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Indulge yourself on your honeymoon - holiday in style in
the Maldives, a tiny country made up of 26 atolls that are strung out along the equator in
the Indian Ocean. Powdery white sands, azure skies and blue seas, tropical palms, sun and
surf - the Maldives is an ideal destination to lie back, sip a coconut and tan a
delightful bronze. Pamper yourself, or let others pamper you as you sit back and relax in
one of the luxurious resorts or dance to live music and attend a beach barbecue. If a
honeymoon spells action for you, test the surf on your surfboard or dive in the waters to
admire the exotic marine life. Or just simply hold hands and walk on the soft white sand
as the sun sets over the blue sea. |
Travel docs
All travellers must have a passport to enter the Maldives. 30-day
Tourist Visas are issued free of charge and may be extended by a maximum of 90 days. You
must also carry adequate money for the duration of your stay and have a confirmed
onward/return ticket.
Getting there
The only international airport is at Male, with flights from
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dubai and Kuala Lampur (Malaysia).
There are no cruises to the Maldives and very few private yachts are willing to go there.
Getting Around
The islands are small enough to get around easily. From Male there
are several options for getting to your resort. The national airline flies to 4 major
islands and the views are breathtaking. Other ways of getting around are by seaplane,
helicopters, or by local boats called ‘vedis’ and ‘dhonis’.
Best season
It’s monsoon all around the year in the Maldives but in varying
degrees. The main tourist season is from December to March when the sun comes out often.
Tourist activity peaks around the Christmas-New Year week. It’s wise to book in
advance for this time. The rest of the year is prone to heavier rainfall but there are
many bright and glorious days as well. For serious divers the months of April and November
(when the weather’s changing) are supposed to offer exceptionally clear waters and
the best viewing.
Accommodation
More than 70 of the 1192 islands are resort islands
that are not inhabited by local population. The quality of accommodation varies from
island to island, as do the prices. All have fantastic water sports, pristine beaches,
shimmering blue waters and tend to be expensive. There is really no such thing as a budget
stay in the Maldives. The tariffs range from US$30-60 for economy and $100-200 for
mid-rung, to $500-1000 for luxury accommodation.
For detailed country and visitor information, see Maldives.
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