Where are the Maldives? Resorts of the Maldives

The Maldives archipelago consists of 26 atolls and 1192 coral islands. More than 100 islands have been converted into first-class resorts, 198 are uninhabited, and the rest are occupied by local residents. Each resort is a separate private island with excellent infrastructure, snow-white beaches and palm groves. A holiday in the Maldives will appeal to avid divers, newlyweds, and families with children. If heaven on earth exists, then most likely it is located here.

North Male Atoll

North Male is often called the main atoll of the Maldives archipelago. Firstly, on its territory is the capital of the Republic of Maldives - the city of Male and Khulule International Airport. Secondly, in 1972, the first Maldivian hotels appeared on the islands of Kurumba and Bandos.

The atoll includes 50 islands, of which 27 are resorts.

Proximity to the airport is one of the advantages of North Male. The journey to the most remote corners of paradise takes 20-40 minutes by seaplane and up to 4 hours by boat. Travelers can enjoy 3, 4 and 5 star hotels with excellent service, diving schools, water sports centers, spas and other entertainment.

Every year, the prestigious O’Neill Deep Blue Open surfing tournament is held on the island of Lohifushi.

South Male Atoll

South Male Atoll unites 30 islands, of which 17 are luxury resorts, 10 are uninhabited and three are inhabited by local residents.

The administrative center of the atoll is located on the island of Maafushi. The Kandooma Resort, popular among surfers, is also located here, off the coast of which you can catch excellent waves. The best time for surfing is considered to be from March to September: during this period, tours to the Maldives are cheaper.

South Male's resorts are great for diving and snorkeling. The islands have house reefs and excellent dive sites. Near the atoll there are marine reserves Guraidhoo Kandu and Embudhu Kandu.

Most resorts are a 45-minute speedboat ride from Male Airport.

Baa Atoll

Baa Atoll has many advantages. First of all, it is located on the territory of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, for which Divers love him. The expanses of water in Baa are home to magnificent coral reefs. Here you can see playful dolphins and sea turtles, and admire whale sharks.

Baa is ideal for a secluded luxury getaway.

On the island of Kunfunadhoo lies one of the best hotels in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa, awarded a prestigious award from Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Vegetables and fruits are grown in the hotel's own garden and vegetable garden without the use of chemicals. The cuisine is varied and excellent, with a huge selection of wines. And life goes on under the motto “No news and no shoes.”

Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll is one of the largest atolls in the Maldives archipelago. Its dimensions are 89 km long and 30 km wide.

The atoll includes 70 islands, of which 28 are resorts.

Ari is perfect for snorkeling, windsurfing, water skiing and other sports. The presence of reefs and several nature reserves make Ari an attractive diving destination. In its waters you can find moray eels, napoleons, giant snails, tuna, turtles and reef sharks. Those who want to learn to dive will love Rangali Island, where there is a good diving center.

Lhaviyani Atoll

Lhaviani Atoll is one of the best places for diving and snorkeling in the Maldives. The local waters are home to colorful tropical fish, nurse sharks, angelfish and moray eels. During a diving trip, you can see sunken ships that have become overgrown with colorful corals.

Not far from Kuredu Island, a long sand spit has formed on top of the reef. Walking along it at sunset, you can admire the glowing particles of plankton.

The journey to Lhaviani Resorts from Male International Airport takes 3.5 hours by speedboat.

Shaviyani Atoll and Noonu Atoll

Shaviyani Atoll is located 270 km from the capital Male and is part of the large Thiladunmati Atoll - the largest coral structure with an area of ​​1400 sq.m. For lovers of solitude and experienced divers, this is a real paradise. The islands of Shaviani Atoll are quite far from each other, so every tourist here feels free. Night dives are organized on Velidhoo Island, which is quite rare for the Maldives.

Nunu (Noonu) Atoll is located 150 km from Male Airport and unites 71 islands.

The resorts of Nunu Atoll are especially popular among divers, who are attracted by the local Christmas Rock reef. Its inhabitants include stingrays, moray eels, sharks and Napoleon fish.

Raa Atoll

Raa atoll or Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is one of the northern, most visited atolls of the Maldives.

This is a real paradise for lovers.

The atoll and its infrastructure offer a variety of spa services, water and beach sports, as well as an amazing, relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the world. The area is almost 70 km in size. in length and 30 km. in width, bounded by an island chain on the western side, it is strewn with a scattering of 88 islands, 15 of which are inhabited. The rich abundance of uninhabited and unexplored scenic islands of Raa Atoll provides travelers and tourists with fantastic opportunities for an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives. The atoll is located 130 km from the airport of the state capital, Male.

Dhaalu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll was recently opened for tourism. The atoll is 38 km long and 23 km wide. It consists of 46 islands, many of which are uninhabited.

The main island of Dhaalu Atoll is Kudahuvadhoo Island, which has a fairly well developed infrastructure and is home to 1,500 people. Not all islands are open to tourists, but only those located in the northern part of the atoll.

The atoll's picturesque coral reefs are great for scuba diving. In addition, there is the opportunity to practice other sports: windsurfing, sailing, volleyball, ping-pong, badminton. You can calmly go fishing or have a fun ride on a catamaran or scooter

Seenu Atoll/Addu

Siinu Atoll is located on the equator and is the southernmost atoll of the archipelago. Shiinu has 23 islands, of which only 6 are inhabited. Some of them are densely populated and connected by causeways that can be ridden by bicycle. These include Gan, Maradu, Hithadu and Fidu.

This corner of the Maldives archipelago is especially attractive in terms of diving. During the Second World War, a British naval base was located in these territories, from which the local airport on the island of Gan remains. And a torpedoed British tanker attracts local underwater wildlife and drivers.

Vaavu Atoll

Vaavu – least populated atoll Maldives archipelago. Of the 19 islands, only 5 are inhabited and are home to about 2,000 people. The virgin nature and rich underwater world attract divers and fishermen to this region. Off the coast of Vaavu there are reef sharks, hammerhead fish, and stingrays. Those who dream of catching big prey have a chance to catch blue marlin, tuna or sailfish.

Divers will delight in exploring the house reefs, including the famous Fottheyo Falhu. There are diving schools on the islands where you can undergo training and obtain a PADI certificate.

This is not a complete list of atolls in the Maldives archipelago. Some are just beginning to open their possibilities to tourists, for example, Daalu, Faafu, Haa Alif and others.

But to the question: - Where are the Maldives? not everyone will be able to give the correct answer. Meanwhile, finding their location is not at all difficult. Pick up a map and find the Indian Ocean. Two parallel chains of islands, southwest of India and near the equator, are the coveted Maldives.

