Maldives Travel Guide

The Maldives is a natural archipelago in the Indian Ocean composed of nearly 2,000 coral islands, including 200 that are currently inhabited and 80 that are teeming with lush tourist resorts. It is part of the South Asia region, just south-southwest of India.

Tourists from all over the world are constantly in search of that island paradise that offers the proverbial white sands, blue skies, clear water and palm trees. It is no exaggeration to say that the Maldives offers exactly these -- and more. Its many islands are peppered with dozens of resorts that cater to every need and budget -- from the typical island-hopping backpackers to even rich and famous world travelers. The government has done a superb job of maintaining its fragile natural environment. Tourists may travel anywhere around the resort islands and the capital city (Male), but strict limitations are imposed on traveling to other local villages and destinations. You can only get there through guided tours. If it's a Robinson Crusoe-type vacation you want, then the Maldives is just the ticket.

Male, the capital city, is about two kms wide and has a population of 50,000 people. Tourists walk freely around Male, which boasts of an impressive mosque that has a golden dome inside which is visible from any of the nearby islands. There is also a popular local fish market, but the smell may be too much for the sensitive tourist.

Thulhagiri Resort is an intimate and inexpensive island getaway that offers beach bungalows with solid floors, thatched roofs and sizeable bathrooms. It can accommodate up to 100 guests. Lined with spectacular palm trees, the main resort building has sand-covered floors and offers and excellent view of the entire resort. One of the best experiences here is wading into the sea with a loaf of bread and feeding the fish. Before long, you will be surrounded by a dazzling array of colorful fishes that seem accustomed to eating out of people's hands. The best thing about the resort is that is it located at the center of an atoll, with a circular reef, and it's easy to swim from one side of the island to the other. Snorkeling here is great and there are huge numbers of fish and corals. Like all other Maldavian resorts, Thulhagiri has superb facilities for deep sea diving.

The Male Atoll, which hosts the capital city (Male) and the international airport, has several wonderful tourist resorts and is the most densely-populated atoll. Despite this, Male Atoll retains a quiet serenity and lush natural wonders.

Bolifushi is a small island just south of Male that hosts one of the Maldives' most famous resorts.

The capital, Male, hosts the major international airport, which receives regular flights from India and Sri Lanka as well as other locales. The airport has a pharmacy and internet facilities. From London, travelers can ride on Air Lanka, which offers flights every Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

There are two ways to travel around Maldives -- taxi boats and sea planes. The boats, which are either official or unofficial, are the local equivalent of a taxi cab while the planes are utilized largely by tourists. The boats operate mainly in the North and South Male atolls and come in different shapes and sizes.

There are two kinds of sea planes -- the red and white Maldvian Air Taxi and the yellow and blue Trans Maldivian Airways -- and both accommodate 10 passengers at a time. The planes are the only way that tourists can reach the outer island and resorts of Maldivia. They are operated by a phalanx of Aussie, American and English nationals who seem to be thoroughly enjoying their work.

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