Who lives in the Maldives. Republic of Maldives on the map. Great resorts. Maldives - a paradise for tourists

Basic moments

The Maldives is all about bountiful sunshine, glamorous sieve-sand beaches, turquoise bounty-style lagoons and fantastic diving 365 days a year. And it is also a delightful atmosphere of complete relaxation, respectable laziness and detachment from everyday problems. No matter what economic upheavals shake the planet, this Asian resort continues to live in its relaxed and independent mainland rhythm. The classical Islamic state, with its traditional taboo on everything that contradicts religious canons, managed to adapt to the free mores of the tourist elite, while not compromising its own traditions at all. The Maldives is the very place where the roads of visitors and indigenous people (unless they are employees of hotels) hardly intersect, and a bank account, no matter how solid they may be, can be reset to zero in a matter of days. It is in the Maldives that you can arrange the most romantic wedding, improve your diving skills, and, finally, just feel like the last person on the planet by renting a secluded bungalow from private beach and stunning ocean views.

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 settled by people from neighboring India and Sri Lanka. It was the first settlers who brought Buddhism to the islands, which in the 12th century replaced Islam, which was actively promoted by the Arabs who arrived here.

Starting from the middle of the 16th century, the Portuguese and Dutch began to claim the territory of the Maldives. But the locals 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, but average temperature air often fluctuates between +24...+33 °C. The main climatic differences depend on the two monsoonal seasons. The winter northeast monsoon, which blows from January to March, is at the peak of the season, it brings dry weather and coincides with the European winter. The southwest monsoon from May to December brings 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, as well as before and after it.

Geography

The Republic of Maldives is an Asian state in the equatorial Indian Ocean. It is 700 km to Sri Lanka, and only 430 to India. By the way, the Maldives is considered the lowest state on the planet: almost all local land areas are 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 ​​\u200b\u200bthe individual ones is completely tiny. Almost each of these pieces of land has its own coral "shield", so the main feature of the local beaches is that they almost never storm, and the water off the coast retains amazing transparency.

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

But tour operators have 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 foot of the ubiquitous backpacker has not set foot here - quite the opposite, given the fact that the distant atolls are perhaps the only place in the country where a tourist thirsty for national color can freely contact with the locals. In other parts of the resort, it will not work so freely to roam 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. With vegetation in the Maldives, things are even worse. Basically, the tourist will have to admire the coconut palms and bananas, which are cultivated in large quantities on the islands. True, one has only to leave the shore and plunge into the azure ocean waves, as completely different Maldives will appear before you - bizarre, full of life and the most incredible colors. The reefs surrounding the resort are home to more than 1100 species of fish, 400 species of molluscs, 187 species of corals, 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 is a paradox, but the capital of an elite world resort is not much different from the provincial cities of the same India. narrow streets, high-rise buildings close to each other, a littered port and an invariable symbol of any Islamic country - a mosque. There are almost no significant sights in the city, so tourists arriving in the Maldives do not linger in Male. Unless they go to the local market to stare at the abundance of fish rows, or, in case of urgent need, take a walk to the hospital.

Local people and national traditions

As in any Islamic State, Religious traditions are strong in the Maldives. Indigenous people do not drink alcohol and never sell it, or rather, they try to pretend that it disgusts them, and they also hide their women under shapeless robes. Of course, such a way of life 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 fishing, boat repair and other not the highest paid occupations.

Since not all islands have regular transport links with other parts of the land, the majority of the Maldivians live in extreme isolation. For ordinary islanders, life is monotonous and measured: going out to sea in the morning, lazy swaying in a hammock chair and idle contemplation of the surrounding reality in the afternoon, and fishing again at sunset.

Etiquette and rules of conduct at the resort

There are a lot of restrictions in the Maldives, non-compliance with which entails serious problems. For example, on the most beautiful beaches of the planet it is forbidden to sunbathe topless, and even more so to be completely naked. Walking around cities and towns in ultra-short tops and shorts is also not recommended, as well as breaking off branches of local corals as a keepsake of the trip. Fans of fishing off the coast and spearfishing should not talk about their passion at all: such types of fishing in the Maldives are equated with poaching. And for throwing garbage and drinking alcohol outside the hotel, solid monetary fines are due.

Video: Maldives from above

The beaches of the Maldives

Listing the beaches of the resort, which consists of almost 2,000 islands, is a thankless task, so it’s easier to name the most popular and well-groomed of them. on the atoll North Male are Banyan Tree and Naladu. Do not suffer from a lack of swimmers Niko and San, belonging to the Ari atoll. You can swim in the company of Maldivian turtles on the beaches of Laviani Atoll, and the shores of Maafushi are better suited for observing the habits of dolphins. The islands of Kunfadu and Hadahaa are occupied by the owners of fat wallets, while incorrigible romantics flock to the coast of Vaadu, dreaming of meeting the dawn on a luminous beach. Surfers and other wave-catchers hang out at Kunuhura Island, where their unofficial headquarters, the Pasta Point resort, is located.

Attractions and entertainment in the Maldives

Once you get to know the amazing beaches of the Maldives and discover all the delights of the all inclusive system, you will hardly want to go somewhere else. Well, if such a desire still appears, 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 stare at Presidential palace- a rather modest building by modern standards, where all official receptions are held, and the Great Friday Mosque, erected from coral blocks. If possible, book a table at the Ithaa underwater restaurant, one of the ten most fancy restaurants planets. The queue to this pretentious establishment is endless, and for the exclusive entourage, visitors are required to pay an inadequate amount, but, according to the lucky ones who managed to appreciate the local service, it's worth it.

Certainly, it is difficult to find a more comfortable place 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 tour. It can be as aimless boating in search of a suitable angle for a selfie against the backdrop of sunset, as well as visiting a Maldivian village and getting to know the life of the islanders. You can relieve the burden of worries (and extra money) by ordering an air trip on a seaplane, or by 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.

Travel around the area

Of course, what places you can visit and what kind of trips you can take is entirely determined by the location of the resort where you are. True, here you will find little variety, because one island is not much different from another. Perhaps only a trip to Male will give new impressions. Most resorts located near the capital can organize a day trip for their guests. And although all the sights of Male are collected in one place and can be seen in just a couple of hours, it is worth staying here for the night to get a taste of the capital and find out how its inhabitants have fun after the sun goes down below the horizon and the heat subsides. This can be done by taking a day boat trip to the capital, having previously booked a hotel room, and returning the next day on a day trip. You can also take a boat or seaplane that hotels send to pick up tourists from the airport.

