- one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world. It has stood in the heart of the Sinai desert for 1400 years, retaining its special character since it was built during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (527-565). The founder of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, Arab caliphs, Turkish sultans and even Napoleon himself patronized the monastery, and this prevented its plunder. Throughout its long history, the monastery has never been captured, destroyed or simply damaged. Through the centuries, he carried his image of a sacred biblical place, where the symbolic meaning of the events described in the Old Testament is interpreted through the prayers of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.

The monastery was founded in the IV century in the center Sinai Peninsula at the foot of Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Moses and the biblical Horeb). Located at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level.

Mount Moses

According to the Old Testament, this is the same Mount Horeb, on the top of which the Lord revealed to the prophet Moses his revelation in the form of the Ten Commandments. In the chapel of St. The Trinity, located at the top of the mountain, keeps the stone from which the Lord made the Tablets. There are many other shrines and revered sites that attract numerous pilgrims to Mount Moses.

The height of Mount Moses is 2285 m above sea level, climbing it from the monastery of St. Catherine takes about 2-3 hours. There are two roads leading to the top: steps carved into the rock (3,750 steps) Ladders of Repentance - a shorter but also more difficult path, and Camel Trail , paved in the 19th century for those who could not afford the ancient path - here part of the ascent can be overcome on horseback on camels.

The fortified building of the monastery was built by order of the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. The servants of the monastery are mainly Orthodox Greeks.

Originally it was called the Monastery of the Transfiguration or the Monastery of the Burning Bush. Since the 11th century, in connection with the spread of the veneration of Saint Catherine, whose relics were acquired by the Sinai monks in the middle of the 6th century, the monastery received a new name - the monastery of Saint Catherine.

In 2002, the monastery complex was included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Sinai

Various gods were worshiped in Sinai. One of them was Al-Elyon (the highest god), and Jethro was his priest (Exodus 1:16).

At the age of forty, Moses left Egypt and came to Mount Horeb at Mount Sinai. There he met the seven daughters of Jethro, who were watering their flock from a fountain. This source still exists today, it is located on the north side of the monastery church.

Moses married one of Jethro's daughters and lived with his father-in-law for forty years. He grazed his father-in-law's flocks and purified his soul with the silence and solitude of the Sinai desert. Then God appeared to Moses in the flame of the Burning Bush and ordered him to return to Egypt and bring the children of Israel to Mount Horeb so that they would believe in Him.

The Children of Israel crossed the Sinai in the 13th century BC. on the way from Egyptian captivity to Canaan, the promised land. Although scientists still have not come to a consensus regarding their route, it is traditionally believed that after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus, 14: 21-22), they came to Elim (it is believed that this is the current city of Tours with 12 springs and 70 dates palm trees - Exodus 15:27). Then the children of Israel came to the Hebran valley, which got its name from the passage of the Jews through the Sinai desert, then to Rephidim (Exodus 17: 1).

Finally, 50 days after the exodus from Egypt, they came to sacred grief Horeb, where they received the commandments of God - the basis of their religion and social organization.

Six hundred years later, another great prophet of Israel, Elijah the prophet, came to these lands in search of refuge from the wrath of Queen Jezebel. The cave in the chapel on Mount Moses, dedicated to this prophet, is traditionally considered the place where he hid and communicated with God (Third Book of Kingdoms, 19: 9-15).

Foundation of the monastery

From the 3rd century, monks began to settle in small groups around Mount Horeb - near the Burning Bush, in the Faran oasis (Wadi Firan) and other places in southern Sinai. The first monks in the area were mostly hermits, living alone in caves. Only in holidays the hermits gathered near the Burning Bush to celebrate joint divine services.

- in the Old Testament: a burning, but not burning bush of thorns, in which God appeared to Moses, who grazed sheep in the desert near Mount Sinai. When Moses approached the bush to see "why the bush burns with fire, but does not burn" (Exodus 3: 2), God called to him from the burning bush, calling to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land.The Burning Bush is one of the Old Testament prototypes that pointed to the Mother of God. This bush marked itself immaculate conception Our Lady of Christ from the Holy Spirit.

During the reign of Emperor Constantine, in 330, by order of Helen, a small church dedicated to Our Lady was built near the Burning Bush, and a tower was a refuge for monks in case of raids by nomads.

A further impetus to the development of the monastery received in the 6th century, when Emperor Justinian I (527-565) ordered the construction of powerful fortress walls. These walls, two to three meters thick, are built from local granite. Their height is different depending on the configuration of the terrain - from 10 and in some places up to 20 meters.To protect and maintain the monastery, the emperor resettled 200 families from Pontus Anatolian and Alexandria to Sinai. The descendants of these settlers formed the Sinai Bedouin tribe jabalia... Despite the conversion to Islam in the 7th century, they continue to live in the vicinity of the monastery and are engaged in its maintenance.

Arab conquest

Monastery of St. Catherine
(lithograph of a drawing by Archimandrite Porfiry (Uspensky)

In 625, during the Arab conquest of Sinai, the monks of St. Catherine's Monastery sent a delegation to Medina to secure the patronage of the Prophet Muhammad. And it was granted.

