About the Maldives ( General information) 

The Maldives is a chain of 1,192 tiny tropical islands nestled in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka. The shimmering turquoise lagoons, beaches of pure white sand and pristine coral reefs bursting with colourful aquatic life have a mesmerising beauty like no other, making it one of the most spectacular places on earth. Combined with unparalleled levels of privacy, seclusion and service, the Maldives has secured a reputation as the ultimate luxury holiday destination.

History

The Maldives has been influenced by sailors and other visitors from India, Sri Lanka, Arabia, Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and even further afield over a period of more than 2,500 years, so that certainly makes for a fascinating melting-pot of cultures. The population also included Buddhists and Hindus, prior to the country’s official conversion to Islam in 1153AD.

People, Culture & Food

Bodu Beru or ‘big drum’ is a form of traditional drumming accompanied by dancing, and it’s perhaps here that Africa’s influence on the country is the most apparent. Musicians rhythmically beat drums, sing and chant, while dancers move their bodies in time to the music, in an exciting display that is just impossible not to tap your feet to.

Bandiya Jehun is a folk dance which has some similarities with the Indian pot dance. The women taking part sing whilst tapping pots with their fingers.

The traditional crafts of the Maldives include beautiful lacquer-work bowls, boxes and vases, usually painted in red, black and yellow resin. The craftsmen of Baa Atoll are the most renowned for lacquer-work, which is called ‘liye laajehun’ in the local language.      

Women hand-weave dried reeds to create beautiful mats, coloured with natural dyes and featuring various patterns. Mat-weaving is also known as ‘thun’du kunaa’ in Dhivehi.

Traditional wooden boats are known as ‘dhonis’ in Dhivehi, and the skills to build them have been passed from father to son for generations in the Maldives. The most prominent feature of a dhoni is a curving prow.

As for the cuisine, there’s plenty for food-lovers to experience in the Maldives  from local curries to world-class international cuisine. The local cuisine on inhabited islands makes the most of what they have in abundance in the Maldives; namely fish and coconuts. Traditional fish curry includes tuna or white fish in a mild to medium-spicy sauce made from coconut milk, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, curry powder, cumin, cardamom chilli and a touch of tomato paste. It’s served with rice or ‘roshi’ (unleavened bread, rather like a very thin tortilla).  ‘Mas’huni roshi’ is also very popular as a breakfast dish both on the inhabited islands and at the resorts. It consists of tuna mixed with coconut, lime, diced onion and a touch of chilli. The mixture is eaten with roshi.

Marine Life in Maldives

The Maldives is renowned as one of the best diving destinations in the world. There are 2,000 species in the waters of the Maldives and almost all islands have a ‘house reef’ within easy access of the shore so it’s really easy to spot them whether you snorkel or dive. Reef fish dazzle your eyes in bright yellows, pinks, blues and oranges; with spots, stripes and all kinds of patterns. The types of reef fish you can typically spot include angel fish, butterfly fish, parrot fish, oriental sweetlips and anemone fish. The Maldives is also famous for larger aquatic creatures such as manta rays, reef sharks and whale sharks (the biggest fish in the ocean). See

Male’

The high-rise buildings of the tiny capital, perched on a sliver of land less than two metres higher than the ocean itself, make for a fascinating spectacle on approach from the sea or air. It’s the second most densely populated island in the world, after Ap Lei Chau in Hong Kong. More than 100,000 people – around a quarter of the country’s entire population – live on the 2.2 square mile (5.7 square km) landmass.

Historically, Male’ was where the kings of the Maldives lived. Although the royal palace was destroyed after the monarchy was abolished, several interesting historical buildings are still intact, and they are well worth a visit. They include a mosque made from intricately carved coral.

Local Islands

A ‘local island’ or ‘inhabited island’ is an island where the local population lives and is separate from resort islands which are usually on their own private islands. If you’d like to experience a sleepy Maldivian fishing village or small town, book an excursion to a local island and see the other side of the Maldives. Women are advised to cover their shoulders, chest and knees when visiting local islands out of respect for the conservative local culture.

City Hotels

If you need to spend a night in the city on your way to or from the resort we can line it up for you. Or perhaps you need a city hotel recommendation for a short business trip. Let our team of travel experts advise you and make all the arrangements necessary. We offer a selection of city hotels in the Maldives in destinations including Male’ and Hulhumale.

Guesthouses

Guesthouses in the Maldives are always well-appointed and new. We offer a fine selection of Maldives guesthouses with a range of amenities and facilities. If you’re looking for an affordable Maldives holiday, a guesthouse is an excellent option. Many of them provide superior levels of comfort and design to the lower-star resorts; think ‘boutique hotel’ rather than the traditional concept of a guesthouse. Our travel experts can pick the right guesthouse according to your needs and budget.

Weather in Maldives

It’s always a good time to visit the Maldives! The Maldives has a warm, equatorial climate which means the temperature hovers around 30c all year round. Pack for the sunshine and don’t forget a hat to protect your head from the strong tropical sun and plenty of sunscreen.

There are two seasons (wet and dry) but even so, the so-called ‘rainy season’ is one of the lightest in the region (and this is also when prices are at their lowest – so sometimes it’s worth taking a gamble on clear skies). As a basic rule, the wet season happens at the same time as the warmest weather in Europe (April-October). Of course, showers can happen at any time of the year. However you can rest assured that no matter what, it’ll never get colder than 25c.