Boat trips

Another popular type of acquaintance with the Maldives is boat tours. These can be short sunset trips around the island where your hotel is located, or long trips when you charter a boat or go on a safari (passengers live on their boat on the open ocean). The conditions of the trip completely depend on the size of your wallet. On most boats, passengers are provided not with private cabins, but with beds separated by curtains, and it is assumed that the tourists themselves will also perform the routine daily work.

A higher degree of comfort is offered by boats such as the Atoll Explorer, which have air-conditioned cabins and a pool on the upper deck. Private yachts are for the very rich, the famous, the powerful, and the oligarchs who avoid resort accommodations.

If these prices are a little out of your budget, you can charter a speedboat from the resort with your crew for the day. It will cost no more than $200. An order for a pier in Male will be cheaper due to competition. To further reduce the price, it is possible to charter a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, but then you will not be able to travel long distances.

If you want to get a taste of the dolce vita and ride a luxury yacht, day cruises on yachts are offered in Kuredu on Laviani Atoll, and night trips can be booked privately. The yacht is also available at W Retreat & Spa on Ari Atoll.

uninhabited islands

Paradoxically, the uninhabited islands may be the busiest after Male. Often they are "adopted" by certain resorts, which build various amenities, cafes and send their guests there on a day trip to have a picnic, swim with a mask and snorkel and just swim. And since several groups of tourists go ashore at once, it would be somewhat wrong to call these islands "uninhabited".

There are tourists who want to visit the uninhabited islands of the Maldives in a less massive manner. Some resorts organize private dinners on the sand for two or more guests, and even offer overnight stays. Visitors are given a flag to raise in case of danger.

If money is no problem for you, you can rent an entire resort: many small islands can become a safe haven for rich people. For example, the boat-only part of Soneva Gili can be rented entirely.

village islands

In the Maldives, excursions to nearby villages are very popular among tourists. Some resorts have a close relationship with the islands where the villages are located and regularly take 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 day trip, suggesting a check-in on a desert island.

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

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

Diving

Masters of scuba gear and action cameras in the Maldives are waiting for perfectly warmed water (average +27 ° C), excellent visibility even at a depth of 40 m and incredibly rich undersea world. The only danger is the currents that are gaining strength just outside the reefs, so it is better for beginners to wallow 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 that abundance of plankton that happens with the advent of monsoons. Coral slides, sunken ships (wrecks), inter-island straits - all these are the traditional routes of heroes in wetsuits.

This or that type of diving can be done in almost all resorts, but the conditions vary significantly. On some islands, scuba diving is not at the top of the list of sports offered. This means that both diving sites and scuba training courses will be quite limited, which is more suitable for beginners or ordinary scuba divers.

However, true fans of diving in the Maldives can claim something more. The resorts most popular among the scuba diving fraternity offer a wide range of courses such as VIT, CMAS, SSI, PADI, NAUI, ANDI and RAB where you can improve your skills. They also provide additional and safety-guaranteing equipment, such as underwater video cameras. The choice can also be influenced by the presence of nitrox and a decompression chamber, as well as the proximity to the resort of places suitable for diving.

Most of the local diving centers are located on the basis of 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 dive safari, for participation in 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, a trip on a yacht is an almost guaranteed opportunity to meet local sharks, which are just chased by those who come to 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;
• the wreckage of the ship "Victoria";
• Poodle Place;
• Rainbow Reef;
• Hans Place.

South Male Atoll

• Vadu cave;
• Strait of Guraidhoo.

• sunken ship "Fesdu";
• Maaafushi-Thila;
• reef fish head.

northern atolls

The northern atolls are one of the main areas of the Maldives intended for tourism. Now the number of resorts has barely passed the double digits, but this figure will steadily increase. It is planned to develop virgin atolls, which will provide visitors with even more peace and privacy. Since there are far fewer cruise ships here than on more populated atolls close to the capital, the air is northern resorts cleaner, and the water is clearer than anywhere else in the archipelago.

New tour operators are forced to compete with hundreds of competitors, so they try to stand out by offering more brilliant conditions and interesting entertainment. 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 relaxing on yachts, such as, for example, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, are already regularly spending time on the Northern Atolls. Perhaps they are trying to avoid the busier islands near the capital. In high-end hotels, guests are waiting for the appropriate service: this is the help of the butler, and massage.

Guests who do not have their own yachts can be taken to hotels located on the northern islands by high-speed boats. The journey will take just over two hours. A seaplane flight is much more likely, and the most remote resorts sometimes organize their own commercial flights.

Beaches

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

Diving

The relatively recent development of tourism in the Maldives, which began in the 1990s and also a large number of boats and ships plying around the atolls, allow you to keep the pristine cleanliness of these places and thus create excellent conditions for diving. Both kailu (straits, channels between reefs) and thila (seamount, reef shoal, the top of which is not visible from the surface) offer many opportunities for scuba diving. Diving in the Raa and Baa atolls, west of the southern group of islands, includes protected body of water Horubadu Thila, inhabited by oceanic fish, sometimes gray reef sharks and eagle rays can swim there. Other thilas in the area include the busiest Dharavandhoo, as well as Beriyan Faro, Kottefaru Kouda and Vaadu, each of which promises a lot to true diving enthusiasts. The southwest monsoon blowing from May to June brings manta rays and whale sharks to the coast. Strong currents in these areas mean that they are more suitable for experienced divers and few areas are suitable for beginners.

To the east of Raa and Baa, near Laviani Atoll, divers will encounter the wrecks of the fishing boats Skipjack II and Gaafaru, which have become part of underwater life in two decades spent on the ocean floor. The place of their flooding is easy to find: the bow of the Skipjack II rises above the surface of the water. In addition, there are two great places and for diving giri (accumulation of corals a few meters from the surface of the ocean): Narkola, south of Khuravali, rich in ledges and faults, and Maa, southwest of Kanuhuraa, where underwater currents create a fantastic variety of marine life. Another protected ocean area called Kuredu Express offers enjoyable scuba diving, while Fushifaru Thila, 250m long with strong currents, is a great place for "advanced" divers.

southern atolls

Given the proximity to Male, part of the Southern Atolls remains relatively undeveloped in terms of resorts, perhaps because here the atolls 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 safari boats that cruise the archipelago in search of privacy and peace for their passengers.

If not for tourism, this zone would not be called active at all, especially on the islands, where they are engaged in fishing and agriculture. As in the Northern Atolls, the number of resorts here has barely passed the double digits, along with those that developers are still working on. From Male to your resort you can fly 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 among the best in the Maldives. And though to rank countless coastlines almost impossible, 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, is the longest pristine reef ridge in the country, stretching for 55 km. It stretches from Hurahu Kandu to the southernmost point of the atoll. The main type of scuba diving in this area is kayla drift diving, for which there are many excellent sites, including Wattaru-Kanda, a protected area and a reef. Thila (underwater coral reefs) are also popular, in particular Fotteyo, which is considered by many to be one of the best diving spots in the Maldives. It flows here amazing life variety of underwater inhabitants, and some 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 recreation include Alimatha Aquatic, Medhufushi and Vilu Reef.

