The Maldives are a cluster of many small islands in the Indian Ocean. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations around the world. Almost everyone wishes to experience a vacay to these islands!
The beauty of its lagoons and beaches leaves the tourists stunned and once someone sees it, they’re enamoured forever. The indigenous people over there call it
“Dhivehi Raajje” means the country of the Dhivehi people.
The diversity and amalgamation of various religions and communities have left a lasting impression on the archipelago and this impression is also quite evident in the cuisines as well as the art and crafts of the place.
The music of the place is dominated by the local Bodu-Beru (big drums), making it very unique.
All in all, Maldives makes one of the best destinations for an amazing vacation and a worthwhile get away from one’s everyday life!
Airports Airlines and Accommodations
Velana International Airport, North Male Atoll is the major Airport of Maldives. The other three international airports are
Gan International Airport; Seenu Atoll,
Hanimaadhoo International Airport; Haa Dhaalu Atoll and Maafaru International Airport; Noonu Atoll. These airports facilitate many airlines from local ones to well-known ones. Some of the major airlines that offer travel between India and the Maldives include SpiceJet, AirAsia India, SriLankan Airlines, Go First, IndiGo etc.
The Maldives is a very popular destination for vacation, so there is no lack of amazing and luxurious stay-ins. Some of the most popular ones include Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Soneva Jani etc.
The average cost of a solo traveller to the Maldives for 7 days would be between INR 2,70,000 to INR 3,15,000.
Male- The Capital
Male, is one of the world’s smallest national capitals. It is known for its colourful buildings and ancient mosques. This island has grown into the most visited island all over The Maldives due to its beauty and progressiveness. It is a casual town that serves you best in incase of pre-planned itineraries.
Unlike the resorts and their pools, Male gives you the most authentic experiences in The Maldives. It is surrounded all over with beautiful turquoise waters and is the driving soul of the whole archipelago. From shopping to experiencing the waters, Male is a must-visit!
Male has many places to visit but is most famous for Male Friday Mosque. This mosque is a beautiful structure that dates back to the 17th century. This is the oldest mosque in the country!
Another one of the must-visit places in this capital is the National Museum. The building is the epitome of knowledge. The artefacts in the museum are from the ancient Islamic period and it introduces you to almost all the events of the archipelago’s history.
Male market is also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Male. It is the heart and soul of the city. Though this place is only a local market, it holds great importance for the locals for their bread and butter.
There’s also an artificial beach in the city. The beach is man-made, as the name implies, yet chooses to serve its visitors in the most natural forms. It is a small crescent-shaped structure which is loved by the locals as well as the tourists as they can swim or just go and relax at the beach.
The submarine tour is one of the top tourist activities in the Maldives. This Submarine tour takes you to the mysterious depths of the Great Indian Ocean where you can see the coral reefs and different fishes such as White Tip Reef Sharks, Napoleons, Yellow Box Fish, Lionfish, etc. It stays for around 45 minutes inside the water, and it could be one of the best experiences of your lifetime!
Have fun hopping the Islands!
The Maldives has several islands, each one quite apart from the other one. The well-known ones include Alimantha, Mirihi, Kudahuvadhoo, Gan and Hulhule. You can hop islands by seaplanes or Dhonis, local boats with diesel engines. Whether you go for an aerial journey or take a boat, the views will leave you mesmerized.
While Gan is the largest one of these islands in the Maldives, the island Kudahuvadhoo has ruins that are rumoured to be Buddhist temples, Mirihi is named after a local flower, and none of them is islands to miss.
Witness the glowing beach phenomenon at Vaadhoo island!
If you’re planning a trip to The Maldives, you definitely must have heard about the glowing beach phenomenon and if not, there you go!
Bioluminescence is one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena, which causes this glowing beach effect. The ocean is home to plankton, the microscopic free-floating organisms that are preyed upon by many fishes. This bioluminescence is meant to be a defence mechanism that this plankton exhibit to confuse predators and to draw attention to larger animals that scare away the primary ones.
