How to travel to Maldives? | Maldives travel guide

Together with a tour or solo, which do you prefer to travel to the Maldives? Do you know which airlines fly to the Maldives or how far the island’s international airport is from your hotel? If you are planning to travel to the Maldives and still do not have enough information about this island, we will tell you how to plan a trip to the Maldives so that it is more economical and you can enjoy all the island’s entertainment.

Maldives travel guide

Have you chosen the Maldives as your next destination, but you still don’t have enough information about the flights and hotel conditions on the island? Which flight is suitable for traveling to the Maldives, or what season is the best time to travel to the island and use water sports, and finally, how to travel to the Maldives to have a carefree vacation are essential information for every traveler. Here we have talked about Maldives tour and how to travel to this island.

about Maldives island

Maldives islands are known by everyone for their bright beaches and luxury hotels. Honestly, this island has a stunning beauty and relying on nature and the creative mind of its architects, it has made every effort to welcome its guests with the best amenities. With this description, it is not without reason that the Maldives is known everywhere as the Asian paradise. Iranian tourists, who are looking for a dreamy and luxurious vacation, choose the Maldives tour as their ideal destination. But the question is, where exactly is Maldives and how to reach this island? In response, we must say that Maldives, which is known by the official name of the Republic of Maldives, is a small island in the southwest of India, which, despite its small area, has a variety of entertainment and perfect nature in its heart.

This island has an international airport, which we will talk about in the next article on how to travel to the Maldives.

Culture and customs of the Maldivian people

Maldives has been an Islamic nation since the 12th century, and before the 12th century, the inhabitants of the Maldives were followers of Buddhism and Hinduism. The country of Maldives has played an important role in the ancient route of spice trade between East Asia and the Middle East and in the cultural field it has received influences from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa and the Arab world. These influences can be seen in crafts such as lacquer ware, pottery, mat weaving, the Bandiyya Jehun dance inspired by Indian pot dances, and a type of drumming and dance known as Boduberu (“big drum”), reminiscent of African drumming. .

With this rich heritage, deep-rooted religious traditions can be seen in the Maldivian Islands. There are mosques on every inhabited island and you will see women wearing headscarves with jeans and flip flops. Since most of the residents of the Maldives are Muslims, we recommend that you use a relatively suitable cover for visiting the islands, of course, the beaches are exempt from this, and when traveling to the Maldives, tourists can wear swimsuits for swimming and other water activities. and so on. Of course, some residential islands are more liberal than others and do not have any coverage restrictions.

Tourists can visit some mosques, but it is better to ask a local before entering, because some mosques are closed to non-Muslims. On inhabited islands, you will hear the call to prayer, and sometimes people even pray in public at certain times during the day. In these cases, we recommend keeping your voice down and not walking in front of the worshipers. Shops are also closed at this time of the day.

Alcohol and pork are also illegal on inhabited islands, although they are readily available on resort islands.

Read more: The most important rules for traveling to the Maldives

Currency and language in Maldives

The Maldivian currency is the rufiyaa (MVR) and is pegged to the US dollar. 1 dollar is equivalent to 13 to 15 rufiyaa. However, exchange rates can fluctuate, so be sure to check before traveling to the Maldives. The official language of the Maldives is Dihi, although most Maldivians speak and understand English and sometimes a third language.

the weatherMaldives

Maldives is an island that is sunny all year round, although in some months the monsoon rains make the air hot and humid. This island generally experiences two dry seasons and rainy season, and each has advantages and disadvantages. According to experience, Maldives promises the best weather between November and April. In the picture below, you can see the average temperature in different months of Maldives:

The best time to travel to Maldives

The months of November to April can be considered the best time to travel to the Maldives. In these months, monsoon rainfall has reached its lowest level and the weather is relatively dry. In other words, it can be said that the dream weather of Maldives is almost guaranteed during these months!

But be careful, since most of the days in this season are sunny and clear, the number of tourists increases, so the prices of hotels are more expensive. If you want to have a cheaper trip to the Maldives, you can choose late October or early May.

Sightseeing and entertainment in the Maldives

The Maldives is very popular among people looking for a dream honeymoon destination and adventurers who want to experience a variety of luxury water activities. In the following, we introduce the sights and entertainment that you can see and experience during your trip to the Maldives:

Go diving on a trip to the Maldives

You can go to one of the diving sites and experience seeing diverse beautiful wildlife underwater in one of the most famous islands in the world.

