13 Unforgettable Romantic Activities for Couples in the Maldives

Maldives is a tropical paradise nestled in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The history of this island goes back over 2000 years when it was under Buddhism and ancient South Asian culture. But later in the 12th century, the country turned to Islam and until today it is the main religion practiced on the island. In this article, you will discover tips on 13 things to do in Maldives for couples, but some of them might be suitable for everyone interested.

Stay in a water villa or over-water bungalow for a truly unique experience

Water villas are luxurious hotels built on stilts over the lagoon. They give you direct access to the ocean with a private deck, glass floors, and many amenities (private butlers, in-villa dining). You will find them on various islands and atolls, the most popular are the Baa Atoll, South Ari Atoll, and North Malé Atoll. Some of them offer special dining options like underwater, or overwater restaurants.

Enjoy a private beach picnic on a secluded island

The majority of resorts can arrange a private picnic for you on a nearby uninhabited island or stretches of beach on the resort’s island. The picnic will consist of a beautifully set dining area with a table, chairs, and a cozy setup. It will be tailored to your liking whether it is sunrise breakfast, sunset romantic dinner, or relaxed lunch time.

Some of the resorts you can look up when arranging a private picnic:

Gili Lankanfushi, North Malé Atoll – known for its luxury and sustainability

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, South Ari Atoll – has overwater bungalows, and underwater restaurant.

Baros Maldives, North Malé Atoll – comes with a romantic atmosphere.

Sonava Fushi, Baa Atoll – eco-friendly and luxurious. They allow you to custom-design your menu.

Six Senses Laamu, Laamu Atoll – offers private beach picnics on an uninhabited island within the Laamu Atoll.

Take a romantic sunset cruise on a traditional Maldivian dhoni

Dhoni is a traditional fishing boat with a distinctive design. The boats available for romantic cruises usually come with comfortable seating, cushions, and a canopy. The majority of the resorts offer dhoni cruises, just check the one you are booking. Some might offer opportunities for stargazing too – the Maldives are known for having clear night skies.

Another option is to just take the classic fishing boat trip, and spend the day on the boat catching your dinner.

Snorkel or dive together to explore the stunning coral reefs and marine life

Most resorts on the island have their dive center which makes it easy for you to either book a diving class or rent the equipment. The marine life you can encounter includes colorful coral formations, sea turtles, tropical fish, rays, and sometimes even reef sharks.

Some of the best diving and snorkeling spots are:

Manta Poing, South Ari Atoll – from November to April you can spot the famous manta ray population and enjoy them up close.

Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with a large manta ray population. The area is restricted but you can book a snorkeling tour and besides mantas, you may also see whale snarks.

Fotteyo Kandu, Vaavu Atoll – comes with underwater channels, coral formations, a school of fish, and sometimes even sharks and rays.

Fish Head, North Ari Atoll – pinnacle-shaped with dense schools of fish, colorful corals, sometimes gray reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, or eagle rays.

Kuramathi House Reef, Rasdhoo Atoll – accessible from Kuramathi Island with rich marine life including turtles, sharks, and corals.

Indulge in a couple’s spa treatment with a view of the ocean

The majority of resorts offer their own spa and wellness services usually on the beach, overwater, or in tropical gardens. Typically you will get a private space or room with an ocean view.

Some of the renowned spa places include:

One&Only Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll – a variety of wellness services, including Ayurveda, Asian therapies, spa garden.

Coco Bodu Hithi, North Malé Atoll – overwater rooms with a selection of massages, yoga, and wellness treatments.

COMO Cocoa Island, South Malé Atoll – holistic wellness, yoga, treatments.

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Baa Atoll – a wide range of services including indigenous Maldivian treatments, glass floors, and overwater suites.

Gili Lankanfushi, North Malé Atoll – overwater rooms, yoga, holistic wellness.

Go on a dolphin-watching excursion in the crystal-clear waters

Maldives is home to many different species of dolphins including spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and spotted dolphins. Dolphin-watching excursions or tour usually starts with a boat ride heading to the pen sea to locations where you can enjoy the acrobatic dolphins in their natural habitat. The best areas where you can meet this lovely animal are South Ari Atoll (Dhigurah, Mahibadhoo), Baa Atoll (besides dolphins melon-heded whales are common too), Lhaviyani Atoll, North Malé Atoll, Vaavu Atoll (Fulidhoo Island).

