WELCOME TO MALDIVES

Maldives Geography

Number of
Islands:
1,192 islands (inhabited = 199; uninhabited = 993) out of which 87 are exclusive resort
islands. The islands are grouped into 19 natural atolls divided into 20 for administrative
purposes

Capital: Mal (population = 137,200)

Terrain: Low lying small islands with flat terrain (average 1.2m above sea level)

Climate: Sub-tropical, with two monsoons, hot, humid and dry in northeast monsoon (November
to March) and rainy in southwest monsoon (June to August) Sun shines all year through.
The hottest month in the Maldives is April while December is known as the coolest. The
northeast monsoon usually results in the driest weather Average temperature around 29
32 degrees Celsius. Generally warm and humid.



Maldivian food
A typical Maldivian meal: masroshi pastries, mas riha fish curry, papadhu, grilled fish, rice and sweet
black tea. Your only chance to try real Maldivian cuisine is in Mal, where cafs selling traditional
snacks (hedhikaa) are cheap and plentiful.
Maldivian food revolves largely around fish (mas), in particular tuna (kandu mas), and draws heavily
from the Sri Lankan and south Indian tradition, especially Kerala. Dishes are often hot, spicy and flavored
with coconut, but use very few vegetables. A traditional meal consists of rice, a clear fish broth called
garudhiya and side dishes of lime, chili and onions. Curries known as riha are also popular and the rice is
often supplemented with roshi, unleavened bread akin to Indian roti, and papadhu, the Maldivian
version of crispy Indian poppadums. Some other common dishes include:
fihunu mas barbequed fish basted with chili
hedhikaa snacks with fish-based and deep-fried
WELCOME TO MALDIVES
Kavaabu deep-fried snacks (rice, tuna, coconut, lentils and spices)


Drink
As the Maldives are Muslim, alcohol is banned for the local population. However, nearly all resorts and
liveaboard boats are licensed to serve it. All bars are situated on resort island (no alcohol is available on
Mal, though it is available on the nearby Airport island). Its not possible to drink alcohol in Mal or
anywhere else outside resorts.

Regional drinks:
Sai (tea; a Maldivian favourite).
Raa (toddy tapped from palm trees, sometimes left to ferment and thus slightly alcoholic - the closest
any Maldivian gets to alcohol).

Maldives Resorts
The resorts in the Maldives are separate entities with their own amenities occupying whole islands. This
provides the visitors the perfect opportunity to spend their holidays in a secluded place far from any
maddening crowds.
All resorts have their own electricity, fresh drinking water and waste disposal facilities. Enjoy your stay in
Maldives resorts with lush vegetation, pure white beaches and the azure blue lagoons typical of the
Maldives islands.
Find more about the Maldives resorts at http://www.mymaldives.com/resorts/












WELCOME TO MALDIVES
Attractions Maldives

1. Maldives Seaplane Tours
These flights provide a range for service flights such as airport-to-
resort shuttles, island-hopping and short sight-seeing trips which provide breathtaking views of the coral
reefs, islands and the crystalline lagoons.The flight companies also offer their seaplanes for aerial
photography that allows one the chance to capture the natural beauty of the Maldives as seen from
above; the view of the small islands dotting the vast ocean at regular intervals like gems on a necklace.

2. Island Hopping
An island-hopping excursion would take you to another resort, an uninhabited island and an inhabited
island all in a day-tour designed to give you a taste of the country. You would also get the opportunity to
snorkel in the clear waters of a desert island and experience a barbecue on the beach. Some resorts take
this a step further by conducting the excursion by sea plane.

3. Snorkeling
For those who would love to see the underwater but hesitate to
take the deep plunge, snorkeling is a wonderful alternative. Since the lagoons of Maldives are so clear
that with just a snorkel mask and fin you can be witness to the activities of the many different species of
fish and fauna on the unique Maldivian reefs. You are guaranteed to encounter playful fish and rare
corals even on the resorts house reefs and perhaps a turtle or some other curious creatures too if you
are lucky.

4. Surfing
The best time to surf in the Maldives is from April to October, with
the biggest swells likely to occur in June-September. Due to the monsoonal winds from the Indian
subcontinent and the swell generated from the south, the conditions during these months are
predominantly off-shore all day. The surf generally ranges in size from 3 8 feet although bigger ones
are experienced occasionally. A great variety of breaks can be found in the Maldives ranging in intensity
from the quite mellow shreddable walls to gnarlier hollow pits.
There are two major surf areas in the Maldives the North Mal Atoll (April October) and the Outer
Atolls (February April). The North Mal Atoll sports the most popular breaks and the outer atolls
breaks (approximately 300 miles to the south of the capital Mal) contain at least a dozen potential
world class breaks that are rarely surfed.

