Maldives Tour Packages

The Maldives lies in the Indian Ocean, roughly 750 kilometres southwest of Sri Lanka and India, strung out along a north-south chain that the equator passes straight through. It is a nation made almost entirely of water: of nearly 90,000 square kilometres of territory, only about 300 square kilometres is dry land.

That land is made up of around 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 natural atolls — ring-shaped reefs enclosing shallow, luminous lagoons. Roughly 187 islands are inhabited, and more than 150 others are given over entirely to resorts.

What makes it unique

• It is the flattest country on earth. The average island sits barely 1.5 metres above sea level, and the highest natural point is under 2.5 metres.
• Every island is small. Many resort islands can be walked around in fifteen minutes.
• The reefs are the foundation. Each island is the crown of a living coral reef, which is why the snorkelling begins the moment you step off the beach.
• Male, the capital, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world — a compact, busy contrast to the silence of the atolls.

Behind the resort brochures is a proud island nation with a culture shaped by the sea, by trade and by Islam. Maldivians have lived on these atolls for well over two thousand years, and Arab, Indian, Sri Lankan and East African influences all run through the language, the food and the music.

The Maldives is an Islamic country, and Islam is central to daily life. The language is Dhivehi, written in the beautiful, right-to-left Thaana script, though English is widely spoken in resorts and in Male.

What you will encounter

• Bodu beru — "big drum": the hypnotic drumming, singing and dancing that builds through the evening. Most resorts host a performance, and it is genuinely worth staying up for.
• A fishing nation — pole-and-line tuna fishing is both the traditional livelihood and a point of national pride.
• Craft traditions — lacquered woodwork, coir rope-making and the intricate thundu kunaa woven mats.
• Two very different worlds — resort islands are relaxed and international; inhabited local islands are conservative, alcohol-free, and follow local custom. Both are worth experiencing, and we can combine them in one trip.

Doing nothing is a perfectly respectable Maldives itinerary. But when you feel like moving, the ocean has plenty to offer.

• Sleep in an overwater villa and slip straight from your deck into the lagoon.
• Snorkel the house reef — on most islands the coral drop-off is a short swim from the sand.
• Dive world-class sites — channels, wrecks and thilas alive with reef sharks, eagle rays and napoleon wrasse.
• Snorkel with manta rays in Baa Atoll's Hanifaru Bay, or with whale sharks in South Ari Atoll.
• Have a picnic on a sandbank — a strip of white sand in the middle of the ocean, just for you.
• Take a sunset dolphin cruise on a traditional dhoni.
• See the "Sea of Stars" — bioluminescent plankton lighting the shoreline blue after dark.
• Surf the reef breaks of the Male atolls between May and October.
• Book an overwater spa treatment with a glass floor and fish drifting beneath you.
• Visit a local island such as Maafushi to see everyday Maldivian life.
• Try night fishing, then have the chef grill your catch on the beach.
• Take a seaplane scenic flight — the atolls from above are unforgettable.

In the Maldives you choose an atoll rather than a city. Each has its own character, its own marine life and its own transfer time from Male.

• North & South Male Atoll — closest to the airport, reached by a short speedboat. Great value, excellent reefs and a huge choice of resorts. Ideal for shorter stays.
• Baa Atoll — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and home to Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather in extraordinary numbers. Beautiful luxury resorts.
• Ari Atoll (Alifu) — the diving heartland, and the most reliable place in the country to snorkel with whale sharks.
• Lhaviyani & Noonu Atolls — quieter, pristine reefs and some of the finest high-end island resorts.
• Addu Atoll — the far south: a British wartime history, a sunken wreck dive, and a very different, greener feel.
• Male — the capital: the Grand Friday Mosque, the fish market and the buzz of city life, worth a half day on the way through.
• Maafushi & other local islands — affordable guesthouses, local food, "bikini beaches" and a genuine sense of Maldivian life.
• Vaadhoo — famous for its glowing, bioluminescent shoreline.

Not sure which atoll suits you? Tell us what matters most — reef, romance, budget or big fish — and we will match you to the right island.

Maldivian celebrations follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so their dates shift by roughly ten days each year. Resorts mark them gently; on local islands they are a much bigger affair.

• Ramadan — the holy month of fasting. On inhabited islands, cafes close during daylight and life slows down; resorts continue as normal, but it is a time to be especially respectful.
• Eid al-Fitr (Kuda Eid) — the joyful end of Ramadan, celebrated with feasting, family visits, music and bodu beru drumming.
• Eid al-Adha (Bodu Eid) — the "big Eid", with the largest public celebrations, games and island-wide feasts.
• Independence Day (26 July) — parades and ceremonies marking independence in 1965.
• Republic Day (11 November) — a national celebration with performances and displays.
• National Day — commemorating the defeat of Portuguese occupation, celebrated on a lunar date.
• Bodu beru evenings — not a festival as such, but most resorts host regular drumming and dance performances that are a highlight of any stay.

Tell us when you plan to travel and we will let you know what will be happening while you are there.

The Maldives has two sets of rules, and knowing which one applies is the key to a relaxed trip. Resort islands are private and liberal. Inhabited local islands are conservative and Muslim. Behave accordingly and you will be warmly welcomed everywhere.

Do

• Wear what you like on a resort island — swimwear is entirely normal around the beach and pool.
• Dress modestly on local islands and in Male — cover shoulders and knees. Swim in a bikini only on designated "bikini beaches".
• Use reef-safe sunscreen. Standard sunscreens damage coral, and some resorts ask you not to use them.
• Ask before photographing local people, particularly women.
• Look where you step in the water — reef shoes protect both your feet and the coral.
• Book excursions through your resort or a licensed operator, especially for diving.

Don't

• Don't take alcohol into the country. It is confiscated at customs. Alcohol is served only on resort islands and licensed vessels, never on inhabited islands.
• Don't bring pork products, or anything that could be considered offensive to Islam.
• Don't touch or stand on coral, and don't chase, touch or ride marine life — including turtles and manta rays.
• Don't collect coral, shells or sand — exporting them is prohibited.
• Don't show public affection on local islands, and avoid it in Male.
• Don't eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours on local islands during Ramadan.
• Don't drink the tap water — resorts provide filtered or bottled water.