Far south atolls

The Maldivian southern atolls, some of which are located on the other side of the equator, are rare islands where tourists freely mix with the local population. The equatorial village is located on the island of Gan, which belongs to the southernmost atoll of Sinu, on which traces of the British presence have been preserved. There used to be two bases of the Royal Air Force, which were liquidated in 1976, but English lawns and reconstructed barracks still remind of them.

Another unique feature of this part of the country is that here you can walk in a straight line for 17 km without reaching the water. This was made possible thanks to the dam that the British built, connecting Gan with three islands - Feidu, Marada and the main atoll of Hitadhoo - 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 here.

Until recently, Gan was a rather sleepy island, but that should change in the near future. The fact is that the local airport was brought into line with international standards, and now it can receive more tourists seeking to visit resorts, the number of which is steadily increasing. The geographical isolation of Ghana has resulted in differences in culture and language, as well as flora and fauna, so travelers can experience a very different experience from this island than from the rest of the Maldives. For many years, Gan was the only island in the group of far southern atolls on which a resort was built, but now it is beginning to experience competition from its neighbors.

Beaches

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

Diving

Due to the almost complete absence of tourist infrastructure, ocean life in these places flourishes. Particularly attractive in this sense is Sinu Atoll, where divers will not find a crowd of their like-minded people. This atoll has escaped the coral efflorescence that has engulfed most of the archipelago, which makes it especially attractive. Perhaps the most famous place for divers, this is a British Loyalty multi-ton tanker 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 point of attraction for the scuba diving community is Shark Point, or Shark Point, located northeast of Hulumidu, so named because of the abundance of white and gray reef sharks.

Getting to know local life

A rare chance to experience a real Maldivian village is not to be missed. Go to the islands by motorbike, bike or on foot (there are tours to the equatorial village). There you will see mosques, schools and remnants of the British sojourn. At the far end of the dam is the prettiest part of the atoll, the capital of Hitadhoo. In the center there are many tea houses and a stadium where you can even see the competition. And on the lake with fresh water Eidigali-Kili you can admire the birds.

A wedding in the Maldives is no longer a fashionable trend, but rather a pretentious tradition that stubbornly does not give up its positions, demonstrating the level of wealth of the couple. You can order a ceremony in the best traditions of soap operas, including a spa visit, 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 production and a wedding certificate, you will have to pay 2,833 rufiyaas (11,000 rubles). Fans of extreme sports and non-trivial experiences in the Maldives are offered an underwater version of the solemn event. Prices for a wedding at the bottom of the sea in the company of experienced dive instructors are already more serious - in the region of 3993 rufiyaas (15500 rubles).

The reverse side of the Maldivian paradise

Actually fashionable resort there are practically no natural sources in the world fresh water. Life-giving moisture here is either collected during the rainy season, or pumped from wells. The water extracted from the atoll bowels 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 meager shelf life, in connection with which most tourists, and even indigenous people, 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 took a separate island for household waste. But since official landfills are not able to accommodate the entire amount of accumulated waste, in some parts of the Maldives this issue is being approached with a great deal of creativity. For example, on some atolls, sewer water is used to feed green spaces and enrich the soil with fertilizer from fish offal; in other parts of the resort, tourists are provided with special waste bags, which the guest must take with him after rest. However, with all the efforts to completely get rid of garbage, it has not yet been possible, therefore, from time to time, plastic thrown by passengers of yachts and boats is nailed to the shores of the Maldives.

Food and drink

In search of national Maldivian dishes, it is better to go to Male, as the staff from Sri Lanka work in the hotel kitchens, adapting the food to their own culinary traditions. In the capital's eateries, mostly islanders work, so the food in them is the most authentic.

Oddly enough, but in a tropical paradise, culinary preferences are nowhere more modest. True, such unpretentiousness is a forced measure: little grows in the Maldives, except for bananas and coconuts. The products here are imported and, therefore, expensive, so local chefs always have 1000 and one way to cook rice with fish in stock.

A frequenter of the Maldivian table is tuna: fried, boiled, dried, smoked, boiled to the state of soufflé (mas huni), canned ... They also love curry on the islands, which is much less spicy here than in neighboring India. From the first courses, the Maldivians prepare fish broth (garudia). This tropical soup is cooked for several hours, flavored with lime and chili and served with the same rice. Meat on the local tables is a rare guest, since pork is banned 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, onions and chili peppers. Bread for the islanders is replaced by unleavened roshi (a local variation on the theme of Armenian lavash), and green tea with milk (masala) is considered the main drink here. The Maldivians do not drink alcohol, but they get their portion of alcoholic euphoria from raa - fermented palm juice. As for desserts, almost all of them are based on coconut. The most striking representative of sweet dishes is the bondi stick - a pressed and somewhat sugary delicacy made from coconut flakes, wrapped according to the principle of a Havana cigar.

Most all hotels inclusive international cuisine. Of course, they also host weeks of local delicacies, but on other days there are also 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 is artificially supported against the dollar, and its exchange rate against other currencies is based on this, so it makes no sense to look for a place where you can make a more profitable exchange. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rufiyaas and coins in 1 and 2 rufiyaas. Foreign currency exchange is carried out at the airport or at any of the banks, just keep in mind that the latter do not work on Friday and Saturday. In all places where there are tourists, American dollars and euros are accepted, they are also in circulation at all resorts. If you wish, you can not deal with cash at all, but ask for all expenses to be included in the hotel bill and pay at the end of the stay with a credit card.

Fun fact: The Maldives print their rufiyaas on the same paper as America's dollars.

Tips

Tipping, which is very popular in nearby territories such as India, does not have such a strong tradition in the Maldives. But low wages and foreign visitors with a habit of tipping began to change the situation. In most resorts, a specific table is immediately assigned to the guest, so that the same waiter will serve him throughout the rest. If you have no desire to deal with cash change, then you can thank the attendants on the last day. Some tour operators charge $10 per week. No need to tip taxi drivers or cafes. If you want to thank a local resident for taking a picture with you, he may be offended.

shopping

Shopping in a country where almost nothing is produced is like a kind of quest. Although for an 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, which are sold in the shops of the capital, in fact, are not. All these are, as a rule, Sri Lankan variations on the theme of "a truly Maldivian souvenir."