Have a romantic dinner

Restaurants on private islands offer candlelit beachside dining. If you have chosen to travel to the Maldives for your honeymoon, do not miss the experience of a romantic meal.

Swim with sharks on a trip to the Maldives

Swimming with sharks is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you’ll be talking about for years, you get to swim with blacktip sharks that are around almost all year round.

Experience a diving tour with experienced guides

Diving alone is great, but going deep with an expert is much more enjoyable. They take you to places and introduce sea creatures that you might easily miss on a solo dive.

Go on a sunset tour

If you are lucky, you will see some dolphins on the boat ride. Even if you are not interested in boating, do not miss the stunning sunset of the Maldives.

Take a warm bath

The hot water bath experience is so relaxing that you will not regret doing it.

Swim with manta rays on a trip to the Maldives

Like sharks, manta rays are large and a very impressive sight. Maldives is the perfect place to see them and you can swim next to these unique creatures during your trip to Maldives.

Read more: The best places to visit in Maldives

Maldives nature

Sun, sand and sea are three elements of tourism in Maldives. From mangrove forests to diving sites full of wildlife! This island is ideal for adventurers and nature lovers. To make the most of the Maldives, visit the island during the dry season (December to April) when the weather is perfect, the waters are crystal clear and the marine life is at its best. However, if you are interested in hiking in the lush nature and exploring the island, choose the months of May and November, which have cooler temperatures, slightly more rainfall, and fewer tourists.

Restaurants on a trip to the Maldives

Dining out in the Maldives can be a very enjoyable experience. Each of the hotels has several restaurants that focus on different types of international cuisine. Among them, seafood is especially popular. When planning a trip to the Maldives, you should keep in mind that the islands and hotels are scattered all over the Maldives, which means that it is not usually possible to go from one place to another for dining, so if food is important to you, it is better to choose a hotel that Have your favorite foods. In the following, we will get to know the most famous restaurants in Maldives:

• Best underwater restaurant: Ithaa underwater restaurant
• Best restaurants for families: Thila Kurumba
• Best restaurant for seafood and steak: Sea Fire Salt at Anantara
• Best restaurants for vegetarians: Just Veg by Atmosphere Kanifushi
• Best restaurant garden: Botanica at One&Only Reethi Rah
• The best traditional restaurant in Maldives: Guduguda at The Standard
• Best restaurant with an ocean view: Muraka at Mirihi Island Resort
• Best romantic restaurant: Terra at Waldorf Astoria

Read more: Introducing the most delicious and delicious Maldivian food

Famous dishes on a trip to the Maldives

According to the experience of tourists, you will not have to worry about food when you travel to the Maldives. All the islands of the Maldives offer a variety of restaurants with a variety of cuisines.

You can find a variety of international cuisines in the Maldives. Norwegian salmon, Japanese wagyu and Australian lamb are brought to the Maldives from all over the world to meet the demands of international guests.

Most hotels in the Maldives have one main restaurant and a handful of specialty restaurants, with Italian, Thai, and Japanese cuisine being among the most popular. Some hotels also offer themed nights such as “Maldive Night”, “Seafood Night” and “Barbecue Night”.

A list of the best food on a trip to the Maldives

• Garudhiya (fish soup)
• Mas Huni (shredded smoked tuna)
• Bis Keemiya
• Boshi Mashuni (banana and flower salad)
• Fried Yams
• Maldivian Live Lobster
• Saagu Bondiba (Sago Pudding)
• Reef Fish Cutlets

Accommodation and hotel on a trip to the Maldives

It is safe to say that there are more than 100 accommodations and hotels to choose from when traveling to the Maldives. Whether you have traveled to this country for a honeymoon or whether your trip is friendly and family, keep the following things in mind when booking a hotel:

• The location and access of the hotel to tourist attractions and shops
• What is the type of your trip (family, single, honeymoon, friendly, etc.)
• Hotel room type: beach villas, water villas, etc
• Hotel food services and facilities
• The island where the hotel is located
• The Maldives has some of the best diving sites in the world, but some atolls are richer than others. So if you are into diving, the water quality and diving facilities at the hotel are definitely something to consider.

