Where are the Maldives located. Regions and Atolls of the Maldives

Tourists who decide to enjoy the exotic, romance, serene happiness, bird trills, the scent of tropical flowers, think about where they are. The best time to visit the islands: the beginning of winter - the beginning of spring, which cannot be said about May-October, when tropical rains “attack” the Maldives. Despite them, the tourist flow here does not decrease, because the air here is always warmed up to at least + 28-30˚C.

Maldives: where are these tropical islands?

The location of the Maldives (capital - Male) is South Asia. They are located in the Indian Ocean, on 20 atolls (Kaafu, Haa Alif, Raa, Meemu, Baa, Dhaalu, Vaavu, Thaa and others), consisting of more than 1000 islets of coral origin, which are not all inhabited (88 of them are resort places, and 200 - the local population lives) and slightly rose above the ocean level. The highest point of the Maldives archipelago is 2.4 m (Addu atoll).

The area of ​​the Maldives is 90,000 square kilometers (of which about 300 square kilometers are occupied by land). Of the closest neighbors of the Maldives, and stand out, the distance to which is 670 km and 600 km, respectively.

How to get to the Maldives?

Russians can take a direct flight -: on board the Airbus A330-200, owned by Aeroflot, they will spend 9 hours. Those interested can make a transfer at the airport, or (connection takes at least 3-5 hours) - you can familiarize yourself with the options for connecting flights on the website of Srilankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways. For those who live in, it is advisable to fly to the Maldives, making a stopover, for example, at (Malaysia Airlines + Air Astana).

It is worth considering that if the airport tax was not included in the ticket price, leaving the country will have to pay $ 10.

Holidays in the Maldives

On the South Male Atoll, the Kanduma resort stands out, delighting surfers with good waves in May-September. Diving in this atoll can be done on the sites Guraidhoo corner (there are eagles, tuna, barracuda, gray and sharks with white fins), Kandooma Thila (famous for grottoes, as well as various underwater inhabitants that have chosen part of the reef in the west) and others.

Those who decide to go scuba diving on the Ari atoll will meet moray eels, parrot fish, reef shark, and napoleon fish.

North Male Atoll is interesting for the capital located here, where you can admire the Muliage Palace, see the Medu Ziyarat Chapel, the old Friday Mosque and the Hukuru Mosque, and spend time in Sultans Park.

Baa Atoll attracts divers who are offered to check in at Reethi Beach Resort (dolphins splash next to the hotel).

Those who want to watch exotic birds come to Addu Atoll, which arrive to winter on the local lake in October-March. Another interesting place is the island of Gan, whose guests prefer to make water safaris, practice night and morning fishing, as well as windsurfing. As for divers, interesting underwater inhabitants and the British Loyalty tanker, located at a depth of 30 meters, are waiting for them on the Addu Atoll.

Maldives beaches

• Artificial Beach: water activities and swimming conditions are available here, as well as street dancers and musicians give their "concerts".
• Conrad Rangali Beach: come to this beach, swim in clear water and bask on the white sand, surrounded by tropical greenery.
• Cocoa Island Beach: there you will be able to stay in one of the villas located by the ocean, and enjoy a carefree vacation, snorkeling and diving.

Souvenirs from the Maldives

In the Maldives, you should buy souvenirs in the form of coconut sausage, national dresses with embroidery decorating the neck, woven mats, shark jaws, coconut oil, black lacquered boxes, multi-colored shells, miniature fishing boats.

The official name of the chain of atolls and coral islands located south of India, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean, is the Republic of Maldives. The population of this South Asian state is approximately 393 thousand people. The total area of ​​the country is 90 thousand sq. Km. The climate is subequatorial monsoon.

The Maldives amaze with its endless ocean, amazing underwater caves and reefs. The island is inspired by the tranquility and comfort of the surrounding tropical virgin nature. The culture stopped at a primitive level, and the locals still respect their traditions.

The largest coral island in the Maldives is Kafu, on it stands the city of Male, which is considered the smallest capital and most populated city. Male is so small that it can be walked around in a couple of hours.

Attractions Maldives

Famous places in the Maldives are the National Museum and the Colonial-style Muliage Palace. It is also worth visiting the beautiful Jumuri Maidan Park or visiting one of the most revered shrines in the Maldives - Medu Ziyarat Chapel.

