About The Maldives
The Maldives, an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands situated in the Indian ocean. 200 of its islands are inhabited and the rest just left in their natural state. The ideal destination for ‘getting away from it all’, the Maldives has over 90 resort islands to choose from. Sunny, warm and friendly the Maldive islands offers you the experience of a lifetime, both above and below water.
LOCATION & HOW TO GET THERE
Lying just across the equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldive Islands are formed around 26 natural atolls.
The most common mode of transportation is by Air. Among the plethora of airlines flying to the Maldives, notable names include Emirates, Sri Lankan, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, British Airways, Ethihad, Aeroflot, Edelwise, Qatar Airways, and Condor. Both scheduled and charter flights are available daily from destinations across the globe, making the journey as seamless as possible. For those planning this dream vacation, choosing the right airline ensures a smooth and comfortable travel experience.
Maldives
The Maldives is a group of 1,200 tiny coral islands located just over 400 miles southwest of India and Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean. There are just over 110 resort islands and each resort is located on a private island of its own. In addition, there are 200 inhabited island communities. The rest of the islands are untouched.
The shimmering white sand islands form a long double chain of 26 atolls. Here you can experience some of the clearest water in the world abundant in tropical marine life including turtles, dolphins, manta rays and whale sharks. The coral reefs are beckoning for you to explore and with perfect beach weather practically all year-round, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Dry season runs approximately from November to April, but even during wet season there can be days on end of sunshine, with only perhaps the occasional shower at night. The Maldives is blessed with some of the lightest rainfall in the tropics.
The Resorts in Maldives
The world-famous resorts are the biggest man-made draw and there is something to suit most budgets – from opulent luxury to affordable accommodation. These resorts include an abundance of amenities and facilities including wonderful restaurants, decadent spas and well-quipped water-sports and diving centres.
The Maldives is one of the most exclusive places in the world because of the concept of only one resort per island. Only guests and staff are allowed to enter the private islands. It means that the beaches never get over-crowded and you never get disturbed by traders selling knick-knacks. This extreme level of exclusivity means you feel almost as if you have the entire island to yourself at times, as you’ll just meet other guests from time to time, such as when you go for meals or if you join excursions.
While the Maldives used to be almost exclusively a honeymoon destination, there are now also many resorts catering to families, with kids’ clubs and activities as well as sometimes even toys and games consoles in the villas, fun marine biology activities, or kids’ menus at the spas. With so much help on hand from the attentive staff, you can go and spend some well-deserved quality time with your significant other.
The resorts of the Maldives are famous around the world for their exclusivity and luxury, as well as their breath-taking natural beauty. There is just one resort per island in the Maldives, which guarantees guests will have their own private slice of paradise. What not everyone knows is that there is something to suit almost every budget in the Maldives; from uber-luxurious 5-star retreats with personal butlers and private swimming pools to affordable and charming lower-budget options. No matter how much you pay, everyone experiences the same tropical sunshine and turquoise water that the Maldives is famed for. Talk to one of our Travel Consultants today to find out which island suits best your needs and desires.
History
Maldives, has a history that goes back 2500 years. The Maldives practiced Buddhism until 1153 where then the country was converted to Islam. The earliest settlers were from the Indo Aryan race. Buddhism was the dominant religion of the people till 12th century when Islam took over the nation and remains unaffected.
Throughout history Maldives remained an independent nation except for the 17 year occupation by Portuguese in 16th century and when she became a British protectorate in 1887, independence came in 1965. Later on they changed the government to a Republic from Monarchy.
Immigration & Visa
You will be granted a 30 day tourist visa arrival. No prior arrangements required.