Maldives

Sights

• House reef – Snorkel straight from the beach – turtles and reef sharks included.
• Malé – The densely built capital, with its fish market and a coral-stone Friday Mosque.
• Local islands – Guesthouses on inhabited islands such as Maafushi – dress modestly and swim at the «bikini beach».
• Sandbank picnic – A few hours on a tiny island of sand in the middle of the sea.
• Baa Atoll – A UNESCO biosphere reserve; manta rays gather seasonally in Hanifaru Bay.
• Bioluminescent plankton – With luck, the surf glows blue at night.

Food & nightlife

• Mas Huni – Tuna with coconut, onion and chilli – the typical breakfast.
• Garudhiya – A clear fish soup with rice, lime and chilli.
• Hedhikaa – Small snacks with tea, such as fried fish balls.
• Dinner on the beach – Alcohol is served only at resorts and on liveaboards, not on inhabited islands.

Day trips

• Liveaboard diving – Several days on a boat from atoll to atoll.
• Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll – Whale sharks can be seen here all year round.
• Dolphin cruise – A late-afternoon dhoni trip to pods of dolphins.

Good to know

When to go

December–April

Getting around

From the airport near Malé by seaplane, speedboat or domestic flight to the atolls; local ferries link the inhabited islands. Resorts usually charge in US dollars.

Tipping

Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.

Power

Plug type D/G, 230 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)

Plan your trip to Maldives together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed