How to get the best out of your visit to the Maldives

Over 1000 tiny islands are peppered across the crystal-clear waters of the Indian ocean making up a wondrous archipelago. It is undoubtedly among the most renowned honeymoon vacations in the world. Trying to schedule a vacation to the Maldives can get frustrating if you do not know what to look for! Here's a guide simplifying all the details for you!

The island nations are comprised of nearly 1,200 tiny islands.

The Maldives refer to a large group of islands, or an archipelago, found in the Indian Ocean. The tiny islands have been further grouped into 26 atolls extending for over 800 kilometres from the north to south. Male is the capital city of the country and this is where many global visitors first land at as the Velana International Airport is located here. Around two hundred of these islands are inhabited by the locals in the Maldives. Another two hundred islands have been transformed into private resort islands. While the Maldives encompasses approximately 90,000 square kilometres, it has a landmass of less than 300 square kilometres, making it the 9th smallest nation in the world! The Maldives is also famous for its surfing. World-famous, actually! If you are an avid surfer, check out a surfing resort in the Maldives. For instance, check out properties like Niyama Maldives.

An hour away from Sri Lanka

Starting to wonder how you can reach the Maldives? Most travellers don't actually know this, but this island nation is are only one hour away via plane from another renowned tropical island, Sri Lanka. Why not incorporate the Maldives to your itinerary (or vice versa) when visiting Sri Lanka? Every day, there are 3 or 4 flights between the Colombo International Airport and the Velana International Airport. There are also three weekly flights from Colombo International Airport and the Gan International Airport if you are on your way to the southern atolls of the island nation.

No, you're not going to require a visa!

No pre-arrival visas are required for the Maldives. On entry, a thirty-day visa will be provided for all the nationalities. However, you need to make sure that the passport stays valid for at least six months and that there is a valid return ticket! These are the only requirements to visit the Maldives!

Alcohol should not be carried into the country

You are not permitted to carry alcohol to the Maldives. On your way there, even if you purchased some beer, wine or spirits at the duty-free store, you would have to leave it at customs in the airport. You can collect them on your way back from the Maldives. Since this nation is an Islamic country, you will not be able to purchase or drink alcohol in the residential islands!

The peak seasons

Although the climate in the Maldives is tropical, with temperatures on most days lingering at around 28-30 ºC, during the monsoon seasons that starts from April to October, rain does increase significantly. This is evident between June and August. For this purpose, the months between December and March sees an influx of tourists. Accommodation prices also appear to be high during these peak months. During the "monsoon seasons" in the months of July, you might encounter some intermittent storms, however, most of the days tend to be breezy with lots of sunlight. So, whenever you choose to go, you are going to find that the beaches of Maldives are inviting all year round for a visit!