A little geography

Exotic coral islands stretch from north to south for 820 kilometers. The total area of ​​the Maldives is 90 thousand square kilometers, but only 298 square kilometers are allocated to land, the rest of the territory is occupied by the sea. The coral atolls comprise 1,192 stunning islands, of which 994 are uninhabited.

The population of the paradise country is 393 thousand people, who settled on two hundred islands. About half of them hospitably welcome tourists from all over the world, who know very well where the Maldives are on the world map and strive to come here as often as possible. The islands are very small, several square kilometers, so there is no more than one hotel on each of them. Blue transparent lagoons, amazing sandy beaches, unique vegetation and the highest level of service make your holiday here delightful and unforgettable.

Weather

Where are the Maldives? Where there is no winter. The subequatorial monsoon climate provides an average annual temperature of 24-30 degrees. From November to March there is dry, warm weather and the thermometer does not drop below 17 degrees. There are rains, rough seas and temperatures of 30-32 degrees. It is pleasant to swim here all year round, because the water temperature constantly remains at the same level - 24-27 degrees.

Flora and fauna

A distinctive feature of the animal world is the complete absence of poisonous reptiles. And you don’t even have to worry about a dog bite here; keeping these animals is prohibited by law. But quite a short distance from the shore you can see a huge whale shark, but, as you know, giants feed only on plankton, so those who want to swim can do so without fear.

Fans of exotic fruits simply need to know where the Maldives are, because there are a great variety of them here. The unique climate allows you not to lack vitamins all year round.

Coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papaya, and pineapples delight tourists and natives with their juicy pulp. Everywhere the delicate aroma of orchids, hibiscus, roses, their variety and variety amazes the imagination.

Calmness, silence and complete unity with nature allow you to completely detach yourself from existing problems and give yourself a good rest.

Smallest capital

The city of Male is recognized as the smallest capital in the world, because it covers an area of ​​only 2.5 square kilometers. This is a tiny cozy town, the main attractions of which are the Good Friday Mosque with a sparkling golden dome, the National Museum located in the Sultan's Park, the Presidential Palace and the legendary burial places of the Maldivian saints. There are no noisy entertainment venues here, but you can stroll along the picturesque embankment, enjoy the aroma of flowers in a shady park, and visit unique vegetable and craft markets. Everything in this country is subject to the laws of nature, and, probably, sometimes it’s even good to take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities in such a cozy and calm place.

Visa and customs control

Where the Maldives is located is well known to those who have visited this wonderful exotic corner and will probably visit it again.

To travel here you do not need to visit consular offices -.

You can vacation here for 30 days, this is exactly the period indicated on the tourist visa, which is placed in your passport free of charge upon arrival in the country. Customs can check whether you comply with the rules that prohibit import:

• drugs;
• pork products;
• animals;
• alcohol;
• anti-Islamic literature;
• pornographic products;
• military attributes.

In addition, when going on an exotic vacation, you should remember that nudism and toplessness are prohibited in this Muslim country, and when visiting the capital and areas where aborigines live, women should not wear beachwear; knees and shoulders must be covered.

The attractiveness of the Maldives

The prohibitions and restrictions that are important for local residents and not at all burdensome for us do not in any way detract from the advantages of relaxing in this fabulous country. Now you know that the Maldives is where the transparency of the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, exotic fruits and the aroma of exquisite flowers, spreading palm trees and schools of colorful fish, calm silence and solitude on a small colorful island in the middle of the ocean expanse. The Maldives is paradise on earth, pleasure and bliss that you can give yourself.

Basic moments

The Maldives offers generous sunshine, glamorous sand-sifted beaches, bounty-style turquoise lagoons and fantastic diving 365 days a year. And this is a delightful atmosphere of complete relaxation, respectable laziness and detachment from everyday problems. No matter what economic cataclysms shake the planet, this Asian resort continues to live in its relaxed rhythm, independent from the mainland. The classical Islamic state, with its traditional taboo on everything that contradicts religious canons, managed to adapt to the free morals of the tourist elite, without compromising its own traditions at all. The Maldives is the very place where the roads of visitors and indigenous inhabitants (unless they are hotel employees) almost never cross, and a bank account, no matter how solid it may be, can be reset to zero in a matter of days. It is in the Maldives that you can have the most romantic wedding, improve your diving skills, and, finally, just feel like the last person on the planet by renting a secluded bungalow with a private beach and stunning views of the ocean.

History of the Maldives

According to rough estimates, the history of the Maldives began more than 2000 years ago, when the atolls lost in the Indian Ocean were inhabited by people from neighboring India and Sri Lanka. It was the first settlers who brought Buddhism to the islands, which in the 12th century supplanted Islam, which was actively propagated by the Arabs who arrived here.

Starting from the mid-16th century, the Portuguese and Dutch began to lay claim to the territory of the Maldives. But the local inhabitants were in no hurry to turn their country into a raw material appendage of insatiable Europe, actively resisting the attacks of foreigners.

In 1887, England still managed to establish a protectorate over the Maldives. But in 1967, the islanders rebelled, demanding complete independence from Britain, which was granted to them a year later. The country was immediately declared a republic and a new president was elected.

Weather and climate

You can go to the Maldives at any time of the year: thanks to the subequatorial monsoon climate, it is always warm here. Even in the coldest months (January - February), the thermometer never drops below +17 °C, and the average air temperature often fluctuates between +24...+33 °C. The main climatic differences depend on the two monsoon seasons. The winter northeast monsoon, which blows from January to March, is the peak season, bringing dry weather and coinciding with the European winter. The southwest monsoon from May to December causes wet weather, but the rain rarely lasts very long. The rainiest months in the Maldives are May and November, while the sunniest months are March and before and after it.

Geography

The Republic of Maldives is an Asian country in the equatorial Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is 700 km from here, and India is only 430. By the way, the Maldives are considered the lowest state on the planet: almost all of the land here is only a meter or two above sea level, so in the distant future the fashionable resort risks repeating the fate of Atlantis.

The Maldives islands are mostly small, and the area of ​​some of them is absolutely tiny. Almost each of these pieces of land has its own coral “shield,” so the main feature of the local beaches is that they are almost never stormy, and the water off the coast remains amazingly clear.

The main resort area of ​​the country is formed by the northern atolls, which guarantee their guests the highest level of service and complete privacy. The southern atolls are a little behind in terms of tourism business development, but it is easy to predict that in the foreseeable future they will also catch up, given that their lagoons are full of suitable diving spots.