For authentic creations of Maldivian handicraftsmen, it is better to go to the islands of Mahibadhu, Maafushi, Khuura, Rasdhu, where, for not the most modest amount, local craftsmen will gladly give you wooden caskets, miniature dhoni, palm fiber rugs, colorful shells and funny coconut monkeys. Hunters “for something like that” will definitely be persuaded to buy the Maldivian hookah gudu-guda, which local grandmothers love to blow into for the coming dream. If it didn’t work out with a hookah, magnets and T-shirts will no longer 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 for them: all the souvenir shops in Male are littered with this stuff. In them, you can also get the notorious shark teeth, which have long turned into the main resort trophy.

Opening hours

Business life in the Maldives freezes on Friday, as well as five times a day for 15 minutes during prayer. Shops can start their work at 6.00, but most often they open at 8.00 or 9.00. They usually close at 20.00, but some can work until 23.00. Government offices and banks open at 7.30 or 8.00 and work 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 it is 11.00 in Moscow, it is already 12.00 in the Maldives) and +2 hours in the winter.

• Birthdays are not celebrated in the Maldives. Moreover, this date does not even try to remember.
• Only a Muslim who has lived in the country for several years can obtain citizenship of the country.
• The Maldives is in the top 10 countries in terms of the number of divorces (about 50%). At the same time, citizens are criminally liable for adultery. Walkers to the left here are publicly "treated" with a whip.
• The working week in the country starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday.
• Entry to the Maldives with a dog is strictly prohibited: according to the Koran, this animal is considered unclean.
• The motto of the resort is No news, no shoes! (No news, no shoes!).
• There is no tax free system in the Maldives.
• Male International Airport is located on an artificially created island.
• In the Maldives, not only the celebration of Halloween is officially prohibited, but also the mention of it out loud.
• In the Maldives, the most big fish in the world - a whale shark. Its size varies from 5.5 to 10 meters, and people can admire how this giant cuts crystal clear waters Maldives.

Where to stay

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

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

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

Safety

In the Maldives, they are madly afraid of yellow fever, so they scrupulously check the vaccination against this disease for all travelers who come from South America and Africa. For some reason, all other infectious agents are not of interest to local doctors, but, just in case, it is better to pre-vaccinate against rubella, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid fever. If you do not come from an infected area, then vaccinations are not required.

You should not leave without a strategic stock of basic medications - normal pharmacies in 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 decent money. without good sunscreen, repellent and bottles of water on the Maldivian beaches is also better not to show up. Due to the high concentration of solar radiation, you can earn a sunburn at the equator not just wallowing under a palm tree, but also sitting up to your neck in the water.

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

Crime in the republic is minimized, so the Maldives can be safely called one of the most safe resorts. In force majeure situations, when you can not do without the help of law enforcement agencies, it is better to contact the hotel security, which itself will establish contact with the police station.

Connection

Cellular services in the resort are provided by operators Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, whose SIM cards can be purchased at the airport or in specialized shops in Male. The call quality is quite good, unless you are too far out to sea. It is customary to replenish the balance of the phone with the help of special cards, which are usually sold in hotels. A call to Russia from a Dhiraagu SIM card will cost around 4.9 rufiyaas / 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 street vendors). For wealthy tourists, there is such an exclusive option as landline calls from a hotel room. So, if you are a happy owner of a couple of oil wells, you can calmly resolve business issues right from the comfort of your bed.

Free Wi-Fi in the Maldives is a rare beast that lives exclusively in hotels. Those who are unlucky with a hotel can go to the Internet cafes of the capital, dropping from 45 to 150 rufiyaas (175-582 rubles) per hour of online surfing, or connect the necessary service from one of the local mobile operators, thereby having robbed himself of at least 290 rufiyaas (1125 rubles).

How to call to 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;
• With 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 - code of the desired city - subscriber number in Russia (00 - access code to the international line; 7 - telephone code Russia);
• from a mobile phone: +7 - subscriber's number. International operator - 190; reference - 11.

Transport

There is no land transport in the Maldives as such, since the vast majority of the local islands can be bypassed on foot. And only in Male can a tourist afford the luxury of a ride for 27 rufiyaas (97 rubles) by taxi or 4.70 (18 rubles) by bus.

For those who plan 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 2400 to 3000 rufiyaas (9316-11645 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 a national boat "doni", depending on the remoteness of the destination, will cost 470-860 rufiyaas (1824-3380 rubles). Well, a trip on the ferry will be affordable even for a budget tourist, since the final amount of the crossing will be from 31 to 46 rufiyaas (approximately 120-179 rubles). Main airport The Republic of 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 are going to spend time on the island; transport to the hospital in case of danger can cost a tidy sum. The purchase of insurance in no case will 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. Packages may not include risk for outdoor activities such as scuba diving. Be sure to keep this in mind when choosing a policy.

Visa information

When entering the Maldives, Russian citizens get a tourist visa in their passport for free, for a period of 30 days. A foreign guest will need a passport with a validity period of at least six months, return tickets, a receipt confirming tourist services, and a cash amount 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, cigarettes (no more than 200 pieces) and perfumes in quantities not exceeding 125 ml can be brought into the resort duty-free. 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 smuggle alcohol into the Maldives (even bought in Duty free stores). Alcohol will still be taken away from you and disposed of. The same fate will befall pork delicacies and pornographic magazines. You should also be more careful with local souvenirs: with pearl oysters, corals and tortoise shell products (unless they are certified products), no one will be released from the equatorial paradise. It is allowed to carry a certain amount of gifts and tobacco. The most serious offense is the transport of weapons or drugs. The punishment could be life imprisonment.

Airports

For those who travel a lot around the countries of the Indian subcontinent, the international airport in Male will seem like a breath of fresh air. Here, unlike other airports in this 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 various resorts and tour operators. Find the one you need and a representative will tell you in detail about the transfer. If your resort is nearby, a speed boat will suffice, if it is far away, then you may need to get there by seaplane. In any case, you will receive precise instructions and leave the airport smoothly, as planned. When you return to the reception at the hotel, you will also be explained in detail all the details.

If you belong to a rare species of independent travelers, then most likely you should go to Male. Ferries run around the clock between the capital and the island on which the airport is located. They depart from the main jetty in Hulhul and land at jetties 9 and 10 in Male. Boats start every 15 minutes or when they fill up with people, the trip costs 10 rufiyaas 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. Hydroplanes that transport passengers from Male to resorts land on the water and only then taxi out onto a small floating platform just a few meters long and about the same wide. From here, a boat will take you to desired island. The diminutive size of these "airports" is the subject of jokes by resort companies. On one of the floating platforms, there is a sign that reads: "Welcome to Soneva Fushi International Airport."

How to get there

Regular flights to the Maldives from Moscow are carried out by the following airlines:

• 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 transfer 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 cities of Russia. Delivery to the hotel usually falls on the shoulders of tour operators, whose representatives meet their clients already at the exit from the plane.