WELCOME TO MALDIVES
5. Diving
The unique beauty of the Maldivian underwater world is doubly
appreciated by divers world over due to the high visibility (sometimes even at depths of 50 meters), the
multitude of exotic marine fauna and flora and the warm temperatures (25 30 degrees Celsius)
throughout the year.
All resorts and most cruise boats operating in the Maldives have well equipped dive centers, staffed by
multilingual, experienced professionals. Also, all resorts have dive schools where, although the facilities
may vary depending of the resorts size, location and clientele; a variety of dive courses ranging from
beginners to expert PADI certification are offered. In terms of equipment, all have the basics such as
compressors, tanks, BCDs, wetsuits, weights and weight belts in addition to (a limited number of) other
accessories such as lamps and dive computers. Underwater cameras and video processing facilities are
also available in some of the bigger dive schools. All resorts conduct daily dive boat trips to dive sites
around the island throughout the year and sometimes even to famous sites further away. Furthermore,
although specialized dives (including night dives) are not daily events, many resorts arrange these also
on a frequent basis.

Dive Sites :
Lions Head Okobe Thila
Kuda Haa Rasfari
Girifushi Thila Sunlight Thila
Middle Point Banana Reef
Nassimo Thila Maldives Victory

6. Cruise Boats
Cruising will allow the opportunity to explore many of the 1190
islands and also the chance to dive at some of the greatest sites in the world.
The many liveaboard cruise boats registered and operating in the country vary in size from 3 cabin
sailing boats to much larger ones and offer facilities and services ranging from modest to exclusive.
However, one thing common to all these vessels is that they are staffed by highly experienced
professionals who know the Maldivian waters like the backs of their hands.
In addition to taking you to some world renowned dive sites, cruise boats offer you activities such as
fishing trips and excursions to uninhabited islands as well as inhabited ones to see the local ways of life.






WELCOME TO MALDIVES
7. Water Sports
All resorts without exception have water sports centers that provide a range of water sports and fun
activities. The most popular among these are snorkeling, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. The water
sports centers are equipped with boards and sails of different sizes and some offer courses for beginners
and advanced windsurfers and sailors.
Among other popular water sports activities are parasailing, kayaking, kite-surfing, water-skiing and jet
skiing. Some resorts even offer you the opportunity to try out your sailing skills on a local dhoni.

8. Visit to Mal the capital
The Islamic Centre is not only the most famous architectural landmark in Mal, but also houses one of
the biggest and finest mosques in the Southeast Asian region. The grand mosque that accommodates
more than 5,000 worshippers; its golden dome and minaret are standouts that can be seen before
reaching the shores of Mal and the ornate woodcarvings and Arabic calligraphy inside are magnificent
tributes to the talents of Maldivians.
The Hukuru Miskiy (Friday Mosque) built in 1656 is another fascinating monument that is an essential
stop on any tour of Mal. All the walls in the mosque are built with coral stones intricately carved with
Arabic calligraphy and ornamental patterns; the roof, window frames and doors made of different kinds
of wood such as teak, sandalwood and redwood. This mosque also displays breathtakingly beautiful
coral carvings and expert lacquerwork done by Maldivians. There are also a number of ancient
tombstones erected in memory of past sultans, heroes and nobles, in the mosques compound.
Medhu Ziyaaraiy is the shrine of Abu-al Barakath Yusuf al Barbaree the Moroccan scholar believed to
be responsible for the advent of Islam in the Maldives in 1153 AD; and is also a must-see monument.
Mulee-aage next to the Medhu Ziyaaraiy was originally built by Sultan Shamsudheen III for his son just
before the First World War. The building was declared a government property when the sultan and his
were banished in May 1936. Since then it has been used as an office complex by subsequent
governments and when the country became a republic in 1953, Mulee-aage became the Presidential
Palace. The present government also used it as such until the current Presidential Palace was completed
in 1994.


Travel Tips and Advice

1. Social Conventions
Dress is informal, but locals who are Muslim will be offended by nudity or scanty clothing in public
places, and the Government rigidly enforces these standards. Bikinis and other scanty beachwear are
not acceptable in Mal or on any other inhabited island. When entering a mosque, the legs and the body,
but not the neck and the face, should be covered. Handshaking is the most common form of greeting.
The indigenous population not involved in the tourist trade lives in isolated island communities
maintaining almost total privacy. A large number of locals smoke, but smoking and eating during
Ramadan is discouraged.