Among the best hotels in Maldives, the following can be mentioned:

• Hyde Beach Resort Hotel (HIDEAWAY BEACH RESORT)

This hotel is located on Haa Alifu coral island. If you are looking for a peaceful stay in a pristine and untouched environment on your trip to the Maldives, Hideaway is right for you! This hotel has provided a comfortable stay for tourists of all ages and tastes.

• Lily Maldives HotelLILY BEACH RESORT)

Lily Beach Hotel, located in Ari atoll, is one of the best and most luxurious hotels in the Maldives, suitable for families and couples alike.

• Mafushi Maldives HotelMAAFUSHIVARU MALDIVES)

This hotel is also located in the coral island of South Ari atoll and offers luxury facilities to guests along with a peaceful stay.

• Six Senses Lamu HotelSIX SENSES LAAMU)

Six Senses Laamu is located on a pristine atoll in the south of the Maldives and is also the only hotel on that atoll! The resort is a short domestic flight from Male International Airport. Tall palm trees, heavenly nature, rocks with incredible beauty surround Six Senses Lamu Hotel. Also, the island where the hotel is located is one of the most famous diving sites in the Maldives. Therefore, if you plan to experience professional diving during your trip to the Maldives, you can stay at this hotel.

• Fairmont Luxury HotelFAIRMONT MALDIVES)

Fairmont Hotel is located on Baatul Island. The atoll island with stunning views has a wide range of unique accommodations from overwater villas to beach villas. One of the largest recreational lagoons in the Maldives is located on this island.

Malls of Maldives

Shopping may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Maldives, however, aside from the natural beauty of the region’s oceans and islands, the country actually offers a number of shopping options, especially in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Besides souvenirs, you can buy local food products, branded clothes, etc. The most famous malls in Maldives:

• Malé local market
• Majeedhee Magu Market
• Chaandhanee Magu Market
• Le Cute shopping center
• Centro Mall (Centro Mall)

Read more: Public transport in Maldives

Transportation on a trip to the Maldives

All the islands of the Maldives, both private and public resort islands, are small and manageable enough to explore on foot. For this reason, there is no car rental service when traveling to the Maldives, although taxis do operate on the larger islands. But the easiest and cheapest way to explore the island is on foot. When it comes to commuting between different islands, you have a few good options:

• Seaplanes
• High speed boats
• Ordinary boats
• Tobacco boats
• Bus on the island
• Taxi on the island
• Bikes on the island

Maldives souvenirs

No trip is complete without a souvenir. Souvenirs are valuable souvenirs that you can use to relive the good memories of your trip. You can also give souvenirs to your family and friends to share with them a piece of something unique about the country you visited.

In addition to beauty, Maldives has many souvenirs, mostly made by local people. You can buy the following souvenirs during your trip to Maldives:

• Flea; Special sarong for Maldives
• Miniature boats called dhoni
• Products made from coconut
• Fish products
• Lacquered products (jugs, glasses, etc.)
• Tondo Kona (a type of rug in the Maldives)
• Handmade jewelry

Where is the Maldives airport?

Maldives has an international airport called Velana, which is known as the gateway to this island. Velana Airport is located on the island of Hole Hole and covers the international flights of the Maldives. This airport hosts the most prestigious airlines in the world, such as AirAsia, Singapore, Tirelines, British Airways, Tiger Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Oman Air, Air India and Air China. Velana is located 3 kilometers from Male city and passengers can reach their accommodation from the airport by passenger boats or air taxis. North Malé, Haa Dhaalu, Alifu Dhaalu, Alifu Dhaalu and Gnaviyani airports are other airports in the Maldives archipelago, but most international flights go through Velana Airport.

Read more: Introducing Velana Airport

Information and facts about Maldives

• Less than a fifth of the islands in the Maldives are inhabited.
• Maldives has become a popular tourist destination for 50 years.
• Maldives has pristine and unique beaches.
• In the Maldives, you can swim with huge fish.
• Maldives is the lowest country in the world.
• Maldives held its first underwater cabinet meeting.