The Republic of Maldives is located in equatorial waters south of India. The state is a chain of atolls, which consist of 1192 islands of coral origin. The capital of the state - Male - is the only city in the entire archipelago.

The Maldives have been inhabited for over 2,000 years. Twice the Portuguese and the Dutch tried to establish power over the islands, however local population didn't let me do it. In 1887, a British protectorate was established over the Maldives. The Maldives was under British rule for more than half a century and finally gained independence in 1965. In 1968, a referendum was held in the country, as a result of which the state became a republic.

Climate and weather

The climate in the Maldives is equatorial, with a predominance of monsoonal winds. The northeast monsoon from November to April creates favorable conditions for recreation on the islands. Due to the proximity of the equator, the air temperature is approximately the same whole year and does not fall below +25 °C. In April, the southwest monsoon brings humid air masses to the islands. During this period, the Maldives experiences a slight decrease in temperature, precipitation and storms.

Nature

Flora in the Maldives is represented by typical tropical vegetation. There are also mangroves and fruit trees. The abundance of vegetation depends on the soil. On some small islands covered with sand, there are only shrubs and grasses. Major islands rich in vegetation. There is also a real jungle with tropical plants, mangroves, various types of exotic flowers. But there is one plant in the Maldives that grows everywhere, regardless of the type of soil - this is a coconut palm.

The fauna of the Maldives is not very diverse. Some species of reptiles live here: snakes that are not dangerous to humans, lizards. Mosquitoes are only found on wild islands archipelago. Of the insects in the Maldives, butterflies and rhinoceros beetles also live.

Much more interesting underwater world of the Maldives. At the bottom of the ocean you can find various types of corals and marine life, ranging from sea urchins to whale sharks.

Attractions

There are not many historical or cultural attractions in the Maldives. The most interesting places are in Male. Here you can visit Sultans Park. Until 1968, the palace of the Sultan was located here. Subsequently, the palace was destroyed, and the gardens surrounding the palace were turned into a park.

The Islamic Center is also of interest. This is a large mosque next to the pier. Its interior is decorated with Arabic calligraphy symbols and wood carvings. It is better to visit the mosque accompanied by one of the local residents: after all, this is a religious building in which special rules of conduct must be observed.

Another attraction of the Maldives is the National Museum, which exhibits items of clothing and jewelry of the sultans. Also here are the manuscript of the Koran and pre-Islamic statues that were found during archaeological excavations.

Nutrition

The local cuisine is based on Indian and Arabic traditions. Many dishes consist of ingredients such as rice, seafood and spices. The most common sauce is coconut curry, it is added to almost all dishes. Fish dishes are varied, for the preparation of which there are hundreds of recipes. Fish is even added to pies. The main side dish is rice, which is cooked with coconut milk, vegetables and even some fruits, such as papaya, bananas, mangoes, pumpkins. From meat, they mainly eat chicken, but very rarely. Dessert is usually served with coconut. Pastries and fruit salads are also widespread. From drinks here they mainly drink tea, coffee and various juices.

Accommodation

There are practically no high-rise buildings in the Maldives, with the exception of buildings in Male. Hotels and hotels are represented by all kinds of villas, bungalows, chalets, cottages. All of them are one- and two-story, located separately from each other and have an entrance from the street. In the main building hotel complexes, as a rule, there is a reception, a bar and a restaurant. The houses for tourists themselves are located either in the depths of the island, or on the shore, or right on the water. In the latter case, the houses are connected to the land by a wooden bridge, and in some cases the only way to get to the room is by boat. Whatever type of accommodation is chosen, all of them are distinguished by a high level of service.

Entertainment and recreation

Most people go to the Maldives for a beach holiday. However, there are many options for active recreation. For example, lovers of diving and snorkeling can have a great time on the islands. Divers from all over the world come to the Maldives, because the reefs near the islands are home to an incredible variety of marine life of unimaginable colors and shapes. But not only fish and corals attract diving enthusiasts. In the waters surrounding the atolls, many sunken ships rest, which are also of interest to divers.

Due to the fact that the Maldives is a Muslim state, many holidays here are of a religious nature. In addition, in the Muslim calendar, almost all holidays "move", i.e. falls on different dates from year to year. New Year (January 1), Independence Day (July 26-27), catholic christmas(December 25).

Purchases

Most of the shops are located in Male and they specialize in souvenirs. Usually these are products from corals, shells, wood. Straw mats are especially popular. Local artisans make and sell beautiful coral jewelry - bracelets, earrings, necklaces. You can also buy high-quality diving equipment in the Maldives.

Weekends in the Maldives are Friday and Saturday, respectively, shops are open from Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 to 21:00 or from 9:00 to 22:00. During the prayer time, which is performed 5 times a day, the shops are closed, but if you are there at this time, it is not necessary to leave the trading floor.

Transport

The international airport is located in Male. In general, air transport is widespread on the islands, which is associated with the peculiarity of the geography of the archipelago. Air transport is represented by seaplanes and helicopters. In addition, transportation is carried out on sailing, motor boats and boats. public transport does not exist in the Maldives. Although there is a taxi in Male. Its feature is that if the car stopped for more than a minute, then the trip is considered over and must be paid. On the islands it is possible to rent a boat or boat. This will cost an average of $140.

Connection

Mobile communication in the Maldives is well developed. You can use your operator for calls if you connect roaming, but it is cheaper to purchase a SIM card from a local mobile operator. The cost per minute of connection is on average $0.5. The Maldives is divided into several telephone zones, and the cost of calls from one zone to another is higher than within one zone.

Safety

After political parties were allowed in the country, rallies and demonstrations often began to take place on the streets of Male. It is not safe for tourists, although street crime is extremely rare in the Maldives. To improve security, the law obliges all hotels to provide guests with a safe for storing documents, money and jewelry. If you find that you have lost something, you should inform the manager, who must record your appeal in writing. After that, the manager will conduct his own investigation and, if necessary, contact the police.

Going to the Maldives, you must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever. In addition, it is necessary to issue medical insurance, because any treatment in the country is paid.

Business climate

If you wish, you can open your own small business in the Maldives. The most popular destinations are the hotel and restaurant business. You can also organize a diving center or a yacht club. However, the government of the country is reluctant to give business to foreigners, preferring to do it on its own. This is due to the fact that when the Maldives was just opened as a new tourist destination, attempts by foreigners to create here travel business usually ended in failure.

The taxation system in the Maldives is considered one of the simplest in the world. There is no VAT and income tax.

