The Maldives lies in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator. The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like atolls, spread over 90,000 square kilometers. These atolls structures are formed upon a sharp ridge rising from the ocean, making way for their secluded uniqueness.
Each atoll in the Maldives is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their places among this atoll ring; each island has its own reef encircling the island lagoon. The reefs of the islands, alive with countless types of underwater creatures and vibrant corals, protect the islands from wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans. This unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation almost impossible for the passer-by without sufficient information about these waters. Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 90 islands are developed as tourist resort and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes.
The weather in the Maldives is usually picture perfect: sunlit days, breezy nights, balmy mornings, and iridescent sunsets. The temperature hardly ever changes - which makes packing for your holiday an easy task. With the average temperature at about 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year, the sun is a constant on most days, shining through treetops, creating lacy patterns on your feet, healing cold-bones with its warmth. Throughout the day, the sun will make itself known, ensuring that it will be remembered and missed, like an old friend, as you pack up your suitcases to leave.
Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) and wet season (southwest monsoon), with the former extending from January to March and the latter from mid-May to November. The rare thunderstorm in the Maldives (especially around the southwest monsoon months) can be a welcome respite from the sun. Cloudy skies and slate grey seas, and crashing thunder makes up for lovely reading weather. The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a verdant, wet, thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain - the sea will be extra warm.
Maldives, though isolated in location, is easily accessible from anywhere in South-East Asia, the Middle-East and Europe. From Bangalore, Air India operates daily flights to Maldives.
As your plane breaks through the clouds revealing the emerald islands below, prepare for one of the most exciting flying experiences. The runway of Hulhule’ airport, that runs parallel to the shore creates a (rather safe, of course) adrenalin rush, for a second, when it makes you think that the plane is landing on water.
The Male International Airport is mere fifteen minutes from Male’. The airport is small, but well-equipped with souvenir and duty-free shops, restaurants, medical facilities, and provides banking and postal services. The airport is accessible via Male’ on a dhoni ferry, that run every few minutes between the two islands.
Tourists are issued a 30-day visa on arrival. 6 months valid passport is necessary. This policy is subject to change.
It is prohibited to bring in firearms, drugs, pornography or idols of worship into the Maldives. Tourists also cannot bring in dogs, pigs and pork items. Alcohol and pork products under a special license are available in resort islands. Prohibited items (like alcohol) brought in by passengers are bonded and released at departure.
Smart summer wear casual clothing is usually enough for Maldives, but the some of the up-market resorts may require that you dress up for dinner. T-shirts, cotton clothing, skirts and shorts would be the best option to stay cool. The ideal footwear would be sandals. Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and hats are widely necessary for a comfortable holiday, but they are available widely for purchase.
Do dress appropriately, especially when visiting inhabited islands and Male. The Maldives is a Muslim country and dressing conservatively is preferred, with women covering their shoulders and thighs. For men, shorts are acceptable. Beachwear (swimming trunks, bikinis and bathing suits) are the norm at resorts, but nudity is prohibited in all public places.
Do be conscious of the local environment. While diving or snorkeling, ensure that you do not disrupt marine life. Do not litter on beaches or in the sea. Apart from being an eyesore, plastic and trash products kill corals and fish.
Do get to know the locals. Maldivians are a friendly and hospital and always up for a chat. A smile will always be returned.
Duty-free shopping is available at the departure terminal at the Male’ International Airport. There are specialized shops with a wide variety of international brands selling well-known products and competitive prices. Products include souvenirs, perfume, electronics, toys, watches, fashion accessories and jeweler, liquor, tobacco and confectionary.
In a place that has more sea than land, there is no end to the fun things you do in the water. Here are the few activities:
Diving: The warm seas of Maldives have high visibility throughout the year; with water clear enough to see the passing fish as far as fifty meters away at times. Add to that the marvellous formation of over 3000 coral reefs and the free flowing tides of the monsoons. The result of these perfect conditions has created one of the world’s richest diving coral reef areas.
Water sports: Maldivians swim for recreation, they play water polo with their friends at weekend picnics and they surf addictively. The visitor is not exempted; every single resort of the Maldives has a sports centre that provides a range of water sports activities.
