Maldives Adventure Travel Guide

Introducing Maldives (Continued...)

ned for tourists: designed for fun.
Miles of sandy shoreline awaits you, with warm, clear ocean lapping gently on the coast. The Maldives is a holidaymaker’s dream with the thrills of watersports complementing the relaxation enjoyed on its beaches.
The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls - small clusters of coral islands surrounding a lagoon. Altogether, there are more than 1,000 islands, nearly 200 of which are inhabited. The biggest draw for tourists is the region known as Kaafu. Kaafu includes both the North Male’ Atoll and South Male’ Atoll, as well as Male’, the capital.
Male’ is highly populated, and is the urban centre of the Maldives. It is close to the airport and the private islands that house the tourist resorts.
Of course there are other options if you want to visit the Maldives. The Ari Atoll is very popular, and the resorts are a stunning seaplane flight from Male’. The remote Addu Atoll is the most southerly, and can be a fantastic option if you’re looking for a different Maldives experience.
No matter where you go the climate will be tropical. The sun is sizzling in the summer months, but the temperature is made bearable by trade winds. There are two monsoon seasons and unsurprisingly you are likely to get a little wet occasionally.

Sailing

The Maldives are effectively a string of paradise islands separated by miles of beautiful open sea. There is probably no better or more scenic way to get around than sailing. Whether you have sailing experience and want to rent your own boat, or simply take the relaxing option of being ferried around, there’s boats in the Maldives to accommodate you.
One popular option is to take a chartered tour. These organised trips will pick you up from a port a Male’ and take you around a number of the atolls. You’ll visit uninhabited islands, sleepy Maldivian villages and lively resorts.
No matter how you experience sailing in the Maldives, it will come as a surprising change from sitting on the beach or beside the pool.

Scuba Diving

The clarity of the Indian Ocean, the formation of the coral reefs and the diverse marine life has created perfect diving conditions in the Maldives. It’s no surprise the scuba enthusiasts flock to these islands in their thousands.
You can expect to see almost anything around the Maldivian coast. Sunken wrecks on the sea bed, schools of tropical fish and even the colossal, but harmless whale shark.
But you don’t need to be a scuba diving expert to get the best out of the Maldives. There are countless schools ready to give you the best training and you’ll be exploring the depths and enjoying the scenery before you know it.
For an experience unlike anything else, return when darkness descends for a night dive. Many species of fish only come out at night, and they can be some of the most memorable and beautiful.

Surfing

Miles and miles of sublime coastline combine with warm sea to create idyllic surfing conditions. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a playground for surfers. Don’t forget the luxury of the sandy beach calling out to you between surf sessions.
Surfing is extremely popular here. The biggest swells tend to occur from June to August, but the conditions are excellent all year round. Of course, if you want to avoid the crowds that will be likely in the resort-heavy areas, then there is an alternative option:
Head down to some of the southern atolls where you will find water and waves just as perfect, but no competition for space. Surf schools are dotted around and aren’t hard to find; even if you’ve never surfed before there is no better time to learn.
Also, if there are any non-surfers in your party there’s no need to worry about friends’ complaints that you stay in the water too long. The beach is a wonderful substitute!

Classic Itineraries

Almost certainly you’ll get to the Maldives by flying to Male’ International Airport. It’s currently the only one capable of handling long haul flights. You’ll probably be staying at a resort, as there isn’t much in the way of hotels, and most of the resorts are concentrated into the area near Male’. To get to them you’ll have to take a speedboat transfer, or a seaplane, both providing fantastic views.
Once you’ve settled in it’s time to hit the beach. The resorts are usually on private islands so they will be surrounded by beautiful coast. Either find a spot to sunbathe, or head out in the glorious water for some swimming.
It probably won’t be long for the adventurous minded to become restless, so suppress your adrenaline cravings with watersports. Ride the waves on your surfboard or try out a jet ski.
Make sure you set aside some time for scuba diving. The clear water here makes for some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. On good days visibility will be up to 30 metres in front of you!
And if you’re interested in exploring go on a boat tour and see some of the other atolls. The Maldives is the ultimate luxury, though, so don’t be surprised if you have a difficult time convincing yourself to leave the warmth of the beach.

Other Activities

For the thrill seeker your options are primarily limited to watersports. But there is a huge range of these to choose from. Most of the resorts run sessions and even training for windsurfing, kayaking and kitesurfing. Fishing is a lot of fun in the Maldives due to the variety of sea life it hosts.
The capital Male’ is the place to go for historic monuments. There are some attractive mosques to see as well as the National Museum. Plenty to keep you busy and happy on your Maldivian holiday.