The city of Male is home to the Great Friday Mosque, famous for its golden dome. Next to it are the graves of both national heroes and members of the ruling families. It is worth paying attention to the Islamic Center, which is located nearby. It is considered the largest in the Maldives, because at the same time it can accommodate about 5,000 people.

Local markets are also not lagging behind in popularity, there are several types of them - vegetable, fruit and handicraft, where the inhabitants of the islands sell handicrafts.

Many tourists are attracted to the Maldives for unsurpassed diving. The underwater world of the peninsula amazes with a variety of inhabitants, at the same time, coral reefs scare away predators and swimming under water is not at all dangerous.

Honeymoon Paradise

For most tourists, the Maldives is one of the most romantic destinations on the planet. Therefore, newlyweds and lovers tend to the islands in the first place. What is the wedding ceremony on white sand at sunset and decorated with palm leaves around. If you negotiate a wedding with the hotel in advance, you can get a discount and move into the best bungalow. The Maldives is suitable not only for the wedding ceremony, but also for the honeymoon itself. After all, the rest here is unique and unusual. On the beach you can see both young people and families with children or even elderly people.

When the phrase "paradise islands" comes to mind, these are the first to come to mind, and where are the Maldives on the world map? The Maldives is the perfect beach destination with endless white sand beaches and slender palm trees.

And the title of "paradise" is quite justified - there are magnificent views, secluded bays, always warm, gentle weather with an abundance of sunny days. An unforgettable vacation in the middle of tempting lagoons and coral shoals will leave many vivid impressions for any vacationer.

The official name of the islands where the Maldives are located is the Republic of Maldives, they are located in South Asia on a group of atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is quite easy to find the place where the islands are hidden on the map, this archipelago stretches to the south-west of India at a distance of about 700 km.

The elongated archipelago stretches along the meridian for almost 820 km, and its width is more than 120 km. The surface of the Maldives rises above sea level by no more than 2.5 m.

Unfortunately, in the future, this threatens that the islands may sink under water due to the constant rise in sea levels. This could happen over the next 50 years.

The Maldives archipelago unites 19 coral atolls, which consist of more than 1000 small islands, most of them are uninhabited. Only 88 islands are recognized as resort islands, while the rest of the inhabited islands are inhabited by indigenous people. Such islands are not landscaped and not equipped with a road surface; visiting guests rarely drop in there. Small uninhabited islands can be visited independently on a rented yacht.

The Maldives are located far from other countries and do not have land borders with any state, and the Indian Ocean has sea borders with India and Sri Lanka.

Since the Maldives is located almost at the equator, there is always pleasant warm weather with an air temperature within + 30 ° C.

Under the influence of monsoons of various directions, dry sunny weather is observed from November to March, and rainy weather from June to August.

Sometimes you can hear the association "Belarusian Maldives", then we are talking about a man-made quarry, which was formed after the extraction of chalk. A quarry with several lakes "Belarusian Maldives" is located in the Volkovysk district of the Grodno region, near the village of Krasnoselsky.

The water in the lakes, illuminated by the sun's rays, takes on a beautiful bluish tint, such as can be seen on the Maldives beaches.

Popular resort destinations

Where the Maldives is located on the world map, there are gorgeous beaches on several of the most famous atolls, visited all year round:

1. Male is the capital of the Maldives, with an area of ​​only about 2 km², but even this tiny site has something to see for tourists. Local attractions include the Presidential Palace, the National Museum, the ancient Great Friday Mosque with its sophisticated golden domes and many fruit and vegetable and colorful handicraft markets.
2. Faafu is a paradise for those who are used to comfortable living, there are many restaurants and various spas.
3. Daalu - the island of Daalu has long been chosen by divers and scuba divers.
4. Ari - this island attracts with a variety of flora and fauna, there are turtle bays. Here you can go water skiing, go sea fishing or simply retire to an expensive hotel on a deserted coast.

The islands are distinguished by such a feature that there are very few cities and therefore the possibilities for accommodation are limited. On one island, you can usually find only one luxury villa or hotel, with the most expensive and comfortable rooms. However, you can stay not only in hotel rooms, but also in modest thatched-roof bungalows scattered along the coast.

The Maldives has an exotic fauna, but no dangerous predators or venomous reptiles. There you will not see dogs, they are prohibited by law, but there are domestic cats.

