Maldives

An archipelago of atolls

The Maldives sits southwest of India and Sri Lanka, a chain of roughly two dozen coral atolls made up of hundreds of low-lying islands. Most resorts occupy a single island each, so a Maldives holiday typically means choosing one property for the full stay rather than moving between destinations as you might elsewhere.

Built for relaxation and diving

The islands' fringing reefs and lagoons make the Maldives one of the world's most established diving and snorkelling destinations, alongside its reputation for overwater villas and high levels of privacy. Many resorts are reached by seaplane or speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport near the capital, Male, which is itself worth factoring into overall travel time. Because most activity centres on a single resort island, transfer type and distance from the airport are worth weighing carefully when choosing a property, since some seaplane transfers take considerably longer than a speedboat ride to a nearer atoll. Our Maldives Honeymoon itinerary is built around this single-resort style of stay.

Choosing your season

The Maldives has a wet and a dry season rather than four distinct ones. The northeast monsoon, from roughly December to April, brings the driest, calmest weather and is generally considered the prime season, while the southwest monsoon from May to November brings more rain and wind, though diving conditions and visibility can still be good on the atolls' eastern sides. Travellers weighing an Indian Ocean honeymoon against Africa's Swahili coast often compare the Maldives with Zanzibar, which offers a different pace built around history as well as beach time.