Holidays in the Maldives

Island paradise advertising brochures and extraordinary, bright, mesmerizing TV footage can become a reality if you are lucky enough to get to the most popular islands in the world - Maldives. This is a real dream come true of snow-white, like starch sand, crystal-clear ocean waters, tropical sun and a hammock in the shade of spreading palms. The Maldives is a high-class resort, with modern villas and houses on the coast, excellent service and the opportunity to plunge into the fabulous atmosphere of romance and the original culture of the republic.

Maldives travel guide

Most of the iconic places islands- these are the so-called natural attractions, but there are those that were created by man, they are no less interesting than, for example, European ones, so you should not get hung up on a Maldivian beach vacation, excursions to Male, the local capital, will surprise you with a variety.

The main religious attraction of Male is the majestic white mosque building near the city pier. The magnificent golden dome of the Islamic Center can be seen from every corner of the capital. The mosque, built in 1984, is a symbol of the Muslim faith, because funds for its construction were collected "by the whole world."

The Islamic Center consists of 6 floors, inside is truly luxurious decoration - marble floors, Persian carpets, wooden tiles with lines from the Koran. The huge prayer hall can accommodate about 5-5 thousand believers, there are also spacious classrooms for classes and a library.

In the 17th century, right in the heart of the city, on the initiative of Sultan Iskandar I, a mosque called Friday was erected. Interestingly, the building is entirely constructed from perfectly matched coral blocks, and this was done without any adhesion mortar. The door and the ceiling are made of fine wood, decorated with ancient writings and varnished.

The Friday Mosque is surrounded by a cemetery with coral tombstones, representatives of the local nobility and politicians are buried here, there is an unusual minaret resembling a lighthouse nearby.

Once the main political center of the Maldives, the Presidential Palace, was erected in 1913 in the colonial style popular at that time by order of Sultan Shamsuddin III for his heir, but there was a coup, the state was declared a republic, and the building became the presidential residence. Since then, the palace has lost its aura of political grandeur, now it houses a historical museum, some local authorities, and part of the building is used as a residence for honorary guests of the republic.

One of the main natural attractions of the Maldives, and indeed of the whole world, is the unique Hanifaru Marine Reserve. From May to November, a huge mass of plankton rises to the surface of the ocean, and many whale sharks, rays and other marine life come to the closed lagoon as if by magic. The incredible sight attracts thousands of divers from all over the world who dream of seeing with their own eyes all the diversity of the local fauna.

It is impossible to tell about all the paradise islands of the archipelago, each in its own way is able to charm even the most experienced tourist, but the Madivaru Manta Point Reef, which is part of the Ari atoll, occupies a special place among them. A feature of this place is its unique fauna.From November to April, you can admire giant mantas, whose fins resemble wings, and huge sea animals are rather shy, so it is better to observe them from a respectful distance.

Coral reefs, which run in a continuous strip along the entire archipelago, are themselves a wonderful natural phenomenon thanks to their flora and fauna. Unusual inhabitants of the most fantastic colors, peculiar vegetation gives the islands a magical mysterious flair.

The best beaches in the Maldives

Relaxing on the beaches with white clean sand, swimming in the turquoise waters of the ocean and the paradise atmosphere of the tropics, as in the advertising "bounty", can be enjoyed at any resort in the Maldives, but not every of these places can boast of the presence of coral reefs near the hotel and luxury service. Diving opportunities and excursions to nearby islands are important criteria. We have compiled a rating of the best beaches in the Maldives, having visited which, you will definitely want to come back here again.

First and best on the list beaches The Maldives can be called Angsana Ihuru, located in the North Kaafu Atoll. From the capital Male, the boat trip will take only a few minutes; this is a favorite place for beginners and experienced divers who are accommodated in a comfortable five-star hotel. Otherwise, everything is the same as in other resorts of the archipelago - palm trees, sand and secluded relaxation.

Fulhadhoo is a unique beach in its own way, because usually the islands in the Maldives are either completely built up with villages or equipped with expensive luxury hotels. Here, the houses of the locals occupy a small area, for a reasonable price you get a sandy beach, magical sunsets, lush vegetation and all this in solitude - it happens that for the whole day you will not meet a single person.

Finolhu Kanifushi is a miniature island in the Baa Atoll with a long sandy spit, thanks to which it is possible to walk directly "along the ocean", as well as visit several uninhabited islands with tall palm trees. For lovers of long-distance swims, there is a lagoon on the island.

