Maldives Holidays

Luxury Multi Centre Holidays

The Maldives capital, Male, now has an increasing number of airlines flying from it, so combining your stay with a visit to other exotic locations is very easy. There are direct flights of less than 4 hours from Dubai, so the Maldives pairs beautifully with a contrasting few days enjoying the buzz of Dubai or Abu Dhabi. There are also direct flights from Istanbul, taking less than 7 hours.

Other exciting options include continuing on to Singapore, only 4 hours away. Several airlines have direct flights from Male to Sri Lanka, which is less than 2 hours flight time, and this offers a great chance to enrich your holiday with Sri Lanka's history and culture. Male is also just an hour from Tivandrum, so the Maldives is a great stopover for an India trip.

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Featured Hotels in Maldives

Luxury Maldives Holidays

The Maldives seem to represent everything that comes to mind when you think of an island paradise -- for most people, they are what holiday dreams are made of. These coral islands on long-extinct volcanoes offer astonishing natural beauty and unparalleled tranquillity, as well as some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Yet there is much more to the Maldives than just a place to unwind and laze on a beautiful beach.

The Maldives in the Indian Ocean consist of 26 atolls, which are giant formations of coral that have fragmented into almost 1,200 islands. Of these, only around 200 are inhabited, and between 90 and 100 of these are holiday resorts, with each resort having its own private island, ensuring the utmost in secluded luxury. Otherwise, vast areas of the Maldives are virtually untouched by humankind, and here you can see, hear and feel nature undisturbed.

The Real Maldives

The capital of the Maldives is Male, where all tourists arrive, and from which the majority fly straight out to their island resort. This is a pity, as this tiny crowded capital is the best place to meet the real Maldivian people, and is also home to most of the country's cultural attractions. With its many colourful pastel buildings and its fascinating markets, it is well worth visiting for at least one day of your holiday.

One of the best-known of Male's attractions is the Hukuru Miskiiy or Old Friday Mosque, the Maldives' oldest mosque, dating from 1656 -- originally an old temple that faced westwards to the setting sun, not towards Mecca, so that worshippers face the corner of the building. With its walls intricately carved in coral stone and Arabic script, and beautiful fine lacquer work and wood carvings throughout the interior, it is a unique and fascinating place to visit, along with the nearby Grand Friday Mosque with its huge golden dome. Another must-see in Male is the three-storey National Museum, located in a corner of the Sultan's Park, and containing an intriguing collection of historical artefacts, some dating back to pre-Islamic times.

 

Arts and Music

The dominant religion in the Maldives is Islam, but it is tempered with many other influences, including the folklore and Buddhist traditions that were prevalent in the islands before Islam arrived in the 12th century. This mixture of influences is very apparent in Maldivian arts, including the geometric designs in the mats woven from local materials, the ornaments, and the embroidered necklines of women's dresses. The music played on the traditional bodu-beru, or big drum, is reminiscent of the sound of African drumming, while the dhoni, the unique Maldivian sailboat built with skilled craftsmanship, resembles the Arabian dhow.

Getting Around

There are virtually no cars in the Maldives, and boats are the Maldivian equivalent of the car. You are very likely to be transported from Male to your resort by sea-plane, though some resorts offer speedboats as an alternative. To get to a neighbouring island quickly, you either charter a speedboat, or use the inter-island aviation services.

By far the best way to experience the beauty of the islands, and discover the amazing coral reefs, is by private yacht or catamaran, or else by a sailboat or dhoni. A sunset cruise aboard a dhoni is a blissful way to end the day -- sailing round uninhabited islands, enjoying drinks and snacks while local musicians play the bodu-beru to attract dolphins. There are also surfing safaris, fishing safaris, and whale-watching and dolphin-watching safaris.

Coral Reefs and Calm Lagoons

One of the greatest delights of the Maldives is that, thanks to the area's early geological history, every single island has its own so-called house reef, a ring of coral encircling the island and creating its own enclosed lagoon. The waters round each island are thus completely protected from ocean swells and tidal currents, so bathing is totally safe and no hotel needs a swimming pool. The lagoons are edged by the most superb beaches in the world, with perfect, soft, whiter-than-white sand.

