Where are the Maldives? Maldives - where the amazing islands are located on the world map

Tourists who decide to enjoy exoticism, romance, serene happiness, bird trills, and the aroma of tropical flowers think about where they are. Best time for visiting the islands: the beginning of winter - the beginning of spring, which cannot be said about May-October, when the Maldives is “attacked” tropical rains. Despite them, the flow of tourists here is not decreasing, because the air here is always heated to at least +28-30˚C.

Maldives: where are these tropical islands?

Location Maldives(capital - Male) is South Asia. They are located in the Indian Ocean, on 20 atolls (Kaafu, Haa Alif, Raa, Meemu, Baa, Dhaalu, Vaavu, Thaa and others), consisting of more than 1000 islets of coral origin, which are not all inhabited (88 of them are resort places, and 200 are inhabited by the local population) and rose slightly above ocean level. The highest point of the Maldives archipelago is 2.4 m (Addu Atoll).

The area of ​​the Maldives is 90,000 sq. km (of which about 300 sq. km is occupied by land). Among the closest neighbors of the Maldives, the distance to which is 670 km and 600 km, respectively, stands out.

How to get to the Maldives?

Russians can take advantage of a direct flight: they will spend 9 hours on board an Airbus A330-200 owned by Aeroflot. Those who wish can make a transfer at the airport, or (the connection takes at least 3-5 hours) - you can view the options for connecting flights on the website of Srilankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways. For those who live in, it is advisable to fly to the Maldives, making a stop, for example, at (Malaysia Airlines + Air Astana).

It is worth considering that if the airport tax was not included in the price of the air ticket, those leaving the country will have to pay $10.

Holidays in the Maldives

On the South Male Atoll, the Kanduma resort stands out, delighting surfers with good waves in May-September. Diving on this atoll can be done at the sites of Guraidhoo corner (there are eagle rays, tuna, barracudas, gray and white-finned sharks), Kandooma Thila (famous for its grottoes, as well as a variety of underwater inhabitants that have chosen part of the reef in the west) and others.

Those who decide to go scuba diving in Ari Atoll will meet moray eels, parrot fish, reef sharks, and Napoleon fish.

North Male Atoll is interesting because of the capital located here, where you can admire the Muliage Palace, explore the Medhu Ziyarat Chapel, old mosque Fridays and Hukuru Mosque, and spend time at Sultans Park.

Baa Atoll attracts divers who are offered accommodation at Reethi Beach Resort (dolphins splash around the hotel).

Those who want to watch the exotic birds that fly to the local lake for the winter in October-March go to Addu Atoll. Another interesting place– Gan Island, where guests prefer to go on water safaris, engage in night and morning fishing, and windsurfing. As for divers, interesting things await them at Addu Atoll underwater inhabitants and the tanker British Loyalty, located at a depth of 30 meters.

Maldives beaches

• Artificial Beach: water activities are available here and conditions for swimming are created, and street dancers and musicians also give their “concerts”.
• Conrad Rangali Beach: those who come to this beach swim in clear water and bask on the snow-white sand surrounded by tropical greenery.
• Cocoa Island Beach: there you can stay in one of the villas located by the ocean and enjoy a carefree holiday, snorkeling and diving.

Souvenirs from the Maldives

In the Maldives, you should buy memorable souvenirs in the form of coconut sausage, national dresses with embroidery decorating the neck, wicker mats, shark jaws, coconut oil, black lacquered boxes, colorful shells, miniature fishing boats.

This small country located on 20 atolls in the equatorial part Indian Ocean. The Islamic Republic is separated from India by more than 2,000 km. The distance to Sri Lanka is significantly less: if you look at the Maldives on the world map, you can see that the states are approximately 700 km apart from each other.

Information about the islands

The state of the Maldives is formed by almost 2000 coral islets. About 400 thousand people live here, and the dominant religion is Islam. The total area of ​​the Republic of Maldives is 90 thousand km 2, but the land share of it accounts for no more than 300 km 2.

Interestingly, the only city and port of the country is its capital Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The remaining islands are almost uninhabited and only occasionally there are hotels on them.

The time in the Maldives is UTC +5, so when flying you should prepare in advance for a change in time zones.

Weather by month in the Maldives

The climate is determined by where exactly the Maldives is located. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather is radically different in the dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of your trip, you will have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month will definitely be successful thanks to the warm, sunny and windless weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although January is technically the rainy season, there is minimal precipitation, which guarantees a wonderful beach holiday and the opportunity to go diving. IN daytime The thermometer rises to at least +24 °C, and the water temperature averages +27 °C.

