The Maldives are an archipelagic state in South Asia surrounded by the Indian Ocean. An archipelago is a group of islands, while an archipelagic state is a state that consists of several islands (archipelago). The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia. It’s comprised of more than 1000 islands. The capital is Male, this is also where you can find the international airport. The average ground elevation of the country is around 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in – I totally googled this as I don’t speak feet, sorry not sorry) above sea level. I think it’s safe to say you won’t be doing any hiking here nor see any mountains.
The Maldives are the world’s lowest laying country. The islands are very small, apart from the beautiful pristine beaches, there is nothing to see on the islands itself. Going to the Maldives is a very relaxing type of vacation. You will be mostly enjoying the resort, the breathtaking beaches or going on excursions which are all water related activities. The most active you will get will be doing water sports.
The most important thing to know before travelling to The Maldives is that this is a Muslim country, meaning you will have to take a few things into consideration (read more in section Where to stay).
When to go
The best time to go is between November and April during the dry season. February and March are the peak of the season so prices during these months will be the highest. From May – November it’s low season, there is more chance of rain as this is considered the wet season. During this time the winds are stronger as well so for surfers this is the perfect time. Low season means lower prices and potentially less tourists. There will be more chance of rain and clouds, but as in all tropical destinations the weather changes a lot so you can still get plenty of sunshine as well.
Where to stay
The Maldives has countless islands so picking where to stay might be a bit stressful. I will divide the islands into two categories: resort islands and local islands. Which category you choose will influence greatly on how much you’ll be paying for your vacation as well as the rules that apply on the island.
Local Islands - MoreLess
The Maldives are a Muslim country, a bit more rigid Muslim country compared to other Muslim countries. On local islands strict laws of Sharia law apply. You will find no alcohol on local islands and will have to consider their religion when packing your summer clothes. You can also only wear swimsuits in designated »bikini beaches«. This means that in all other parts of the island you cannot swim in a bikini. You must dress respectfully and accordingly. I’m not saying you must walk around covered from head to toe, but you definitely shouldn’t walk out of your accommodation in a bikini or a see-through beach dress unless you’re staying directly at the bikini beach. There are a few local islands like Maafushi for example that are popular amongst tourists due to its proximity to the airport.
What to Wear on Local Islands
Whenever I travel to a Muslim country, I do my research about what other people, who have travelled there say is appropriate and their experience. Going to the Maldives and knowing that we were going to stay at a local island I packed a lot of light but long sleeves and pants, pareos etc. to cover myself when leaving the hotel. I read that it wasn’t advisable to walk around in shorts or sleeveless shirts. I do have to say once we arrived there, I realized that wasn’t necessary. First because we were staying in the hotel at the bikini beach, so everything at the hotel and beach was completely “normal”. Once leaving the hotel and the bikini beach you will want to cover up a bit more, but don’t need to exactly walk in long pants and sleeves.. I made sure I wasn’t walking around in a bikini, but shorts and a shirt was completely okay. I did make sure I had a shirt that wasn’t a top showing my belly, but other than that it was okay. My advice would be, have a scarf or pareo with you to cover up just in case, and pay attention to what others are wearing.
However, it’s always better to come prepared and maybe bring something with long sleeves and covering your knees, just in case. You want to be respectful of the culture and religion where you’re traveling.
Resort Islands - MoreLess
A resort island is basically one resort on the whole island. Here the strict rules of Sharia law don’t apply and are more tourist friendly. You’ll be always able walk around in a swimsuit on the whole island and enjoy a cocktail (disclaimer: I’m not saying you need alcohol to enjoy your vacation, but if you do: no judgment either). These resorts tend to be expensive, however some more than others.
Accommodation - MoreLess
Accommodation
You don’t have to spend a fortune for accommodation in Maldives.
The Maldives are most known for its luxurious villas on water in the middle of the Indian sea. This for sure is the most beautiful scenery, however a big misconception is that you have to spend a fortune on accommodation. There is a way to experience the magical beauty of the Maldives while spending a reasonable amount of money (well, at least what an average person would consider reasonable, rich people don’t get a vote).
You can book accommodation on a local island, one that isn’t too far from Male- where the international airport is, so you don’t have to spend lots of money on sea planes or expensive resorts. The prices of the hotels on the local islands are a lot cheaper compared to the resorts on the other islands. The best option is to find a hotel that is located on a bikini beach, or you can also find a cheaper option a bit further into the island and simply walk to the beach. The islands are tiny.
From these local islands you can go on different excursions or even go on a day trip to one of those resort islands and experience that Maldivian luxury without having to pay too much.
What to expect in Male - MoreLess
I recommend reading this before deciding to stay in Male or Humhumale
Male is not a place you would want to stay in the Maldives. If you stay here, you will completely miss the Maldivian beauty and will be very disappointed to not find any pristine beaches. This is basically just an island where the airport and the port are.
