7 things you should know on your first trip to the Maldives
Learn about atolls, book a seaplane to your resort, and cover up when you go to local islands or Malé
If you haven’t been, we don’t know what you’re waiting for! Here are our top seven tips for first-timers to the Maldives, so you’ll be able to enjoy a perfect getaway in paradise – no excuses!
1. What’s an atoll?
You’ll hear this word a lot. The Maldives is an island nation made up of 1,192 coral islands (out of which only around 200 are inhabited) grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs) spread over 90,000 square kilometres in the Indian Ocean. Geographically, that makes it one of the most spread-out countries in the world, but it is the smallest Asian nation by land area. The locals, who are Muslims, call the Maldives “Dhivehi Raajje”. Malé is the capital, which is the most populated city in the country. The atolls consist of beautiful live coral reefs and sandbars, and the further they are from the main group of islands, the more beautiful the views.
2. How do I get to my resort?
The more far-flung resorts require expensive speedboat or seaplane transfers. On the upside, the further away you are from Malé, the more peaceful the islands and the better the diving. The seaplane transfers out of Malé are part of the Maldives adventure, as it allows you to see the breathtaking archipelago from above. Keep in mind that seaplane transfers only operate in the daytime, so book all your flights for before 3pm or you may find yourself stranded in Malé overnight.
3. The locals are Muslims. So, no cocktails?
The official religion in the Maldives is Islam and it abides by strict Shariah laws. This means that alcohol is banned for consumption by the local population. However, nearly all resorts and live-aboard boats are licensed to serve it, usually with a steep mark-up. We recommend booking all-inclusive packages at resorts, as this usually includes alcoholic beverages at the resort rate.