Maldives

The Maldives is a chain of more than a thousand coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean to the south-west of Sri Lanka. The archipelago stretches 820 km from north to south, yet almost all of it is water: the islands are low and flat, with no hills or rivers, and none rises more than a few metres above the sea. The capital is Malé, with the international airport on neighbouring Hulhulé island.

The Maldives works on a “one island, one resort” principle. Remote atolls are reached by seaplane, domestic flight or speedboat, so the journey becomes part of the experience. The coral reefs that ring the islands make this one of the world’s great destinations for diving and snorkelling, while the calm lagoons suit windsurfing, canoeing and sailing.

The climate is tropical, with temperatures of 26–30 °C all year. The driest and sunniest season runs from December to April; from May to October, heavy showers and occasional storms are more common. The islands draw honeymooners and couples seeking seclusion, divers, and families, for whom many resorts offer kids’ clubs and multi-bedroom villas.