The word paradise is used quite a lot to describe islands and destinations across the world – but the Maldives truly are a tropical paradise – filled with incredible beauty and dreamlike vistas – the perfect destination for beach lovers and those who are purely…lovers.
The Maldives are made up of a cluster of tiny islands, each surrounded by the intoxicating blues of the Indian Ocean, they come with plenty of sunshine and are full of palm trees, beautiful reefs and white sandy beaches, but perhaps more importantly – the Maldives are positively full of personality – some islands great for divers and snorkelers and others positively divine for honeymooning couples.
There are some 12000 coral islands that make up the Maldives, and of those just 200 are inhabited and 105 of those are tourist resorts whilst the rest remain uninhabited. We recommend that you explore as many as you can – are as few you’d like – as each one of these islands are simply perfect.
Time difference: GMT +5 Hours
Flight time: Approx 11 hours
Visa Required: No (British nationals can get a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in Maldives)
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Population: 409,163 (approx)
Official Language: Maldivian (Dhivehi)
Recommended Airlines: British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines.
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What you do in the Maldives is entirely up to you. The islands are so easy to explore – interconnected by regular boat services, or you can hire your own boat – or simply book a two week retreat in a luxurious Maldives resort. We do recommend that if you want to explore that you take a boat to one or two of the uninhabited islands to get a feel for what these exquisite island paradises were like before tourism really took root. If you do feel like a little break from the beaches, then perhaps consider exploring the capital Malé
The Maldives aren’t spectacularly well known for their festivals – however – there are several important religious festivals that you might consider attending or at least taking note of, as they can have an affect on your holiday. Ramadan for example alters the working hours for the month, with government offices opening from 9.00a.m. to 13.30PM and the private sector closing fat 15:00PM. Eid-ul Al’h’aa is the longest holiday during the year and lasts between five to seven days. All over the Maldives the period is one of celebration with traditional sports, music and dance.
- Gan
- Mukurimagu
- Fonadhoo
- Kalhaidhoo
- Mundoo
- Maabaidhoo