February. Crowds of vacationers usually flock here at this time. The ocean continues to delight comfortable temperature water - +25 °C, and daytime air temperature rarely drops below +28 °C. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can begin to learn the intricacies of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to have fun on a yacht or catamaran.

March. This month is also considered quite hot and dry, with average air and water temperatures differing little from February. The sand remains very warm, and there are practically no tropical showers. March sees plenty of native flora bloom, but be prepared for the occasional sandstorm.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon arrives in the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat is increasing, but rain is still an infrequent visitor here. If you cannot stand the stuffiness, you should postpone your trip: the air temperature is generally +30 °C, and the water temperature reaches +28 °C.

May. They start to blow very strong winds, sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is significantly more precipitation: approximately half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly brings surprises. The sun gives way to heavy rain and vice versa.

June. This month continues the May trend as the southwest monsoon takes over. There are very strong gusts of warm wind. In June, the Maldives receives the maximum precipitation typical for this region, but its amount rarely exceeds 200 mm. Ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic sizes. The thermometer stays at an average of +30 °C, and the water temperature in the ocean is +27 °C.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable due to frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky partially clears and the sun peeks through the clouds. In July, approximately 160 mm of precipitation falls, and the air temperature is +31 °C. In water, the thermometer usually shows +27 °C. Thunderstorms are possible, during which it feels cool.

August. This month is considered the most changeable on the islands. In early August, the sea is quite warm and calm, winds and hurricanes practically stop. It rains relatively rarely, and the atolls are still hot. But already at the end of the month the sky becomes increasingly cloudy, it rains often, and the wind gets stronger.

September. Mainly preserved both day and night warm weather, and the sweltering heat recedes. Sufficiently preserved high humidity, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied strong thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures of approximately +27 °C.

October. The air temperature drops slightly to +27-29 °C, and the water temperature drops to +26 °C, which does not interfere with swimming at all. It rains much less often: usually no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls.

November. This month the northeast monsoon arrives in the Maldives, bringing with it warm and dry weather. Winds and rains rarely disturb tourists, and the thermometer on average shows +28 °C. The water warms up to +25 °C.

December. At this time of year, everything is in bloom on the islands, so they turn into a real tropical paradise. Daytime temperatures rise to +30-32 °C, and the water temperature in the ocean rarely drops below +25 °C.

How to get to the Maldives

Any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, states that the connection between the island state and the mainland is carried out exclusively by air. The country's only airport is located in the capital Male. You can get to it in the following ways:

Direct flight from Aeroflot from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircraft fly from the Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long it takes to fly from Moscow on such a direct flight, you will have to be patient: the flight duration is approximately 9 hours.

Please note that when returning from the Maldives you will have to pay an airport tax of 10 USD - 15 USD, which is not always included in the air ticket price.

Connecting flight with Qatar Airways (connection point - Doha), Singapore Airlines (connection point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (connection point - Dubai). The cost of tickets for airliners of these air carriers already includes an airport tax.

Connecting flight with Srilankan Airlines. To do this, you will first have to fly to Dubai or Colombo and purchase a ticket to Male at the local airport for 180 USD - 250 USD. This is the most a budget option flight for those who want to save money.

The average cost of a flight between the capitals of Russia and the Maldives ranges from 570 USD to 720 USD one way.

Maldives visa and customs clearance

Residents of Russia and the CIS countries do not need to obtain a visa to travel to the Maldives, since there is a visa-free agreement between the countries. However, given sudden change climate and exoticism of the region, it will not hurt to purchase a health insurance policy. Weekly insurance will cost approximately 25 USD - 45 USD.

It is very important to comply with the rules of customs legislation of the Republic of Maldives. They talk about the following:

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• Without paying a duty, 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes are allowed to be imported, as well as no more than one item related to goods for personal use per passenger.
• It is strictly forbidden to transport pork and meat products made from it, salami sausages, pornographic goods, narcotic substances, and shell souvenirs. sea ​​turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found on the ocean floor.

Be sure to note that the import and export of any alcoholic beverages in the Maldives is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in arrest.

Cost of a holiday in the Maldives

Many people love to relax in the Maldives Russian celebrities like Volochkova. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are wondering how much a standard trip to the Maldives costs, please note that it depends on the following factors:

• duration of the trip;
• hotel category;
• the island on which the hotel is located;
• food and entertainment included in the price;
• season.