But tour operators reached the far southern atolls relatively recently, so for now these islands continue to be inhabited by the Maldivians themselves. This, of course, does not mean that the ubiquitous backpacker has never set foot here - quite the opposite, given the fact that the distant atolls are perhaps the only place in the country where a tourist thirsting for national flavor can freely contact the local inhabitants. In other parts of the resort you won’t be able to walk so freely through the village streets.

Flora and fauna

The natural world of the equatorial paradise is surprisingly poor. The main inhabitants of the land are hermit crabs, giant Achatina (snails), flying foxes (relatives of our bats) and gray herons. The situation with vegetation in the Maldives is even worse. Basically, the tourist will have to admire coconut palms and bananas, which are cultivated in huge quantities on the islands. True, as soon as you leave the shore and plunge into the azure ocean waves, a completely different Maldives will appear before you - whimsical, full of life and the most incredible colors. The reefs surrounding the resort are home to more than 1,100 species of fish, 400 species of shellfish, 187 species of coral, 21 species of mammals (whales, dolphins) and 145 species of crabs.

Capital

The classic rule: “The capital is the face of the state” does not work in the Maldives. Male is a small but incredibly densely populated city on the southern coast of the atoll of the same name. Its area is 5.8 km². It is in Male that ¼ of the total population of the republic lives.

It’s a paradox, but the capital of an elite world resort is not much different from the provincial cities of India. Cramped streets, high-rise buildings right next to each other, a littered port and the unchanging symbol of any Islamic country - the mosque. There are almost no significant attractions in the city, so tourists arriving in the Maldives do not stay in Male. Perhaps they will go to the local market to look at the abundance of fish rows, or, in urgent need, they will take a walk to the hospital.

Local residents and national traditions

As in any Islamic state, religious traditions are strong in the Maldives. The indigenous people do not drink alcohol and never sell it, or rather, they try to pretend that they are disgusted by it, and also hide their women under shapeless robes. This way of life, of course, is not imposed on visitors. Moreover, many Maldivians work as bartenders in hotels, masterfully mixing cocktails and filling guests' glasses with drinks that they would never try themselves.

The bulk of the country's population is employed in the tourism business, but those for whom the stars shine a little less brightly have to earn a living by fishing, repairing boats and other not the most highly paid activities.

Since not all islands have regular transport links with other parts of the land, the majority of Maldivians live extremely isolated. Ordinary islanders have a monotonous and measured life: going to sea in the morning, lazy swinging in a hammock chair and idle contemplation of the surrounding reality in the afternoon, and at sunset, fishing again.

Etiquette standards and rules of behavior at the resort

The Maldives has a lot of restrictions, non-compliance with which can lead to serious problems. For example, on the most beautiful beaches on the planet it is forbidden to sunbathe topless, much less be completely naked. Walking around cities and towns in ultra-short tops and shorts is also not recommended, nor is it recommended to break off branches of local coral as a souvenir of your trip. Fans of coastal fishing and spearfishing are better off not talking about their passion at all: such types of fishing in the Maldives are equated to poaching. And for throwing garbage and drinking alcohol outside the hotel premises, substantial fines are imposed.

Video: Maldives from above

Beaches of the Maldives

Listing the beaches of a resort consisting of almost 2,000 islands is a thankless task, so it’s easier to name the most popular and well-groomed of them. On North Male Atoll, these are Banyan Tree and Naladu. Nikak and San, which belong to the Ari Atoll, do not suffer from a lack of swimmers. You can swim in the company of Maldivian turtles on the beaches of Lhaviani Atoll, and the shores of Maafushi are better suited for observing the habits of dolphins. The islands of Kunfadhoo and Hadahaa are occupied by those with deep pockets, while incorrigible romantics flock to the coast of Vaadu, dreaming of watching the sunrise on a luminescent beach. Surfers and other wave-chasers hang out around Kunuhura Island, where their unofficial headquarters is Pasta Point Resort.

Attractions and entertainment in the Maldives

Once you have explored the amazing beaches of the Maldives and discovered all the delights of the all inclusive system, you are unlikely to want to go anywhere else. Well, if such a desire nevertheless arises, then take a ride to the Sultan Park on the island of Male, where the National Museum is also located. In the capital, you can also gaze at the Presidential Palace, a rather modest building by modern standards, where all official receptions are held, and at the Good Friday Mosque, built from coral blocks. If possible, book a table at the underwater restaurant Ithaa, one of the ten most unusual restaurants on the planet. The queue for this pretentious establishment is endless, and for the exclusive surroundings they demand an inadequate amount from visitors, but according to the lucky ones who managed to appreciate the local service, it is worth it.

It's certainly hard to find a more comfortable destination than a tropical island with upscale hotels, great food and impeccable, friendly staff. But if you come to the Maldives for at least a couple of weeks, then most likely you will want to see what is hidden behind the borders of a cozy hotel. Traveling around the Maldives is not easy, especially if you try to do it on your own, but it is possible to join an organized excursion. This could be an aimless boat ride looking for a suitable angle for a selfie against the sunset, or a visit to a Maldivian village and getting to know the life of the islanders. You can relieve yourself of worries (and extra money) by booking an aerial cruise on a seaplane, or renting a real submarine with a crew to explore the ocean floor. Well, lovers of picturesque ruins should go to Ari Atoll, where the ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple are still preserved.

Traveling around the area

Of course, what places you can visit and what trips you can take are entirely determined by the location of the resort you're at. True, you will find little variety here, because one island is not much different from another. Perhaps only a trip to Male will give you new impressions. Most resorts located near the capital can organize a one-day excursion for their guests. And while all of Male's attractions are gathered in one place and can be explored in just a couple of hours, it's worth staying overnight to get a taste of the capital and see how its inhabitants entertain themselves after the sun dips below the horizon and the heat subsides. This can be done by taking a day boat flight to the capital, having previously booked a hotel room, and returning the next day also on a day flight. You can also take the boat or seaplane that hotels send to pick up tourists from the airport.

Boat trips

Another popular way to explore the Maldives is boat excursions. These can be short sunset trips around the island where your hotel is located, or long trips where you charter a boat or go on liveaboards (passengers live on their own boat on the open ocean). Travel conditions depend entirely on the size of your wallet. On most boats, passengers are provided not with private cabins, but with bunks separated by curtains, and the tourists are expected to do the routine daily work themselves.

A higher degree of comfort is offered by ships such as the Atoll Explorer, which features air-conditioned cabins and a swimming pool on the upper deck. Private yachts are intended for the very rich, famous and influential people, as well as oligarchs who avoid resort accommodation.

