Best Maldives Day Trips & Things to Do

The Maldives straddles the equator in the central Indian Ocean. As the world's lowest-lying country, it comprises 26 coral atolls and over a thousand small islands. For most, the experience is defined by staying in an overwater villa where you can step directly from your room into a turquoise lagoon. The capital, Malé, is a densely packed island that offers a glimpse into local life with its busy fish markets and mosques. Still, most visitors quickly head out by seaplane or speedboat to private resort islands. You can spend your days snorkeling with sea turtles on a house reef, taking a sunset cruise to spot dolphins, or trying "sandbank dining," where a table is set up on a patch of white sand in the middle of the ocean.