The more services a hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the vacation will cost. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days, booking a single or double room with half board and a minimum of entertainment, you will have to spend from 2600 USD to 5500 USD.

The wedding tour involves a romantic weekend for the newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes room decoration, services of photographers and musicians, fruits, wine or champagne and an informal wedding ceremony. The all-inclusive tour is suitable for those who want to completely relax during their trip. Its price - from 3,500 USD to 7,000 USD for a week's stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes three meals a day and free drinks throughout the entire stay.

Those looking to save money should pay attention to last-minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also at the most budget holiday in the Maldives for 8 days you will have to spend approximately 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without special amenities. The price includes airfare and medical insurance.

The Maldives is a real sunny paradise on earth, where you can easily recuperate after a long-awaited vacation.

“Maldives” - the very name of these islands sounds like some kind of wondrous music, and a picture of a serene paradise beach instantly appears in everyone’s mind. But it seems that many of us are not very clear about where exactly Maldives is located on the world map. Let me quickly fill this small gap :)

The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean very close to the equator. Almost at the equator. The easiest way to find them on the map is like this:

• India (Hindustan Peninsula) - slightly lower and to the right (i.e. closer to the equator and east) -
• the large island of Sri Lanka - and now to the left (west) -
• Maldives!

The Maldives are located 700 kilometers west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives is an archipelago that consists of more than twenty atolls. An atoll, in the case of the Maldives, is a group of small islands of coral origin that form a ring. The islands most likely have a volcanic “history”: it is believed that there were once ancient volcanoes here, overgrown with coral reefs, and then they were gradually flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coral islands that form the atolls are perfectly visible from the plane: intricate outlines, spots of turquoise lagoons on the blue surface of the ocean.

There are no large, large islands in the Maldives archipelago. Even the airport had to be built on a separate island: on the island of Male, where the capital of the republic is located, it did not fit;) Even the largest islands are no more than two kilometers long.

The position of the Maldives on the world map near the equator is, of course, determined by the climate. It is soft and warm here, truly tropical. Although the sun in the Maldives is very hot, there is no unbearable forty-degree heat. The usual temperature is +28. On clear days the sun may be a few degrees higher. But hardly more than +33. Add to this the fresh breath of the ocean. You may not even feel the heat - but sunburn on the skin - a must if you don’t use it protective equipment for Tan! The tropical sun is dangerous; you can easily get sunburned even in water. You will sunbathe even under the clouds cloudy weather and in the shade under the palm trees.

The air and water temperatures remain virtually unchanged throughout the year. The Maldives is divided into high (from about October to April) and low season s (from May to September), they differ in that during the low season it sometimes rains and the sea can be rough. Tour operator websites claim that severe storms and tsunamis are extremely rare in the Maldives. However, for example, the island of Villivaru is now closed to visitors because the hotel that was there was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. Of course, this is not a reason to refuse a trip, but if you are going fishing or diving in open ocean, check the weather forecast in advance.

The Maldives has no mountains, no hills, no boulders and large stones, there is essentially no soil here (that fertile layer dark color, to which we are accustomed), there is only sand. The highest point in the Maldives is 2.4 meters. If global warming is really coming, if the glaciers are really melting and the water level in the World Ocean is rising, then the Maldives will disappear from the world map. And perhaps this will happen in a few decades.

The Maldives is something truly extraordinary and unforgettable! It's worth visiting here at least once in your life! Of course, these are paradise islands, beautiful landscapes, water of absolutely delightful shades, palm trees gracefully bending towards the water, soft snow-white sand, but perhaps the most important wonders here are hidden under the water - this is the amazing underwater living world of the Indian Ocean! And now you can definitely find the Maldives on the map, right?)

You might also be interested in: How to have an inexpensive holiday in the Maldives | Dangers in the Maldives | Alcohol in the Maldives | Photos of the Maldives - islands and beaches

One cannot but agree that among all the variety of tourist routes, one of the most idyllic holiday destinations is geographically located where the Maldives are located.

About the Maldives

The Maldives combines everything that a holidaymaker wants to get to the fullest from their holiday - relaxation on sandy beach, an even tan in the rays of the gentle sun, emotions from the opportunity to feel like a surfer or diver, impressions from getting to know the local culture. The Maldives is a place where temperature maximums persist throughout the season, many coral islands unite in an ideal representation of heaven on Earth, and where the feeling of unity with surrounding nature. What is known about this unique country an ordinary tourist?

