Featured
3 Maldives resort to make your travel more meaningful
The Maldives is all about the sun, the sand, and the sea, right? Yes, and no.
It is a tropical paradise known for its luxurious and idyllic setting, pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and abundant marine life. Attracting visitors worldwide, it is a popular destination for honeymooners, beach lovers, and diving enthusiasts.
But besides all the glam and glory, the Maldives is also where you can embark on meaningful adventures and positively impact the local environment and communities.
In recent years, the Maldives has faced environmental challenges due to rising sea levels and coral bleaching. The government has been actively promoting sustainable tourism and protecting the fragile ecosystem.
You can be a part of responsible travel and sustainable tourism with these three resorts at the Maldives. They offer different eco-activities that can make your travel to the Maldives more meaningful and memorable.
Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Best for: animal and marine life lovers
The resort has partnered with its dive partner, Sub Oceanic, to produce a range of immersive conservation initiatives, led by the resort’s marine biologist. Through these programmes, you can learn about key environments that make up the Maldives’ delicate ecosystem. You’ll be awarded a certificate when you complete four out of six hands-on modules: Seagrass Hopper, Mangrove 101, Reef Explorer, Turtle Quest, Ray Bay, and Build A Coral Reef.
Your participation in the programmes will contribute to the ongoing research required to conserve and care for the delicate ecosystem. This includes identifying coral, turtles, rays and sharks, and monitoring their health over time.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Best for: snorkelling and diving enthusiasts
In partnership with Reefscapers, the resort has a coral-fragment plantation activity that promotes reef habitats. Coral reefs are not only a beautiful sight, but they are also essential in providing food and protection for marine life. But due to climate change and rising sea temperatures, these coral reefs are losing their vibrancy to bleaching and are gradually deteriorating and dying.
By planting coral fragments on a frame, you are essentially aiding corals’ reproduction as they mature into new colonies in the resort’s lagoon. You can also snorkel to visit the underwater sites of the coral programme to see the marine life flourishing around these coral frames.
In addition, your participation in the coral-fragment plantation activity will provide employment for 250 local inhabitants on an island in Baa Atoll called Fulhadhoo, where the coral frames and designed and made.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
Best for: culture and traditions fanatics
The resort is offering Liye Laajehun (Maldivian lacquer handicraft) workshops with the help of local craftsmen, where you can try your hand at the intricate craft. Traditional arts and crafts, like wood carving, are on the verge of disappearance as industrialisation and diminished interest overtake the current society. The number of artisans who practise these traditional art forms is getting scarce.
But you can help keep such traditional art forms alive by joining the workshop, where you can observe the craftsmen work and work on your own lacquerware. This will help to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Liye Laajehun for future generations. You can also buy crafts and support the local economy.
Eri Maldives is located within the waters of North Malé Atoll and is surrounded by a house reef accessible to both beginner and experienced divers. With four direct reef entry points and shore access, the resort offers opportunities for snorkelling, introductory dives and certified diving.
The house reef supports a range of marine life, including white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, mobula rays and spotted eagle rays, as well as schools of reef fish. The accessibility of the reef allows guests to explore the area over multiple days, providing opportunities to observe marine behaviour and habitats over time.
Turtle encounters
Hawksbill turtles are among the most frequently observed species on the reef. The resort’s dive team has identified 14 individual turtles, each recognised by shell patterns and physical features. These include turtles known as Rosie, Cara and Anna, which have been documented through repeated sightings.
The resort maintains records of these turtles, allowing returning guests to identify individuals over time. Guests may also contribute to this initiative by naming newly identified turtles that have not previously been recorded.
Manta ray season
From December to April, manta rays are known to visit cleaning stations at Bodu Hithi Thila, located approximately one hour by boat from the resort. During this period, ocean conditions support plankton flows that attract mantas to the area, where they can be observed feeding or visiting cleaning stations.
Night diving experiences
Night snorkelling and diving activities provide a different perspective on reef activity. Species such as reef sharks, trevallies, moray eels and nurse sharks become more active after dark, offering guests the opportunity to observe nocturnal marine behaviour.
At Eri Maldives, marine experiences form a central part of the guest offering, with the house reef providing consistent opportunities for exploration. The resort’s dive programme is designed to support repeated interaction with the marine environment, allowing guests to experience a range of underwater activity throughout their stay.
Accommodation is available in studio and beach villa categories, with full board packages offered for direct bookings, subject to availability.
The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection has announced a collaboration with Ahmed Aleem Shakoor, who is currently in residence at the resort, introducing a creative element to the guest experience.
Aleem, a self-taught artist, is known for work that combines maritime themes, surrealism and symbolism. His practice spans watercolours, acrylics and mixed media, drawing inspiration from the Maldives’ history and ocean landscapes, often expressed through the use of light, depth and narrative.
During his residency, Aleem is working with the resort to develop a series of artistic and cultural experiences aimed at engaging guests. These include live painting sessions, informal interactions with the artist and workshops designed to encourage creative participation.
The programme forms part of the resort’s wider activities, with offerings such as mini canvas painting, coconut painting and creative art sessions available to guests. In addition, Tales Painted in Sunlight combines elements of Maldivian folklore, storytelling and visual art, providing further insight into local culture.
The collaboration reflects the resort’s approach to incorporating local artistic talent into its programming, while offering guests opportunities to engage with creative activities in a relaxed setting. The residency is designed to allow guests to explore artistic expression as part of their island experience.
As part of its seasonal programme, selected artistic activities are also included in the resort’s Easter offerings, providing additional opportunities for guests to take part in creative experiences during their stay.
Amilla Maldives has been named a joint winner in the Most OutThere Initiative in Inclusive Travel category at the Experientialist Awards 2026, following a Highly Commended recognition in the same category in 2025.
The Experientialist Awards recognise organisations shaping travel through inclusivity, individuality and design, with the inclusive travel category highlighting initiatives that address not only accessibility, but also how journeys are experienced by guests.
At Amilla Maldives, accessibility is integrated into the overall guest experience. The resort adopts an approach that begins at the planning stage and continues throughout the stay, with a focus on understanding individual guest needs and adapting experiences accordingly.
Aligned with its In Harmony with Purpose philosophy, the resort has introduced a range of measures aimed at improving accessibility. These include villa features designed for ease of use, accessible pathways across the island and adaptive experiences such as inclusive snorkelling and wellness sessions.
As an IncluCare Verified resort, Amilla Maldives continues to develop its offering through feedback and collaboration, with the aim of enhancing inclusivity across its operations.
Commenting on the recognition, Morgan Martinello said the resort remains focused on creating travel experiences that feel natural and accessible. He noted that the continued recognition reflects the resort’s ongoing efforts to improve inclusivity.
The award from OutThere, a platform focused on diversity and inclusion in travel, marks a further step in the resort’s efforts to create accessible and inclusive guest experiences.
-
Cooking1 week agoThe Standard, Maldives introduces Onda with Mediterranean-inspired menu
-
Family1 week agoJA Manafaru launches Easter programme with family-focused experiences
-
Cooking1 week agoThe Halcyon Private Isles Maldives announces Easter residency by Chef Dimitry Eremeev
-
Action7 days agoSix Senses Kanuhura participates in international COASTS Project on blue carbon ecosystems
-
Cooking6 days agoAnantara Veli Maldives continues Michelin guest chef series with female lineup
-
News1 week agoIfuru Island Maldives partners with Toddy to launch lifestyle collection
-
Awards1 week agoMandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa receives global wellness award
-
Awards1 week agoCOLOURS OF OBLU marks triple win in global guest-driven awards