These centres are well equipped with masks and snorkels and boards of varying sizes, whether you want to spend the day snorkelling and meeting glances with wide-eyed fish, or feeling the wind in your hair on a windsurfer or catamaran. Some centres offer courses for beginners and advances windsurfers and sailors. You could also chose to parasail, kayak, kite-surf, water-ski, and jet-ski.
Surfing: Maldives is a Mecca to surf-enthusiasts from all over the world, with the southwest monsoon bringing with it massive swells, especially from June to September. The sizes range from 3 – 8 feet. There are several well-known surf breaks in North and South Male’ Atoll. Resorts near these breaks are perfect for surfing aficionados, as you can get the full Maldivian experience while riding the waves to your heart’s content. The lesser-known, but amazing surf breaks further away from Male’ atoll can be accessed by specialized surf cruises (often referred to as safaris) offered by cruise operators in the country.
Excursion to Local Islands: The best way to experience the life of an ordinary Maldivian is to travel to an inhabited island. Some of these islands are slightly more modern: with brightly painted house walls and harbor areas. There are also the quite fishing villages with lots of tree-shade, swings, and the traditional wooden holhuashi (A holhuashi is rather like an island-version of a gazebo, build with hollow wooden trunks tied together forming the large, bench-like seat, and often with a thatched roof). They are conveniently set up on beaches, often where the boats come in, and is a place where islanders wind off after a day’s work, exchanging news, telling stories, playing cards, and listening to local radio.
Fishing, agriculture, and fish related manufacturing is what most people in the islands do for work, while some go away to find jobs in tourism and trading. Some islands are also good places to buy local handcrafts.
It is a typical island custom that everyone finish their work by late afternoon, take their daily showers or bath near their wells, dress the children in fresh clothes and go for a stroll in the island, visiting friends and relatives, delivering small bowls of fresh homemade curry, or taking some time to relax at the beachside, watching the late afternoon sun while the children play around at the beach.
Night Fishing: Fishing is in the Maldivian blood. It is so entwined in the lives of Maldivians that there are celebrations when a good catch is caught and complaints when fish is scarce at our dinner tables. Maldivian fishermen wake up to the dawn call of island roosters, collect bait in nearby reefs and start a full day’s work at the deep blue seas, using the artful pole and line method of fishing.
To experience the satisfaction of catching and cooking your own fish, a night reef fishing trip (offered by a lot of resorts) is the way to go. Your boat leaves before the sunset to find a good spot near a reef. The boat crew will show you how to use the lines, hooks, and sinkers. You will catch enough to fill your barbecue grill in about an hour’s time.
Excursion to Virgin Islands: After a good catch it is time to head to a deserted island to eat and celebrate. With over 1,190 islands and only few hundred being utilized, it is easy to find an uninhabited island anywhere in the Maldives.
While the fish you caught gets grilled to perfection over red hot ambers, make sure you take time to enjoy the experience of being alive on this untouched part of nature; the softness of sand that has not seen a human foot print for a long, long time, and the undisturbed sounds made by nature. Without a single light on the ground, the stars above come alive in abundance, while tiny lights of phosphorescence get washed up by the beachside with the wave. For a moment, it is as though you are floating among the stars.
A day-time trip to a desert island is an experience of its own. The raw, un spoilt vegetation surrounded by blinding beaches and dazzling sunbeam-lined waters are like a phantasm; everything feels imagined, and you are the only person in this beautiful universe.
A. PARADISE ISLAND RESORT
North Male Attol – 10 km / 15 mnts from airport by speed boat
Superior Beach Bungalows @ USD 1100 per couple + Maldives GST = USD 1140
B. ADAARAN VADOO RESORT
South Male Attol – 8 km / 15 mnts from airport by speed boat
Water Bungalow @ USD 1150 per couple + Maldives GST = USD 1190
C. KURUMBA MALDIVES
North Male Attol – 2 km / 10 mnts from airport by speed boat
Superior room @ USD 1300 per couple + Maldives GST = USD 1345
D. BAROS MALDIVES
North Male Attol – 15 km / 20 mnts from airport by speed boat
Deluxe Villa @ USD 2925 per couple + Maldives GST = USD 3025
: For more details, contact – sales@crimsonholidays.in
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