If these prices are a little out of your budget, the resort can charter a speedboat and crew for the day. It will cost no more than $200. Ordering from the pier in Male will cost less due to competition. To reduce the price even further, you can charter a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, but then you won't be able to travel long distances.

If you want to get a taste of the sweet life and ride on a luxury yacht, Kuredu on Lhaviani Atoll offers day yacht cruises, and night cruises can be booked privately. The yacht is also available at W Retreat & Spa on Ari Atoll.

Desert Islands

Paradoxically, uninhabited islands may be the busiest after Male. Often they are “adopted” by certain resorts, which build various communal amenities, cafes there and send their guests there on a day excursion to have a picnic, snorkel and just swim. And since several groups of tourists come ashore at once, calling these islands “uninhabited” would be somewhat incorrect.

There are tourists who want to visit the uninhabited islands of the Maldives not in such large numbers. Some resorts offer private dinners on the sand for two or more guests and even offer the opportunity to stay overnight. Visitors are given a flag to raise in case of danger.

If money isn't an issue for you, you can rent an entire resort; many small islands can provide safe havens for rich people. For example, the boat-only portion of the Soneva Gili resort can be rented in its entirety.

Village Islands

In the Maldives, excursions to nearby villages are very popular among tourists. Some resorts have close relationships with the islands on which the villages are located and regularly shuttle guests back and forth. If there is no such island near the resort, then, as a rule, a visit to the village is included in the program of a one-day excursion, which involves visiting an uninhabited island.

The Maldivian villages that you will visit during an organized tour will not give a complete picture of the life of the local population. There you will see crowds of tourists milling around and a market that has arisen with the express purpose of satisfying their needs, and not the needs of local residents. But the schools, mosques and houses will be real, and the natural spontaneous development of these villages will allow your eye to take a break from the strict regularity of the resorts.

To visit a “real village” in the Maldives, somewhere off the beaten path, you will have to make a considerable effort. First, it won't be cheap (you have to rent a separate boat because the transport to the inland atolls doesn't take foreigners on board). Secondly, you will have to overcome many bureaucratic obstacles, such as obtaining permission to visit the inland atolls from the administration of the ministry located in Male. And in order to receive it, you need confirmation from a person living on the island you are going to visit. All this, of course, deprives the acquaintance with the real life of the archipelago of spontaneity. If your determination is unshakable, a travel agent in Male will help you overcome bureaucratic obstacles.

Diving

Masters of scuba gear and action cameras in the Maldives will find perfectly warm water (on average +27 °C), excellent visibility even at a depth of 40 m and an incredibly rich underwater world. The only danger is the currents that gain strength just outside the reefs, so it is better for beginners to flounder inside the atolls.

It is better to go in search of bottom riches from September to May: the sea during this period is calm, it does not have the abundance of plankton that occurs with the arrival of the monsoons. Coral slides, sunken ships (wrecks), inter-island straits - all these are traditional routes for heroes in wetsuits.

One type of diving or another can be practiced at almost all resorts, but the conditions vary significantly. On some islands, scuba diving is not high on the list of sports offered. This means that both the diving sites and scuba training courses will be quite limited, which is more suitable for beginners or casual scuba diving enthusiasts.

However, true fans of diving in the Maldives can claim something more. The resorts, which are the most popular among the scuba diving fraternity, offer a wide range of courses such as VIT, CMAS, SSI, PADI, NAUI, ANDI and RAB where one can improve their skills. They also provide additional equipment that guarantees safety, such as underwater video cameras. The choice may also be influenced by the availability of nitrox and a decompression chamber, as well as the proximity of suitable diving sites to the resort.

Most local diving centers are located at hotels (Sun Diving School PADI Golden Palm 5, Ocean Dive Center, TGI Maldives, Euro Divers, etc.). Well, for the most restless, there is the possibility of a diving safari, for which a group of divers with the same experience is recruited. The advantages of such a cruise are obvious: you can get acquainted with almost all the atolls and look at uninhabited islands, it is much cheaper than diving with hotel accommodation and, finally, traveling on a yacht is an almost guaranteed opportunity to meet local sharks, which are precisely what those who come to the island are chasing Maldives scuba divers.

Video: Diving in the Maldives

Rating of the best diving spots in the Maldives

Male Atoll

• Banana Reef;
• Lions Head;
• Manta Point;
• Old Shark Point;
• wreck of the ship "Victoria";
• Poodle Place;
• Rainbow Reef;
• Hans Place.

South Male Atoll

• Vadu Cave;
• Guraidhoo Strait.

• the sunken ship "Fesdu";
• Maaafushi-Tila;
• Fish head reef.

Northern atolls

The Northern Atolls are one of the main areas of the Maldives for tourism. Now the number of resorts has barely exceeded double digits, but this figure will steadily increase. There are plans to develop pristine atolls that will provide visitors with even more peace and solitude. Since there are much fewer ships cruising here than on the more populated atolls close to the capital, the air in the northern resorts is cleaner and the water is clearer than anywhere else in the archipelago.

New tour operators are competing with hundreds of competitors, so they are trying to stand out by offering better facilities and more interesting activities. One such idea is embodied on an island called Hideaway. This is a relatively new resort that boasts the first marina in the Maldives. It is designed to attract as many customers as possible. People accustomed to vacationing on yachts, such as Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, already regularly spend time on the Northern Atolls. They may be trying to avoid the busier islands near the capital. In high-class hotels, guests will receive appropriate service: butler assistance and massage.

Guests who do not have their own yachts can be transported to hotels in the northern islands by speedboats. The journey will take just over two hours. A seaplane flight is much more likely, and the more remote resorts sometimes operate their own commercial flights.

Beaches

In this part of the country you can see the same fantastic beaches covered with white sand, illuminated by golden rays of the sun and washed by azure waves, as on other Maldivian atolls. But their privacy guarantees you even greater purity and pristineness than in the central regions of the archipelago.

Diving

The relatively recent development of tourism in the Maldives, which began in the 1990s, and the small number of boats and ships plying around the atolls, keep the area pristine and thus provide excellent diving conditions. Both kailu (straits, channels between reefs) and thila (seamount, reef bank, the top of which is not visible from the surface) offer many opportunities for snorkeling. Diving on the Raa and Baa atolls, to the west of the southern group of islands, includes the protected waters of Horubadu Thila, inhabited by ocean fish, sometimes gray reef sharks and eagle rays can swim there. Other thilas in the area include the busiest Daravandu, as well as Beriyan Faru, Kottefaru Kuda and Vaadu, each of which promises a lot for true scuba diving enthusiasts. The southwest monsoon, which blows from May to June, brings manta rays and whale sharks to the shores. The strong currents in these areas mean that they are more suitable for experienced divers, with few areas suitable for beginners.

