Also known as the Republic of the Maldives, this beautiful country lies in the Indian Ocean as a double chain of 26 atolls which consists of about 1200 islands. Malé is the capital island as well as the largest in the country. This is a simple travel guide to the beautiful tropical islands since it is a preferred holiday destination by many honeymoon couples for romantic getaways.
All visitors arrive at the Malé International Airport that is located on Hulhulé Island which is next to the capital. Many flights stop in Colombo, Sri Lanka but now there are a number of direct flights from several parts of the world. Getting around the islands usually takes three forms; private yachts, sea planes which are known as air taxis and boats. Usually, air taxis and boats operate only during day time and therefore if you arrive in the Maldives at night, you should make arrangements to stay over at Malé. However, there are private transfers which are offered by resorts for a higher price.
Aside from honeymooning and spending time in luxury settings, the main activity that you can enjoy on the Maldive Islands is scuba diving. The islets are all surrounded by coral reefs and the water clarity is one of the best to experience underwater activity. From ship wrecks to colourful corals and all sorts of marine life can be witnessed in abundance when holidaying in the Maldives. Diving is possible throughout the year but you can expect rain and windy weather during the off season which is from June – August. January – April is known as the best time of the year to enjoy scuba diving since the weather is simply fine during that time of the year.
The Maldivian currency is the Rufiyaa but you can easily use electronic fund transfers while dollars can be used for other expenses such as tips and various purchases. Island hopping is also a fun activity if you are planning on visiting other resorts. Excursions can be arranged to visit resort islands, inhabited islands as well as a number of uninhabited ones. There are special packages available for couples with a number of romantic excursions on offer which is a not to miss.
There are water sports centres with a myriad of water sports activities available for holiday goers. From canoeing and wind surfing to catamaran sailing and kite surfing, you can choose according to your liking. Motored sports are also available while they include simple rides such as banana boat rides, tubes and rings to the extremes such as waterskiing, paragliding and jet skiing. Maldives is also gradually turning out to be a popular surfing destination.
All resort islands are self contained and therefore there are restaurants available. Malé also consists of a number of small restaurants serving international dishes which can be expensive or small cafes selling authentic Maldivian food which is cheap. Maldivian food mainly revolves around fish while most dishes are hot and spicy and flavoured with coconut.
About the author: Jane Taylor is a travel lover and a blogger. She has travelled many countries around the world and loves sharing them with others. These days she is looking for flights to Male Maldives.
