Strewn like beautiful marbles across the Laccadive Sea, the archipelago of Maldives is one of the most popular beach destinations in the world. The archipelago consists of more than a thousand islands, although not all of them are habitable, and can be found roughly four hundred kilometres southwest of India. The islands are famed for their soft, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and delightful tropical flora, making them the beach destination of choice for most vacationers.
The easiest way to get into Maldives is via plane. Passenger boats are rare as the shallow waters and extensive reefs around the island make it somewhat hazardous to navigate. The Male’ International Airport is located in the island of Hulhule, which is near the capital. All visitors get a free visa lasting thirty days upon arrival at the airport provided they can show enough funds for the duration of their stay. The visa duration can be further extended although that requires the submission of a few more supporting documents.
When it comes to activities in Maldives most tend to involve the beach. There are a number of amazing diving spots situated off the coast of Maldives and snorkelling and scuba diving have become ‘must do’ activities when vacationing here. One can also try out a variety of water sports such as parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, and kite gliding. Although there are few places of interest outside the beaches that are well worth visiting. Places such as the Hukuru Miskiiy (or Grand Friday Mosque), the Mula Aage (or President’s Palace) give visitors insights into the island’s culture and traditions.
When it comes to food one has plenty of choices. Traditional Maldivian cuisine revolves around fish. After all the fishing industry is a huge contributor to the country’s economy. One can find plenty of restaurants serving all manner of fresh and delicious seafood. Dishes to try include mas huni, fihuna mas, and bambukeylu hiti.
Accommodation here is quite easy to find although choosing from the numerous Maldives resorts available can be a somewhat difficult task. Tourists looking for Maldives spa resorts which also have various facilities for water sports can try the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.
