Maldives – Family holiday guide

The Maldives’ sheer number of island-resorts alone creates a mesmerising choice of activities, adventure and atmosphere.

There are resorts for excitement, relaxation, easygoing beachy fun and high-energy action. Even kids in need of spa treatments can find mini-wellness retreats in this amazing archipelago.

Much-loved by honeymooners and romantics, the Maldives does have some resorts more suited to couples.

But on the whole, most have a barefoot child-friendly attitude which perfectly matches the warm and friendly character of the local people.

And, if a resort is family-friendly, it’s never in name only, so expect to find everything from excellent kids’ clubs and playgrounds to thoughtful menus and high-quality childcare, at the very least.

• Sailing with manta rays and whale sharks
  Several of the island-resorts organise regular boat trips from June to September to witness these impressive gentle giants gliding through the warm Indian Ocean.
  
• Dolphin-watching
  The waters of the Maldives are densely populated with dolphins, and watching them gracefully play off the coast is one of the highlights of any kid’s holiday. Almost every resort has dolphin excursions.
  
• National Museum, Malé
  This superb museum in the island capital covers every angle of Maldivian history, natural history and culture, from prehistoric excavations to present-day customs.
  
• Discover scuba, South Malé Atoll
  Kids aged from 10 and over can learn to scuba dive in the world’s leading diving location with the gentle help, encouragement and highly qualified expertise of Maafushi Dive.
  
• National Art Gallery, Malé
  Local arts and crafts, photography, installations, cultural exhibitions and occasional performances makes this gallery in a corner of pretty Sultan’s Park well worth a visit.
  

• Marine Discovery Centre, Landaa Giraavaru
  The serious work of conserving the fragile coral environment of the Maldives is made interactive fun without dumbing down at this excellent marine biology centre.
  
• Utheemu, Haa Alif Atoll
  One of the Maldives’ inhabited islands, and a good day trip to see the pretty harbour and historic wooden palace Utheemu Ganduvaru, the 16th-century birthplace and boyhood home of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu.
  
• Marine Savers Turtle Conservation, Landaa Giraavaru
  From tagging to rehabilitating injured turtles, observing hatchlings and learning all the turtle conservation lore and legend, this is fantastic fun for kids, with a serious purpose.
  
• Bluetribe Moofushi boat tours
  Visit a typical Maldivian village, discover the sandbars, see the sunset or sail with whales. Bluetribe Moofushi daily boat trips are fun, well informed and inexpensive.
  

Conservation, marine life and the unique environment of the Maldives are just a few of the things kids learn about

naturally just by playing and exploring on any one of the island-resorts. But there are plenty of other fun lessons, too:

• SASY (supplied air snorkelling for youth) programmes are available on several islands.
• Most resorts have their own PADI dive schools and offer courses for kids.
• Children’s clubs are outdoor-focused, with everything from beach games to swimming classes, surf lessons, sailing and fishing.

• Local arts and crafts are included in many club programmes.
• Five and over is usually considered old enough to start learning most watersports in the Maldives.
• Boat trips to other islands and the capital Malé bring kids close to the country’s culture, tradition and history.
• Several islands have ‘back of house’ adventures for children to see how everything from making lunch to organising a birthday party works at their resort.

Getting around the Maldives with kids

Maldivian resorts are measured in acres not kilometres, so travelling is never an issue. Bare feet are the only mode of transport on most islands and boats do the rest for longer journeys. Connections from Malé are usually by seaplane or speedboat, depending on distance. Spending a day out in the capital? Almost everyone opts to get around by cheap and plentiful city taxis.