To the east of Raa and Baa, near Lhaviani Atoll, divers will encounter the remains of the fishing boats Skipjack II and Gaafaru, which after two decades spent on the ocean floor became part of underwater life. Their sinking location is easy to find: the Skipjack II's bow rises above the surface of the water. There are also two excellent giri (coral clusters a few meters below the ocean's surface) diving sites: Narkola, south of Hurawali, rich in ledges and faults, and Maa, southwest of Kanuhuraa, where underwater currents create fantastic marine diversity flora and fauna. Another protected ocean area called Kuredu Express offers enjoyable scuba diving, while the 250m long Fushifaru Thila with strong currents is a great spot for advanced divers.

Southern atolls

Given its proximity to Male, parts of the Southern Atolls remain relatively undeveloped in terms of resorts, perhaps because the atolls here are not as close to each other as in the north of the Maldives. The slow pace of development has made the area popular for liveaboard boats, which ply the archipelago in search of privacy and tranquility for their passengers.

If it were not for tourism, this zone could not be called active at all, especially on the islands where fishing and agriculture are practiced. As in the Northern Atolls, the number of resorts here has barely exceeded double digits, including those that developers are still working on. You can fly from Male to your resort by seaplane in 35 or 45 minutes.

Beaches

The lack of busy boat traffic guarantees crystal clear waters, and some even claim that the local beaches are some of the best in the Maldives. And although it is almost impossible to rank countless coastlines, walking along the sands of Filitheyo or Vilu Reef Resort, I really want to agree with them.

Diving

Just below South Male Atoll, at Vaavu, lies the country's longest ridge of pristine reefs, stretching 55 km. It stretches from Hurahu Kandu to the southernmost point of the atoll. The main form of scuba diving in this area is drift diving in the kaila, for which there are many excellent sites, including Wattara Kanda, a protected area and a reef. Also popular are the thila (underwater coral reefs), particularly Fotteyo, which many rank among the best dive sites in the Maldives. An amazing life of various underwater inhabitants takes place here, and some of the corals are simply dazzling.

Water sports

All the usual water sports are available in the Southern Atolls, and centers that focus on this type of activity include Alimatha Aquatic, Medhufushi and Vilu Reef.

Far southern atolls

The Maldives' southern atolls, some of which are located on the other side of the equator, are rare islands where tourists mingle freely with the local population. The equatorial village is located on the island of Gan, which belongs to the southernmost Sin Atoll, where traces of the British presence remain. There used to be two Royal Air Force bases here, which were dissolved in 1976, but the English lawns and reconstructed barracks still remind of them.

Another unique feature of this part of the country is that you can walk 17 km in a straight line without ever reaching water. This was made possible thanks to a causeway that the British built, connecting Gan with three islands - Feydhoo, Maradu and the main atoll of Hithadhoo - to the northeast of it. No special permit is required to visit these islands inhabited by locals, so independent tourists who are curious to see the real life of the Maldivians love to come here. A relatively inexpensive (by Maldivian standards, of course) stay at the resort attracts a whole crowd of backpackers.

Until recently, Gan was a rather sleepy little island, but that's all set to change in the near future. The fact is that the local airport has been brought into line with international standards, and now it can accommodate more tourists seeking to visit resorts, the number of which is steadily increasing. Ghana's geographic isolation means its culture and language, as well as flora and fauna, are different, so travelers may have a very different experience on the island than the rest of the Maldives. For many years, Gan was the only island in a group of distant southern atolls on which a resort was built, but it is now beginning to experience competition from its neighbors.

Beaches

If you prefer immaculately maintained beaches, then it is better to stay somewhere else in the archipelago. The beauty of Gan Island is that you can wander freely along its beaches, which are not monitored by strict resort management, and mingle with the locals. You can swim at Koattey Beach, at the northern tip of Hithadhoo.

Diving

Thanks to the almost complete absence of tourist infrastructure, ocean life in these places flourishes. Sinu Atoll is especially attractive in this sense, where divers will not find a crowd of like-minded people. This atoll has escaped the coral bleaching that has plagued much of the archipelago, making it particularly attractive. Perhaps the most famous diving site is the multi-ton tanker British Loyalty, which was torpedoed by the Japanese during World War II. Experienced divers are allowed to swim into the remains of the hull itself, where a dazzling variety of underwater life awaits them. Another attraction for the scuba diving community is Shark Point, or Shark Point, located northeast of Hulumidhoo, so named because of the abundance of white and gray reef sharks.

Getting to know local life

This rare chance to experience a real Maldivian village is not to be missed. Explore the islands by motorbike, bicycle or on foot (there are tours to the Equatorial Village). There you will see mosques, schools and remnants of the British stay. At the far end of the causeway is the most beautiful part of the atoll, the capital city of Hithadhoo. In the center there are many tea houses and a stadium where you can even watch competitions. And on the fresh water lake Eidigali-Kili you can admire the birds.

A wedding in the Maldives is no longer a fashion trend, but rather a pathetic tradition that stubbornly does not give up its position, demonstrating the level of wealth of the couple. You can book a ceremony in the best traditions of soap operas, including a visit to the spa, a romantic walk, a wedding ceremony and a wedding picnic, smoothly turning into a wedding night in a secluded bungalow, right at the hotel. For a spectacular theatrical performance and a wedding certificate, you will have to pay 2,833 rufiyaa (11,000 rubles). Fans of extreme sports and non-trivial experiences in the Maldives are offered an underwater version of the special event. Prices for a wedding at the bottom of the sea in the company of experienced dive instructors are already more serious - around 3,993 rufiyaa (15,500 rubles).

The other side of Maldivian paradise

The most fashionable resort in the world has virtually no natural sources of fresh water. Life-giving moisture is either collected here during the rainy season or pumped from wells. The water extracted from the atoll depths contains a large amount of salts, so it is subjected to demineralization. However, it is still of little use for drinking, as it has a short shelf life, which is why most tourists, and even indigenous residents, prefer to buy bottled water.

Own power plants in the Maldives are a luxury item, so on a number of islands they are replaced by fuel generators. And if on relatively populated atolls electricity is supplied around the clock, then where there are fewer people, light is supplied only in the evenings and then for a couple of hours.