Obtaining a Maldives visa for Iranians

Maldives visa for Iranians is an airport visa. In this way, tourists do not need to apply for a visa in advance to travel to the Maldives. The documents that passengers must present at the airport are the following:

• Original passport with at least 7 months validity from the time of departure
• Round trip plane ticket
• Hotel reservation form for the number of nights of stay

Maldives events and festivals

In this part of the travel to Maldives article, we provide you with information about Maldives festivals. Since Maldives is home to Sunni Muslims and Islam is the main religion here, it is quite obvious that almost all Muslim celebrations are celebrated, except for those such as National Day, Independence Day and Republic Day which do not have a religious theme. These celebrations show a mixture of tradition and modernity. For example, a traditional music or dance performance that uses wooden instruments may be performed with urban pop music or modern jazz.

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha Festival of Maldives is one of the most important religious festivals of the Maldivian people. This festival is known by different names such as Ghorbani festival, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Ghorbani and many others. According to the Muslim calendar, it is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah.

Kuda Eid

Eid Kuda, also known as Eid al-Fitr, is an important religious festival that marks the end of the month of Ramadan. According to the Islamic calendar, the Koda Eid Maldivian festival is usually celebrated on the first day of Shawwal. It is a three-day festival with three days of public holidays.

independence day

Maldivian Independence Day is very important because it is on this day that the country becomes independent from British rule. On this day, the British agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Maldives.

national day

National Day is one of the other important days in Maldives, because it is celebrated on the occasion of the victory of Muhammad Takurufaano over the Portuguese in 1573. According to the Islamic calendar, the national day of Maldives is on the first of Rabi’ul Awal.

Birth of Hazrat Muhammad

The celebration of the birthday of Hazrat Muhammad is celebrated in Maldives with great splendor and a big show. This celebration is based on the Islamic calendar on the twelfth day of the month of Rabi al-Awwal.

Republic Day

Maldives Republic Day is very important because it is on this day that Maldives became a republic after years of monarchy. Initially, the republic was established in 1953, but it did not last long and the monarchy was restored in the same year.

Ramadan

Ramadan, also known as “Rorda Mas”, is one of the most important celebrations of the Maldivian people. According to the Muslim calendar, the Maldivian Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month. Basically, it is the month of Islamic fasting when Muslims fast for 30 days.

victory day

Maldives Victory Day is of great importance because it is on this day that a terrorist group from Sri Lanka attacked the Maldivian government. They tried to overthrow the Maldivian government, but failed.

Which airlines fly to Maldives?

Currently, Iranian passengers can fly to Maldives through three Qatari airlines, Emirates or Fly Dubai. After a stop in Doha, the Qatari plane and the Emirates and FlyDubai plane after a stop in Dubai bring Iranian passengers to Velana International Airport. The duration of the flight from Tehran to Male is about 8 hours, which may increase depending on the duration of stops in the country of origin. You can get in touch with our colleagues in the foreign tickets unit to book a ticket to Maldives and choose the most suitable airline and flight time. We will tell you when and with which airline to buy tickets to Maldives according to the budget you have planned for your trip.

When to travel to Maldives?

In the following article, how to travel to Maldives, we will tell you which season of the year is suitable for traveling to this island. Maldives is located next to the Indian Ocean and thanks to this neighborhood, it has a mild climate throughout the year. With this description, it can be said that you can travel to Maldives and enjoy the island’s water activities at any time of the year. It is worth noting that you may face temporary monsoon rains in late spring and early summer, but even rain cannot prevent travelers from enjoying the Maldives.

Travel to the Maldives without a tour

With tour or without tour? Which one is more economical to travel to Maldives? Before answering this question, we remind you that Maldives tours are organized individually and not in groups. If you plan to travel to the Maldives without a tour, you must purchase plane tickets and hotel reservations separately, and after arriving in the Maldives, use public transportation to reach your hotel; But if you choose Maldives tour, all these services will be purchased by you in the form of a package. With this description, traveling with a tour is more economical and carefree than traveling without a tour.

final word; Travel to the Maldives with the tours of Setara Vanak Airlines Agency

Our experts have planned various tours according to the airlines that fly on the Maldives route. Our tour services are held for 5 nights and 6 days and include round-trip plane ticket services, hotel accommodation based on the meals announced in the package, travel insurance and airport transfer; Therefore, you can contact our colleagues in the foreign tours department to book a Maldives tour and receive advice.