Maldives

Location of the Republic

The Republic of Maldives, being an island state, is recognized democratic republic with its own local flavor and traditions.

Everyone has heard about it best place beach holiday, but few people know where the Maldives are. But it is the location that allows Maldivian resorts to remain in the top tourist sales both in 2018 and earlier. The questions of where the Maldives are located, in which country, on which continent, are not so easy to find answers, since the islands are so small and so scattered that geographical map you won't find them right away. But if you look at the equator itself at South Asia, a whole range of islands will open to the tourist’s eye in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. They unite under common name The Maldives, where initially the foothills of volcanic island mountains formed the coral islands.

The volcanic past of the islands has given the whole world amazingly beautiful blue lagoons, endless beaches, unique vegetation and a rich underwater world. The opportunity to feel a sense of unity with nature, find out what the sea is like in the Maldives, and also look at the endless and majestic ocean - all this is given to every tourist by a trip to the Maldives.

National characteristics of the Maldives

The Maldives is a country of strict rules, even with all its relaxing tourist atmosphere. The local population is always ready to help, show attentiveness, provide the proper level of service, and express peacefulness in the best traditions of island hospitality. But the peculiarities of religious traditions require guests to follow certain rules.

The Muslim religion imposes a mandatory ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in in public places. In addition, before setting off, you should carefully consider the fact that it is prohibited to import alcohol to the Maldives.

Important! Very serious attention should be paid to issues of clothing - adhering to local rules, not to expose yourself too much, showing off your body.

Respect is also required for them national symbols. Maldivians are especially sensitive to the flag and coat of arms, as well as the national flower - the rose. They consider the coconut tree national tree, and the national animal, tuna, is under state protection.

Local residents keep unique national characteristics speaking to each other in a mixture various languages, including Arabic. Dhivehi, which is close to the Indo-Aryan group, is also considered the national language.

Note! Locals prefer to speak English with tourists.

Subtleties of tourism in the Maldives

A huge number of islands offer tourists the opportunity to have a quality holiday. Hotels, villas, and bungalows offer vacationers everything they need for comfort. Even such a frequently occurring problem when traveling as the issue with sockets will not disturb the tourist here, because everything is thought out in advance.

Each resort region of the Maldives can show tourists an ideal beach holiday, but you shouldn’t expect a variety of attractions. In the Maldives, beaches are considered national treasure, their purity and beauty are unrivaled. Among the Maldivian cities that can somehow diversify a lazy holiday on snow-white untouched beaches with walks along the embankment, excursion routes along iconic places, only the capital Male stands out. Often travel agencies initially include a visit to it in the itinerary.

Note! The island of Maafushi, which belongs to a budget destination, is very popular among Russian tourists.

It is also called the Russian Maldives. Here is the opportunity to get good vacation, learn local traditions and life in the Maldives from the inside, bring home memories of Maldivian tastes and preferences. You can experience the authenticity of the Maldivians with local cuisine. Both large hotels and ordinary catering places will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with local delicacies, and even to the sound of their music. A variety of fruits will help you feel all the sweetness of your holiday: from the well-known coconuts and bananas to exotic papaya, mango and guava.

It is also important for every tourist to be able to bring something memorable from their vacation. The Maldives, what a country it is - sunny, open and hospitable, so are the souvenirs, filled with light and island flavor. Usually they bring for themselves or as a gift brightly painted clothes, water equipment, Jewelry, teas and delicacies. The export of corals and any items made from them, as well as turtle shells, is strictly prohibited.

Important! Since danger in the Maldives can only come from sea ​​depth, tourists do not have to worry about their safety.

Undersea world

The main rule here is compliance with basic rules. When diving, it is important to remember that you should not touch anything. This will help avoid many problems. Common in coastal waters of the Maldives whale sharks completely safe for vacationers. Being the largest fish on the planet, they do not pose a danger to people, because they feed only on plankton. You should be extremely careful when swimming on wild beaches. This is especially true when swimming among dangerous sea ​​creatures. These include stone fish, whose poison poses a serious threat to human life, sea ​​urchins and stingrays. Swimming on coral beaches should be done in special shoes that can protect your feet from injuries that can easily be caused by coral debris.

Note! Being an island nation, the Maldives is prone to tsunamis.

The worst tsunami occurred in 2004. But on this moment, this natural disaster does not affect the Maldives. The state is fully concerned about the protection of its vacationers and local residents, and creates programs to protect coral reefs that save from sea ​​currents territory of the islands.