The problem of garbage in the island state was solved ingeniously and simply - they set aside a separate island for household waste. But since official landfills cannot accommodate the volume of waste that accumulates, some parts of the Maldives are approaching this issue with a great deal of creativity. For example, on some atolls they use sewage water to fertilize green spaces and enrich the soil with fertilizer from fish offal; in other parts of the resort, tourists are provided with special bags for waste, which the guest must take with them after their vacation. However, despite all efforts, it has not yet been possible to completely get rid of garbage, so plastic thrown out by passengers of yachts and boats washes up on the shores of the Maldives from time to time.

Food and drink

In search of national Maldivian dishes, it is better to go to Male, since the hotel kitchens are staffed mainly by Sri Lankan staff, who adapt the food to their own culinary traditions. In the capital's eateries, mostly islanders work, so the food there is the most authentic.

Oddly enough, in a tropical paradise, culinary preferences cannot be more modest. True, such unpretentiousness is a necessary measure: little grows in the Maldives except bananas and coconuts. The products here are imported and, therefore, expensive, so local chefs always have 1,000 and one ways to prepare rice with fish.

A regular on the Maldivian table is tuna: fried, boiled, dried, smoked, boiled into a soufflé (mas huni), canned... They also love curry on the islands, which is much less spicy here than in neighboring India. Maldivians prepare fish broth (garudiya) as their first course. This tropical soup is cooked for several hours, flavored with lime and chili and served with the same rice. Meat is a rare guest on local tables, since pork is prohibited in an Islamic country, and there is simply nothing to feed cattle on the atolls.

The average Maldivian can season his “daily rice” with coconut or lime juice, onion and chili pepper. The islanders' bread is replaced by unleavened flatbread Roshi (a local variation on the theme of Armenian lavash), and the main drink here is green tea with milk (masala). Maldivians do not drink alcohol, but they get their portion of alcoholic euphoria from raa - fermented palm sap. As for desserts, almost all of them are coconut-based. The most prominent representative of sweet dishes is considered to be a bondi stick - a compressed and somewhat sugary delicacy made from coconut flakes, wrapped like a Havana cigar.

Most all inclusive hotels offer international cuisine. Of course, they also host weeks of local delicacies, but on other days there are French croissants and every Maldivian's nightmare - juicy pork steaks.

Money

The official currency of the country is the Maldivian rufiyaa ($0.06). The rufiyaa exchange rate is artificially maintained against the dollar, and its exchange rate with other currencies is based on this, so there is no point in looking for a place where you can make a more profitable exchange. Banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rufiyaa and coins of 1 and 2 rufiyaa are in circulation. Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport or at any of the banks, just keep in mind that the latter are closed on Friday and Saturday. In all places where tourists visit, American dollars and euros are accepted, and they are in circulation at all resorts. If you wish, you can avoid handling cash at all and ask for all expenses to be included in your hotel bill and pay at the end of your stay with a credit card.

Fun fact: The Maldives prints its rufiyaa on the same paper that America prints its dollars.

Tips

Tipping, while quite common in nearby territories such as India, does not have such a strong tradition in the Maldives. But low wages and foreign guests with a habit of tipping began to change the situation. At most resorts, the guest is immediately assigned a specific table, so that he will be served by the same waiter throughout the entire vacation. If you don't want to deal with cash, then you can thank the service staff on the last day. Some tour operators set the amount at $10 per week. There is no need to tip taxi drivers or cafes. If you want to thank a local resident for taking a photo with you, he may be offended.

Shopping

Shopping in a country where practically nothing is produced is like a kind of quest. Although for the unpretentious tourist in the Maldives, of course, there is something authentic or skillfully imitating this very authenticity. It is worth noting that most of the trinkets with supposedly Maldivian flavor that are sold in the capital’s shops are not actually such. All these, as a rule, are Sri Lankan variations on the theme of “a truly Maldivian souvenir.”

For authentic creations of Maldivian artisans, it is better to go to the islands of Mahibadhoo, Maafushi, Khuura, Rasdhu, where for a not very modest sum, local craftsmen will happily provide you with wooden boxes, miniature “dhoni”, palm fiber rugs, colorful shells and funny coconut monkeys. Those who are looking for “something like that” will definitely be persuaded to buy a Maldivian hookah, Gudu-Guda, which local grandmothers love to blow before bedtime. If the hookah doesn’t work out, magnets and T-shirts won’t surprise you, but you still want to bring a material reminder of your vacation with you, take a closer look at the badu-beru ritual drums.

By the way, about T-shirts and magnets - you don’t have to go far to buy them: all the souvenir shops in Male are filled with this stuff. In them you can also get the notorious shark teeth, which have long become the main resort trophy.

Opening hours

Business life in the Maldives comes to a standstill on Friday, as well as five times a day for 15 minutes during prayer. Shops may open at 6:00, but most often open at 8:00 or 9:00. They usually close at 20.00, but some can be open until 23.00. Government offices and banks open at 7.30 or 8.00 and are open until 13.30 from Sunday to Thursday.

Difference in time

The time difference with Moscow in the Maldives is +1 hour in the summer (when in Moscow it is 11.00, in the Maldives it is already 12.00) and +2 hours in the winter.

• Birthdays are not celebrated in the Maldives. Moreover, they don’t even try to remember this date.
• Only a Muslim who has lived in the country for several years can obtain citizenship of a country.
• The Maldives is among the top 10 countries for divorce rates (about 50%). At the same time, citizens bear criminal liability for adultery. Those who walk to the left are publicly treated to a whip here.
• The working week in the country begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday.
• Entering the Maldives with a dog is strictly prohibited: according to the Koran, this animal is considered unclean.
• The resort's motto is No news, no shoes! (No news, no shoes!).
• The Maldives does not have a tax free system.
• Male International Airport is located on an artificially created island.
• In the Maldives, not only the celebration of Halloween, but also the mention of it out loud is officially prohibited.
• The largest fish in the world, the whale shark, is found in the Maldives. Its size varies from 5.5 to 10 meters, and people can admire how this hulk cuts through the crystal clear waters of the Maldives.

Where to stay

The Maldives is not a place where you can go with a hundred dollars clutched in your fist, party all weekend and still bring “change.” On the one hand, the country has several hostels and guest houses, but even in such places the tourist will be asked to pay far from a modest amount. You can, of course, try to negotiate with the locals and stay with them, but this is rather an extreme option for backpackers and experienced adventurers. On the other hand, people don’t come to a tropical paradise to count every bill and cut themselves off in everything, so why not relax on a grand scale.