On some islands goats graze, which are bred for meat, and cows are not bred due to scarce pastures, pig breeding is also limited. But at a close distance from the coast, you can observe dolphins or a huge whale shark, which should not be feared, these giant fish feed only on plankton and are not inclined to attack people. In the evenings, you can watch bats and foxes. There are many amphibians and marine life on the islands: turtles, lizards, centipedes, mollusks.

Stay in the Maldives

The Maldives is a visa-free country, therefore, to visit it, you do not need to apply to the consulate for a visa. You can stay here for 30 days without hindrance on a tourist visa, which is put in your passport free of charge when you arrive in the country.

When going on vacation, you should definitely remember that in this Muslim country it is strictly forbidden to appear topless or in the nude, and when visiting restaurants and public places, women should cover their shoulders and knees with clothes, and should not appear in beach dresses.

Local seafood and plants are at the heart of the Maldives' national cuisine, which largely copies the traditions of Indian and Arab cuisine.

Maldivian dishes are made up of the following main ingredients:

• a fish;
• coconuts.

For dessert, you can order Bondi - white coconut sticks, as well as a variety of fruit salads with pineapple, banana, mango, papaya. Green tea with added milk and sugar is offered as the main drink.

Despite some behavioral limitations, the Maldives is the ideal destination for a serene, relaxing getaway. Everywhere on the walk you will be accompanied by the refined aroma of hibiscus, orchids, magnolias, the rich colors of which leave a stunning impression.

The Maldives is probably the most remote corner of Asia, but despite this, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world fly there every year to enjoy their vacation in this exotic paradise world. Be prepared for the warm Indian Ocean with clear water (in which you will see amazing beauty of corals), as well as white sandy beaches surrounded by groves of coconut palms and fruit trees, in the Maldives.

The island state of the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean about 700 km south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 km from India. The Maldives covers 26 atolls. The total area of ​​this country, including all the islands (and there are more than a hundred of them), is 298 km2.

There are no mountains in the Maldives. In general, the highest point in the Maldives does not exceed 2.4 meters. Also, there are no rivers and lakes in the Maldives.

The capital of the Maldives is Male, which is now home to over 100 thousand people. Male was built in the Middle Ages as the seat of the Maldivian Sultan.

The official language in the Maldives is Dhivehi, which belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

The majority of the population of the Maldives is Sunni Muslim.

According to the current Constitution, the Maldives is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, who has been elected for a 5-year term since 2008. The President appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The parliament in the Maldives is unicameral - the People's Majlis. Members of the Mejlis are also elected for a 5-year term (their number may vary).

The climate in the Maldives is subequatorial monsoon. There are two monsoon periods - northeast monsoons (dry season) from November to March and southwest monsoons (rain) from June to August. In other words, the dry season in the Maldives lasts from November to April (March and April are the hottest months of the year), while the wet season lasts from May to early November.

The air temperature in the Maldives ranges from + 23C to + 33C, and tends closer to + 30C.

Air temperature in the Maldives (average):

January - + 27C
- February - + 28C
- March - + 29C
- April - + 29C
- May - + 28C
- June - + 28C
- July - + 28C
- August - + 28C
- September - + 27C
- October - + 27C
- November - + 27C
- December - + 27C

The shores of the Maldives are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sea temperature near the Maldives ranges from + 24C to + 33C, so you can swim there all year round.

The Maldives were formed 65 million years ago as a result of the eruption of underwater volcanoes. The first people in the Maldives appeared 4 thousand years ago (they were sailors who sailed in the Indian Ocean). The Maldives were inhabited by immigrants from Sri Lanka and India, and later by Arabs.

From about the middle of the 12th century, Islam began to spread in the Maldives.

Since the mid-16th century, Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch and English) have made numerous attempts to colonize the Maldives. Eventually, in 1887, the Maldives came under British protectorate.

Only in 1965 did the Maldives gain independence.

The culture of the inhabitants of the Maldives was greatly influenced by Indian culture, as well as Islam. Since Islam is the main religion in the Maldives, it is clear that local residents celebrate all Muslim holidays (Eid al-Adha and Kuda Eid).

In addition, the Maldives also have national holidays - Independence Day (July 26) and Republic Day.

The Maldives' cuisine is influenced by Indian and Arab culinary traditions. The main foodstuffs are fish (mainly tuna), rice, seafood, vegetables, and, of course, spices (due to the proximity of Sri Lanka and India). In addition, Maldivian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut.