Additional Information! When going on a trip to the Maldives, especially on your own, it is important to know the time zone in which they are located and how much time it will be in the Maldives upon arrival at the country’s airport. Time in the Maldives is measured according to a single time zone, which refers to GMT +05:00. In the Maldives, time is not converted to summer and winter. The difference with Moscow is +2 hours.

Another important issue for tourists is currency. The national currency in the Maldives is the rufiyaa. The current exchange rate of rufiyaa to the ruble is 4.35, and to the dollar 0.065*.

This is interesting:

• It is important to remember that the Maldives is Muslim country with a special attitude towards wealth. Showing it off is considered bad form, so there is an opinion that what simpler man dressed, the richer he is.
• In the Maldives, there is something like a morality police that protects religious preferences, namely Sunni Islam. Other religious propaganda carries penalties up to and including actual prison time.
• Pigs are not bred in the country; moreover, dogs are also considered “unclean animals”. The exception is shepherd dogs that serve in the police. Bring pet in the Maldives is strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule may face not only a serious fine, but also placement in a sanitary zone at the airport.
• Unlike our generally accepted working week, Maldivian differs in that weekdays are from Sunday to Thursday. Maldivians rest on Friday and Saturday; these days are considered official days off.
• Since stocks fresh water in the Maldives are insignificant; even rich residents collect it in any available container during rain.
• It is interesting that the Maldivian airport is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean on an artificially created island.
• Not only local residents, but also guests are prohibited from swimming naked on the islands. The only exception where this can be done is the island of Kuramati.

Kuramati Island

Organizing independent travel In the Maldives, it is important to remember that it is not possible to rent a car here; even using a bicycle is problematic. Local transport will also not help you get to your destination, as it is not particularly developed. Some islands are so small that you can walk around them. To help tourists, there are only speed boats and boats that organize communication between the islands.

The most important issue when organizing a tour to the Maldives is, of course, air travel. If the trip is not organized through an agency, then purchasing tickets should not be delayed for months. It is very rare on flight organizing services, but there are still sales on popular destinations. The number of tickets is strictly limited, so don't rely on luck. You can save money by subscribing to mailing lists of services that offer discounts and early flight bookings. The most expensive flight to the Maldives for two will be from December to April - this is the most popular time, when everyone goes on vacation to the islands en masse. To reduce the price for this period, you can find a suitable ticket six months before departure. There are no direct flights; transfers are often made through the Turkish direction, but there are many other options. You can fly not only from Moscow; the flight takes on average 11 hours.

Despite the long flight, the Maldives is a fairy tale that is worth plunging into from our reality, at least for a while.

*The prices indicated in the article are current as of January 2018.

Detailed map of the Maldives in Russian. Map of roads, cities and regions on the map of the Maldives. Show Maldives on map.

Where are the Maldives on the world map?

The Maldives, or the Republic of Maldives, is located in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean between the continents of Asia and Africa, approximately 700 kilometers southwest of the island of Sri Lanka and the Hindustan Peninsula, on which India is located. The archipelago consists of about a thousand islands stretching for almost 1000 kilometers. Holidays here are famous for privacy, tranquility and first-class service. The country is famous for its snow-white beaches, picturesque nature, wealth underwater world Indian Ocean.

Interactive map of the Maldives with islands

The islands that make up the republic are a group of atolls that consist of numerous islets. Almost every island in the Maldives belongs to some kind of hotel, so holidays here take place in an atmosphere of a unique sense of privacy and tranquility. The most famous atolls: Kaafu Atoll, or North Male (27 resort and 8 fishing islands), Kaafu Atoll, or South Male (19 resort islands and 3 inhabited local residents), as well as the Atolls of Vaavu, Meemu, Seenu, Faavu.

Geographical location of the Maldives

The islands are located in the vastness of the Indian Ocean and stretch for a thousand kilometers north of the equator. The Maldives is the lowest located state in the world. The islands rise only slightly above sea level: they are highest point on the southern Addu Atoll it is only 2.4 meters. Geographic coordinates of the Maldives: 3°28′36″ N. w. and 72°50′12″ E. d.

Territory of the Maldives

The republic's land area occupies 298 square kilometers - 210th in the world. However, if we take into account maritime spaces, the total territory of the state will be about 90,000 square kilometers, of which 97% is water surface.

Regions and Atolls of the Maldives

Administratively, the Maldives is divided into twenty island groups (atolls) and the capital atoll city of Male. These atolls are included in eight regions formed according to geographical location. So, among them there are the Far Northern, Northern, Central and some other regions.