I would not recommend staying there unless you really have to due to an early/late flight. Our flight was on a Friday and since there were no speed boats going from Maafushi island on a Friday we had no other choice but to leave the island on Thursday and spend our last night in Hulhumale. Hulhumale is an island next to Male, they’re connected with a bridge. The beach is nothing like what one would expect in the Maldives, and you will be greatly disappointed if you choose to stay there for the full duration of your vacation. I just felt the need to share this because while I was laying on the beach in Hulhumale I was thinking “what a shame it would be if someone booked to stay here their whole vacation, they would completely miss the essence of the Maldives”.
Getting there
Do your research before booking an accommodation on an island. Make sure you know how to get to your resort and how much it’ll cost you approximately to avoid any unpleasant and expensive surprises.
You might find a good deal on your accommodation, but then find out that the island is only reachable by sea plane which could costs you additional 500 EUR per person.
There are basically two ways of getting to the islands: speed boat and plane.
Read MoreLess
Speed boat: from the main island Male where the international airport is located, you’ll be able to get to a few islands by a public speed boat if they are close by. Take into consideration that the speed boats usually don’t go on Fridays. This means that if you arrive or leave the Maldives on a Friday, you’ll most likely have to spend the night on the main island Male where the airport is.
Sea plane: many islands are far away and only reachable by sea plane. This can be quite expensive.
When booking your accommodation read through the description carefully to see how you can get the island, what will be the approximate cost and book the transport in advance.
Maafushi Island
The Maldives are a destination known for relaxing and not doing much. Since the islands are small there isn’t much to explore. All activities evolve around the ocean. All excursions are boat excursions, or you can do some water activities on the island. I would recommend a trip to some resort island, water sports, swimming with dolphins, and swimming with sharks.
Resort Island Trip - MoreLess
Resort Island Trip
Experience the picturesque islands where you can enjoy the crystal-clear water, fine sand and endless palm trees. That’s where you’ll find the traditional bungalows on water that are always associated with the Maldives. There are excursions to different resort islands, pick one that suits you best depending on the price and things that are included. We choose the Ranaalhi island. The boat took us to the island which wasn’t too far away from Maafushi island. May I add that this was the cleanest boat I have ever seen, and we were even provided towels! Judging by service, organization and cleanliness this was by far the best excursion I ever did. We spent the full day at Adaraan Ranaalhi resort, an all-inclusive day with food and beverages and simply took in the mesmerizing beauty of this island. This was one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen, the villas on water really look ridiculously beautiful, you feel like you’re in a movie.
Swimming with Sharks - MoreLess
Swimming with Sharks
This trip had three stops. First stop is a beautiful sand bank that depending on the tides tends to disappear. Second stop is at a local island. Stingrays greet us upon arrival at the island. They are super friendly and not dangerous, you can touch them and they can touch you, just make sure to be gentle and not step on them. Many destinations offer swimming with stingrays as an excursion; however, they are usually in a closed swimming area. In the Maldives you can experience all these sea creatures in their natural environment. I didn’t exactly swim with stingrays because it was on shore, but I definitely can say that I stood with stingrays and semi-cuddled with them!
We got to spend time at the beach at this local island, it was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve even seen (yes, I know I say this often, but I mean it every time). Last stop: swimming with (vegetarian) sharks. This was my first time swimming with sharks, my strategy was: let other tourists go first, if they don’t get eaten, it’s safe to proceed. 🙂 My strategy seemed to work. These sharks are big but are vegetarians. They’re not particularly excited about eating people which is great for all involved parties. However, the sharks come in a package with huge fish, now these were a lot scarier than the actual sharks, the fish are big and ugly. The tour guide will tell you that your only job is to not touch the sharks, so try to avoid physical contact with them. Unfortunately, the sharks sometimes don’t keep their end of the deal and do decide to touch you. Imagine the mini heart attack I had after swimming and suddenly feeling the shark’s fin glazing my stomach. My heart stopped, I immediately held still and waited for the shark to pass. The shark was completely unbothered about my presence. I survived, all good. This was a unique and once in a lifetime experience swimming with sharks in their natural environment.
Dolphin Lagoon Trip - MoreLess
Dolphin Lagoon Trip
Unlike what you get in most destinations where the dolphins are in a closed platform in the sea, or even worse, in a pool, here you will be the entertainment for dolphins and not the other way around. You’ll get to swim and dive in a lagoon full of dolphins freely swimming and playing together. If you pay attention, you’ll even be able to hear them communicate underwater. It seemed like they were very important conversations and discussing global problems. If you know anybody that speaks Dolphin, take them with you.
Water Sports - MoreLess
Water Sports
The Maldives are known for surfing and kitesurfing, but for these activities make sure you are travelling in the time of the year where there is wind. Other activities entail jet skis, kayaking, renting a SUP and many more.
