Climate of
Maldives
The climate of Maldives is warm year round,
determined by the monsoons. However, being on the equator, the
monsoons are mild and not as defined as in neighbouring
countries. Of the two monsoons, the south most monsoons from
May to October, brings more rain and wind. The northeast
monsoon, from November to April, is the dry season with very
little wind. The temperature varies little with an annual
average daily maximum of 30.4 degrees Celsius and the minimum
at 25.4 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall stood at just
over 1,600 millimetres in 1992. In the same year, the country,
with the equator running thought it, had over 2,700 hours of
sunshine.
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Average Daily
Temperature
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Average Daily
Sunshine Hours
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Entry to Maldives
Almost all visitors to the Maldives arrive by
air. Male' international Airport, situated in Hulhule island,
is just over a kilometre or about ten minutes by boat from
Male', the capital. All visitors must have a valid passport.
For visitors coming from yellow fever infected areas, an
international certificate of inoculation is required. No visa
is required in advance. A tourist visa of 30 days will be
granted to all visitors with valid travel documents.
During the
period December to March when most of the resorts islands are
full, it is advised that all visitors have confirmed hotel
reservations before arrival. However, for the convenience of
visitors without advance bookings, a Tourist information
Counter is provided at the arrival hall through which a
booking may be make. Hotel information is also required for
immigration clearance. All visitors who enter the Maldives
should be in possession of a return air-ticket and at least US
$25 per intended day of stay in the Maldives.
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Where to Stay
The Maldives has a wide variety of
accommodation for the visitor. Choices vary from 69 resort
islands, which will increase to 74 in the very near future, to
hotels and guest houses in Male', to yachts and yacht-dhonis,
a specially converted Maldivian vessel, which are licensed to
accommodate visitors.
A resort island is a
world by itself. Developed on uninhabited islands, each island
is just one hotel, exclusively maintained in pristine form and
serviced for only a limited number of guests. The untouched
white beaches are perfect for relaxation and a healthy tan
under the Maldivian sun. Crowned by majestic coconut palms
which characterize the Maldives, the vegetation on all islands
are quite similar; rings of tropical vegetation adapting to a
variety of environments, salt resistant and hardy varieties
closer to the beach-line giving way to shrubs and plants, and
more delicate and dense greenery towards the centre.
Just inside the
vegetation line, well dispersed for maximum privacy along the
beach in a typical resort island are small bungalow style
rooms where accommodation is provided. The rooms, though
mostly shaded by tree, allow a clear view of the beach, the
lagoon and the horizon beyond. They are generally equipped
with modern conveniences, with en suite facilities. Most of
the resort islands have at least two restaurants. Some of the
larger resorts may offer as may as five different restaurants.
Local and continental cuisine is available in addition to
exotic buffets and barbecues. Normally the hotel rates quoted
are for full board - bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner
included. In club style resorts and in some smaller resort
islands this is often preferred. Except in the evening, when
wining and dining under the stars may be the choice for most,
there is never enough time to exhaust the wonders of the sea.
Naturally, most
of the activities centre around the sea. The reefs around the
islands are excellent for diving and snorkeling. Activities
such as water-skiing and windsurfing may seems strenuous but
exciting. Water sports equipment and facilities are available
for hire on all resort islands. There is either a fully
equipped diving school or a more elaborate water spots centre.
There is sufficient
activity on all resorts which are self contained worlds of
their own. Equipment for sports such as lawn tennis, soccer,
volleyball, and indoor games such as billiards, table tennis,
chess or darts are usually available free of charge in many of
the resort islands.
Those who wish
to relax can spend time on the beach; sit under the sun or
under the cool green shade; admire the surrounding natural
beauty or perhaps simply gaze at the horizon lined with green
islands springing out of the blue ocean. The beaches are
peaceful and never crowded. Every island resort is Robinson
Crusoe's island but equipped with modern amenities subtly
hidden away. As depicted by local artists in stencil prints
unique to the Maldives, relaxing on the beach is not only
aesthetic but a sport and an art in itself. There are only a
few places in the world where so much pleasure can be derived
by doing nothing.