Real estate

Due to the very small area of ​​the state, real estate prices in the Maldives are very high. In addition, there is a moratorium on the purchase of real estate by foreigners. Instead, the state offers to take property on a long-term lease. The minimum term of such an agreement is 35 years, the maximum is 50 years. Basically, villas are rented out, it is extremely difficult to rent an apartment on the islands. If you managed to find a suitable apartment, then you will have to pay at least $ 300,000 for it. Most of the villas for rent are luxury housing. The cost of such housing starts from $ 350,000.

Since the Maldives is a Muslim state, this imposes some obligations on tourists. You should not appear in public places in revealing outfits. Swimming topless on the wrecks is strictly prohibited and entails a fine. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in public places. The state has a ban on catching and exporting corals, only if they were not purchased in a souvenir shop. In restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip, the amount of which is 10% of the order value.

Visa information

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa. The consulate of the Russian Federation closest to the Maldives is located on the island of Sri Lanka.

Where, in what country are these amazingly beautiful islands, the Maldives? How to find them on the world map, what country do they belong to? On what ocean are Fr. Maldives, giving unforgettable moments of paradise pastime - these and other questions arise for many people who are planning their vacation.

It is here that beaches, enchanting landscapes and eternal summer are located. White, soft sand and tall palm trees, gentle surf - all this will make your vacation complete, your impressions will be bright and positive.

For vacationers, there is everything you need - magnificent nature, secluded bays where you can spend the evenings, warm weather and bright sun over your head. The picturesque picture is complemented by bright coral shallows and lagoons with clear, clean water.

In contact with

Geographic location

Located in a picturesque area. On the world map, look for the Indian Ocean, and among its waters, islands stretching thousands of kilometers north of the equator line.

They occupy the territory between the continents of Asia and Africa, 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka and the Hindustan Peninsula. The exact coordinates are 3°28′36″ s. sh. and 72°50′12″ E. so it is not difficult to find them with a regular paper map. The width of the archipelago is more than 120 km.

The composition includes:

• 19 coral reefs;
• 88 resort islands;
• 1000 small islands (for the most part people do not live).

You can visit the "wild" places on your own, using a boat. The most famous atolls among tourists:

• Kaafu or, as it is also called, North Male - includes 27 resort and 8 islands specializing in fishing;
• South Male, consisting of 19 islands with excellent conditions. Only three of them are inhabited by residents;
• Vaavu;
• Meemu;
• Seenu;
• Faafu.

This is interesting: The Maldives are considered the lowest in the world. At the highest point of the state, which is Addu Atoll, a person will be only 2.4 meters above the ocean level. Scientists predict that within the next 50 years a flood is possible that will destroy most of the land.

Everywhere travelers expect magnificent nature with picturesque views.

Brief information about the country

Any educated person will not be superfluous to know that:

• it is a modern state, is a presidential republic in the form of government;
• The area is 298 km2;
• The capital is Male. The area of ​​the city is small, only 5.8 km2, but the total population exceeds 133,000 people, which makes it one of the most densely populated not only in the country, but also in the world. The total population is 338.5 thousand;
• The official language is Maldivian;
• The main mode of transport is boats, both sailing and motorized. You can also see seaplanes and boats. Taxi and Shuttle Buses developed only in the capital and on about. Hulhumale. Local transport - dhoni - a small vessel, improved by a diesel engine;
• The main religion is Islam (Sunnis);
• The currency is called the rupee;
• The time difference with Moscow is +2 hours;
• Visas for a tourist trip are not required, but in the event that the purpose of the visit is business or private, then the execution of the document is mandatory for everyone, as well as the presence of an invitation. The visa is valid for 90 days;
• It is forbidden to import into the territory of the state:
• Weapons (including explosives);
• drugs;
• Magazines and items for specific purposes (category 18+);
• Animals;
• alcohol;
• Spearfishing equipment;
• Anti-Islamic things and objects (including pork and products containing it);
• Even military uniforms and paraphernalia are banned.

Can't take home:

• Black corals and decorations made from them;
• Turtle shells;
• Local currency (remaining cash must be exchanged);
• Items found at the bottom of the ocean/sea.

It is important to know: Israeli citizens are not allowed to enter here.

Permitted for export from the territory are:

• Souvenir products;
• Postcards with views and landscapes;
• Coconut oil;
• Interior items.

Climate

The best season is from November to April. It is at this time that dry and sunny weather sets in, and the likelihood of rain is minimal.

Weather and climate in general are fundamental factors for determining the location of a future vacation. Travelers are waiting for eternal summer, as the air temperature here is always above +20 degrees at night and about +30 during the day.

Humidity is on average 81%. Most of the precipitation falls between May and January. Hurricanes and storms are rare, but heavy rains come from the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal.

In general, the climate of the resort state is hot, tropical. Separately, I would like to note that a trip here is not recommended for people with high blood pressure, since high temperatures are a constant phenomenon.

Popular resorts

A map of the Maldives with all the resorts will be offered to guests at any tourist center. Tour operators also have detailed maps with hotels. The following resorts are widely known among travelers around the world:

• Male - the capital is ready to offer various excursion programs and entertainment. There are numerous markets, a mosque, a museum and a presidential palace;
• Faafu is an ideal gourmet resort with many restaurants and spas;
• Daalu is a resort area that offers everything for extreme sports. It is chosen by divers and scuba divers;
• Ari - created for nature lovers. You can enjoy a variety of flora and fauna, the famous turtle bays are located here. Entertainment - water skiing, sea fishing.

Note: despite the diversity of the animal world, there are no predators or poisonous snakes dangerous to humans in the Maldives. Dolphins, white sharks or foxes can be observed in close proximity. Bats appear in the evening.

An interesting feature is the absolute absence of dogs.

The best beaches

Beaches are the main attraction of the state. Travelers go just to enjoy the sand and warm waves. That is why it is very important to know the main ones:

• O. Fulhadhoo - the settlement of residents occupies an insignificant territory, everything else is a paradise for tourists;
• Finolhu-Kanifushi - a beach located on the Baa Atoll;

Keep in mind: feature - the presence of a sandy spit, allowing you to hike to several small islands in the ocean. There is a picturesque lagoon and palm trees.

• Amilla Fushi has sloping shores of varied beauty. Here are expensive and modern, as well as classic - with dense vegetation. Feature - coral bottom;
• Dhigurah - designed for those who love solitude and the beauty of nature. The feature is a great opportunity to watch whale sharks. Swimming in bikinis is allowed.

Each resort land has its own hotel. Also, some resorts cannot be visited with children under the age of 12.

Luminous Beach Mudhdhoo Island

A real attraction and a miracle of nature, worthy of seeing it with your own eyes, is the luminous beach located on the Baa Atoll - Mudhdhoo Island.

In the evening and at night, hundreds of neon lights flash along the coast, creating a picturesque picture.