Take a scenic seaplane ride for breathtaking aerial views of the atolls

Seaplanes are small aircraft machines designed for the best sightseeing experience. You can ask your resort to book you one from Malé International Airport on arrival.  Besides visual spectacle, you can opt for a guided commentary by the pilot or a guide.

Explore the local culture by visiting a Maldivian village

Although many people usually stay in the capital city Malé, there are plenty of other options and places to visit. Mostly less crowded with more chances to engage with locals, traditions, and religion. This is also a great way to learn more about traditional crafts like mat weaving or lacquer work or enjoy a cooking class.

Some villages you can consider to visit:

Maafushi – great for snorkeling at Maafushi Reef, relaxing on the Bikini Beach, or just exploring the Harbor area.

Guraidhoo – the best spots include Bikini Beach, a local mosque, or try fishing and agriculture with locals.

Dhangethi – offers sandbanks and water sports, or you can just walk around the harbor area, visit the local school, or Hammerhead Shark Point.

Fulidhoo – the village has a Bikini Beach, mosque, and opportunities for diving and snorkeling.

Thulusdhoo – the place has a world-class surf break called “Cokes.”

Take a scenic walk along the powdery white-sand beaches

Maldives offer plenty of white sandy beaches where you can take a romantic walk, but here are some most known and visited by tourists:

Sea of Stars, Vaadhoo Island, Raa Atoll – the place is famous for bio-luminescent phytoplankton which creates a light show at night.

Bikini Beach, Rasdhoo Island, Alif Alif Atoll – designed for tourists with chairs, and umbrellas. Nudity is not allowed and you should dress modestly outside the beach area.

Ukulhas Beach, Alif Alif Atoll – comes with many amenities like shaded areas, restrooms, and sun loungers.

Veligandu Island Beach, North Ari Atoll – the beach offers umbrellas, sunbeds, and water sports equipment for guests.

Fihalhohi Island Beach, South Malé Atoll – well-equipped beach with sunbeds, chairs, and water sports activities.

Experience a traditional Bodu Beru drum and dance performance.

Many resorts offer Bodu Beru performances as part of their cultural entertainment. Bodu Beru dance in translation means “big drum”. A group of people play large, barrel-shaped drums accompanied by dance and singing in a circle. The lead singer usually chants traditional songs. The dance is also interactive and audience participation is encouraged.

Enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride to see the marine life without getting wet

As the title suggests, the boat has a transparent section that allows visitors to view the underwater directly without the need to dive or snorkel. Many resorts offer such rides as part of water sports and excursion activities. They are great not only for couples but also for families with children. Besides sightseeing, they usually offer spoken commentary and a lot of educational information about marine biology and conservation.

Explore underwater art installations

Underwater installations give you a chance to experience art underwater while snorkeling, diving, or just having dinner in an underwater restaurant. Notable places include:

The Coralarium at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, Shaviyani Atoll

This underwater gallery combines art with coral conservation. Submerged between the tides, it features sculptures that double as artificial reefs.

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll

While primarily a restaurant, Ithaa offers an immersive dining experience with 180-degree panoramic views of the surrounding coral gardens and marine life.

The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll

 The Muraka is the world’s first underwater residence. It offers a luxurious overnight experience with underwater bedrooms, a living area, and

Niyama’s Subsix, Niyama Private Islands, Dhaalu Atoll

Subsix is an underwater nightclub and event space. You can dance and enjoy drinks while observing the underwater world through large glass windows.

Coral Cube at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, Shaviyani Atoll

This installation is a giant floating cube that serves as both an art piece and a coral restoration project. It provides shelter for young corals.

Visit or volunteer at local coral rehabilitation projects

Many resorts in the Maldives actively support coral rehabilitation projects. If you want you can actively participate as a volunteer, give donations, or just attend a workshop to learn more about local projects that try to protect the fragile marine environment.

Some notable projects include Coral Restoration Project at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru (coral planting), Soneva Fushi’s Coral Restoration Program (coral gardening, transplantation), Anantara Dhigu and Veli Coral Adoption Program (ongoing adoption program), The Reefscapers Project at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru (coral propagation), and Kuramathi Coral Rehabilitation Program.

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