4 Hour Highlights of Malé Walking Tour | La Vacanza Travel

4 Hour Highlights of Malé Walking Tour

Duration: 4 hours
Destination: Maldives, Malé, Malé
from
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  • 4 hours
  • Malé
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Wander the roads of Male, the capital of the Maldives with TripAdvisors' leading Hulhumale tour company and discover the history, religion and culture of the city that rises from the Indian Ocean.
Accompanied by your Secret Paradise local guide experience a sensory overload at the fish market and local market. Hear historical stories of the President's Palace, Sultan Park, Victory Monument and Friday Mosque. Rest your legs at a local café, an oasis of tranquility within the hubbub of the city and take in the view from one of the city's tallest buildings.

Through education of both guests and locals we strive to protect the environment in which we operate and limit wherever possible any negative impact preserving this country's unique location for generations to come.

Please note that during Ramadan 22 March - 20 April 2023 we are unable to include the refreshment stop at a local cafe.

Private tours available upon request.

Your tour starts with an overview of Male and the harbour area, a very important aspect of any island nation.

Passing by the oldest school in the city, learn about the education system and why the Maldives has a 98% literacy rate. Visit Hukuru Miskiiy - Old Friday Mosque and the tomb of Abu -al - Barakaath and learn why the Maldives converted to Islam and how the Islamic faith underpins everyday life.

Stop for a refreshing cup of traditional black tea at Royal Garden Café, a popular spot for locals. Housed in a rare example of a ‘ganduvaru’ a nobleman’s house, it provides a great example of traditional dark carved wood interiors.

Stopping at the November 3rd Memorial, hear the story of how 8 brave military servicemen died in the protection of their country from a terrorist attack in 1988. Wander through Sultan Park, a reference to the time the Maldives was governed by a sultanate with an optional visit to the National Museum. (Note: Entrance fee not included.)

Walking back towards the harbour area, pass by the Grand Friday Mosque and the Islamic Centre, Male's famous architectural landmark and onto Jumhooree Maiden - Independence Square. From here, learn the meaning of the Maldives national flag and pick out key government buildings.

Heading west along the harbour, visit the bustling fish market and the local market, where the sights, sounds and smells will fill your senses. Chat with the local stall holders and taste tropical produce and homemade sweets.

The tour finishes at the top of one of the city's tallest buildings, providing a great back drop to your final tour photo image!

Inclusions
  • Secret Paradise Local guide
  • Safety Briefings and Screening
  • Snacks - Local snacks during market visit
  • All Local Tax

Exclusions
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Pick Up from airport, hotels in Hulhumale and Malé at a charge of $25 two pax.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • The Maldives is a Muslim country therefore we would request female guests to dress with modesty in mind.
  • Tour is not suitable if you are staying on a private island resort.
  • Safety has always been important to our business, this is why our guides are Emergency First Responders & Life Guard Certified. We are pleased to offer safe travel and hygiene standards as required by the World Travel & Tourism Council. Full details of our Travel Safely policy can be found on our website.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Jetty Number 5, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Maldives


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

4 hours


User's Reviews

Crabbyman72

01 Apr, 2024

We visited Male from a cruise ship during Ramadan, and so many of the food tours during the day weren't available. We booked the afternoon 4-hour walking tour and learned we could take Iftar with our guide at a local restaurant. Our guide, Ahmed Shaffaf, met us at the Presidential Jetty, where the ships' tender boats landed. Very convenient! Ahmed Shaffaf took us through the nearby markets. His English is excellent, and he was able to explain everything we saw and get us samples of the various products. All the shopkeepers were very friendly and open. We felt very welcome. The markets were clean and well kept—no odor or foul floors. Afterward, Ahmed led us on a 2-mile loop through the city with frequent stops with time to duck into an airconditioned shop from time to time. Along the way, we learned about life in Male and better understood the local culture. The highlight of our tour was the opportunity to share Iftar with many residents. Afterward, it was quite dark, and Ahmed was careful to lead us down the dark seawall sidewalks safely. Ruth, from the Secret Paradise Office, was always prompt in responding to emails. Her company offers various excursions in the Maldives, and I highly recommend using Secret Paradise to plan your entire visit.

Emily_S

30 Mar, 2024

Mohamed Shark was an excellent guide. Very personable and informative. Unfortunately, a person in a handicap scooter signed up for this walking tour, which meant we couldn’t progress at the expected pace. Our tour ended up being 3 hours instead of four. Our time with Mr. Shark was wonderful, but unfortunately he had to spend a lot of time looking after the handicap person which took away from our experience. Please designate that walking tours are not appropriate for handicap scooters.

Carlotta R

13 Mar, 2024

Don’t even think twice and go for it! This is a must-do if you want to look beyond the shiny surface of Maldive’s sandy beaches and resort life to understand more of the local reality and have a glimpse of the island’s daily life. Hamti and Archie, my your guides, were extremely kind, genuine, and knowledgeable - it felt like a walk with two friends. They answered all my questions and gave me interesting perspectives on Maldive’s society, environment, and history. I will definitely take more tours with them in the future. Highly recommended!

Steve_C

13 Mar, 2024

I really enjoyed the discussion about politics and history with Archie and Nafsha as we toured local sites and markets. I'm still enjoying my sea almonds. I have a greater appreciation for Male' and for the Maldives.

Ana_N

10 Mar, 2024

This was a relaxed walk with plenty of sightings and useful facts about the history and culture of the country. I really enjoyed learning from Archie!

User's Picture Gallery

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Magnificent walk thru Malé

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Loved exploring Male'.

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Interesting, historical and cultural

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A walking tour full of knowledge

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Insightful and Interesting Tour

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Fantastic experience, enjoyable and informative

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Excellent Way to Learn About Male

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50th Birthday celebration activity

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Shark is a great guide....

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Amazing exploration in Malé

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Perfect way to spend the afternoon!

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Informative Half Day Tour on Male

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Travel to learn and appreciate local culture.

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Fun & Interesting City Tour

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Best 👌

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Fun stroll around the city

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Must do in Male

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Excellent, personal, packed full of information

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Not to be missed. Seriously.

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Male sightseeing

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We had a great time. Thanks to Secret paradise. Will definitely visit again and will recommend them to others.

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Great way to visit Male

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Best way to see and experience Male

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Excellent

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