Advice: the effect of the glow is most noticeable in the period from June to February, so to observe it, you need to choose this particular time period.

The secret of the phenomenon lies in the fact that bioluminescent phytoplankton lives here, capable of glowing during the surf. By visiting this place, you can admire the beauty of nature for a long period, as the lights glow during the entire dark time of the day.

Things to do for vacationers

You need to know that there are some restrictions for guests and residents - you can not drink alcoholic beverages or sunbathe topless and even in a bikini (except for specially designated areas).

Despite all this, the vacation will not be overshadowed. Tourists are offered a variety of water attractions, water sports, including parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking.

Catamaran trips are perfect for a romantic pastime, sailing is perfect for extreme lovers. Swimming and fishing (fish must be released into the ocean) are activities that are in demand among most tourists. Provided special excursions, allowing you to observe the life of marine life up close. There are special entertainment programs for children.

Map in Russian

In order to make it convenient for tourists to navigate among the various atolls and places to stay, a map of the islands with symbols in Russian has been created.

Here are the most popular destinations and tourist routes that should be chosen for a good rest. The largest areas intended for recreation are indicated, where there is everything that a tourist may need during a trip. There is also a general view of the archipelago in the area.

Using this simple but detailed map, you can comfortably navigate the Maldives without knowing English or local dialects. "Uninhabited" territories are not indicated on the map.

How to get there

by the most convenient way to get to the chosen resort - flight by plane. There are direct flights from Moscow - their duration is from 10 hours. IN major cities charters are also available. From Kyiv or Astana, flights are operated that provide for a transfer or refueling at or.

There are also flights with refueling in Sri Lanka or. Flights to the Maldives are carried out from the city of Trivandrum, so it is convenient for those who decide to combine their trip with a visit to India to get to their vacation spot. Ticket prices range from $500 to $1,000 on average.

Take note: in order to fly out of the territory of the capital of the Maldives, you will need to pay an exit fee, which is 10-15 dollars, in most cases it is not included in the ticket price.

For those who fly from the Far East, there are flights with transfers in Seoul, Tianjin or. There are no direct flights from Belarus - you need to fly through Moscow.

Exotic flora and fauna

The nature of the archipelago is unusual and amazing. The national symbol and plant that is found throughout the state is the coconut palm.

You can also see brought here - bamboo and eucalyptus. Among the crops that can be classified as exotic are bananas, papayas, mangoes, pineapples and sweet potatoes.

The flora is also represented by flowers - roses, plumeria, hibiscus, orchids. You can also see the Alexandrian laurel.

Animals that will seem amazing to tourists:

• • The bats;
  • flying foxes;
  • Geckos;

• Seagulls;
• Herons;
• Blind Brahmins;
• Domovoi wolftooth.

Marine life is presented in a wide variety:

• Sea stars;
• Echinoderms;
• Dolphins;
• whale sharks;
• Stingrays;
• Variety of fish species.

Interesting fact: citrus fruits do not grow on the territory - they disappeared after the epidemic of the fungus.

There are also turtles. The main attraction are the coral reefs.

Local kitchen

The peculiarity of the national cuisine is the abundance of dishes based on fish and seafood. It was formed under the influence of Indian and Arabic culinary traditions. Recipes with tuna are presented in every restaurant or cafe.

Rice is also served with all dishes as a side dish. A popular Maldivian drink is green tea. National snacks - khedikaa are pastries with a variety of fillings.

Desserts - various fresh fruits, juices, nuts and dishes with these ingredients. One of the popular desserts among tourists is fresh coconut, as well as coconut milk and Raa palm juice.

What you need to know before buying a tour

Before you buy a tour to the Maldives, you should consider that:

• You will need to be vaccinated against hepatitis A, influenza, yellow fever and other tropical diseases;
• January is the last month in which there will be no precipitation (until April);
• The water on the coasts is clear and clean;
• Flights without refueling last at least 10 hours, with transfers - at least 12 hours.

When leaving the country, you will need to declare things that cost more than $ 200.

Advice: medications you can import them, but it is better to get a prescription for them, translate it into English, notarize it and, if necessary, consult a doctor at the resort.

Useful tips for traveling to the Maldives

The following tips will help you plan your trip:

• In order to save on flights and vacations, you should use the package of communication services offered by guest houses;
• At the local airport, you cannot call from the counter, so you should find out all the information in advance;
• There is a ferry service between the islands, so you can visit several places during your vacation;
• The best way to go on excursions big group- so cheaper;
• Diving equipment is provided free of charge in guest houses;
• It is customary to bargain in the markets of the country;
• Rupees cannot be taken out of the country, so cash should not be exchanged for them.

The Maldives is a heavenly place to relax. Here you can have a great time with the whole family, as for tourists there is everything necessary for comfort. Accommodation can be arranged in hotels, bungalows or guest houses with local residents.

There is a lot of entertainment, but the main part is represented by water, there are also karaoke and discos. Rest is not a budget one - this should be taken into account when choosing tours and places for a vacation, but impressions and emotions will last for a long time after the trip is over.

For more information about holidays in the Maldives, see the tips in the following video:

This small country is located on 20 atolls in the equatorial Indian Ocean. More than 2000 km separates the Islamic Republic from India. The distance to Sri Lanka is much less: if you look at the Maldives on the world map, you can see that the states are about 700 km apart from each other.

Island Information

The state of Maldives is formed by almost 2000 coral islands. About 400 thousand people live here, and Islam is the dominant religion. The total area of ​​the Republic of Maldives is 90 thousand km 2, however, no more than 300 km 2 fall on the share of land from it.

Interestingly, the only city and port of the country is its capital, Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The remaining islets are almost uninhabited and only occasionally there are hotels on them.

The time in the Maldives is UTC +5, so when flying, you should prepare in advance for changing time zones.

Monthly weather in the Maldives

Climate features are determined by the location of the Maldives. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather is drastically different in the dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of the trip, you have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month will definitely be successful due to the warm, sunny and calm weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although technically January refers to the rainy season, the rainfall is minimal, which guarantees a wonderful beach holiday and the opportunity to go diving. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to at least +24 °C, and the water temperature averages +27 °C.

February. At this time, crowds of tourists usually flock here. The ocean continues to delight with a comfortable water temperature of +25 °C, and the daytime air temperature rarely drops below +28 °C. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can start learning the tricks of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to ride a yacht or a catamaran to your heart's content.

March. This month is also considered to be quite hot and dry, and the average air and water temperatures differ little from February. The sand remains very warm, and there are practically no tropical showers. In March, many local flora bloom, but be prepared for occasional sandstorms.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon comes to the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat intensifies, but the rains here are still infrequent guests. If you cannot stand stuffiness, it is worth postponing the trip: the air temperature is mostly +30 °C, and the water temperature reaches +28 °C.