As well as providing a safe haven for bathing, of course, the reefs and lagoons are among the world's richest areas for diving and snorkelling, with an unequalled range of marine diversity. As well as whales, dolphins, turtles, manta rays and sharks (the non-dangerous kind), there are literally thousands of species of gorgeously coloured fish. An alternative to diving or snorkelling for enjoying the marine life is to take a trip in a whale submarine -- and several resorts have under-water restaurants.

The Maldives market themselves as "the sunny side of life", and sunshine holidays here are as close to perfection as you can get. As well as the idyllic beauty and utter tranquillity, the islands boast some of the world's finest and most exclusive hotels, with every resort seeking to outdo the others in attaining greater heights of luxury. It's no wonder that the Maldives is top of the wish-list for honeymooners or anyone seeking a romantic tropical paradise -- it's hard to imagine a destination more enchanting and more magical.

10 Reasons to Visit

1 - Stopovers

Stopovers are common from the UK clients that are en-route to the Maldives, some of the most popular stopover destinations are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka and the Far East. Take advantage of the special offers with the flights and combine your trip with another destination to make your holiday a unique one.

2 - Food

Local dishes revolve mainly around fresh fish, and are usually flavoured with coconut and delicious spices. But with a world wide influence of cuisines and cultures, all resorts in Maldives offer some thing for all types of clients. Whether its a fine dining experience to an international all day dinning you will not be disappointed.

3 - Privacy and seclusion

The Maldives is the perfect choice for those really looking to get away and relax. Only one resort is permitted per island, ensuring the islands don’t become over-populated with visitors, and most high-end hotels have private beaches and villas ensuring guests get the almost privacy.

4 - Ocean of Stars - High and Low

The Maldives is home to a spectacular phenomenon. The ocean is home to microbes called phytoplankton that glow blue in the water when washed up on shore, transforming the water into a sea of stars. Beach on Vaadhoo Island is one of the best places to witness this natural wonder, and is a must-see on any Maldives holiday. Also on a clear night the skies are lit up with stars and are a perfect way to end the evening with a lovely glass of wine viewing the beauty of the stars and planets.

5 - Scuba Diving

The scuba diving opportunities in the Maldives are some of the best in the world; the ocean is populated with coral reefs and a wide range of marine life. The clarity of the water allows perfect visibility. Novice or keen qualified divers will love to Scuba dive in the Maldives and explore all it's beauty beneath the depths.

6 - Luxury Resorts

The Maldives is famous for offering fabulous all inclusive stays and fantastic facilities. The Water Villas are particularly impressive and unique to Maldives; those who can afford to splash out can stay in a luxurious wooden bungalow with steps leading right into the ocean.

7 - Culture

The Maldivian culture is a true melting pot, with influence from all over the world from South India, Arabia, and Southeast Asia. The locals are a proud people, with a distinctive identity being communicated through music, dance, food and the numerous festivals that take place throughout the year.

8 - Island-hopping

The Maldives is made up of over 1000 islands, around 200 of which are inhabited. There isn’t yet an established network of transport between the islands, but many of the main resorts offer organised tours, from uninhabited islands to islands that are home to the locals.

9 - Affordable Maldives

Maldives is not as expensive as you may think. The cheapest time to travel to the Maldives are between May - July. Packages can start from less then a £900 per person.

10 - Available to all types of Holidays

Maldives is the perfect getaway for al types of clients. Offering perfect family getaways with wide range of facilities for children and adults alike. The Maldives is perfect for honeymooners or someone celebrating a special anniversary. Most resorts will often go all out and ensure that the trip is a most memorable one.

Your Honeymoon - Your Way

Maldives is the perfect destination for you to choose for your honeymoon. The idyllic islands white sandy beaches and unique room types ensures that you will have an unforgettable honeymoon.

Our specialists have first hand experience with the Maldivian islands and will be able to tailor make your honeymoon to fit your needs and make your honeymoon unique and personalised to you.

Call one of our specialist today on 0203 519 2552 or 0800 820 2000

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