maldivian-style Dhoni boat before the sun peeks out from behind the horizon, and watch the surrounding landscapes come to life as the light hits the azure waters and lush jungles. Enjoy the simplicity of one-on-one time with your beloved or family, before returning for breakfast at The Oasis. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
Cast away with a picnic at Six Senses Kanuhura
This private island experience will have you adding ‘cast away’ to the top of your list of things to do in the Maldives. Live like Robinson Crusoe on the deserted Massleggihuraa Island, just a 10-minute boat ride from Six Senses Kanuhura. Embrace the luxury of space and time as you relax under coconut trees, swim in the turquoise waters, or say hello to the tropical fish below via snorkel. The resort chefs will make sure you don’t go hungry, with a light lunch, dessert and bottle of wine to keep you fed and watered throughout your visit. Available exclusively for hotel guests.
We recently stayed at Six Senses Kanuhura for our wedding anniversary, and it was truly a memorable experience.
The F&B team was amazing — the food choices were excellent and every meal was delicious. The housekeeping team also did a fantastic job keeping our water villa spotless, clean, and comfortable throughout our stay.
What made the experience even more special was the warmth of all the staff on the island. Everyone was incredibly friendly, helpful, and welcoming, which made us feel genuinely cared for during our trip.
The island itself is absolutely beautiful — almost unreal at times. Crystal clear waters, stunning scenery, and such a peaceful atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are very glad we chose Six Senses Kanuhura to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
10.0
Christie S.
The most incredible stay on this island. Our GEM Sameeh was amazing, we will miss him so much! James the islands very own marine biologist!! All the staff made this trip so unforgettable. The Island is beautiful, food fantastic and we saw soo much sea life- much more than other islands in the Maldives. Six Senses really is a very special place!!
10.0
Arthur C.
Great experience flying into Six Sense via Singapore Airlines. Our greeter Nishan from Six Sense was really gracious at the airport, went out of his way to help our entire transit process.
We had fun the first day and our snorkeling guide James has been really helpful.
We took the boat to a remote island and had lunch there. Our waiter Shifou was professional and gracious and we loved the food, especially grilled octopus and lobster dishes.
We had a wonderful Turtle Safari snorkeling session yesterday and we had fun!!! Our snorkeling guide, Abraham from Ocean Team, was a professional diver and snorkeling guide and brought us to see dolphin, shark, turtle, as well as sting ray in the nearby water. Thank you, Abraham.
Every morning we had breakfast at Market and our waiter Ahmed has been very attentive to details. Thank you, Ahmed.
10.0
Wendy
The nature aspect of the island is amazing to say the least as Six Senses Kanuhura has very long and wide beaches with white, powdery sand. The clarity of the sea and the colours at sunset are incredible.
The decor of the resort is chic with a ‘barefoot luxury’ feel – as a nature island, the vegetation is lush. Your host/GEM puts your shoes away in a bag as soon as you’re out of the seaplane and that sets the tone to start the holiday, and you’d be biking around the resort barefoot for the rest of the days there.
The resort offers a good selection of complimentary activities including snorkelling with marine biologists which we spotted sea turtles and a large variety of marine species (lots of corals but they’re not as colourful as some other snorkelling spots in the South Pacific); most water sport equipments such as kayaks and catamaran are free of charge as well. Worth noting they have a well equipped, air conditioned indoor games room including pool tables, table tennis, foosball, and board games.
We’re a family of three with a 7 year old child. We stayed in both the Overwater Pool Villa and the Beachfront Pool Villa over 6 days. Both are well appointed with good storage; both accommodated a pullout single bed for our child. The Overwater Pool Villa is larger than the Beachfront Pool Villa; the Beachfront Pool Villa does not have an indoor bathroom component i.e. it can be hot and have mosquitos. Overall, both have their pros and cons but each is attractive in a different way.
The food is great. The half board package includes breakfast and dinner but excludes any drinks (for reference, a bottle of drinking water is US$7 and non-alcoholic drinks are around US$15++). Breakfast à la carte menu feels a bit light although the staff was accommodating with all special requests such as the specific ways we’d like the eggs cooked, providing fruits that’s are not on display in the buffet section, and making oat matcha in a takeaway cup etc. Dinner is generally 3 course across the Spanish, Italian, Japanese, South East Asian restaurant menus – the food is not quite Michelin level but delicious, well presented with good portion size. The Point is a bar with the circular swimming pool that you’d see on the photo – it’s the best spot to see sunset. Lunch at Drift is a must – Drift is on a separate private island accessed by boat, the island has lots and lots of hermit crabs and chicken, it’s basic but cute; we caught some fish the night before at Sunset Fishing and the chef cooked the fish for us to dine at Drift and that was a special experience. Free ice cream at Scoop from 12pm-10pm is a real bonus,
All staff, from management, GEM, kitchen & wait staff, to housekeepers & gardeners are attentive and friendly.
Only a couple of minor letdowns: 1) the resort can improve on insect controls (mosquitoes, flies, wasps, ants) but I guess this the flip side of having lots of vegetations; 2) I know it’s the same across all Six Senses, but the bathroom amenities held in reusable bottles with no branding, no labelings and that the bottles can be opened by anyone feels lack of luxury (think Diptyque stocked by Ritz-Carlton and Le Labo stocked by Park Hyatt); 3) as the seaplane transfer is operated by a third party, seaplane rides will naturally require waiting and consolidating other passengers’ schedules – Six Senses offers a lounge at Male Airport but that’s only available for arriving guests and it would be nice if they offer the lounge access for departing guests that had to be at the airport early as well.
It has taken me a significant amount of time researching and choosing for the right resort in the Maldives as there are so many options at various spectrums. I am very happy with my choice – I would be happy to go back again and recommend Six Senses Kanuhura to others.
