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Maldives
The flattest country on Earth — its highest natural point is about 2.4 metres.
About 1,190 coral islands are scattered across 26 atolls, and almost none of them rise more than a metre or two out of the water. The highest natural point in the entire country is roughly 2.4 metres, which makes the Maldives the lowest-lying nation on the planet.
That geography decided the tourism model. Most resorts occupy one island each, so picking a hotel means picking an island, and you reach it by seaplane or speedboat from Malé — there are no roads between them. Dry season runs November to April.
Quick facts
Currency
MVR
Maldivian rufiyaa
Language
Dhivehi
+ English
Power
—
Driving
Left
UK-style
Airport
MLE
Velana International
Emergency
—
Police · Fire
When to go
Monthly breakdown
Storm risk: LowJan
Best
Feb
Best
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
Rain
Jun
Rain
Jul
Rain
Aug
Rain
Sep
Rain
Oct
Rain
Nov
Best
Dec
Best
Major events
Eid al-Fitr
The end of Ramadan, and the biggest holiday of the Maldivian year, with boduberu drumming and island-wide feasts. It moves back about eleven days each year on the lunar calendar.
Independence Day
Marks the end of the British protectorate in 1965, with parades and displays in Male on 26 July. Resorts usually run their own version of the celebration.
Republic Day
11 November marks the founding of the second republic in 1968, the point at which the sultanate formally ended.
Hidden gems
Hanifaru Bay
A funnel-shaped bay in Baa Atoll where currents concentrate plankton and manta rays gather to feed, roughly May to November. Snorkel only, no scuba.
Utheemu Ganduvaru
The coral-and-timber house where Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu grew up, built around 1500 and still standing in the far north.
Fulhadhoo
A local island in Baa Atoll with a long sandbank and almost no guesthouses; the counterexample to the one-island-one-resort model.
Local food
Mas huni
Shredded smoked tuna mixed by hand with grated coconut, onion and chilli, eaten at breakfast with roshi flatbread.
Garudhiya
A clear tuna broth poured over rice with lime, chilli and onion; the everyday meal behind the resort menus.
Bis keemiya
A fried pastry parcel of egg, tuna and cabbage, sold as a short-eat in the afternoon.
Safety tips
Cultural-Etiquette
Alcohol is illegal outside resort islands and liveaboards, and it is confiscated at the airport on arrival. On inhabited islands, cover shoulders and knees away from designated bikini beaches.
Water-Safety
Currents through the atoll channels can run hard on a changing tide, which is exactly when the marine life shows up. Dive and snorkel these with a guide who knows that day's tide table.
Health
Serious medical care means evacuation to Male or overseas, which is expensive and weather-dependent. Check that your policy covers seaplane and air ambulance transfer before you dive.
Sustainability
Eco rating
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