destinations | maldives Maldives


MALDIVES MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS CORPORATION 2nd Floor, H. Zonaria Boduthakurufaanu Magu Male 20057, Maldives T: +960 332 3228 F: +960 332 3229 E: info@visitmaldives.com visitmaldives.com


EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 211, Washington, DC 20036 T: 202 507 8934 F: 202 507 8935


ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW


 POPULATION (2017 EST.): 436,023  CAPITAL: Malé  VISA: No visa required by U.S. tourists. Free stay of 30 days is given upon arrival. Six-month validity required on passport  HEALTH: Yellow fever certifi cate if arriving from an infected area. Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus


and typhoid immunizations are recommended  CURRENCY: Maldivian rufi yaa (MVR) = 100 laaree. US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted  EXCHANGE RATE (APPROX.): MVR15.40 = $1  TIPPING: 10 percent is the accepted level in the majority of hotels and restaurants  TIME: GMT +5  ELECTRICITY: 230-240 volts. Adaptor required  DRIVING: On the left. International license endorsed by Ministry of Transport  PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2020): Jan 1; May 1, 27; Jun 25- 27; Jul 26; Sept 1-2, 21; Nov 3, 11-12, 19; Dec 1, 20. The list includes a number of Muslim festivals, the dates of which are approximate  LANGUAGE: Dhivehi is the Maldivian language. English is widely spoken in the country  RELIGION: Muslim  COUNTRY DIAL CODE: +960


CLIMATE Hot with showers year-round and heavy rainfall during the monsoon season from May to November. The driest period of


the year is December to April. The temperature rarely drops below 77F


GETTING THERE


 MAJOR GATEWAYS: Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (MLE) Gan (GAN)  TYPICAL FLYING TIME: From New York, 23.5h via Dubai


TRANSFERS From Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, it’s a 15-minute boat ride to the capital Malé


GETTING AROUND Inter-island ferries are the most common form of transport for getting around the islands of the Maldives, although small aircraft link Malé airport with resort islands. Seaplanes serve some less accessible resorts


TOP ATTRACTIONS


 Fish market: The main Malé commercial area is on the northern waterfront  The Islamic Center: Widely recognised as being Malé’s most vivid and frequently photographed architectural landmark


 Hukuru Miskiy: Built in the 17th century, the Hukuru Miskiy (Friday Mosque) served the population of Malé as their main mosque for almost four centuries  Mulee-aage: Right in front of the Hukuru Miskiy is Mulee-aage, a palace built in 1906 by Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III, replacing a house dating back to the mid-17th century  National Museum: The articles on display range from thrones and palanquins used by former sultans to the rifl e used by Maldivian ruler Muhammad Thakurufaanu


WHAT TO EAT & DRINK Culinary staples include seafood, fi sh curry and soup


SAFETY & SECURITY The Maldives is a Muslim country. No liquor may be imported, but it’s plentiful in the resorts. Spearguns are banned to prevent plundering of the reefs


INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS


 Travel Escapes  Alpha Maldives Pvt Ltd  Wanderlust Holidays Pvt Ltd See International Members section for details


Haa Alifu Atoll


Maamakunudhoo Atoll


Raa Atoll


Goidhoo Atoll Baa Atoll


Rasdhoo Atoll


Alifu Alifu Atoll


Alifu Dhaalu Atoll


Faafu Atoll


Dhaalu Atoll


Thaa Atoll Laamu Atoll Kaafu Atoll


Vaavu Atoll Meemu Atoll


MALDIVES Rasdhoo Atoll


Shaviyani Atoll Haa Dhaalu Atoll


Lhaviyani Atoll Noonu Atoll


INDIAN OCEAN INDIA AFRICA Madagascar


Maldives Seychelles Mauritius


Aerial view of couple on a sandy beach, Maldives


Alifu Alifu Atoll


Male’ Kaafu Atoll Gaafu Alifu Atoll Dhaalu Atoll Gaafu


Seenu Atoll Gnaviyani Atoll


Vaavu Atoll Alifu Dhaalu Atoll


440 | ASTA | Worldwide Destination Guide 2020


INDIAN OCEAN


IMAGE: GETTY


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