Why Visit the Maldives?
The Maldives offer a unique island experience and is often described as one of the most beautiful places on earth. As one of the most popular holiday island groups, the local economy is built largely around tourism.
From a natural perspective, the Maldives is simply magnificent. There are approximately 1200 islands comprising the Maldives, of which only 200 are inhabited. Sandy beaches with bright turquoise water set a vibrant and lively atmosphere that’s teeming with abundant marine life.
Geographically, the Maldive Islands are located on an underwater mountain range. 26 Coral atolls span across a vast area. These atolls create ridges in the ocean, separating the Maldive Islands from the expanse of the Indian Ocean beneath the waters surface.
Coral reefs flourish in the Maldivian waters, giving life to a colourful underwater backdrop. Fish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales and other forms of marine life thrive in this rich ocean paradise.
Caves, palm trees and tropical plant life make a holiday in the Maldives feel like an island adventure. Expect fun activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving to see the marine life close up and after a long day of fun, return to your luxury accommodation to relax and unwind in style.
There’s no other place in the world that is like the Maldives geographically. With islands rising only about 2 metres from sea level, it’s considered the lowest lying country in the world. This makes the Maldives stand out as a place that’s certainly worth visiting for its own natural distinctiveness.
Temperatures in the Maldives stay at a wonderfully warm 25-30°Cyear-round and only drop a few degrees at night. There’s an average of 8 hours of sunshine every day and the water temperature barely falls below 25°C. There are distinct wet (south-west monsoon) and dry (north-east monsoon) seasons; peak season for the Maldives is between December and April when the climate is drier, it’s less windy and the weather is hotter. Most travellers see this as the best time to go, but there are other factors to consider when choosing the time of year to travel here – like when to see specific marine life and when you’ll find the best value offers. Each island in the archipelago has its own microclimate, but there are general patterns that occur throughout the year. If you don’t mind chances of rain, you could realistically visit the Maldives at any time of the year, taking advantage of steep travel discounts during off-peak times.
Best Time
January, February, March & April (least rainy & sunny months with low humidity)
High Season
November & April
Low Season
May, June, July (late May to early July are generally the wettest months)
August to December (short rainstorms & lower room rates)
Best Weather
December to April
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What to Do in Maldives
The Maldives has special areas allocated solely to tourism. This means that while some of the islands are inhabited by locals, others are exclusively used as holiday resorts. Tourists in the Maldives often stay at a specific holiday island, only leaving the resort for excursions.
There aren’t any specific places in the Maldives that stand out above others. No grand waterfalls or large differences in geographic scenery exists from one island to the next. After all, none of the islands are more than 2 metres from sea level, but the whole of the Maldives is equally wondrous.
The Maldives has much to offer in terms of beautiful scenery, friendly local culture and some of the most amazing coral reef adventures to be had. Travellers can expect to see a plethora of exciting things whilst vacationing on the islands.
Island Hopping
With more than 1000 islands, there’s no shortage of places to go in the Maldives. As tourists often live on entirely separate islands, the best way to explore local culture is through island hopping.
The Maldives is the smallest Asian country, with its closest neighbours being Sri Lanka and India. The culture of the Maldivians is largely influenced by its neighbours, but there are some distinct elements and even African influences.
Maldivians love coffee shops! Quaint local coffee shops can be found almost everywhere in local areas, providing tourists with a great opportunity to sit and interact with locals if they’re interested in learning more about the culture and people.
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
Marine life in the Maldives is one of its main attractions. Travellers should have ample opportunity to explore the reefs and see exciting marine life through snorkelling and scuba diving expeditions.
Even uncertified scuba divers can expect to see a spectacular amount of marine life during shallow dives. Dolphins, whales, manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles and colourful fish all swim freely in the oceans. You simply can’t visit the Maldives without taking time to catch sight of the stunning underwater ocean surrounds!
Sightseeing
Whether it’s exploring the tropical areas of your island or simply watching the gleaming orange sunsets, the Maldives offers great opportunities for sightseeing. Try to spot dolphins while travelling on a boat during island hopping or simply enjoy idyllic views along the journey.
Other fun pastimes also include spa treatments, surfing and dining. Scenic flights, fun tubing and paddle boarding may also be available, but activities vary from one resort to another.
Water Sports
Fun water sports are a staple for any beach holiday. The Maldives has a variety of motorised and non-motorised sports that visitors can enjoy. From kayaking and catamaran sailing, to water-skiing, tubing and more!
Boating
Boating is popular in most holiday destinations. Enjoy leisure boat outings and even just travelling from one island to another during excursions.
Fishing
Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. With so much water and abundant marine life, the Maldives is a great place for big game fishing. The Maldivian waters are filled with sought after big game fish species such as tuna, wahoo, dorado and swordfish.
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