Another paradise island in Baa Atoll, only already private - Amilla Fushi, the beaches here are well-groomed and very diverse. There are those on which only palm trees grow (they are more reminiscent of the Caribbean islands), there are also overgrown with bushes, which is more typical for the Maldives. The entrance to the water is shallow, sandy, but the coral bottom begins very quickly. The hotel is luxurious, with luxurious decoration and service.

The Soneva Fushi resort on Kunfunadhoo Island is one of the most respectable; guests from all over the world come here who are hard to surprise with anything. The hotel has an increased level of comfort, a riot of greenery and colors, there is also a small private farm where vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown.

Best hotels in Maldives

Hurawalhi island resort 5 * - one of the best hotels in the entire archipelago, it is possible to get here from Male airport by plane, after passing the border you will be met and taken to a special recreation area for hotel guests, where they will offer refreshing drinks, snacks, upon arrival it will be for you completely free. There is also an opportunity to order lunch and use the free Internet. The villas are quite spacious, made in an original design style, you can meet the sunrise and see off the sunset in an ideal secluded atmosphere, some rooms have separate pools. The beautiful blue lagoon, coral reefs and the cleanest beach at the hotel will not leave anyone indifferent.

Another luxury hotel with an excellent reputation is Velassaru Maldives 5 *, you can get from the capital to it in just half an hour. On a small island in South Male Atoll, cozy bungalows are built on the shore and in the waters of the ocean. The beach is comfortable and clean, next to a large lagoon for swimming. A huge selection of dishes from different countries of the world, multilingual staff, a spa, the opportunity to go diving and surfing right on the territory of the hotel - all this makes Velassaru Maldives 5 * a favorite place for the sophisticated tourist.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives 5 * is perhaps one of the few hotels in the Maldives that fully meets the requirements of a family vacation, because it is a wonderful spacious beach, villas above the water's surface, a family pool and a pool for two, spa treatments, massage and a great home reef.

Adaaran Prestige Ocean Villas 4 * is less expensive, but quite a worthy option for those who are willing to compromise. Perhaps, the service here is not as luxurious as in previous hotels, but there is a small, but independent territory, guests can use all the entertainment for free. Cozy water villas have direct access to the ocean, a bottle of champagne and fruit are a pleasant bonus upon check-in. The shallow lagoon and the presence of a playground make it possible to relax with kids.

How much will it cost to stay in the Maldives

Journey to the paradise island, you should start not with buying a tour or plane tickets, but with studying information about the country, local customs and laws, the peculiarities of the season, because being fully armed, you guarantee yourself the absence of force majeure associated, for example, with the transportation of alcohol to the country ... After that, contact several travel agencies at once and ask them to choose a tour that would suit you at a price, keep in mind that the trip will not be cheap:

• prices for hotels with three stars for a week start at an average of 150 thousand rubles (breakfasts);
• for four-stars - from 190 (without meals);
• for 5 * - from 260 thousand rubles.

You can, of course, plan an independent trip to the islands, but even then a flight for one person will cost at least 27 thousand rubles round trip.

For living in the most modest room on remote islands, you will pay from $ 60 per day, in a 3 * -4 * hotel an overnight stay costs at least $ 90 per day, in a comfortable hotel with its own territory - from 170 to 360, according to the "all inclusive" system »You can rest from 200 to 500 dollars a day. A luxury vacation in a family villa can go up to $ 3,000 per day.

A transfer to distant islands will also cost a pretty penny, especially if you rent a seaplane (from 270 to 770), a boat trip will cost a maximum of $ 100 per person.

Food, and especially alcohol, is also a serious item of expenditure, in budget hotels you can keep within $ 1000 for two, a luxurious vacation implies a lot of spending, they can be both 3 and 5 thousand dollars.

Do not forget about insurance, on average, insurance costs about $ 50, and about entertainment and excursions (from 0 to infinity).

In general, a budget vacation in the Maldives will cost at least $ 2,000 for two for 10 days, on average the amount will be about 3,000 thousand.

Maldives: reviews

As with any of resorts The reviews of tourists depend on the specific location, but most still agree that the Maldives are the best islands for a lazy contemplative vacation. Even lovers of an extremely active pastime discover purely beach holidays, swimming in warm waters of extraordinary purity and color, lying on the beach and the notorious doing nothing. Although in fact, there is really something to do here, these are water sports - surfing, diving, and canoeing, and feeding stingrays and other marine life, travel to the capital Male, sightseeing and trips to neighboring wild islands.

The main disadvantages are called a long flight, a tax of 16%, which is added to absolutely all purchases, a large number of blood-sucking insects, expensive drinks, including alcoholic ones (alcohol from duty-free is taken at Male airport and returned only on the way back). Also, tourists do not recommend taking anything from the beach with them, for this they face a serious fine and even imprisonment.