A classic of local housing is water bungalows (wooden houses on stilts standing directly in the sea). For the waves splashing right under your feet and the exclusive opportunity to snorkel on your own porch, you will have to pay an average of 5,153 to 20,6611 rufiyaa (20,000-80,000 rubles). An excellent chance to combine comfortable living conditions and acquaintance with the most picturesque Maldivian atolls - yachts, the rental of a cabin on which is equivalent in price to an excellent hotel room.

There are relatively few budget three-room hotels in the Maldives, and even those are mostly occupied by divers. Booking.com recommends Gunbaru Inn, Rihiveli by Castaway and Sun Tan Beach most often. There is a wide range of prices here: you can find a room for 902 rufiyaa (about 3,500 rubles), or for 3,865 (15,000 rubles).

Safety

In the Maldives, they are terribly afraid of yellow fever, so they scrupulously check that all travelers arriving from South America and Africa are vaccinated against this disease. For some reason, all other infectious agents are of no interest to local doctors, but, just in case, it is better to first get vaccinated against rubella, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever. If you are not coming from an infected area, then vaccinations are not necessary.

You shouldn’t leave without a strategic supply of essential medications - normal pharmacies at the resort can only be found in Male, while on most other islands the choice of medicines is extremely poor, and hospitalization in this country costs a lot of money. It’s also best not to show up on Maldivian beaches without good sunscreen, repellent and a bottle of water. Due to the high concentration of solar radiation, you can get a sunburn at the equator not just by lying under a palm tree, but also by sitting up to your neck in water.

Despite the fact that local beaches give the impression of calm and “lazy” places, do not rush to demonstrate your prowess and swim beyond the line of red flags that mark safe swimming areas. Of course, in most hotels on the shore there is security on duty, but underwater ocean currents, which are impossible to cope with, have not yet been canceled.

Crime in the republic is kept to a minimum, so the Maldives can safely be called one of the safest resorts. In force majeure situations, when you cannot do without the help of law enforcement agencies, it is better to contact the hotel security, who will themselves establish contact with the police station.

Connection

Cellular services at the resort are provided by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, whose SIM cards can be purchased at the airport or in specialized stores in Male. The connection quality is quite good, unless you go too far out to sea. It is customary to top up your phone balance using special cards, which are usually sold in hotels. A call to Russia from a Dhiraagu operator SIM card will cost around 4.9 rufiyaa/minute (about 19 rubles). For calls within the country, it is better to use local payphones, the services of which are also paid for by card (easy to find in hotels and from street vendors). For wealthy tourists, there is such an exclusive option as calling a landline phone from a hotel room. So, if you are the happy owner of a couple of oil wells, you can calmly solve business issues without leaving your bed.

Free Wi-Fi in the Maldives is a rare “beast” and lives exclusively in hotels. Those who are unlucky with a hotel can go to an Internet cafe in the capital, spending from 45 to 150 rufiyaa (175-582 rubles) for an hour of online surfing, or connect the necessary service from one of the local mobile operators, thereby robbing himself of at least 290 rufiyaa (1,125 rubles).

How to call the Maldives

To call from Russia to the Maldives, dial:

• from a landline phone: 8-10-960 (Maldives code) - code of the desired city - subscriber number;
• from a mobile phone: 8-10-960 - mobile operator code - subscriber's mobile phone number.

There are no area codes in the Maldives. All numbers are now seven digits.

How to call abroad

To call from the Maldives to Russia, dial:

• from a landline phone: 00 - 7 - desired city code - subscriber number in Russia (00 - international line access code; 7 - Russian telephone code);
• from a mobile phone: +7 - subscriber number. International operator - 190; information desk - 11.

Transport

There is no ground transportation as such in the Maldives; fortunately, the vast majority of the islands here can be explored on foot. And only in Male can a tourist afford the luxury of a ride for 27 rufiyaa (97 rubles) by taxi or for 4.70 (18 rubles) by bus.

For those planning to travel from island to island, there are three main modes of transport:

• hydroplane;
• boat/boat;
• ferry.

The first option is ideal for travelers with an unlimited budget - the pleasure costs from 2,400 to 3,000 rufiyaa (9,316-11,645 rubles), but it provides a unique opportunity to look at the atoll chain from a bird's eye view. A trip on a speedboat or national boat “doni”, depending on the remoteness of the destination, will cost 470-860 rufiyaa (1824-3380 rubles). Well, a ferry ride will be affordable even for a budget tourist, since the final cost of the crossing will be from 31 to 46 rufiyaa (approximately 120-179 rubles). The main airport of the Maldives is located next to the capital, on the small island of Hulhule. This is where all international flights arrive.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out insurance, especially if you plan to spend time on the island; transport to hospital in case of emergency can cost a pretty penny. Purchasing insurance will in no case ruin you: a two-week trip will cost about one euro per day. If you travel frequently, it is more profitable to buy an annual policy. Risks associated with active recreation activities such as scuba diving may not be included in the package. When choosing a policy, be sure to take this into account.

Visa information

When entering the Maldives, Russian citizens are issued a tourist visa in their passport free of charge, valid for 30 days. A foreign guest will be required to have a passport with a validity of at least six months, return tickets, a receipt confirming tourist services, and the availability of cash at a rate of at least $30 for each day of stay.

customs control

There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency in the Maldives. In addition, you can bring duty-free cigarettes (no more than 200 pieces) and perfumes in quantities not exceeding 125 ml. But goods worth more than $200 (about 12,000 rubles) will have to be declared.

Save money and nerves by once and for all giving up trying to bring alcohol to the Maldives (even purchased in Duty free stores). Your alcohol will still be taken away and disposed of. Pork delicacies and pornographic magazines will suffer the same fate. You should also be more careful with local souvenirs: pearl oysters, corals and turtle shell products (unless they are certified products) will not let anyone out of the equatorial paradise. It is allowed to transport a certain amount of gifts and tobacco. The most serious offense is the transportation of weapons or drugs. The punishment could be life imprisonment.

Airports

For those who travel a lot throughout the Indian subcontinent, Male International Airport will seem like a breath of fresh air. Here, unlike other airports in the region, civilized calm reigns; passengers are not overwhelmed by crowds of barkers, porters and taxi drivers. The airport is located on a separate island called Hulhule, which is not far from the capital. As soon as you reach the terminal, you will immediately see two rows of counters that belong to different resorts and tour operators. Find the one you need and a representative will tell you about the transfer in every detail. If your resort is nearby, a high-speed boat will be enough; if it’s far away, then you may have to get there by seaplane. In any case, you will receive precise instructions and leave the airport unhindered and as planned. When you return to the hotel reception, all the details will be explained to you in detail.

