Of the twelve hundred islands of the Maldives archipelago, lying just two meters above sea level, only two hundred are inhabited, so you will certainly find a piece of beach here untouched by human foot. The beaches of this region are widely considered to be among the most beautiful in the world. The postcard beauty of the islands, fine white sand and palm trees bowing to the sea in the rays of the setting sun - this is how a dream, luxurious vacation can look like, and the Maldives will become a true synonym for a paradise vacation. And there is no exaggeration in that! It is a real tropical paradise, and combined with a stay in one of the charming, boutique hotels, resorts or bungalows, it becomes a recipe for a dream vacation. Maldives it is simply the perfect place to spend a honeymoon in romantic circumstances. Water sports enthusiasts – snorkeling, diving or motorboaters – will also find excellent conditions here, both in terms of water clarity and the biological wealth of the underwater world. Equipment for practicing these sports is often provided on site at resorts on individual islands and everyone will find something suitable for themselves.
During stay in the Maldives it is important to remember that this is a Muslim country, and as such, traditional restrictions related to this religion apply; such as a ban on drinking alcohol (obviously, this does not apply to hotel guests) or appropriate clothing. You can wear shorts, have your shoulders and hair exposed, sunbathe in a bikini - but it is better to reserve this attraction for your hotel stay, and if you are staying in the city or local settlements, dress a bit more modestly. Note! Topless sunbathing on the beach or by the hotel pool is out of the question.
The main source of income for this island country located in the Indian Ocean is tourism. The extremely nice locals try to please tourists in every possible way, and contact with them will allow you to get to know their island lifestyle and traditions. The cuisine of the Maldives is of course based on the always fresh fish and seafood prepared in various ways using a rich palette of Asian and Arabic spices. The surprisingly excellent food is probably one of the most common threads of stories from staying on these islands.
The most beautiful Maldivian atolls
The Most Beautiful Maldivian Atolls | Furaveri, Kodhiparu
You won't find such beautiful beaches and azure-clear ocean waters anywhere else in the world! During your vacation in the Maldives, you will discover a paradise designed for blissful laziness and an escape from civilization, everyday worries and the chaos of big cities! We will take you to two spectacular Maldivian atolls, to our favorite hotels, where you will forget about the whole mundane world. We invite you to paradise!
The best time to visit the Maldives is from late October to late April, when you are guaranteed perfect, sunny weather. Average air and water temperatures do not change significantly, remaining at a constant level of 29°C to 31°C all year round, the sun shines for an average of 8-9 hours a day for 9 months, and from December to April there is almost no rain, so these months are ideal for spending your holiday in the Maldives.
The best beaches in the Maldives - a holiday guide
Where is the best place to go to the Maldives? Here is a subjective review of a few islands that we believe will help you find your way around the fabulous, and sometimes even sparkling (!) beaches of the Maldives…
Mudhdhoo Beach
Mudhdhoo Island is located in the Baa Atoll. It is particularly popular among tourists due to the luxurious Dusit Thani resort with its exclusive romantic setting of beaches with fine, white sand and the possibility of exciting underwater adventures.
The entire Baa Atoll is on the UNESCO protected list. Mudhdhoo is a tiny island surrounded by a rich coral reef, and the clear waters provide excellent conditions for underwater safaris with the possibility of observing exotic fauna, from clownfish to schools of rays, as well as whale and reef sharks, which act as a predator in this micro-world. Sharks found in the Maldives, although they seem dangerous, do not pose any threat to humans, and their underwater observation provides many unforgettable emotions. Some of them are seriously threatened with extinction, which additionally makes this experience one of a kind.
However, Mudhdhoo beaches are not only fine sand, sun and relaxation in the shade of palm trees. This place is famous primarily for its extraordinary night spectacle, which is a shining, shimmering cosmic beach with blue and turquoise shades! This is one of the most spectacular, fabulous and extraordinary phenomena in the world caused by microorganisms called Lingulodinium polyedrum – photosynthetic dinoflagellates, which, when moved, flash with a "cosmic" light. This unusual phenomenon is also known from some other beaches of warm seas, but here in the Maldives, especially on the beaches of Mudhdhoo, it is exceptionally spectacular!
Cocoa Island
This tiny island, located in the southern part of the Male Atoll, can be reached by fast boat from the capital of the Maldives archipelago – Malé, and the ride is quite an attraction in itself due to the views and the azure sea. On this island, approximately the length of a football pitch, is located the Como Cocoa, known from many postcards, one of the most famous luxury hotels in the Maldives, which consists of several dozen colonial-style cottages located on stilts driven into the sea, built in the form of traditional fishing boats. They are connected by wooden bridges and resemble a seaside jetty with moored boats – a common motif of computer wallpapers.
