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Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Maldives
View on Google MapsWe took the 4-hour walking tour in Malé and it was absolutely fantastic. Our guide Archie showed us all the main sights in the city and told lots of interesting stories about everyday life in the Maldives. We visited the local market, tasted all kinds of snacks – sweet and salty – and even received a coconut sweet as a small gift. What I loved most was the atmosphere: nobody tried to push us to buy anything, nobody begged for money or followed us around. It felt very relaxed, friendly and respectful, which is very different from what we sometimes experience in other touristy countries. The treats at the market were complimentary, and later Archie even took us to a café where we were invited for juice at no extra cost. It felt more like walking around the city with a local friend than being on a “commercial” tour. Highly recommended – a perfect way to get to know Malé.
My guide Archie was excellent, that he led me for an excellent walk around the island of Male. During the walking tour, I learned a lot about the island of Male, as well as Maldivian society, history and daily life. The tour included a rest stop at a nice cafe, with free fresh juice and water provided.
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Wheelchair accessible, Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, Public transportation options are available nearby, Suitable for all physical fitness levels, 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.
My experience with Secret Paradise was overall a 5-star one! I really would like to thank these people for everything & especially highlight: - The kind help from Ruth, who answered all of our questions via e-mail beforehand & was always so helpful and professional. We planned the perfect itinerary together & everything was organised from arriving at the airport, to hotel stay, to transport. - The outstanding performance of Shaffaf during our Malé walking tour - we could literally feel how much he loves history & to tell others about Maldivian culture & traditions. Our visit at the local market was my highlight of the tour. Thank you for letting us try all the delicious local snacks! And of course, thank you for making us laugh SO MUCH :) I can genuinely recommend Secret Paradise to anyone who wants to explore the Maldives in an authentic, mindful and meaningful way. It was the perfect experience for me!
Just wrapping up a 3-week trip to Maldives during which I’ve had two experiences with Secret Paradise. The first was a 10-day conservation expedition with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program and the second was a half-day walking tour of Malé. I can’t say enough good things about this company. Their guides are excellent and the company walks the talk when it comes to sustainability and responsible tourism. From the pledge on their website to the actions of their guides on the group you can tell that they are deeply dedicated to ensuring that tourism is respectful of both the environment and local culture and traditions. I loved the fact that the guides were not afraid to point out actions and behaviors that are not in keeping with this ethos. It is no surprise that they have been nominated for an international award for sustainable tourism. I highly recommend.
We hoped to learn about the history of the Maldives during our layover before going to our resort. This tour provided just that! Great tour of cultural and historic sites and the markets around the city. Definitely bring a hat, sunblock and bug screen! Ub was a great guide and we highly encourage anyone to book this tour to learn and see the Maldives outside of your resort!
Finding “pier 5”, (the meeting spot) wasn’t at all obvious & Malé is very warm and humid. Expect to get sweaty! However this 4 hour tour tries to stay in the shade as much as possible and the length is necessary to cover all of the sights of the city. The walking is leisurely and on the flat. It was interesting and informative as the guide was a local & very knowledgeable with good English. To go in to the mosques long trousers are or a lungi is necessary to cover the legs. The coffee stop is a welcomed break from the humidity as it’s in an air conditioned cafe which has toilet facilities too. Overall, the tour of this small capital city is fascinating & is well worth doing.
An excellent insight into Maldivian history, culture, traditions and current affairs. We learned so much from Shark, our guide, who is knowledgeable, informed and personable. Absolutely recommend this tour.
We booked this tour two days in advance because there is not a lot to do on Male. We got to the pick up place at 1:45. The tour was suppose to start at 2. No one showed up. No texts in advance let us know anything so we could have plan something else. No sorry we're running late. We stayed there until 2:25. So we were very upset to say the least. So be warned.
While booking our trip to the Maldives, my mom and I knew we wanted to spend at least a bit of time in the capital city instead of booking a boat transfer straight from the airport to our resort as many other travelers seemed to be doing. Rather than wandering the city and wondering to ourselves what exactly it was that we were seeing, we hoped to enlist the help of a local tour guide who could answer our questions. It didn’t take long before I stumbled across Secret Paradise, which impressed me with their environmental advocacy, commitment to sustainable tourism, and active social media presence. Without hesitation, I booked a four-hour walking tour on the day of our arrival and quickly connected with our tour guide Kamey via WhatsApp. My mom and I met Kamey on the afternoon of our arrival for what wound up being a private tour for just the two of us. We appreciated his enthusiasm, patience, and professionalism while introducing us to Male’s architecture, culture, education system, history, languages, politics, religion, and wildlife during our tour. Indeed, we left no stones unturned as we traipsed across one of the world’s most densely populated capital cities, carefully guided by Kamey. I would highly recommend Secret Paradise to travelers of all ages, especially those interested in sustainable tourism for a country disproportionately affected by climate change. Ruth, Kamey, and the rest of the Secret Paradise team are clearly making meaningful contributions to the local community, and it was a pleasure to learn more about our holiday destination before embarking on the rest of our journey. Thank you, Ruth and Kamey!
I had the pleasure of taking a walking tour with Secret Paradise in Malé, and it was an unforgettable experience! I was lucky enough to have Archie as my guide, and even luckier that it was just the two of us on the tour. After spending a relaxing few days at my resort, I was thrilled to explore the capital with someone who truly knows the city. Archie was incredibly knowledgeable and gave me a unique insight into Maldivian life that only a local could provide. The tour was a perfect mix of history, architecture, and fun facts, which helped me truly appreciate the culture and the island’s rich heritage. We also visited a local market, which was a fantastic way to immerse myself in the daily life of Malé. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to get a deeper understanding of the Maldives beyond the resort experience. It’s a perfect way to discover the capital, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Archie!
