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The Maldives has been busy, over the last decade, changing its reputation from a luxury escape to one that welcomes travelers of all budgets. That’s also a reason why the island nation won the World’s Leading Destination 2020 award recently.
However, it’s also possible to go a step further than budget travel when in the Maldives. You can actually partake in entirely free activities. Whether to save money or to get an insight into the regional culture, these free activities in the Maldives are a delight and present opportunities where you can mingle with the residents and learn a thing or two about Maldivian traditions.
Visit Malé’s local markets
Spending at least a day in Maldives’ bustling capital is necessary if you want to truly understand the ethos of the island nation. Here, you’ll get to meet people from across the archipelago, see a commercial side of the Maldives beyond the luxury of its resorts, and experience the local markets, which are strangely entertaining.
Situated next to each other, the fish and vegetable markets of Malé aren’t huge but are nevertheless characteristic in nature. It won’t cost you any money to walk through crowded stalls where on display are fresh fish and a diverse selection of colorful and flavorful fruits and vegetables. Easily reachable on foot from anywhere in Malé, the markets are an excellent introduction to Maldivian eating habits.
Play football on the beach
With guesthouses mushrooming on the inhabited islands of the Maldives, many travelers are spending more and more time staying with locals. These islands typically have a bikini beach designated for tourists, where they can wear beachwear to their likening, otherwise not allowed on public beaches.
But the appeal of staying on an inhabited island is getting to appreciate all its wonders. Therefore, you should dress up conservatively and look into visiting some of the public beaches where the locals come every day with families to play and have a good time.
Welcoming and friendly, you’ll be able to talk with the people of the Maldives here and can also indulge in beach sports like football or volleyball with them. Absolutely free and the perfect way to become a part of the Maldivian lifestyle, spending time on a public beach is fun and exciting.
Take Instagram-worthy photos
Unmatched natural gorgeousness all around, luxury villas that leave you in complete awe, and adventure activities to last a lifetime; there is a bucket full of photo opportunities for you waiting in the Maldives.
While you need to always ask for permission before photographing Maldivians or any government buildings, there is still plenty to capture through your lens. Looking at modern-day social media trends, resorts and a few bikini beaches already have Instagrammable swings in the middle of the ocean for you to take drool-worthy photographs. And if you bring along a waterproof camera, the colorful sceneries below the water will leave you with an unimaginable memento, good enough to make your friends, family, and followers a tiny bit jealous.
Snorkel in the lagoon
It’s best to prepare well for your holiday, and following a packing list for the Maldives is advisable so that you do not miss out on anything important. Among the things to pack is snorkel gear because you’ll have an abundance of occasions to be in the water when on the islands.
If you do bring your snorkel gear, you get to save money by not having to rent it locally. Moreover, Maldives’ waters are bursting with exotic marine life. All you have to do is swim off the Bikini Beach or your house reef to observe the most colorful fish, baby sharks, rays, and turtles without having to pay extra for an excursion.
Learn Dhivehi
Most Maldivians speak Dhivehi or one of its dialects. A soft, almost lyrical language that just rolls off the tongue, it’s not all that difficult to learn. If not in the mood for a proper course, you can pick up essential words that will help you while touring the islands.
Plenty of resorts will be able to organize Dhivehi language classes for you, some for free, while others might charge a nominal fee. You can also get lessons from the staff. Just be polite and ask them how to say a specific word in Dhivehi, and they will undoubtedly oblige.
If living on an inhabited island, talk to your guesthouse host. You can also go and sit with the locals, who often congregate at the beach in the evening, and get a crash course in Dhivehi from them.
Surf
You probably didn’t know that the Maldives was an excellent surf destination. Right? Well, it is and a real hidden gem in the surfing world. So, now that you are aware, if visiting the archipelagos only for surfing, plan your trip between April and August. That’s when the surfs are genuinely phenomenal.
Professional surfers who visit the Maldives usually bring their own boards and then hit the various waves found across Maldivian atolls at their convenience, for free. In case you do not have a surfboard, there is always the option to rent one. In fact, some resorts include surfboard hire as part of the room charge, so once again, it is theoretically free.
Discover the mosques and ancient stupas
The islands of Maldives might be small, but there are plenty of religious and ancient monuments to discover while exploring them. You can always admire the elegance of the mosques in Malé; architecturally beautiful, they have extraordinary intricate designs and, in some cases, are made using coral stone. Moreover, all inhabited islands have big or small mosques, each one as interesting as the other.
Since Maldivians followed Buddhism until the 12th-century, it’s interesting to find remains of stupas and monasteries dotted around the archipelago. Those interested in learning about Maldivian history should visit Laamu Atoll, where there is a high concentration of such relics.
Take a ferry ride
Although not a free activity technically, a public ferry ride in the Maldives is incredibly cheap. A $3 ticket gets you on the 1.5-hour boat from Malé to Maafushi. If you take a morning ferry, it’s possible to make a day-trip out of this ride.
What’s particularly wonderful about taking the ferry is that it’s a laidback mode of transport. During your voyage, you get to socialize with the locals and might even be lucky enough to spot various marine life like dolphins and manta rays. Compared to the relatively high prices of boat tours, a public ferry ride is almost free.
N.B.:all information is correct as of the post publication date, and prices are subjected to change.