In the east, the island is surrounded by a sandy, picturesque spit surrounded by a turquoise sea and a coral reef, a real paradise for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. Here you can admire true underwater richness - sharks, rays, sea turtles and fabulously colorful fish. Equipment can be rented on site for an additional fee, and less experienced people can use the services of instructors. It's really worth it!
Luxury holidays in the Maldives
Luxury Maldives Holidays | Maldives
If your vision of an exclusive holiday in the Maldives is paradise beaches strewn with white, fine sand, washed by azure, clear water and a tropical sun, from whose glow you can hide under gently rustling palm trees, choose a luxury holiday in the Maldives! This is one of the most exclusive travel destinations you can imagine. Luxurious villas provide maximum comfort and intimacy, excellent service fulfills all, even the most sophisticated wishes - this is a dream destination for a honeymoon or to celebrate an important anniversary. A luxury trip to the Maldives is also a great excuse to let yourself be a little pampered and escape from the whole world.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
In less than half an hour from Male, you can also sail by seaplane to the charming, almost perfectly round Banyan Tree Island of Vabbinfaru. The dense grove of palm trees, from which the luxury resort located here takes its name; the beach with fine sand, turquoise sea and coral reef – are another example of the paradise of the Maldives. The island is also considered one of the best areas for underwater sports, due to the great access to the reefs from the beach surrounding it, the pier reaching far out into the sea, and the reef, protecting the island from high waves and ocean currents. Like other Maldivian islands, Vabbinfaru can be walked around, even barefoot, which is possible due to the fine, pleasant sand – in less than half an hour. When walking in the water, especially near the reef, it is worth getting special slippers to protect against injuries on sharper pieces. The resort located on the island offers free sun loungers, hammocks in the shade of palm trees, as well as a range of attractions and facilities - from sea fishing to beach volleyball, which is also popular in our country.
Maldives
Dhigurah Island
Located in the southern part of the Ari Atoll, the island has a characteristic, elongated shape and is one of the longest islands in the Maldives. Unlike most of the places described, where there is no local population, only hotel resorts, here in the northern part of the island there is a small, half-thousand village inhabited by local fishermen. In guidebooks, it is described as one of the most interesting islands in the archipelago, where you can come into contact with tropical, rich and dense greenery, local culture, as well as relax on beaches with sand so fine and soft that it seems like you are walking on flour. It is simply the perfect place for a holiday with children, because there are no strong ocean waves here, and the water at the sandy beaches is shallow, clean and clear.
Dhigurah beaches are an ideal place for blissful relaxation, but also for observing whale sharks in their vicinity. The island has its own diving center, and in the coastal lagoon you will find wonderful sea turtles, of which five of the seven species inhabit the Maldives archipelago.
Dhigurah
Bikini Beach, Maafushi Island
In the introduction, you read that in the Maldives, as it is a Muslim country, there are certain restrictions regarding clothing. However, local authorities meet the expectations of tourists from all over the world by creating so-called Bikini Beach, where the restrictions are not particularly severe and a bikini is allowed, is nothing exceptional or offensive. One such beach is the one on Maafushi Island, where you can parade around freely in a bikini. On the beach you can mainly meet tourists who are hungry for sun, locals do not usually use it.
Maafushi Island has the longest coastline in the Maldives. Located in the northern part, Bikini Beach is located in a fairly developed tourist part of the island, with easy access to various restaurants, hotels and diving equipment rentals - it is worth taking advantage. The place also has its charm after dark, when nearby hotels and restaurants set tables directly on the sand, and a delicious dinner in this place undoubtedly has its charm and tastes delicious!
Maldives – a recipe for perfect relaxation…
fulhadhoo Iceland
Unlike the popular Bikini Beach on Maafushi, on Fulhadhoo Island you will feel like you are at the end of the world. Fulhadhoo Beach, located on the island of the same name, perhaps due to the distance of over 100 km from the capital, where tourists arriving in the Maldives most often land, is an oasis of peace, nature, intimate relaxation in a private atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
We have mentioned diving and snorkeling in the Maldives many times. Whether you are a long-time fan of these water activities or you are just thinking about trying it – it would be a sin not to take advantage of the opportunities that this place offers. Specialists recommend the southwestern part of Fulhadhoo, where the sea is more accessible due to the sea currents on the western shores. The beach here does not have any special facilities – just a few sunbeds, and shelter from the sun is provided by beautiful palm trees and naturally growing tropical vegetation.