If you're one of those rare breeds of independent travellers, you should probably head to Male. Ferries operate 24 hours a day between the capital and the island on which the airport is located. They depart from the main pier in Hulhule and moor at breakwaters 9 and 10 in Male. Boats leave every 15 minutes or when they are full of people, the trip costs 10 rufiyaa or 1 dollar. For about $10 you can rent a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, which is now equipped with a motor.

For flight information, call Male International Airport: 333-8800.

In the Maldives you have the opportunity to visit another, very unusual airport. Seaplanes that transport passengers from Male to resorts land on the water and only then taxi onto a small floating platform just a few meters long and about the same width. From here you will be taken by boat to the desired island. The miniature size of these “airports” is the butt of jokes among resort companies. On one of the floating platforms there is a sign that reads: “Welcome to Soneva Fushi International Airport.”

How to get there

The following airlines operate regular flights to the Maldives from Moscow:

• Aeroflot – direct flights from Sheremetyevo twice a week.
• Turkish Airlines – flights from Vnukovo with a transfer in Istanbul.
• Qatar Airways – flights from Domodedovo with a connection in Doha.
• Emirates - with a connection in Dubai.

You can go to the most expensive resort on the planet from St. Petersburg with Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Rossiya and Emirates. All flights are connecting. Another option is charters that fly in the direction of the Maldives both from St. Petersburg and from other Russian cities. Delivery to the hotel usually falls on the shoulders of tour operators, whose representatives meet their clients as they exit the plane.

“Maldives” - the very name of these islands sounds like some kind of wondrous music, and a picture of a serene paradise beach instantly appears in everyone’s mind. But it seems that many of us are not very clear about where exactly Maldives is located on the world map. Let me quickly fill this small gap :)

The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean very close to the equator. Almost at the equator. The easiest way to find them on the map is like this:

• India (Hindustan Peninsula) - slightly lower and to the right (i.e. closer to the equator and east) -
• the large island of Sri Lanka - and now to the left (west) -
• Maldives!

The Maldives are located 700 kilometers west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives is an archipelago that consists of more than twenty atolls. An atoll, in the case of the Maldives, is a group of small islands of coral origin that form a ring. The islands most likely have a volcanic “history”: it is believed that there were once ancient volcanoes here, overgrown with coral reefs, and then they were gradually flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coral islands that form the atolls are perfectly visible from the plane: intricate outlines, spots of turquoise lagoons on the blue surface of the ocean.

There are no large, large islands in the Maldives archipelago. Even the airport had to be built on a separate island: on the island of Male, where the capital of the republic is located, it did not fit;) Even the largest islands are no more than two kilometers long.

The position of the Maldives on the world map near the equator is, of course, determined by the climate. It is soft and warm here, truly tropical. Although the sun in the Maldives is very hot, there is no unbearable forty-degree heat. The usual temperature is +28. On clear days the sun may be a few degrees higher. But hardly more than +33. Add to this the fresh breath of the ocean. You may not even feel the heat, but sunburn on your skin is a must if you don’t use sunscreen! The tropical sun is dangerous; you can easily get sunburned even in water. You will sunbathe even under clouds in cloudy weather and in the shade under palm trees.

The air and water temperatures remain virtually unchanged throughout the year. The Maldives has a high season (from about October to April) and a low season (from May to September), which differ in that during the low season it sometimes rains and the sea can be rough. Tour operator websites claim that severe storms and tsunamis are extremely rare in the Maldives. However, for example, the island of Villivaru is now closed to visitors because the hotel that was there was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. Of course, this is not a reason to refuse a trip, but if you are going fishing or diving in the open ocean, check the weather forecast in advance .

In the Maldives there are no mountains, no hills, no boulders or large stones, there is essentially no soil here (that dark-colored fertile layer to which we are accustomed), there is only sand. The highest point in the Maldives is 2.4 meters. If global warming is really coming, if the glaciers are really melting and the water level in the World Ocean is rising, then the Maldives will disappear from the world map. And perhaps this will happen in a few decades.

The Maldives is something truly extraordinary and unforgettable! It's worth visiting here at least once in your life! Of course, these are paradise islands, beautiful landscapes, water of absolutely delightful shades, palm trees gracefully bending towards the water, soft snow-white sand, but perhaps the most important wonders here are hidden under the water - this is the amazing underwater living world of the Indian Ocean! And now you can definitely find the Maldives on the map, right?)

You might also be interested in: How to have an inexpensive holiday in the Maldives | Dangers in the Maldives | Alcohol in the Maldives | Photos of the Maldives - islands and beaches

Where are the Maldives?

Their location is almost at the very equator, which means that the islands are always warm and the temperature ranges from twenty-eight to thirty degrees.

The islands have an elongated shape and, according to Wikipedia, extend 820 kilometers from north to south and 120 kilometers from west to east.

The Maldives are ordinary coral formations without mountains or volcanoes. The level of the world's oceans is rising every year, and this factor threatens to completely destroy this beautiful and tranquil place where luxurious and rich hotels are located. Scientists agree that in the next thirty to forty years the Maldives will disappear from the face of the earth and be completely submerged in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives is quite small and the archipelago is not so easy to find on the map. They are located in the Indian Ocean, near Sri Lanka and India. In total, the islands cover about ninety thousand square kilometers, but most of this is sea. The archipelago consists of thousands of small islands, but not all of them are inhabited, and only eighty-eight are considered intended for recreation. The rest are inhabited by the indigenous people of the Maldives and tourists prefer not to visit their area.

The journey from Moscow to the Maldives is eight and a half hours.

You can stay on the paradise islands for no more than thirty days. You should know that customs will certainly check whether you comply with the rules according to which the import of the following items into the country is prohibited:

• pork
• animals
• alcohol
• pornographic products
• anti-Islamic literature

Moreover, women appearing in public places should remember that in order to avoid trouble, their clothing should be selected so that the knees and shoulders remain covered.

Despite many prohibitions that seem strange to us, but very important for local residents, this country remains a particularly attractive holiday destination due to its privacy, tranquility and beautiful landscapes.

Many tourists wonder: do they understand Russian in the Maldives and will life be difficult there without knowing English in the country? There's really nothing to be afraid of. At the airport you will be met by a Russian-speaking person representing the agency who will help you resolve any issues. In addition, in good hotels, administrators are fluent in both Russian and English.

This piece of paradise is difficult to spot on a regular world map. The island chain is located off the coast in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Only zooming in allows you to clearly see the location of the Maldives.