Maldives is a unique Indian Ocean archipelago of 26 atolls containing nearly 1,200 tropical coral islands of which only 200 are inhabited. Of the remaining deserted islands, about 150 have been developed over the past 45 years into luxury tourist resorts. This amazing island nation stretches for 860km north to south and crosses the equator. The archipelago stretches over an area of 90,000 square kilometers, with only 1% of this being land, making Maldives one of the most geographically dispersed nations on Earth. Scattered amongst this vast ocean mass is a population of just about 400,000, over one third of which lives on the tiny capital island of Male’ – one of the most densely populated places in the world.
There are two international airports, one in Male’, the Capital of the country and the other in Gan, Addu Atoll, onward transfers to the host of tropical island resorts are made by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight combined with speedboat. The local language is Dhivehi which is only spoken in Maldives – English and other European languages are widely spoken around all the tourist destinations. Tourism is the major industry of Maldives.
The islands here are perfect for getting away from it all and this truly makes it the perfect holiday destination, surrounded by crystal clear waters and pure white beaches.
Holiday Highlights
Maldives is the tropical paradise where you lose all sense of time and contact with the outside world. It’s home to desert island escapes, fine dining and breath taking sunsets. Enjoy the beauty of the coral reef and its fantastic lifeforms by diving or snorkeling the house reefs of your resort or if you want more then you can eat and sleep underwater!
There is a variety of accommodation to choose from guesthouses on inhabited islands for the budget traveller or the ones who want to become a part of common lifestyle in Maldives for few days, to exclusive private islands with few rooms, to large all-inclusive resorts with all the facilities, authentic Maldivian, rustic or contemporary hotels. The choice of rooms can be simple hotel room type, different kinds of bungalows or villas placed on land, water villas located over the lagoon, in many resorts you can find even a residence type accommodation. The facilities and room amenities in particular resorts may and will differ but all the information about accommodation, facilities, activities and others are available.
One important point is that each resort is its very own island accessible by speedboat, seaplane or combination of domestic flight and speedboat.
Many of the islands here are sheltered from the open ocean by coral reefs, creating shallow, calm and clear lagoons that are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling and a range of water sports. Scuba diving is done by drifting with the Indian Monsoon Currents which sweeps along the island chains, moving nutrients and divers along. Inside the atoll lagoons, rock pinnacles (thila) vault up from the bottom to scratch the water’s surface. In the channels, there are swim throughs, caverns and overhangs draped with colourful sponges, invertebrates and gorgonians to explore. With a welcoming culture and some of the finest live-aboard dive boats and luxury resorts on the globe, a dive holiday in Maldives makes an unforgettable experience.
With candlelit dinners under open skies and isolated accommodations along palm fringed white beaches, Maldives is the definite place for honeymoons.
Although not the first choice for families, the Maldives is a tropical playground with a growing list of family friendly resorts that offer kids club, activities and family type accommodation. The variety of facilities is growing year by year and you can find many new cool activities like different kinds of aquapark fun, dance classes, new types of watersports etc.
Browse through our featured accommodation or contact us to help you find your perfect island.
Types of holidays
Maldives is the place for independent and low cost travel as well as luxury travel. The variety of hotel and resort accommodations is geared up to receive various types of travellers. That being said Maldives is a major destination for package holiday visitors from around the globe, a destination for all-inclusive holidays.
The strategy is to develop a small number of quality resorts, each on its own island, however, during the time also giving the option to spend vacation in a interconnected hotel facilities providing wide scale of services for those who want to try the maximum of all possible. This strategy is complemented by guesthouse tourism in inhabited islands which caters to the budget conscious travellers and travellers preferring the real local touch from the unique luxurious experience. Independent travel to this destination may turn out to be an expensive option but late deals and last minute bargains are always available.
Things to Do
Scuba-diving
Known as perhaps the best place to dive in the world, scuba-diving is the number one activity in Maldives. More than half of all visitors to the islands take a fascinating trip underwater to explore the countless reefs and their spectacular array of marine life. Each resort has a professional dive center, offering equipment and instruction for all levels, and an extensive dive schedule.
Snorkeling
With the warm tropical waters boasting excellent visibility, snorkeling is high on the list of things to do. The islands are surrounded by shallow turquoise lagoons home to live corals and colourful tropical fish, and, with equipment free in most resorts, visitors can enjoy a leisurely swim whilst experiencing the amazing life underwater.
Water sports
Not surprisingly, the waters of the Maldives are ideal for any kind of water sports. With facilities for wind-surfing, water-skiing, jet skiing, kayaking, banana boat rides, fun-bed rides, para-sailing, paddle-boarding, catamarans or even fly-boarding and many others there’s plenty to keep enthusiasts busy. Be aware that some resorts only offering non-motorised sports, to maintain the peaceful atmosphere.
Surfing
Maldives is fast becoming a popular spot for surfing, having been a recent host of international competitions, with some good surfs found on the edges of the South Male atoll. The best surfing conditions can be found further down south, with the biggest swells occurring during low-season between June and August.
Fishing
Fishing is the way of life for the people of the islands for millenniums, there are many fishing trips for visitors available in Maldives. Choose from a morning line-fishing excursion, big-game fishing in a speedboat, or a night fishing trip, finishing up with a barbecue at the resort to enjoy the catch of the day.
Cruising
One of the best ways to really explore Maldives is a sailing cruise around just some of its 1,190 islands, stopping off for diving and snorkeling along the way. Travel the blue waters in a ‘live-aboard’, choosing from a traditional ‘dhoani’, offering basic facilities or a fully-equipped cruiser boasting luxurious amenities.
Excursions
Excursions mainly consist of island-hopping, with half or full-day trips being offered to uninhabited islands or fishing villages, dolphin cruise, sunset cruise etc. Aerial excursions are also available, and offer a fantastic way to see the islands and travel to other recommended dive sites. The capital Male’ is home to some interesting places to see including the local markets, the Presidential Palace and the National Museum in Sultan Park.
Resort Day Visits
For those who decide to stay on an inhabited island there is still the option to experience a resort stay atmosphere. Many resorts offer a day visit (for charge) to the guests of the guesthouses or hotels on nearby islands.