The Maldives are a truly spectacular
destination – while it’s a holiday location not exactly ideal for the highly
budget conscious, a variety of different star resorts do offer most travelers
a chance to taste its delights.

Romantics and honeymooners may find that some of the smaller islands are
more cozy, intimate & quiet while the larger ones may have more of a party
feel to it and be more crowded.
 

The Climate In The Maldives  

The
Maldives enjoys a tropical climate which means its temperature tends to stay
between 25 & 32 degrees c. The optimum time to go tends to be between
December band April (this is supported by the higher prices during these
times) because this is when the weather is most calm and has the least
rainfall. 

Activities In The Maldives

The
Maldives offers it’s guests a huge range of activities & recreation and
depending on the resort that you choose you may get to sample a few or all
of them. 

Here are the main ones: 

Diving
– The Maldives is a divers paradise, and there are options
available to choose any and all levels of experience. Almost all resorts
offer diving facilities of some kind and some even have their own diving
schools and centres. Some resorts offer a “house reef” to guests – this can
be used from the beach itself. 

The
optimum time to go to the Maldives for diving is between January and April
as these periods offer the most placid seas, calmest weather and clearest
waters for the best visibility. 

Remember to bring your C-Card (diving certification card) and log book as
diving centres will certainly ask to check them. 

It’s
also possible to experience “diving safaris” in the Maldives – a chance to
visit various diving sites, resorts, islands and villages. 

More
experienced divers may wish to participate in night-time diving where many
different types of marine life can be seen, or consider taking some
underwater photography. 

Island Hopping
– One of the most fascinating trips available in the
Maldives. Island hopping allows guests to experience life in an isolated
Maldivian island. Most of the resorts offer island half or full day island
excursions. 

Sometimes, the island hopping excursion may be included in your package
although this is an optional extra in many resorts. Typically, the visitors
are transported to certain uninhabited islands to laze away on the beaches,
perhaps enjoy a beach barbeque and do some snorkelling.

Night Fishing
– What if you had to catch your dinner? This is exactly what
happens in many resorts that offer night fishing. The guests are taken in a
dhoni (boat) each with the tools required to catch their own fish – those
that do catch something appropriate can have it prepared for dinner by the
resort chefs. 

Water Sports
– Many resorts offer excellent water sports facilities such as surfing,
wind-surfing, catamaran sailing, water skiing & parasailing. In many resorts
there are additional fees for tuition & use of facilities/equipment so if
you plan on doing a lot of these activities check what the prices are as
some resorts do offer guests free use of these facilities.  

Canoeing
– Many resorts offer canoe rentals although this type of boat
is more suited for guests who wish to go around their own lagoons. For
safety reasons it’s usually not possible to use canoes to travel longer
distances (for instance going to another island).  

Land Based Sports
– Depending on the individual resort there are some sports
that guests can indulge in. Many resorts offer badminton, beach volleyball,
tennis and even soccer (the quality of facilities vary with many of the
upper-end resorts offering floodlit pitches). Some resorts offer squash
courts. Most offer some type of games room with Carrom, ping pong, pool and
a variety of board games for those wishing to expend less energy.
 

Introduction To The Maldives

Heavenly turquoise blue waters, lush tropical islands and Robinson Crusoe
type isolation – these are just some of the images that come to mind when we
think about traveling to the Maldives. It’s a new world altogether – a
beautiful world beyond the imagination of most people. A world where you can
be one of a small handful of people that have an island all to themselves.
This world is called The Maldives. And we’ll tell you everything you need to
know about these tiny palm-fringed islands.

Location Of The Maldives

The Maldives are a group of tiny islands that are set in the Indian Ocean -
the closest countries to the Maldives are India and Sri Lanka. There are
approximately 1200 separate islands in the Maldives and only about one sixth
of these are populated. The capital of the Maldives is Male – the most
densely inhabited island. But while Male, it seems, is simply bursting from
the seams, there certainly are no space problems on the other islands. Male
holds about a third of the Maldivian population while the remaining are
scattered around various other islands.

