Maldives: A String of Pearls Scattered by God, Heaven Could Hardly Compare!The Maldives, a place where there is one island per person, one hotel per island. Here, you can savor delicious food, enjoy a good sleep, take a swim in the sea, and gaze at the stars! It is a perfect destination for those seeking relaxation.

May 8, 2025, 5:45 pm EDT

Maldives: A String of Pearls Scattered by God, Heaven Could Hardly Compare!

The Maldives, a place where there is one island per person, one hotel per island. Here, you can savor delicious food, enjoy a good sleep, take a swim in the sea, and gaze at the stars! It is a perfect destination for those seeking relaxation.

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The Republic of Maldives is located in South Asia and is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Comprising over 1,192 small coral islands, it is the largest coral island nation in the world. Its capital, Male, is known as the "pocket-sized capital." With an area of only 1.5 square kilometers, it is divided into four urban areas, and its population is approximately 60,000.

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The Maldives is about 675 kilometers away from Sri Lanka to the northeast and about 113 kilometers away from Minicoy, India to the north. It is the second smallest country in Asia.

Its terrain is not high, with an average altitude of 1.2 meters. The total area is 90,000 square meters (including the territorial sea area), and the land area is only 298 square kilometers, less than one-fifth of the area of Shenzhen.

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The Maldives is not far from the South Asian subcontinent. Affected by the warm and humid air currents from the Indian Ocean and the dry and cold air currents from the South Asian subcontinent, it has two main seasons in a year: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season usually lasts from September to February of the following year, the wet season is from June to August, and March to May is the transition season.

Therefore, for at least half a year, the Maldives has a beautiful scene of "white clouds floating in the blue sky." It is very suitable for outdoor activities such as swimming, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, and windsurfing.

Even during the wet season, it rarely rains all day long. Moreover, the hotel prices are much cheaper during the wet season, so the off-season of the Maldives' tourism industry is not really "off."

In the vast blue sea of the Indian Ocean, the Maldivian archipelago is like a string of pearls, and the seawater beside the pearls is like pieces of beautiful jade. Westerners like to call the Maldives the "Lost Paradise."

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The Maldives has 26 atolls, which are formed by corals growing on the islands. Eventually, the original islands submerged underwater, and coral islands were formed around them, with lagoons in the middle. This evolutionary process has taken 30 million years, and these coral islands are still growing.

The beaches in the Maldives are formed by the erosion of the sea on corals. They are white, fine, and soft.

The Maldives is a world-class diving destination. You don't need to have advanced swimming skills or dive very deep. As long as you put your head underwater, you will discover coral reefs that are like underwater gardens, as well as colorful tropical fish.

While you are admiring these marine inhabitants, they will also curiously look at you and may even follow you for a while. People say that if you don't go into the water when you are in the Maldives, you will only experience 30% of the beauty of the Maldives, and this is indeed true.

Nationwide Efforts in Developing Tourism

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Tourism is the primary economic pillar of the Maldives. Although its direct contribution to the gross domestic product is less than 30%, 90% of the government's tax revenue comes from the tourism and related industries.

During the development of the tourism industry, the Maldives attaches great importance to environmental protection. The government and practitioners share a common understanding that protecting the environment is crucial for the future of the Maldives.

When building hotels on tourist islands, the government stipulates that coral reefs should not be damaged, sea turtles should not be captured, and tourists should not take corals out of the country. Violators will be subject to hefty fines.

At the same time, the government has promulgated a tourism law, requiring all foreign capital to register with the Tourism Bureau and the Foreign Investment Bureau. It has formulated an overall tourism plan, designated tourist areas across the country, put forward the principles of sustainable development, environmental protection, and social responsibility, and emphasized the harmonious development of the tourism industry with nature. In terms of market promotion, it spares no effort, and the Maldives can be seen at major international tourism expos.

The Maldives' Ministry of Tourism expects that the number of foreign tourists in 2024 will reach 2 million, and the number of Chinese tourists is expected to top the list again. What makes Chinese tourists so reluctant to leave this archipelagic country composed of 1,192 small islands? In addition to the tourism industry, what else does the Maldives have?

