Maldives
Weather and climate
Best time to visit
Straddling the equator, the Maldives doesn't really have seasons. Temperatures vary little throughout the year, ranging from about 25ºC to 30ºC. On average, there are more than 2,500 hours of sunshine annually. Luckily, there is often a very pleasant breeze.
Explore the surroundings
Destination introduction
Holidays in the Maldives conjure up images of white sands, swaying palm trees and crystal blue waters, creating that quintessential picture-perfect holiday bliss. Kuoni’s hand-picked island resorts offer everything from all inclusive Maldives holidays, to rustic island retreats and the world’s finest luxury accommodation. Savour gourmet dining, sensuous spas, spectacular diving and the most enchanting ocean sunsets.
Maldives holiday highlights - Admire sea views with a stay in a water villa, elevated over turquoise waters.
- Whilst most of our resorts have fabulous spas, look out for our ‘SPA’ labelled resorts for the finest in pampering indulgences.
- Discover a vibrant underwater world with a professional, supervised scuba-diving expedition. Browse some of our comprehensive dive packages.
- For the ultimate experience join the Atoll Explorer for a Maldives cruise around this beautiful country’s most magical atolls.
- All Inclusive Maldives holidays - For the complete hassle-free holiday look out for our specially negotiated All Inclusive deals.
- All Maldives holidays travelling on scheduled flights include access to the VIP lounge in Malé International Airport on your departure.
Diving
These idyllic coral islands rank amongst the best dive destinations in the world. In conjunction with Euro-Divers, we can offer quality diving packages in the Maldives which can be pre-booked in the UK.
The rare beauty of the magnificent underwater world has made these islands one of the most enchanting diving destinations in the world. When conditions are good the underwater visibility is at the highest level – sometimes exceeding 50 metres – and the warm water temperatures year round make diving in the Maldives a pleasure.
The North Malé Atoll is home to the Lion’s Head and Wattaru Kandu dive sites both of which are frequented by reef sharks. Wattaru Kandu is also home to stingrays and
garden eels whilst Lankanfinokhu, or Manta Point as it’s locally known, is a great place to see manta rays being cleaned by local colonies of cleaner fish.
Hukrueli in the South Malé Atoll is another place to see rays and cleaner fish and Maaya Thila, a protected marine area in this atoll is home to white-tip sharks, turtles, zebra morays and the elusive guitar shark.
Hanifaru lagoon in the Baa Atoll is one of the best places to see whale sharks and manta rays. June to September is the best time to see them as this is during the monsoon season and equinox when the lagoon is filled with plankton.
Important Notes: A medical certificate of physical fitness may be required and qualified divers must bring proof of diving certification and logbook. Please ensure that you purchase adequate insurance.
If you are travelling with any other form of insurance, we strongly recommend that you check the terms of your policy and if necessary take out extra cover. Dive prices shown do not include boat trips to and from dive sites. Boat trips approx. $10 per dive are payable locally. If you intend to learn to dive whilst you are in the Maldives, you must book a holiday of at least eight days duration (five days for the Scuba Diver courses). Open Water and Scuba Diver courses include the necessary equipment as required. Cost for logbook, certificate, course book and other course materials are not included. Costs per person approximately: US$140 (Certification alone: $85).
* Extra equipment required including mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with octopus and pressure gauge, BCD with inflater, 10 litre tank, weightbelt, weights and dive computer (compulsory for every diver) can be obtained locally at an extra charge. Full terms and conditions available on request.
Shopping
In Malé you’ll see plenty of street merchants selling beautiful Maldivian postage stamps. Those ragged dentures suspended outside gift shops are sharks’ jaws. Attractive T-shirts are stencilled before your eyes, generally with brilliantly coloured tropical fish.
The islanders are expert in carving coconut wood and use it to decorate their houses. Mat-weaving, basket-making and coir rope-making are other long-standing crafts. Mats are woven from haa grass. There is some highly developed lacquerwork and you may see examples of handloom weaving or jewellery handcrafted in gold and mother of pearl.