A Brief History Of The Maldives

While there are no certain facts it is estimated that the Maldives have been
populated as early as 1500 BC, most likely explorers from India and Sri
Lanaka (Ceylon). During 1152 there was a conversion to islam although there
was a brief period from 1558 to 1573 when the Maldives was taken over and
ruled by the Portugese. The islands were also under the rule of the British
in 1887. In 1965 the Maldives regained its independent status.

Flora & Fauna That Inhabit The Islands & Surrounding Waters

Contrary to the first impressions of many, the Maldives islands are not
especially hospitable to plants, mainly because the soil does not have the
nutrients to support a large and varied diversity of plant life. The main
type of vegetation include coconut trees, vines, banyan trees as well as
mangroves. Also found are Breadfruit trees and Bamboos. Flowering plants
include Bougainvillaea and Frangipani.

The islands have an incredible number of colorful, tropical fish and when
you visit you’re bound to see many of them. A few of these include Butterfly
fish, Dolphins, Angelfish, Parrotfish and Flutemouth. The colors and shapes
of some of these fish are as varied and intriguing as their names would
suggest. Divers are sure to have an experience of a lifetime in the
Maldives.

While there are a healthy variety of birds inhabiting the islands, there are
fewer varieties of land based animals. Common to the islands are flying
foxes, geckos and garden lizards. There are also a couple of species of
snake (not dangerous). There are over 100 species of birds – expect to see
crows, parakeets, and waterhens as well as koel birds. Also present are
herons, seagulls and noddys.

The
Type Of Travellers The Maldives Appeals To 

The
Maldives is a wonderful destination for a wide variety of travelers – from
those seeking complete bliss and Robinson Crusoe type peace & quiet (in an
absolutely idyllic surrounding), to beach lovers and diving enthusiasts to
honeymooners and romantic couples looking for some enchanting memories in
one of the most beautiful places in the world. With a wide variety of
resorts to choose from it’s important to research the facilities in a wide
range of resorts to make sure that you get whatever it is you’re looking
for. For example, some resorts may suit more active travellers while others
would be more suited to those looking for a quiet and peaceful stay. 

How
To Get To The Maldives

Almost
all visitors get to the Maldives via plane – typically, they arrive in Male,
the capital from their port of departure and from there will be transferred
to their resort. Transfers are usually via seaplane or speedboat. Given the
stunning scenery it’s always advisable to arrive by seaplane where possible
– the views of the islands from the air are nothing short of spectacular.
When researching resorts and prices it’s worth remembering that some
packages will be quoted with transfers built into the price while others
will not. Transfers can be quite pricey.

Some
resorts are located quite close to the airport in Male – transfer times can
be under 20 minutes while other resorts further away may take an hour or
even two to reach depending on the type of transfer. Keep in mind that after
travelling a long distance on a flight, the last thing that you’ll want to
do is spend a further couple of hours on a speedboat. 

If
your transfer is not via seaplane it is possible to ride in a seaplane
during your stay – and get some stunning photos of the islands and atolls
from high above. 

Health & Safety In The Maldives 

Given
the huge number of resorts (many of them four and five stars) in the
Maldives, it’s a relatively safe place to visit, health-wise. Visitors are
advised to get immunisations for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A &
Hepatitis B and those that intend to dive should get a medical check prior
to going.  

In
addition to this, ensure that your general health is good prior to travel
and consider taking a basic medical kit (although most resorts have adequate
facilities to treat minor problems that may occur). 

Dining
in the resorts is usually very safe – The well known resorts have very high
standards with regards to the quality of food offered and most employ highly
skilled professional chefs to prepare meals for guests. The only time you
may be at slightly higher risk is when eating in individual places such as
Cafes in Male (though even these places are generally fine). Make sure that
you drink only bottled water during your stay. 

Some
of the common health problems that may occur to travellers include
heatstroke/exhaustion, motion sickness and sunburn. Some infectious diseases
may include fungal infections, diarrhoea & hepatitis. Some diseases may also
be spread through insects, such as Malaria & Dengue fever. Also, be careful
when spending time in the water – it’s possible to pick up cuts, bites &
stings.