The fishing industry in the Maldives is also quite famous. Before 1985, the fishing industry was the primary industry of this island nation.

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There are more than 300 species of fish in the Maldives. The most common ones include tuna, groupers, dolphinfish, barracudas, porcupinefish (rainbow runner), and squirrelfish. There are more than 100 species of fish that are exported on a large scale. In addition, there are numerous seaweeds, algae, and other aquatic organisms. Before the 1970s, more than 90% of the Maldives' fish catches were dried (mainly tuna) and exported to Sri Lanka, so dried tuna is known as "Maldivian fish." However, after Sri Lanka reduced its import volume, the Maldives cooperated with Japanese companies to can fresh fish for export.

Traditionally, Maldivian fishermen set out early in the morning on a dhow with a triangular sail and use fishing rods and fishing lines to catch fish. The fishing rods made of bamboo or plastic are 4 to 5 meters long and can catch fish weighing more than 20 kilograms. The caught fish are first kept in the water tank of the dhow, and the fishermen return home in the evening.

During the peak season, a boat can catch thousands of fish a day, mainly tuna and mackerel. The mechanization of the Maldives' fishing industry began in 1974, and a large number of sail dhows were converted into mechanical dhows.

The Maldives has nearly 150 resort islands and 47,300 beds. Each resort island is a hotel, and these hotels are all built on the original uninhabited islands without encroaching on an inch of land on the residential islands.

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The reasons for this are twofold. First, land in the Maldives is scarce. Second, building tourist resort hotels on uninhabited islands can ensure that residents and tourists do not interfere with each other, which is conducive to maintaining the cultural traditions of the Maldives.

The internationalization level of hotel management in the Maldives is very high. Although nearly 80% of the hotels are owned by Maldivians, more than half of the hotels are managed by foreign-funded companies or joint ventures. Among the senior management personnel of the hotels, foreigners account for a large proportion.

For some islands close to the airport, you can reach them by speedboat or the traditional Maldivian dhow. For more distant islands, you need to take a seaplane.

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The Maldives is a Muslim country, and almost all of its citizens are Sunni Muslims. They are polite, value etiquette, and are simple and hospitable. They pray five times a day. Friday is their weekly holiday, and shops, schools, and public places are closed. Women must wear long dresses that cover their bodies when they go out, and men are not allowed to wear shorts.

Foreign tourists do not need to follow this rule in resort hotels, but nude swimming is prohibited. The Muslim tradition is more pure on the residential islands.

Some island chiefs or wealthy men can have several wives, and their families are relatively large with more children. The relatively slow pace of life and spacious housing on the islands provide convenience for this.

Currently, there are direct flights from three cities in China to Male, the capital of the Maldives, with a flight duration of 6 to 9 hours. From Shanghai, there are direct flights operated by China Eastern Airlines every day. From Beijing, there are direct flights operated by Capital Airlines on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. From Chengdu, there are direct flights operated by Sichuan Airlines on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It can only be said that the direct flights are gradually recovering.

In addition to the direct flights from Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu, for other cities, you can also transfer in Kuala Lumpur via AirAsia, in Singapore via Singapore Airlines, in Doha via Qatar Airways, in Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways, and in Bangkok via Bangkok Airways.

It should be noted that whether it is a seaplane or an internal flight, you will generally only be informed of the specific flight time one day in advance. There is really no way around this, as the seaplane company can only arrange the time and route according to the weather conditions and the number of passengers one day in advance. The same goes for the outbound journey. The hotel will provide you with the seaplane information one day in advance. If you have specific time requirements, it is advisable to communicate with the hotel as early as possible.

The Differences Among the Three Ways to Reach the Islands

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1. Speedboat

For islands within 80 kilometers of Male, speedboats are generally available. The travel time ranges from 10 to 40 minutes. The advantage of taking a speedboat is that you can reach the island at any time. Even if your flight arrives late, you can still reach the island on the same day. For other means of reaching the island, you may need to stay in Male for one night.

The disadvantage of taking a speedboat is that you may get seasick, especially when the waves are big. The cost of a speedboat is generally between 80 and 200 US dollars. In the packages purchased in the Chinese market (excluding OTA calendar rooms), the cost of transportation to the island is usually included, so you don't need to bear this expense additionally.

