Maldives - travel to the Maldives

Useful information about the Maldives.

Geography: The Maldives is a flat island country situated in Southeast Asia, in the Indian Ocean. In the Maldives there are a total of twenty-six atolls with over a thousand small islands, many of which are inhabitable. The country is mainly flat and is rich with white sandy beaches.

Climate: The climate of the Maldives is tropical. The people of the Maldives enjoy warm weather all year round. Lowest temperatures average at 25 degrees.

Attractions: The Sea and the tropical climate are the main attractions in the Maldives. There is much to do in the seas around the Maldives, which varies water sport to night time fishing. For others relaxing on the white sandy beaches is good enough.

Travel and holidays: A holiday in the Maldives could be classed as a luxury holiday. Its resorts are set up to cater for all tourists needs. Most of the islands of the Maldives have glorious beaches, and the seas surrounding the Maldives have excellent coral reefs.

Accommodation: In the Maldives, travellers needs are well looked after. Scattered around the many islands are first class resorts with great hotels that offer everything you should need.

Culture and people: The people of the Maldives are an island people that are Sunni Muslim. They are a warm friendly people. They are closely linked with India and Sri Lanka.

Religion: The majority of people living on the Maldives are Muslim.

Flag: The Maldives national flag is red with a large green rectangle in the centre and an upright white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag.

Government: The Maldives is a Republic and has 19 administrative divisions. The laws are based on Islamic law with mixtures of English common law.

Exports: The Maldives exports canned tuna and dried and frozen fish.

Food: Fish and rice are the two main food sources in the Maldives. Tuna is the preferred fish and is often served with spices. Berries are also common in the national diet.

Drink: The locals in the Maldives are Muslims and usually restrict themselves to black tea. Drinks with alcohol can be found in all tourist resorts.

Facts: The capital city of the Maldives is called Male. The population of the Maldives is approx 260,000 (1997 official estimate).

Sport: Water sports are very common in the Maldives, especially windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing and water-skiing. Diving and snorkelling are extremely popular around the exciting dramatic corals.

Economy: Much of the Maldives economical growth is due to its immense tourist industry. Tourism accounts for over twenty percent of the Maldives economy. The economy also depends on the agriculture and fishing sector.

History: Through out history the Maldives has been ruled by kings and sultans; it gained total independence from the British in 1965.

Currency: Currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa (MVR)

Time Zone: Standard Time is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+5).

Country Telephone code: The international country calling code of the Maldives is + 960.

Visa: Travelling to the Maldives is pretty straightforward. Standard travel documents, such as a passport are needed, but you don‘t need a visa. Visas are only required if you are planning to work there. You may also be asked for your return ticket or the ticket to your next destination.

Art and craft:
The most distinctive art from the Maldives is the wooden polished handicrafts produced in Baa atoll region. Mats are also made throughout the region.

Languages: Dhivehi is the national language of the Republic of Maldives, but English is widely spoken by most tourist officials in the holiday resorts.