The Maldives, a tropical haven of immaculate beaches located in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka, is an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into natural atolls, out of which only a few are inhabited. Time stands still in the Maldives as you lie on the white sand beaches, hearing the crystal clear waves crash against the seashore, swim with the manta rays and reef sharks and feast on a wide array of fishes with the locals. The Maldives is ideal for an adventure, honeymoon or leisure holiday.
Floating on the translucent waters, Maldives is a divine paradise for those looking for a getaway from the daily humdrum of city life, with unparalleled beauty. With its sun-kissed beaches, palm-fringed islands, crystalline lagoons and pristine waters, Maldives enthrals and draws visitors all year round. Each resort generally occupies an entire atoll and are equipped with luxurious water villas. Imagine having a room on a pier jutting out from the shore with a glass floor under which tropical fish can be seen swimming! Renowned for its incredible diving opportunities, the azure waters of Maldives, are home to diverse marine life and corals of distinct hues. While the vivid blue lagoons are perfect for snorkelling, the reef walls offer a kaleidoscope of sea life for more experienced divers, making it a haven for water sports enthusiasts. The capital city of Male is both commercial and financial capital. Seat to the executive, legislature and judiciary, this city is a tourist favourite as well. The history lovers will be satiated here, given Male houses several buildings and monuments of historical importance. Male is easily accessible by ferry boats from the international airport. Travel to other islands in the Maldives is also quite feasible from Male due to the good ferry connectivity. Be it island hopping, candlelight dinner by the sea, breakfast ferry to an uninhabited island (yes, this is possible), scuba diving or even dolphin watching for all you leisure lovers, this idyllic holiday will never afford you an idle moment!
The Maldives are hot and sunny all year round, with average temperatures of 23ºC-31ºC. The best weather – and the best time to visit the Maldives – is between November and April. The high season falls between December and March. The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking around June.
TIME: 5 hours ahead of GMT
INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CODE: +960
ELECTRICITY: 240 volts
MOBILE SERVICES: Prepaid SIM cards are available from two mobile service providers at the airport. The SIM cards can be used for local and international call and for data.
CURRENCY: The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the local currency. All major credit cards are accepted in the country.
VISA: All nationalities receive a 30-day visa on arrival, provided that you have a valid passport, an onward to ticket to continue your journey and a reservation at a tourist facility or enough funds to cover your stay in the country.
TAXES: A Tourism Goods and Service Tax (TGST) of 12% is levied on all goods and services at tourist establishments. A Green Tax of US$ 6.00 per person per day is payable for guests staying at tourist accommodation except guest houses where the Green Tax is US$ 3.00 per person per day.
TRAVEL AND TRANSFER: Speedboat transfer is the norm to resorts close to the International Airport. The rest is covered by seaplane or domestic flight. If you are travelling to Male’ you can take a taxi from the airport. Several daily flights operate from Velana International Airport to the 12 domestic and international airports in the country. Scheduled ferries also operate from Male’ to many of the atolls.
ALCOHOL: Import of alcohol by individuals is not permitted. However, alcohol is available at all the resorts.
WEATHER: Year-round temperature hot tropical climate. The average high temperature is 31.5 degree Celsius and the average low temperature is 26.4 degree Celsius. The Southwest monsoon from May to October brings rain and the Northeast monsoon from November to April is generally sunny.
CLOTHING: Cotton clothes suits well with the hot tropical climate of the Maldives. Tourists are expected to respect local culture and dress modestly when visiting or staying on inhabited islands. Sandals are ideal, as you may often want to slip them off and go barefoot.
MEDICAL SERVICES: The main public hospital Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and private hospitals ADK and Treetop are located in Male’. Each Atoll has at least one hospital and most resorts have their own clinics and in-house doctors.
The Maldives is a picture-perfect archipelago, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and home to 1,190+ tiny coral islands. The country is famous for the beauty it carries and is celebrated as one of the best travel destinations in the world.
For first-timers, traveling to the country will be very exciting but at the same time, there is so much more to look forward to and understand beyond the exotic lifestyles.
For example, did you know that the Maldives is a Muslim country? The religion is often overlooked by first-timers but it is important to know this beforehand and pay attention to adhering to the norms. While bikinis and bathing suits are allowed in resorts, they are not acceptable whilst staying in local islands, unless there is a specific “Bikini Beach” for the purpose. Public display of affection is also a serious matter – it is recommended that you keep it to a minimum in the local islands.
Maldives has its own language, Dhivehi, but the good news is that the country also has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. This means that the majority of the people have a good command of English which makes it easier for communication.
The country also carries its own currency, the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). Other forms of currency such as US dollars and Euros are accepted in most places and you can also pay using your card. There are card machines and ATMs available in most islands and resorts but it is advisable to carry cash if you are on a local island, just to be on the safe side. The current exchange rate for US dollars to Maldivian Rufiyaa is 15.42 (MVR 15.42 for $1).
For many of us, obtaining a pre-arrival visa seems to be a hassle especially when you have to travel abroad to obtain it. In Maldives, it is not required; a 30-day visa is issued on arrival for all nationalities but make sure your passport has at least 6 months validity remaining and that you have a valid ticket to return home. However, with current safety precautions in place, a health declaration card will be required as per the procedure.
Alcohol and pork are served at resorts and liveaboards; this is where the rules are a bit more relaxed and there will be plenty to choose from. However, owing to the fact that Maldives is a Muslim country, they are prohibited on local islands.
There are a lot of accommodation options to choose from since the country is filled with gorgeous resorts, hotels, guest houses and liveaboards catering to a variety of travelers. The best thing to do is research, save up and book in advance. Choosing a place can get tricky but it all boils down to your budget and preference.
You can also travel at affordable prices and still get to live the ultimate beach-life dream by staying at a guest house or boutique hotel on a local island. This ensures an opportunity to experience the island lifestyle whilst experiencing the Maldivian culture and heritage. The islanders are hospitable and will be more than happy to have you over for meal times and other activities.
What is there to do besides lazing on the beach and getting your Vitamin D in check, you may ask. There are several options to choose from. You see, you can enjoy every water activity imaginable here; from snorkeling to diving to jet-skiing to wind-surfing to kite-surfing and on. Moreover, there are excursions, fishing trips and even dolphin watching. You can also visit nearby lagoons and sandbanks for a magical dose of serenity and privacy. The possibilities are endless.
Sea-travel is not the only thing that exists in the country but that is about half of the reality. The transportation from the main airport, Velana International Airport, to your desired local island or resort is either done by speed boat or seaplane. The speed boat is used to transit tourists to islands in close proximity whereas a seaplane is used for far and remotely located islands and resorts. Traveling by a seaplane is a unique experience by itself – you can see islands and atolls as a whole and take lots of lovely pictures on the way! Most of the time, you can always get a resort representative to escort you – this makes things a lot easier. Everything can be easy if you do your research and plan well.