Beaches. Beaches. Beaches. And some of the best in the world at that! A visit to the Maldives is all about self-indulgence. The beaches here are so picture perfect, that they epitomise the ideal of a Paradise Island. Make sure you bring some good books and your swimming costume, and you are all set!
For those who are after a bit of activity, the Maldives also offers some good diving, snorkelling and surfing opportunities.
Most hotels will be able to sort you out with dives, if that is what you are after. The Sea Explorers Dive School in Male’ is just one company that can sort you out independently. Coral reefs and shipwrecks can all be found within the Maldivian Islands. Fish Head, with it’s steep cliff sides and as one of the world’s famous dive sites, is found here too. Surfing is best during the monsoon season and the clearness of the water varies in different places throughout the year.
For those interested in snorkelling and diving, therefore, it is a good idea to enquire with your hotel as to the best time for diving on their local beaches. In addition, it is often possible to hire bicycles on the resorts. Given how flat the land is, you certainly don’t need to worry about any enormous hills.
Independent travellers may want to start off a trip in Male’. Busy, brightly coloured and bustling, this is the mercantile hub of the country. It offers some good little restaurants and a chance to see a bit of the ‘real’ Maldives, and how they tick. You can visit several lovely mosques, the National Museum and National Gallery among other things. Other inhabited islands in the archipelago are worth a visit, including Addu Atoll, at the very south of the country. The southern Atolls are the most unspoiled islands of the country, and provide an opportunity to some of the least developed areas of the country.