For some high-quality speedboat islands, there are lounges at the Maldives airport. So, you won't be bored while waiting for the speedboat.

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2. Seaplane

For islands 80 to 200 kilometers away from Male, you can choose to take a seaplane. A seaplane generally has 16 seats. The main seaplane companies in the Maldives are TMA, and there are also a small number of seaplanes operated by Maldivian and Manta companies. Some luxury hotels have their own seaplanes, such as the Four Seasons.

I recommend choosing a seaplane. I can say with certainty that the best scenery in the Maldives can be seen from a seaplane.

Now, let's talk about some drawbacks of taking a seaplane. Seaplane tickets are not cheap, with a round-trip cost of 300 to 400 US dollars. It is not very comfortable to sit in a seaplane, and the noise is quite loud. If you are traveling with the elderly or children, you need to carefully consider whether to choose a seaplane, and a speedboat may be more suitable for them.

Seaplanes are greatly affected by the weather. Although the earliest departure time is 6 am and the latest arrival time is 4 pm, if the weather is bad, you often need to wait. Seaplanes may not be direct flights. There may be stopovers, and sometimes there may be more than one stopover. The final stop may be in the middle of the sea or on another resort island (and then you will be picked up by a speedboat).

For truly good seaplane islands, there are separate lounges at the seaplane airport in Male. You can not only enjoy a good time but also complete the check-in process in advance. The competition among Maldivian hotels is fierce, and it starts from the seaplane lounge. The following is the seaplane lounge of the Westin Maldives.

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3. Domestic Flight + Speedboat

If the island is more than 200 kilometers away from Male, it is recommended to choose a domestic flight. The Maldives has more than just the Hulhumale airport. You can also transfer from Male to other atolls.

The domestic flight is more comfortable. However, since the domestic flight flies at a relatively high altitude, you won't be able to fully appreciate the atolls of the Maldives. The flight information of the domestic flight can also only be told to you one day in advance.

For some islands, you can choose either a domestic flight plus a speedboat or a seaplane. It mainly depends on your budget. Seaplanes are more expensive than domestic flights and are generally faster.

This is a map of the Maldives. In fact, the Maldives is quite large. If you want to go to remote atolls such as the Haa Alif Atoll, Noonu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, and Kaafu Alif Atoll, you basically need to rely on domestic flights. This map is a bit outdated. Now, there are nearly 200 hotels in the Maldives.

Some Special Terms for Maldivian Packages

I believe you will often see terms like BB, HB, and AI. In fact, they represent different types of packages. Let me explain them uniformly.

BB: Only includes breakfast.
HB: Includes breakfast and dinner.
FB: Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
AI: All-inclusive. Generally, it includes three meals a day and drinks.

Among them, AI may also be divided into AID (all-inclusive catering) and AIP (all-inclusive entertainment). Each hotel's AI package may be different. In some hotels, with the AI package, you can dine in all restaurants, while in others, you can only dine in designated restaurants. Some AI packages include sea trips, spa treatments, and water activities, while others do not. AI does not mean that you don't need to spend any more money. It is recommended to inquire about this in advance.

If you don't particularly like drinking alcohol, it is recommended to choose the HB (breakfast and dinner) package. You can have a late breakfast and an early dinner, and you can sleep late and get up late to fully enjoy your vacation in the Maldives. You should know that if you choose the AI (all-inclusive) package, you are still paying for it in the end. Most AI packages include drinks.

Entry Rules

Personal belongings carried by tourists upon entry do not need to pay taxes, and each person is allowed to carry 200 cigarettes. The import of arms, weapons, pornographic publications, drugs, and alcohol is strictly prohibited. When returning to Hong Kong, each person is only allowed to bring 19 cigarettes.

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Visa Instructions

The Maldives provides a 30-day free visa on arrival. You only need to fill out an entry card upon arrival. The requirements for the visa on arrival are as follows:

The passport should be valid for more than six months.
There should be at least one or two blank pages in the passport. Many countries require two blank pages.
You should have a return ticket or a ticket for the continuing journey.
You should have a certain amount of cash, traveler's checks, and international credit cards to prove that you have sufficient financial ability to support your trip.