Top 5 Things To Do With Kids In The Maldives

Travelers largely visit the Maldives for its pure white sand, clear turquoise waters, and stunning resorts. However, there are also a ton of activities on offer to keep the kids busy while Mom and Dad relax by the pool or indulge in a spa treatment or two. Here you will find the best things to do with kids in The Maldives.

SURFING

Comprised of over 1,000 islands and islets, it’s no wonder the Maldives is known as a surfer’s paradise. The waves have the quality and consistency of those found in Indonesia and Hawaii, but the swells tend to be a few feet smaller so it’s slightly less intimidating! While you can find waves in the Maldives year-round, generally the surf season runs from mid-February to November with March to May enjoying the cleanest conditions and April to October seeing the bigger swells roll in. Most resorts that offer surf lessons for beginners do it in sheltered, sandy-bottomed lagoons, providing a safe and fun environment for kids. For the more advanced who are able to surf reef breaks, the Maldives is one of the flattest places in the world, so although the reefs are sharp, they are gently sloped and therefore not as hazardous. Also, waves in the Maldives tend to barrel over the reefs as opposed to dumping right onto them, which should provide some relief to those less sure on their boards! Wetsuits are not required as the waters are warm, but we recommend rash guards to protect from the strong equatorial rays.

DOLPHIN CRUISES

Dolphins are beautiful, intelligent animals and have held the fascination of people for centuries. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world for dolphin watching. Spinner Dolphins are the most common species with tens of thousands calling the warm Maldivian waters home. Conveniently, they have quite a predictable daily schedule, which means it’s fairly easy to jump on a morning or afternoon dolphin cruise and spot them in the open ocean. While nothing in nature is 100% guaranteed, you do stand a very good chance of seeing them in the Maldives!

SNORKELING & DIVING

The Maldives has some of the clearest waters in the world and is considered one of the top five spots for diving and snorkeling. Some resorts have their own surrounding house reefs, meaning you can literally walk into the sea and come into contact with amazing corals and fish species. If your resort doesn’t have a house reef, you will need to take a boat to one nearby, which can be a fun little excursion. If you are keen to snorkel or dive every day, the boat may get tedious, especially with kids. Diving regulations are very strict in the Maldives, but most resorts have dive schools where you can get certification ranging from absolute beginner to advanced, specialized dives. Diving and snorkeling is fabulous in the Maldives year-round, but April to October is the rainy season (although rain is often minimal) so visibility may be lower during these months.

KID’S CLUB IN MALDIVES

For families with young children trying to decide between resorts, having a good Kid’s Club is paramount! When you’re coming from a big city, you really want your kids to be outdoors and enjoying nature as much as possible and not just sat in front of the TV playing video games as they are likely to do at home. Most resorts offer activities that educate as well as entertain such as cooking and marine biology courses, nature walks, while activities that families can do together are also a big hit. For infants and younger toddlers, babysitting services are always available (usually at a charge) and we regularly receive very positive feedback on the quality of childminders in the Maldives.

GOLF

For golf-loving parents, proximity to a golf course on holiday is of the utmost importance. The Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa is one of a kind in the Maldives with nine holes including par three and par four holes that run 112 meters on average. The course is extremely scenic and follows the contours of the island, so even if you aren’t a serious golfer, it makes for a very enjoyable morning or afternoon out. While the course is not really designed for children, they do offer golf lessons for teenagers as well as smaller-sized equipment and say that family lessons are very popular. For parents with young children, the resort’s Cool Zone is a fantastic kid’s club with toys, educational activities as well as water and land-based excursions to keep the kiddies busy while you hit the green.