Coconut is the main ingredient in most local desserts. Maldives often make a variety of sweet puddings.

The main non-alcoholic drinks are tea, which is supplemented with milk and sugar, as well as coffee, palm juice and sweet milk.

Maldives make a low-alcohol drink from fermented palm milk.

If Maldivian cuisine is not your thing, the restaurant at any local hotel will offer a variety of international dishes.

The Maldives is a small island nation spread over 26 atolls. The largest of them is Male, whose population exceeds 100 thousand people. It is clear that there are very few attractions in the Maldives. However, there are places in this country that you should still visit.

To introduce the history of the Maldives, we recommend that tourists visit the Male National Museum. It contains artifacts representing all eras of the history of the Maldives. This museum is part of the Royal Palace, built in the 17th century.

Pay attention to the Hukuru Miskiy Mosque in Male. It was built in 1656. The interior of the mosque is famous for its wood carvings. One of its panels was carved in the 13th century to commemorate the introduction of Islam to the country.

The largest city in the Maldives is its capital, Male, which is now home to over 100 thousand people.

The Republic of Maldives is located on 26 small atolls. As a rule, one hotel is located on each atoll. Please note that some of the hotels specialize in spa services, combining Asian and European spa programs.

The white sandy beaches in the Maldives are considered some of the finest in the world. The Madiv Islands are literally "drowned" in corals. Therefore, tourists in those places where coral reefs come close to the shore, we recommend swimming in special sandals.

You should be aware that topless on the beaches of the Maldives is possible only on one island - Kuramati. Drinking alcohol on the beaches is also prohibited.

The legislation of the Republic of Maldives prohibits the collection of corals and any marine fauna.

Perhaps the best beach in the Maldives is in South Ari Atoll. This is the Nalaguraidhoo beach. Also, check out the beaches on Banyan Tree Island, Nika and Cocoa Island.

The Maldives is considered a great diving destination. This is quite expected, given the presence in this region of a huge number of corals and amazingly beautiful underwater world.

After a vacation in the Maldives, tourists usually bring home handicrafts, bright local fabrics, rugs with original patterns, black coral jewelry, stamps. Make sure the souvenirs you buy are actually made in the Maldives and not Thailand or Indonesia.

Weekends in Madives are Friday and Saturday.

This small country is located on 20 atolls in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The Islamic Republic is separated from India by more than 2000 km. The distance to Sri Lanka is much shorter: if you look at the Maldives on a world map, you can see that the states are about 700 km apart from each other.

Information about the islands

The state of Maldives is formed by almost 2000 coral islets. It is home to about 400 thousand people, and the dominant religion is Islam. The total area of ​​the Maldives is 90 thousand km 2, but the land share of it accounts for no more than 300 km 2.

Interestingly, the country's only city and port is its capital, Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The rest of the islets are almost uninhabited, and only occasionally there are hotels on them.

The time in the Maldives is UTC +5, so when flying it is worthwhile to prepare in advance for the change of time zones.

Maldives Monthly Weather

The peculiarities of the climate are determined by where exactly the Maldives are located. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather differs dramatically during dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of travel, you will have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month is sure to be a success thanks to the warm, sunny and calm weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although formally January refers to the rainy season, rainfall is minimal, which guarantees a wonderful beach holiday and diving opportunities. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to at least +24 ° С, and the water temperature averages +27 ° С.

February. At this time, crowds of tourists usually flock here. The ocean continues to delight with a comfortable water temperature - + 25 ° С, and the daytime air temperature rarely drops below + 28 ° С. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can start learning the intricacies of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to ride a yacht or catamaran to your heart's content.

March. This month is also considered to be quite hot and dry, and the average air and water temperatures differ little from February. The sand remains very warm, and tropical showers are virtually non-existent. Many local flora blooms in March, but be prepared for rare sandstorms.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon comes to the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat is intensifying, but rains here are still infrequent guests. If you can't stand the stuffiness, you should postpone the trip: the air temperature is mostly + 30 ° С, and the water temperature reaches + 28 ° С.

May. Very strong winds begin to blow, sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is much more precipitation: about half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly brings surprises. The sun is replaced by heavy downpours and vice versa.

