Maldives

The Maldives is a dream destination famous for its beautiful white beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery. But there is more to this unique nation, these 1190 islands spread across the Indian Ocean and circled into 26 natural atolls. They boast rich cultural traditions, a history of kings and queens, pageants, feasts and festivals, all of which comes together to make luxury holidays in the Maldives endlessly tempting. Experiencing this culture is one of the joys of a holiday here, a joy which Constance Halaveli caters to.

The Maldives has incredibly beautiful tropical scenery: graceful coconut palms leaning over crystal-clear lagoons, coral reefs promising great snorkelling and scuba diving, and lots of sunshine. In fact, all the ingredients that make up the classic desert island. With the increasing pace of life in the modern world, it has become the ultimate getaway for those who like the sun, sand, sea and tranquillity. Resorts like Soneva Fushi and One&Only Reethi Rah capture this perfectly.

The islands of the Maldives lie scattered in the Indian Ocean. There are almost 2000 coral islands and islets in total. Around 90 of them are so tiny, one could walk around the perimeter in less than 5 minutes! If you want to experience the magic of being isolated by clear blue oceans than the Gili Lankanfushi, the islands’ first all water villa resort, is ideal.

The Maldives has one of the least exploited Marine environments in the world and as such has gained a reputation as being one of the best diving destinations in the world, sought after by divers and snorkellers alike. It is a deserved reputation, with hundreds of breathtaking dive sites, a colourful and fascinating underwater world, perfect conditions throughout the year and visibility that can reach up to 60 meters. If you want to dive straight in to these activities, Huvafen Fushi has the facilities ready for you to do so.

Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed; the strategy being to develop a limited number of quality resorts, each on its own island free from crime, traffic, commercialism and the stress of daily life.

The Maldives are a group of 1,200 tiny tropical islands that make up a land that is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on the face of this earth, a land that is not stressed or hurried by the pressures of modern life a safe place where there is no evident poverty and crime is not even a consideration. The Maldives is truly the destination to get away from it all and relax in heavenly surroundings.

Watersports
All of our select hotels and resorts offer an array of both complimentary and chargeable watersports to be enjoyed on the wonderfully clear and calm lagoons that surround each of the islands. Sailing, windsurfing and snorkelling are among the most popular and are complimentary in most instances. For the more adventurous and experienced, surfing on the atol edges is increasingly popular.

Scuba Diving
Exceptional and easily accessible underwater life make the Maldives one of the top diving destinations in the world. All of our resorts offer dive centres with professionally qualified dive instructors for beginners, and for the more experienced the resorts will be happy to organise night dives and other special dives such as wrecks and speciallity fish dives.

Spas
Where better a place in the world than the tranquil and stunning Maldives to pamper yourself in some of the worlds finest spa’s. All of our resorts have their own uniquley designed spas, offering a comprehensive range of treatments. Settings for spa’s and different treatments include open sided treatment rooms overlooking the sea, stilted buildings with glass floors to watch the sea life during your massage, on the beach or even in underwater treatment rooms! Please see our individual hotel infromation for details.

Island Hopping
Whether for a days excursion as arranged with your hotel by either speedboat or traditional dhoni boat or an extended cruise on a luxury sailboat, Island hopping is a fantastic way of experiencing the many islands. It is highly recommended during a visit to The Maldives to enjoy a sumptuous picnic on an uninhabited island – pure paradise.

Aerial Excursions
Nothing can be more breathtaking than seeing the atolls of The Maldives by air. From this perspective you can truly understand why the formation of the tiny islands and the atolls that they group together and form make The Maldives such a beautiful and unique place to visit.

Fishing
For the people of The Maldives, fishing has been a lifeline and, with over 99 per cent of The Maldives’ total area consisting of water, the country has some of the world’s best fishing grounds. Many of our resorts offer fishing trips on modern speedboats equipped for big game fishing. Night fishing for groupers, snappers, squirrelfish or barracuda is particularly popular.

Malé – Capital of Maldives
The capital has several shops which sell examples of local handicrafts and imported goods. Other attractions include the Mulee-aage, a former palace, National Museum, located in the Sultan’s Park with a superb collection of artefacts including Sultanese thrones and palanquins, the fish and vegetable markets, the beautiful 17th-century Hukuru (or Friday Mosque) and the Islamic Centre, with its magnificent golden dome. There are over 20 other mosques scattered around Malé.

What's On in the Maldives in May

Boasting beautiful beaches, a fascinating surrounding culture and a balmy climate, the Maldives is thought of by many as one of the world's most desirable holiday destinations.

Complementing its aforementioned assets is the island nation's events and activities landscape, with an array of festivals and things to do throughout the holiday season.

Should you be planning any last minute luxury Maldives holidays over the course of May, here is a list of the top three things to do and see.

Surfing – Considered somewhat of a Mecca for surf junkies across the world, the Indian Ocean around the Maldives comes alive from May to September, with the southwest monsoon bringing massive swells ranging from 3 – 8 feet. Despite being a familiar haunt amongst more experienced surfers, there are areas around the island that offers newcomers a great opportunity to learn their craft.
Diving – Boasting high visibility throughout the year, the warm seas surrounding the Maldives are in a perfect condition to dive and are often referred to as the world's richest diving coral reef areas. With over a thousand species of fish to see and an explosion of colourful coral reefs, it is a must-see for lovers of marine life.
Spa and relaxation – If the previous activities are too much for you, there are other activities of a slightly more chilled nature to engage in. Traditional healing methods passed on over generations by hakeembe – healing experts – mean the Maldives has become a popular destination for holidaymakers looking to forget all their problems.

Whatever you decide to do whilst on your break to Gili Lankanfushi, you are sure to gain experiences and memories that will last a lifetime, which you and your loved ones will undoubtedly treasure.