May. Very strong winds begin to blow, sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is much more precipitation: about half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly surprises. The sun is replaced by heavy rain and vice versa.

June. This month continues the May trend as the southwest monsoon takes over. There are very strong gusts of warm wind. In June, the maximum precipitation typical for this region falls in the Maldives, but their amount rarely exceeds 200 mm. ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic proportions. The thermometer stays at an average of +30 °C, and the water temperature in the ocean is +27 °C.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable due to frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky is partially cleared and the sun peeps through the clouds. In July, approximately 160 mm of precipitation falls, and the air temperature is +31 °C. In water, the thermometer usually shows +27 ° C. Thunderstorms are possible during which coolness is felt.

August. This month is considered the most changeable on the islands. In early August, the sea is quite warm and calm, winds and hurricanes practically stop. It rains relatively infrequently, and the atolls are still hot. But already at the end of the month, the sky becomes more and more covered with clouds, it often rains, and the wind intensifies.

September. Both day and night, the weather is predominantly warm, and the exhausting heat recedes. Remains quite high humidity, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures around +27 °C.

October. The air temperature drops slightly to +27-29 °C, and the water temperature drops to +26 °C, which does not interfere with swimming at all. It rains much less often: usually no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls.

November. This month, the northeast monsoon arrives in the Maldives, bringing with it warm and dry weather. Winds and rains rarely bother tourists, and the thermometer on average shows +28 ° С. Water warms up to +25 °С.

December. At this time of the year, everything blooms on the islands, so they turn into a real tropical paradise. Daytime temperatures rise to +30-32 °С, and the water temperature in the ocean rarely drops below +25 °С.

How to get to the Maldives

In any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, it is indicated that the connection island nation with the mainland is carried out exclusively by air. The country's only airport is located in the capital Male. You can get to it in the following ways:

Direct flight of Aeroflot from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircraft take off from the Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long it takes to fly from Moscow on such a direct flight, you will have to be patient: the flight duration is approximately 9 hours.

Please note that when returning from the Maldives, you will have to pay an airport tax of 10 USD - 15 USD, which is not always included in the airfare.

A flight with a transfer of Qatar Airways (transfer point - Doha), Singapore Airlines (transfer point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (transfer point - Dubai). The cost of tickets for airliners of these air carriers already includes the airport tax.

On a Srilankan Airlines connecting flight. To do this, you will first have to fly to Dubai or Colombo and purchase a ticket to Male for 180 USD - 250 USD at the local airport. This is the most budget flight option for those who want to save money.

The average cost of a flight between the capitals of Russia and the Maldives ranges from 570 USD to 720 USD one way.

Visa to the Maldives and customs clearance

There is no need for residents of Russia and the CIS countries to obtain a visa to travel to the Maldives, since there is a visa-free agreement between the countries. However, given the dramatic change in climate and the exotic nature of the region, it does not hurt to purchase a medical insurance policy. Weekly insurance will cost about 25 USD - 45 USD.

It is very important to comply with the rules of the customs legislation of the Republic of Maldives. They talk about the following:

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes, as well as no more than one personal item per passenger, are allowed without payment of duty.
• It is strictly forbidden to transport with you pork and meat products from it, salami sausages, pornographic goods, drugs, souvenirs from the shell of a sea turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found at the bottom of the ocean.

Be sure to note that the import and export of any alcoholic beverages in the Maldives is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in arrest.

The cost of holidays in the Maldives

Many Russian celebrities such as Volochkova are very fond of relaxing in the Maldives. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are wondering how much a standard ticket to the Maldives costs, please note that it depends on the following factors:

• duration of the trip;
• hotel category;
• the island on which the hotel is located;
• food and entertainment included in the price;
• season.

The more services the hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the rest will be. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days with booking a single or double room with half board and a minimum of entertainment, you will have to spend from 2600 USD to 5500 USD.

Wedding tour involves romantic weekend for newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes decoration of the room, services of photographers and musicians, fruit, wine or champagne and a solemn wedding ceremony of an informal nature. An all-inclusive tour is suitable for those who want to completely relax during their trip. Its price - from 3500 USD to 7000 USD for a weekly stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes three meals a day and free drinks throughout the stay.

Those who want to save money should pay attention to last-minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also on the most budget holiday in the Maldives for 8 days you will have to spend about 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without special amenities. The price includes airfare and medical insurance.

The Maldives is a real sunny paradise on earth, where you can easily recuperate after a long-awaited vacation.

4.5k (62 per week)

The ocean washing the Maldives is called the Indian Ocean, and they themselves are grouped into an archipelago elongated from north to south, consisting of coral atolls - ring-shaped island structures. Within these rings are lagoons. In total, this archipelago includes 1190 islands, which are grouped into 26 atolls. All atolls are divided into 19 administrative regions, and the capital of the state, the city of Male, became the 20th administrative unit.

The islands are located southwest of the Hindustan peninsula, and the Indian Ocean washes the Maldives.- warm, huge and majestic, merging with the sky on the horizon with the blue of its waters, because of which the horizon line becomes almost indistinguishable. But among the huge number of islands of the archipelago, only about two hundred were inhabited. In an archipelago like the Maldives, the sea occupies 99.7% of the territory and only a negligible remaining part falls on land. In general, the Maldives rise above the water, being part of a large underwater mountain range. For thousands of years, corals have grown on the tops of seamounts, reaching up towards the sun, gradually forming reefs. As a result, ring-shaped structures grew, parts of which then appeared above the surface of the water and formed islands of atolls. And in the middle of the atoll there was a depression - a lagoon, which communicated with the ocean through a series of natural canals.

Temperature of the Indian Ocean near the Maldives

Those who are going to the Maldives should not worry about the temperature of the water in the ocean - it is always warm and suitable for swimming here. At any time of the year it is not colder than 26 degrees, which cannot but delight divers and just beachgoers. This is not surprising, because the archipelago is located very close to the equator. The water in the ocean is always clear and blue, which further enhances the pleasure of contact with it. During the monsoon period, many islands have strong currents that make sailing dangerous, but the rest of the time, communication between the atolls is not difficult.

Flora and fauna of the ocean of the Maldives

The many hundreds of species of fish that live in the Indian Ocean can be divided into two categories: fish that live in calm lagoons and reefs, and those that prefer the freedom of the open ocean, but sometimes also approach the islands in search of food. Divers and snorkelers are attracted by a lot of things underwater: exotic shapes and colors of coral, fish, shellfish, jellyfish, turtles, moray eels, sea urchins and stars, dolphins, rays and sharks. Cetaceans and sea turtles also prefer to migrate across the ocean - divers love to take pictures of them.

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