HAYES TRAVEL GROUP

The Maldives has a year-round hot tropical climate. There are two monsoons, the southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Generally the southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July. The temperature rarely falls below 25°C (77°F).

 

The Maldives is a by-word for luxury, romance and tropical bliss; a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, and a paradise for diving enthusiasts and sun seekers alike.

 

The country's 26 natural atolls and over 1000 islands have uniformly perfect white sand beaches lapped by turquoise lagoons the temperature of bath water. Tourism only began in the 1970s, but it is now the Maldives’ most important industry. Tourism in the Maldives concentrates on the luxury market, meaning that the country is home to some of the world’s best hotels.

 

Yet even in paradise trouble can bubble beneath the surface. It is precisely because the Maldives is so low-lying (80% of the territory is less than 1m/3.3ft above sea level) that their very existence is threatened by global warming. As such, since the 2008 election of young reformer Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives have worked hard to become one of the most environmentally friendly countries on earth, and continue to do so under new president Mohammed Waheed Hassan.

 

Maldives has some incredibly unique accommodation as more and more resorts compete against each other in an increasingly busy luxury marketplace. Try Dhoni Island, a resort that boasts just eight rooms, each of which includes a fully kitted out traditional dhoni (boat) where guests can sleep, or the Conrad Maldives, which features its own underwater restaurant where you can eat a meal surrounded by fish.

 

Maldivian ecotourism is also thriving, and there are several top end resorts that have a very environmentally conscious set up. Be careful when choosing though – some resorts promote themselves as eco-friendly while only paying lip service to the idea. The very best resorts support projects in the local community, recycle obsessively, conserve water, don’t have swimming pools and limit the use of air conditioning.