June. This month continues the May trend as the southwest monsoon takes over. There are very strong gusts of warm wind. In June, the Maldives receives the maximum precipitation typical for this region, but their amount rarely exceeds 200 mm. Ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic proportions. The thermometer is kept at an average of + 30 ° С, and the water temperature in the ocean is + 27 ° С.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable because of the frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky is partially cleared and the sun peeps through the clouds. In July, about 160 mm of precipitation falls, and the air temperature is +31 ° C. In water, the thermometer usually shows + 27 ° C. Thunderstorms are possible during which coolness is felt.

August. This month is considered the most volatile on the islands. In early August, the sea is quite warm and calm, winds and hurricanes practically stop. It rains relatively rarely and the atolls are still hot. But already at the end of the month the sky is more and more covered with clouds, it often rains, and the wind intensifies.

September. Both day and night, the weather predominantly remains warm, and the exhausting heat recedes. Rather high humidity remains, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures of around + 27 ° C.

October. The air temperature drops slightly to + 27-29 ° С, and the water temperature drops to +26 ° С, which does not interfere with swimming at all. It rains much less frequently: usually no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls.

November. The northeast monsoon comes to the Maldives this month, bringing warm and dry weather with it. Winds and rains rarely disturb tourists, and the thermometer shows + 28 ° C on average. The water warms up to +25 ° С.

December. At this time of year, the islands bloom, so that they turn into a real tropical paradise. Daytime temperatures rise to + 30-32 ° С, and the ocean water temperature rarely drops below + 25 ° С.

How to get to the Maldives

In any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, it is indicated that the connection of the island state with the mainland is carried out exclusively by air. The country's only airport is located in the capital, Male. You can get to it in the following ways:

Direct flight of the Aeroflot company from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircrafts take off from the Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long to fly from Moscow with such a direct flight, you will have to be patient: the flight duration is approximately 9 hours.

Please note that when returning from the Maldives you will have to pay an airport tax of USD 10 - USD 15, which is not always included in the ticket price.

On a connecting flight with Qatar Airways (connecting point - Doha), Singapore Airlines (connecting point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (connecting point - Dubai). Airport tax is already included in the cost of tickets for the aircrafts of these air carriers.

Srilankan Airlines connecting flight. To do this, you will first have to fly to Dubai or Colombo and purchase a ticket to Male at the local airport for 180 USD - 250 USD. This is the most affordable flight option for those looking to save money.

The average cost of a flight between the capitals of Russia and the Maldives ranges from 570 USD to 720 USD one way.

Maldives visa and customs clearance

Residents of Russia and the CIS countries do not need to obtain a visa to travel to the Maldives, since there is a visa-free agreement between the countries. However, given the sharp climate change and the exotic nature of the region, it would not hurt to purchase a medical insurance policy. One week insurance will cost about USD 25 - USD 45.

It is very important to comply with the rules of the customs legislation of the Republic of Maldives. They talk about the following:

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• Free of charge is allowed to import 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes, as well as no more than one item related to goods for individual use for each passenger.
• It is strictly forbidden to carry pork and meat products from it, salami sausages, pornographic goods, drugs, souvenirs from the shell of sea turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found at the bottom of the ocean.

Be sure to keep in mind that the import and export of any alcoholic beverages in the Maldives is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in arrest.

The cost of a holiday in the Maldives

Many Russian celebrities like Volochkova are very fond of vacationing in the Maldives. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are interested in how much a standard trip to the Maldives costs, you should take into account that it depends on the following factors:

• duration of the trip;
• hotel category;
• the island on which the hotel is located;
• meals and entertainment included in the price;
• season.

The more services the hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the rest will be. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days with the reservation of a single or double room with half board and a minimum of entertainment, you will have to spend from 2600 USD to 5500 USD.

The wedding tour assumes a romantic weekend for the newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes room decoration, photographers and musicians, fruit, wine or champagne, and an informal wedding ceremony. The all inclusive tour is suitable for those who want to completely relax during their trip. Its price - from 3500 USD to 7000 USD for a week's stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes three meals a day and free drinks throughout the stay.

Those who want to save money should pay attention to last minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also, for the most budgetary vacation in the Maldives for 8 days, you will have to spend about 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without any special amenities. The price includes the cost of air travel and medical insurance.

The Maldives is a true sunny paradise on earth, where you can easily recuperate after a long-awaited vacation.