It is caused by a chemical called luciferin, which emits a glow when agitated. This phenomenon is present in many other marine animals, but the most mesmerizing display of it is by the plankton only. This effect is visible only at night, and the best time to watch it in action is between June and October. The blue light is ‘cold,’ which means there is no heat generated and hence it is safe to touch and play with it.
Raa Atoll is another one of the must-visit sites. It is one of the famous atolls in the Maldives, housing some of the best resorts and amazing sites. Vaadhoo Island is a part of this atoll. This spectacular island may have around 500 inhabitants but the natural phenomenon occurring here, famously known as the Sea of Stars, is the one that captures most of the attention of people all around the world.
The Sea of Stars phenomenon is the name given to the waters of Vaadhoo Island due to their brilliant glow under the moonlight. It is said that the sea glitters and glows in such a way that it reflects the stars beneath which the waves lap, which creates this one of a kind view.
Water sports and Submarine Ride!
The best part about The Maldives without any doubt is the water sports and water activities!
One of the best diving locations for scuba is Kadooma Thila. It is full of colourful reefs and beautiful marine life. Witnessing Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Grey tip and white tip sharks, and so on, is very usual for the divers. The divers are also allowed to snorkel with the majestic whale sharks at Dhigurah island in Alif Dhaal Atoll, where these massive creatures are found almost all year.
Did we mention kayaking?
Kayaking in the crystal blue waters of Maldives along with the view, it’s an amazing experience, a true bliss!
Surfing is one of the most popular water sports and is usually preferred by those who like to get high on adrenaline. Not one, or two, but there are many beaches in the Maldives ideal for surfing. So don’t miss the opportunity to get this high!
When it comes to motorized sports, flyboarding is something you must try!
In normal flyboarding, the underwater propulsion can take you to 12m above the water. Yes above water as in flying above water!
There’s plenty of wind and water sports varieties in the Maldives, it can easily pass as a hotspot for water sports.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing are two wind sports that are extremely familiar around the area, especially for tourists.
Yes, we talked about the underwater submarine tour earlier too, but let’s dig a little deeper. It is a 45-minute submarine excursion into the underwater world. It takes you 100 feet beneath the ocean, inside the luxurious whale submarine. All the crew assigned in the submarine are certified and will make sure to take this submarine into the mysterious depths of the Indian Ocean. They will make sure that you have a very smooth and pleasant, yet very mesmerizing experience while in the submarine.
Whale Submarine Maldives is the largest and the deepest diving passenger submarine in the world. It has the capacity of carrying 50 passengers and 3 crew to a maximum depth of 150 meters into the ocean.
It is made sure that the submarine moves slowly while underwater, to cause no damage to the reefs and the marine life. There can also be a switch of seats during the tour so that all of the passengers can have views from all angles. You can take your phone and cameras along and not only click pictures of the magical ocean and reefs inside but also with the crew and the pilot!
Delicacies of Maldives
One of the most famous and must-try dishes is Bis keemiya. Now, think about a curry puff that has a ménage trois with a samosa and a spring roll, and you’re halfway to what a bis keemiya is.
The next one is Boshi mashuni. It lies somewhere between a salad and a salsa made with banana flowers, coconut and spices.
Garudhiya is yet another dish famous in The Maldives and is a must-try especially for those who are a fan of miso or dashi. It’s a traditional Maldivian fish soup made with fish, of course, and spices and citrus. It is made with fresh Tuna, water, curry leaves, and spices.
Saagu bondibai, a pudding, made with warmed coconut milk, cardamom and rose, and laced with creamy condensed milk, is a dessert you’d for sure love to devour! It tastes so yummy that you might want to consume buckets full of it! So don’t miss out on this one!
Trip Summary
A trip to The Maldives is a dream vacation. Be it for family, a solo trip, or for couples. It’s one of the topmost vacation destinations from all over the world and there probably isn’t anyone who wouldn’t want to visit The Maldives at least for once.
The trip’s budget may seem extra but only if not you haven’t planned properly. You should have a proper itinerary before visiting, to explore all the right places and to make sure not to miss out on anything.
All over, it’s a great experience and a must-visit for everyone. From the food to the water sports, along with all the luxurious resorts and sites to see, the experience that these clusters of islands will facilitate you with is one of a kind!