If surfing is your priority, head to the Maldives during our vacation
Seaside Finolhu
The beach at the Finolhu Island Resort, located on Baa Atoll, is famous for its huge, gleaming, white sandbar, one of the longest in the country. The airport is only eight kilometers away, so after flying in, it is easy and quick to get here by motorboat. The island itself is quite small and exceptionally charming. There is no coral reef near the shore, so there is no fear of hurting your feet. The Finolhu Baa Atoll Resort, located on the island, takes exceptional care to keep the area clean, so the sand here is so fine that it resembles sifted flour.
The resort also takes care of the comfort of its guests on the beach, offering umbrellas, soft loungers, hammocks and four-poster beds. Private cabanas are available, and the comfort of guests is taken care of by the staff here. Water sports enthusiasts can water ski, windsurf, parasailing, wakeboard, rent a sailing catamaran, kayak or jet ski.
Gulhi Island
On this island you can enjoy both the beach bikini on its southern end, and the public one on the other side of the island. Both, of course, offer clean white sand and access to the azure sea.
Beach bikini It is quite spacious here, and palm trees provide shade that is desired on hot days. On the beach, you can use sun loungers and umbrellas. The water by the shore is not deep, reaching waist-deep a few dozen meters from the shore. The waves are also not big, which makes the place ideal for sunbathing with children. There is also no reef with sharp edges here, and you can walk here barefoot without any worries. If you want to dive on the reef, you can take advantage of the underwater safari offer and sail further out to sea. On site, you will also find a wide range of other water activities, from diving and water motor sports to dolphin watching cruises.
The public beach also has its charm. It is worth visiting at sunset, which gives the ocean waters incredible colors and creates a romantic atmosphere. Remember, however, that you cannot parade on the public beach in a bikini.
veligandu
This island is located in the northern part Ari Atoll and is famous for one of the most fashionable and oldest resorts in the region, Veligandu Island Resort & Spa. It is easy and quick to get here from the airport – a motorboat will take you there in just fifteen minutes.
Veligandu stretches meridionally, and at its southern end, a sandbar stretches out into the sea, from which the island takes its name. It is surrounded by a coral reef, where you can meet sea turtles, manta rays and entire schools of colorful aquatic creatures. The beach here is equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and even a panoramic covered pool with an atmospheric bar open all day. In the evenings, discos and other entertainment events are held here.
The beach on the north side is much smaller, quieter, surrounded by bungalows on stilts driven into the bottom and connected by jetties. It is also worth remembering that the beaches on the east face the open ocean, so the currents are clearly stronger here, which should be taken into account when diving in this part of the island.
Sri Lanka and Maldives
Sri Lanka and Maldives | Negombo, Sigirya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala, Tangalla, Maldives
A trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives will be a truly transcendental experience. The cultural heritage of Ceylon, the aura of Buddhism and mysterious temples combined with unspoiled wildlife will allow you to truly admire, calm down and relax. Golden beaches cooled by the breeze from the stormy sea will refresh you after the tropical heat. The culmination of this experience will be a holiday on a paradise Maldivian atoll, where you will find solace in the warm, calm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Beaches on Male Island
Finally, a few words about sunbathing Male Island, where the capital of the country of the same name is located. This is where tourists begin their discovery of the Maldives, because Male has an international airport; usually, not staying here long, they disperse to one, sometimes more islands. Despite being the capital, Male is a relatively quiet city, and in the northern part of the island it has a lot to offer beachgoers. The beaches in this place also have their charm, the sand - as in the Maldives, is fine and clean, and the tropical vegetation allows you to hide in the shade by the beach over the azure waves of the ocean. The infrastructure and gastronomy near the beaches are at a good level, but as in all capitals of the world, the prices are not the lowest. However, if you like a combination of beach life with city style, you probably won't be disappointed.
Maldives - hotel and water houses
We have presented just a few of the beaches from the rich offer that the paradise archipelago of the Maldives has to offer. From a luminous beach, diving among coral reefs, sunsets in a hammock under palm trees, to city sunbathing in the capital. Where is the best place to go to the Maldives? Despite the similarities, each beach has its own specificity and unique atmosphere. In the Maldives, you will certainly find your favorite place that you will remember for years, and maybe return to it when planning your next exotic vacation.
What is worth knowing before traveling to the Maldives?
