Maldives Photos 2

Encounters runs the first tour of the Maldives including Malé, time on a live-aboard yacht, a desert island experience and five star diving or snorkelling. Maldives Magic Tour won a Most Amazing Luxury Tour award in 2011.

After drinking yourself into a stupor on the silk sand beach (but make sure you're on an all-inclusive package before you order French wines), it's time to explore the Maldives island you've chosen to spend a fat wad on...

...where the vegetation will be not unlike this...
Photo by N.Dilmen

...and the pool not unlike this...

Apart from beach related activities, resorts usually offer spa treatments, visits to nearby inhabited islands and sunset cruises as well as sports facilities such as badminton, tennis and fitness centres. One even has a golf course, but the greens are Astroturf and the longest hole is a mere 64 metres – you use just two clubs, a sand wedge and a putter!

...though the resort's bar/restaurant will probably differ from the Kuredu Island Resort.

Most resorts are all inclusive with a generous buffet offering for lunch and dinner as well as breakfast, though there may be  a la carte offerings at eateries other than the main restaurants, possibly for an additional charge. Vaguely 'themed' food nights are not uncommon but of dubious authenticity.

Alcohol is available but it's expensive and the variety may be limited. Some all inclusive packages cover a number of designated drinks such as beer, wines and spirits so bear that in mind, depending on anticipated boozing and funds available. Divers, of course, cannot drink much alcohol for safety reasons.

And when the ennui finally sets in, visit one of the more inhabited Maldive Islands...

...or investigate one of the less inhabited islands...
Photo by N.Dilmen

Getting around:
Travel between the islands is surprisingly easy but, naturally, not cheap. The most time efficient is via small, 10-seater seaplanes which give a good service reaching everywhere in less than 45 minutes, though punctuality and information on departure times can sometimes be approximate.
For any return journey, especially if connecting with an international flight, it is therefore better to allow at least an extra hour or two than you might think.
Speedboats and taxi boats are another possibility - such as dhonis, a Maldivian boat, something like an arab dhow - which are obviously slower but cheaper, or even regular ferries, but these are rarely used by tourists.

...play a round of golf on astro-turf greens...

... go snorkelling with marine beasts...

...grab the nearest submarine for some tank-free underwater action, or get a tank and go Maldives diving for real...
Photo by N.Dilmen

Getting there: there are direct flights to Male's Hulhule Airport from London's Gatwick airport on BA or various charter flights, from the UK's Birmingham and Manchester airports, as well as from Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Russia and many Asian destinations such as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai and India.
The cheapest flights will be charters, or fly from Sri Lanka's Colombo.

Maldives Photos | Seychelles Pictures | Maldives Islands Guide