WELCOME TO MALDIVES
2. International airports
Hulule International Airport Hulule Island is 2km (1.2 miles) from Mal (travel time by boat 15
minutes). Boats from the various island resorts meet each arriving plane to take visitors to their
accommodation. There is no scheduled transfer from Hulule Island to the other islands. If an advance
booking has been made, representatives of the resorts will receive tourists at the airport and will take
care of all onward transport arrangements. Airport facilities include left luggage, first aid, bank, duty
free shops, snack bar, post office and restaurant.

3. Duty-Free
The following goods may be imported into the Maldives Republic without incurring customs duty:
A reasonable amount of cigarettes, cigars and tobacco; a reasonable number of gifts.

4. Prohibited items
Pornographic literature; idols of worship; pork products and certain other animal products; explosives
and weapons; alcoholic beverages. Drugs are strictly prohibited; the penalty for importing drugs for
personal or other use is life imprisonment. Animals require a veterinary certificate.
The following may not be exported in any form: tortoise and turtle shells and products made of turtle
shell (the Government has banned the killing of turtles), and black coral in whole form.

Health Requirements

Any traveler originating from a known yellow fever and cholera area should be sure to carry their
vaccination record showing they have been vaccinated. It is possible to be turned away if vaccination
proof is not available. Keep in mind this is only necessary for individuals traveling from a known yellow
fever or cholera region.
Maldives is indeed a wonderful vacation destination, however it makes sense to take some simple
precautions before traveling to ensure that your dream vacation is just that!

Before Landing,
Aircraft arriving from yellow fever infected countries or from countries where Malaria is prevalent will
be disinfected using aerosol spray (approved by WHO) approximately 10 minutes before arrival at the
airport. Passengers feeling uncomfortable during the spray should cover their nose and mouth.

Health Advice

Barring any major accident that requires attention in a hospital the biggest concern most travelers have
is Dengue Fever. The easiest way to prevent this illness is to avoid mosquito bites. Mosquito repellent,
long sleeves and pants, and other typical precautions will help reduce the number of bites and risk of
Dengue Fever.
Sunburn is another health risk in this multi-island nation. Many travelers plan for plenty of time on the
beach to soak up the sun and easily overdo it. Sunburn can not only make you uncomfortable and
miserable throughout your vacation, but it can also be quite dangerous in the case of sun poison. Be
sure to take precautions to avoid sunburn.
Before traveling to the Maldives it is highly advised to visit your local health department to ensure your
vaccinations are up to date. Try and do this months before traveling to ensure that any shots you may
need will have time to take effect before your trip. For a very small population, some vaccinations are
required to enter the Maldives.

WELCOME TO MALDIVES
Flights to Maldives

The Maldives is served by all major scheduled airlines in the region in addition to several charter flights
from Europe and Scandinavian countries.
Mal International Airport is located on a geographically separate island named Hulhul which is about
10 minutes boat ride from the capital. A ferry service is available from the airport island to the capital
around the clock.
Transfers to resorts would be arranged prior to arrival by your resorts/tour operators via speedboat or
sea plane.
No prior visa is required to enter the Maldives and a free 30 day visa is granted to all visitors who meet
immigration requirements upon arrival.
Please note that the import of firearms, liquor, drugs and pornography in to the Maldives is strictly
prohibited. Alcohol may be imported only with an official license and dogs, pigs, and pork products are
prohibited. Also personal pets can be brought in only with special permission (dogs not allowed).

Flight Duration to Maldives
Washington D.C., USA 18 hrs, 30 mins
London, UK 10 hrs, 45 mins
Rome, Italy 9 hrs, 15 mins
Berlin, Germany 9 hrs, 40 mins
Paris, France 10 hrs, 30 mins
Dubai, UAE 3 hrs, 45 mins
Moscow, Russia 8 hrs, 15 mins
Hong Kong, Hong Kong 6 hrs, 10 mins
Beijing, China 7 hrs, 20 mins
Singapore, Singapore 4 hrs, 30 mins
Delhi, India 3 hrs, 15 mins
Tokyo, Japan 9 hrs, 40 mins
Canberra, Australia 11 hrs, 50 mins
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4 hrs, 10 mins