Maldives cruises & tours

Although you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Maldives at any time of year, the best time to visit is during the dry season, between October and May. Conditions are clear and sunny with average temperatures around 28°C, ideal for anyone looking to escape a Northern Hemisphere winter.

Visibility for snorkelling and diving is top notch during the dry season. Between August and November, manta rays and many shark species are commonly seen.

Although technically classified as the wet season, rain showers between May and October are often short-lived and provide a nice break in the humidity so you can continue idyllic island living. Hatching season for sea turtles occurs during July and August and is an extraordinary sight.

Daily life in the Maldives is tied to the sea, and the island environment influences cuisine, handicrafts, cultures and traditions.

Maldivian people are master boat builders, and the Dhoni, or traditional Maldivian fishing boat, can be found across the archipelago. These days, Dhonis have been modernised with comfortable fittings for live-aborad sailing adventures.

The Maldives national tree is the coconut palm, and coconut is a key ingredient in Maldivian cuisine. Food is cooked in coconut oil, coconut sap is a popular morning drink, and coconut honey and sugar are added to many sweet treats. Other Maldivian cuisine is mainly seafood-based. The coconut palm has been used in traditional medicine, to build homes and dhoni boats, and for Maldivian handicrafts.

The Maldives is a South Asian island nation in the Indian Ocean, spread over 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi). It's made up of 1190 coral islands that form an archipelago of 26 natural atolls.

Of the 1190 islands, less than 200 are inhabited. Most of the islands are very small; it's not unusual to be able to cover an entire island in under 10 minutes.

The islands are all low-lying, and the highest elevation anywhere in the archipelago is under 2.5 metres, making the Maldives the lowest country in the world. Due to the low elevation, the temperatures stay consistently high, even at night and hover between 25-28°C year-round.

Top things to eat and drink in the Maldives:

1. Mas Huni

Mas huni is the traditional Maldivian breakfast made of shredded smoked tuna, onion, coconut, lemon and chilli. It's served with roshi, or a baked flatbread made similar to roti or chapati, and a hot cup of Maldivian black tea.

2. Hedhikaa

Also known as 'short eats,' Hedhikaa are bite-sized snacks accompanying Maldivian high tea. Hedhikaa is a cultural experience, and the short eats, whether baked and sweet or deep fried and savoury, are shared among friends and family during social gatherings and religious events.

Tuna is a staple in Hedhikaa dishes. Popular short eats include Gulha, fried dough balls stuffed with tuna, onion and coconut, Bajiyaa, a Maldivian samosa and Githeyo Boakibaa, a sweet coconut and ghee cake flavoured with cinnamon. Hedhikaa are always served alongside a hot cup of Maldivian black tea, known as Sai.

3. Huvadhoo bondi

A slightly addictive sweet treat, the sugary, coconutty delicacy can be found at island markets around the Maldives. Huvadhoo bondi is a coconut patty rolled into a long stick and wrapped in a banana leaf... and it looks totally unlike any candy you'll find elsewhere.

4. Garudiya

A staple on most islands, Garudiya is a fragrant ginger and garlic soup with big, fresh chunks of locally caught tuna. Yellowfin and skipjack are the most common types of tuna in the Maldives. Garudiya is served with steamed rice or roshi to mop up the broth.

5. Aluvi Boakibaa

One of the most popular and most mouthwatering desserts in the Maldives, Aluvi Boakibaa is cake made of coconut and cassava (also known as yuca or tapioca). You can find this sweet treat at restaurants or street vendors, and it's especially popular at high tea with a hot cup of sai.

The official currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa (Rf), but since it is a non-convertible currency, it cannot be purchased beforehand. The US Dollar is accepted as legal tender throughout the Maldives, but damaged notes, badly creased, well-worn, or defaced notes will not be accepted. Change will often be given in Rufiyaa, so it's a good idea to carry a mix of local currency and clean, small USD notes for purchases and tipping.

At the end of your trip, you won't be able to exchange Rufiyaa back to USD or any other currency, so make sure to spend as much as you can on the islands.

ATMs are available in Malé, but access is minimal outside the city. There are no banks on local or resort islands.

Major credit cards can be used at many shops and restaurants in Malé, as well as on local islands