Read this blog: The one where Matilda enjoys getting her face wet
Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th February 2026
On Monday morning after a rather fitful night’s sleep, Robert was awake early enough to see the sunrise from our beach.
As previously mentioned, the tide was too far out for us to be able to swim within the designated area: Robert only managed to get in to his knees.
Instead, we walked along the beach and out to the pontoon which gives access to rooms over the water.
From the raised walkway, we saw plenty of wildlife swimming amongst the coral including yellow tailed clown fish and shoals of needle fish. However, the highlight was undoubtedly the young sharks swimming languidly in the shallows [see also Video of the day], sometimes with their fins visible above the water.
As a woman who doesn’t like to get her face wet whether swimming in a pool or simply washing with soap and water, Matilda was a little anxious about undertaking going snorkelling. But as she has frequently read that it is beneficial to challenge yourself and leave your comfort zone – and we both like to get our money’s worth – Matilda felt she had to go for it.
We went to collect our snorkelling equipment. Maybe we looked like experienced snorkelers or perhaps simply competent swimmers but there was no safety briefing or advice about how not to drown. We noticed one woman had been given at least three flotation aids.
Nevertheless, we headed off to the steps and rather gingerly down into the water.
Matilda found, much to her surprise, that she enjoyed snorkelling tremendously and was indeed far more competent than she expected. Robert on the other hand had assumed he would be better at it. We both noticed that the sea seemed very bouyant, perhaps because in such a shallow place evaporation concentrated the salt levels.
The all inclusive package gave us free loan of snorkelling equipment daily [to be returned by 16:30] and if we find ourselves in the Maldives again, Matilda is committed to going daily and making the most of this.
The sea is the most stunning and inviting turquoise.
Despite this, Robert also wanted to try the pool experience.
At our resort this was an infinity pool with views over the sea. Although being in the sea with the fish is fabulous, the pool was also very pleasant.
Dedicated sun worshippers were out early every morning to claim their spot by the pool but we were lucky enough to find a spot in the shade to have a chilled beer after our dip.
As Matilda walked back to the Captain’s Bar, she saw a couple pointing excitedly up into the trees. They had spotted some bats, which, on closer inspection, Matilda felt could have been indulging in aerial mating. Is there any other kind for bats?
Our other free water-based activity was kayaking. We could kayak for one hour per day. Perhaps naively, we did not realise that we needed to book and when we went to the water sports centre we found the kayaks were fully booked for the rest of the day. So we booked for a time the following morning before we were due to leave.
Although we have kayaked before on the Gardon River near the Pont du Gard in the South of France, this was an entirely different experience. The first time Matilda was responsible for Ruth and travelling through turbulent rapid water and feeling the stress. This time we shared a kayak and paddled slowly to avoid scaring the fish.
At high tide you can circumnavigate the whole of Lankanfinolhu island but at low tide access is far more restricted. If we were to visit again, we would book early to secure a time when the tide was high so that we could do the whole circuit.
Predictably in a two person kayak, there was some dispute about who was doing the most work. Matilda’s argument is that she is the only one doing anything active in the video, so clearly she was making more effort.
As this was our last day, our “all inclusive” status expired at 12:00 noon. Robert had to maximise his benefits and ordered two beers at 11:55. We also went for lunch as we had not had lunch on our first day: a combination of two airplane meals in quick succession and the time difference meant we had not been remotely hungry. Dillon once again came to sort out any issues as it had apparently been noted down that our room number had been there for lunch. Rather embarrassingly, once he saw the times of our frequent, timed, beer orders under the all inclusive package in the Captain’s Bar, he was happy to concede we had not eaten lunch.
There is a clear distinction between the resort islands and the local islands – those where the Maldivians live. In the resort we stayed in, there was no indication either that the Maldives is a Muslim country or that we were visiting during Ramadan. The majority of guests are clad in [sometimes very scanty] swimwear, alcohol is served and both food and drink are readily available between sunrise and sunset.
Things were very different when we arrived on Malé however. Although we were offered a welcome drink at the hotel, we were advised that it was not permitted to eat or drink in public until sundown. We were also told that alcohol was only available in very limited places, including the Hulhule Hotel near the airport which holds a special license as a registered tourist establishment, similar to a resort. Robert had considered taking some of the cans of beer from the mini bar – part of the all inclusive package – to Malé, however his research indicated that this was illegal and that the rules were stricter here than they had been when we visited Brunei last year.
We are probably not the usual target demographic for tourism in the Maldives, preferring city breaks and culture to beach holidays. We have also reached an age when we don’t necessarily enjoy spending extended periods of time in swimwear in public.
However, the Maldives is undoubtedly a seaside paradise complete with sweeping beaches, warm, clear blue seas and colourful tropical fish and we were sad to leave [see Selfie of the day on the speedboat back to Malé] and would gladly visit again.
Video of the day:
Selfie of the day:
Dish of the day:
Route Map:
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