Luxury Holidays in the Maldives

Those looking for a high quality, luxury holiday, where excellent service, accommodation and cuisine are paramount, would do well to consider the Maldive islands.

The Maldives – officially The Republic of Maldives – is an island nation consisting of twenty-six atolls in the Indian Ocean and has become a popular luxury holiday destination, particularly with honeymooners. The Maldives is blessed with a tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year. Every one of the 87 island resorts feature picture-perfect white sand beaches between coral lagoons and palm groves, making it the perfect place for a relaxing romantic holiday in the sun.

Luxury is very much a part of the Maldives experience; the resorts are known for being extremely high class and decadent, featuring designer furniture, gourmet food and excellent service. The Maldives also has one of the best beach-to-visitor ratios in the world, meaning it is easy to find your own private paradise in the sun.

The Maldives are also a popular diving location, due to the clear water and abundance of underwater life. Scuba-divers can see Manta rays, sharks and even a few shipwrecks along the coral reefs. While the diving experience is very good even near the capital city of Male, water visibility and the chance of encountering large pelages increases near the outer atolls. Currents in the water can vary considerably, with relatively little inside the atolls but powerful streams to be found on the sides facing the open sea. Even if you’re an inexperienced diver there is little need to worry though, as safety standards are very high, with strict adherence to protocol and well-maintained equipment being the rule rather than the exception.

At night, tourists can take in the spectacular sunsets and experience the wonderful Maldivian cuisine. As can be expected, Maldivian food revolves largely around fish, in particular tuna, and draws heavily from south Indian and Sri Lankan traditions. Dishes are often hot and spicy by British standards and use very few vegetables, but often include coconuts. A traditional Maldivian meal consists of rice, a fish broth and side dishes of chilli, lime and onions. Some other common dishes include mas huni (shredded smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions), fihunu mas (barbequed fish basted with chilli) and bambukeylu hiti (breadfruit curry).