Cruising among
the islands may be an exciting alternative to lazing on resort
beaches. Yachts and yacht-dhonis with bunk beds or private
cabins are available for hire. These boats can accommodate
between eight to twenty passengers on cruises that sail for
ten to fifteen days. Some of the larger vessels have scuba
diving and windsurfing facilities with qualified instructors
on board. Food prepared by the crew using the day's fresh
catch of fish may be modest, but a tourist is never too far to
stop for a sumptuous meal or a drink.
On a cruise,
dining under a clear sky in the Maldives can be an experience
in itself. With the equator running through the Maldives, it
is an astronomer's dream too.
Besides safari
boats and resorts there are a few hotels and guest houses in
Male' as well. These facilities cater mainly for the business
traveler. The larger establishments provide meals. Tourist
accommodation is also available on Gan island in Addu; the
southern-most atoll of the Maldives.
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Transport in Maldives
The tourist
resort islands have their own transfer boats to carry their
clients. Visitors with confirmed reservations are normally met
on arrival at the airport and transferred by boat, helicopter
or sea-plane to the resort island of their choice. Transport
and communication services provided for tourists are generally
of a high standard. Minimum standards of service and safety
also apply.
There is no
regular inter-island transportation system between inhabited
islands. The ad hoc transportation system is serviced mainly
by local boats called Dhoni or Baththeli which
average a speed of about 8 miles per hour. A lager number of
dhonis plow the Male' International Airport and Male' route as
ferries. Dhonis and even modern speed boats are also available
for hire. Air Maldives, the national carrier, operates regular
flights to the domestic airports at Hanimaadhoo, Kadhdhoo,
Kaadedhdhoo and Gan.
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Visit Male'
- The Capital
Male', the capital of the Maldives, is the
commercial centre, seat of government and the location of many
important historical and religious landmarks. With an area of
just over 1.77 square kilometres, it is home to over sixty
thousand people, and is the busiest and most populous island
in the archipelago. It has been known as the Sultan's Island
in the past.
The Grand
Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al-A "z"
zam is the biggest mosque in the Maldives. It also includes
the Islamic Centre. This Grand Mosque with its dominant golden
dome decorates the facade of Male'. It can accommodate over
five thousand worshippers at a time. Nearly all visitors to
Male' take time to visit this magnificent landmark.
The old Friday
Mosque with its unique minaret and the tombs of national
heroes and members of royalty resting in the quietness of its
compound, gives the visitor a glimpse of the past. The art in
the mosque and royal burial grounds are unique and invaluable.
Other important
sites in Male' include the tombs of legendary saints,
Mulee-aage - the Presidential Palace and the National
Museum in the Sultan Park which shows the glories of a
different era. All these are within a ten minute stroll.
The fruit and
vegetable market and the firewood market are busy and
colourful places where islanders from outer atolls trade their
goods. The fish market nearby, is always immaculately clean,
until the fish is landed in the busy hours of late afternoon
when fisher-folk begin to arrive with the day's catch. The
fishermen cutting and cleaning the fish have developed the
process to an art. It is a clean and well maintained area that
generates much interest from visitors and provides a glimpse
into the life of typical Maldivian fisher-folk.
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Shopping in Maldives
Male' is the
best place for shopping if you are interested in buying
imported goods. Most of the shops that specialize in tourists
do sell a lot of local handicrafts and souvenirs. It is always
best to browse through some shops before making a choice. The
shops that are recommended by guides or shop assistants
volunteering to be guides are not necessarily the best places
for shopping.
If you are
looking for duty free shops, there are some located at the
Male' International Airport. They offer a pretty good range of
goods from cameras, cosmetics, electrical and electronic
equipment, cigarettes and other merchandise.
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Currency and Payments
Maldivian Rufiyaa Mrf and unit Laari (100
Laari's in 1 Rufiyaa)
Approx..
exchange rates are US $ 1 = 12 Mrf and Sterling £ 1 = 18
Mrf.
All major
credit cards are accepted. Traveller's cheques is widely used
by the visitors
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