The Maldive Islands, which stretch from the south western tip of India all the way to the Equator, offers the ultimate getaway for those who like sun, sand and sea.
With some of the finest and cleanest beaches in the world, the Maldives is also an ideal place for water sports, from swimming to scuba diving or from windsurfing to parasailing.
The islands are the ultimate for divers and a hotspot for marine biologists and a majority of the islands have diving schools and offer the service of professional diving instructors. The breeze and the wind movement and the large lagoons that surround most of the islands are ideal for windsurfing.
The Maldives is also the new destination for surfers. The ideal waves that characterise the sea around the resorts on the atoll edge, accompanied by the good facilities, on the resorts make the country a superb destination for surfers.
Malé, the capital of the Maldives, is located almost in the centre of the nation, on the east side of Kaafu atoll. It is the commercial centre and the location of many important historical and religious landmarks. It is the busiest and the most populous island in the archipelago.
Small and quaint, Malé is not spectacular, but quite unique. It’s clean and tidy, with mosques, markets, a maze of small streets and a certain charm all its own. The best way to discover Malé is by foot. It only takes about 20 minutes to walk the length of the island.
The main form of transport among the locals is on bicycles. There are several taxi services. Fish and rice are the staple foods of Maldivians with meat and chicken eaten only on special occasions. National dishes include fried fish, fish curry and fish soup. Between May and November it’s still warm, but the skies can be cloudy, humidity is higher and rain is more likely. Since this is also the low season, prices are generally cheaper.