The Maldives

MALDIVES HOTELS
	Diva hotel (5 stars)
	Taj Exotica Resort & Spa (5 stars)
	ANANTARA Veli Resort & Spa (5 Stars)
	ANANTARA Dhigu Resort & Spa (5 Stars)
	Naladhu Resort (5 Stars)

General Information

A world renowned cluster of idyllic atolls in the Indian Ocean, about 200 of the Maldives' 1200 islets are inhabited. Another 100 are private resort islands. Turquoise lagoons, underwater coral gardens, swaying palm fronds and glorious white sand beaches are the big draws of this paradise perched on the Equator, 435 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. Maldivians are warm, friendly and hospitable. The population is predominantly Muslim; on the capital of Male and other inhabited islands, modest clothing is recommended for women. The Maldives has a population of 379,174, of whom about 104,000 reside in Male, the capital city.  Beautiful atolls, inhabited by over 1,100 species of fish and other sea life, attract thousands of visitors each year.  Tourism facilities are well developed on the resort islands.  The tsunami of December 26, 2004 damaged several hotels and facilities on some of the islands, but all damaged tourism infrastructure has been rebuilt. The Maldives deliver on the promise of Eden - to those who can afford its charms. If your idea of paradise is a pristine, tranquil tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives won't disappoint. This group of 1190 coral islands is also a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the fabulous reefs and the wealth of marine life; however, this is not a place for low budget backpackers or amateur anthropologists who want to travel independently and live as the locals do.

 

Quick facts

Population: 301,475

Electrical Plugs

Country Dialing Code: +960

Weights & Measures: Metric

Languages Spoken Official: Divehi Also English.

Time Zones: GMT/UTC +5

CurrencyName: Rufiyaa Code: MVR Symbol: Rf

 

What to wear

Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In Male’, the capital island and other inhabited islands it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much.

Things to do

Not only do you discover aspects of the planet denied to most people, but you make a lot of good friends as well!

The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Many of the resorts have excellent house reefs. Just a short swim from the beach and snorkellers too can experience the same pleasures from the surface.

Culture

A proud history and rich culture evolved from the first settlers who were from various parts of the world travelling the seas in ancient times. The Maldives has been a melting pot of different cultures as people from different parts of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local music and dance for instance resemble African influences, with handbeating of drums and songs in a language that is not known to any but certainly represents that of East African countries. As one would expect there is a great South Asian influence in some of the music and dancing and especially in the traditional food of the Maldivians. However many of the South Asian customs especially with regard to women - for instance the Sub Continent’s tradition of secluding women from public view - are not tenets of life here. In fact women play a major role in society - not surprising considering the fact men spend the whole day out at sea fishing. Many of the traditions are strongly related to the seas and the fact that life is dependent on the seas around us.

Prohibited Items

The following items are Strictly Prohibited by Law to Import into the country:-

• - Weapons and Gunpowder of any kind
• - All addictive drugs. (the penalty for importing of such drugs is severe, usually life imprisonment)
• - Spear Gun, Harpoons, or Hazardous Chemicals
• - All types of Poison and Acids
• - Dangerous Animals, Dogs Pigs/Pork & Liquor. (It is advised not to purchase Liquor on the Flight to Maldives. If - liquor is imported without an official license it should be declared at the customs and will be returned to you on departure.
• - Liquor and Pork products are available at the Resort Hotel for visitors)
• - Pornographic materials in any form
• - Products made out of Endangered Species

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport, along with an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds, is required for entry. A no-cost visitor visa valid for thirty days is issued upon arrival. The Department of Immigration and Emigration routinely approves requests for extension of stays up to ninety days for travelers who present evidence of sufficient funds and who stay in a resort or hotel or present a letter from a local sponsor. Anyone staying over sixty days without proper authorization faces heavy fines and deportation. All visitors departing the Republic of the Maldives (except diplomats and certain exempted travelers) must pay an airport departure tax, which is usually included in the price of an airline ticket.  Travelers need a yellow fever immunization if they are arriving from an infected area.

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