A copy of the security charter displayed in the icon gallery proclaims that Muslims will protect the monks.

The monastery was also exempt from taxes.

Legend has it that on one of his trips as a merchant, Muhammad visited the monastery. This is quite likely, especially since the Qur'an mentions the holy places of Sinai. So when the peninsula was conquered by the Arabs in 641, the monastery and its inhabitants continued to lead their usual life.

With the spread of Islam in Egypt in the 11th century, a mosque appeared in the monastery, which has survived to the present day.

During crusades From 1099 to 1270 there was a period of revival in the monastic life of the monastery. The Sinai Order of the Crusaders took it upon themselves to guard the increasing numbers of pilgrims from Europe heading to the monastery. During this period, a Catholic chapel appeared in the monastery.

After the conquest of Egypt Ottoman Empire in 1517, led by Sultan Selim I, the monastery was not touched either. The Turkish authorities respected the rights of monks and even granted a special status to the archbishop.

Monastery life

The abbot of the monastery is the Archbishop of Sinai. His ordination from the 7th century has been performed by the Jerusalem Patriarch, under whose jurisdiction the monastery passed in 640 due to the difficulties that arose after the conquest of Egypt by the Muslims in communicating with the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Most of the time monks spend in prayer and labor. Prayers are performed jointly, and religious services are lengthy.

The monk's day begins at 4 a.m. with prayer and divine liturgy, which continues until 7.30 a.m. From 3 to 5 pm - evening prayer. Every day after the Hours, believers are given access to the relics of St. Catherine. In memory of the veneration of the relics, the monks give a silver ring with the image of a heart and the words ΑΓΙΑ ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΑ (Saint Catherine).

The monastery has its own labor division, and even leading clergymen work together with other monks. Among the inhabitants of the monastery there are people with higher education who are fluent in foreign languages.

The monks' food is simple, mostly vegetarian. Once a day, after evening prayer, they eat together. While eating, one of the monks usually reads aloud a book useful for monastic life.

In general, the monastery lives according to the classical laws of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Buildings

The main temple of the monastery (Catholicon), Basilica of the Transfiguration Jesus Christ, refers to the period of the reign of Emperor Justinian.

In the altar of the basilica, in a marble reliquary, there are two silver reliquaries with the relics of St. Catherine (head and right hand). Another part of the relics (finger) is in the reliquary of the icon of the Great Martyr Catherine in the left nave of the basilica and is always open to believers for worship.

Behind the altar of the Basilica of the Transfiguration is Chapel of the Burning Bush , built on the place where, according to the biblical story, God spoke to Moses (Ex. 2: 2-5). Fulfilling the biblical instruction, all who enter should take off their shoes here, remembering the commandment of God given to them by Moses: "Take off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy ground"(Exodus 3: 5). The chapel is one of the oldest monastery buildings.

The chapel has a throne located not, as usual, over the relics of the saints, but over the roots of the Bush. For this purpose, the bush was replanted a few meters from the chapel, where it continues to grow further. The chapel does not have an iconostasis that hides the altar from believers, and pilgrims can see under the altar the place where the Kupina grew. It is indicated by a hole in a marble slab, covered with a silver shield with chased images of a burning bush, the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, the Evangelists, St. Catherine and the Sinai Monastery itself. Liturgy in the chapel is celebrated every Saturday.

In general, the monastery has many chapels: the Holy Spirit, the Assumption Holy Mother of God, John the Theologian, George the Victorious, Saint Anthony, Saint Stephen, John the Baptist, five martyrs of Sebastia, ten martyrs of Crete, saints Sergius and Bacchus, holy apostles and the prophet Moses. These chapels are located inside the monastery walls, and nine of them connect to architectural complex Basilicas of the Transfiguration.

To the north of the Basilica of the Transfiguration is located well of moses - the well at which, according to the Bible, Moses met the seven daughters of the Midian priest Raguel (Ex. 2: 15-17). The well currently continues to supply the monastery with water.

To the northwest of the monastery walls is the Garden, which is connected to the monastery by an ancient underground passage. In the garden there are apple trees, pears, pomegranates, apricots, plums, quince, mulberries, almonds, cherries, and grapes. Another terrace is set aside for an olive garden, which supplies the monastery with olive oil. Vegetables for the monastery table are also grown in the garden. At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery garden was considered one of the best in Egypt.

Next to the garden, outside the monastery walls,An ossuary and a cemetery are laid out. The cemetery has a chapel of St. Tryphon and seven graves, which are used many times. After a certain time, the bones are removed from the grave and placed in an ossuary located on the lower tier of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The only complete skeleton in the ossuary is the relics of the hermit Stephen, who lived in the 6th century and is mentioned in the "Ladder" of St. John of the Ladder. The relics of Stephen, dressed in monastic robes, rest in a glass case. The remains of other monks are divided into two parts: their skulls are folded at the northern wall, and their bones are collected in the central part of the ossuary. The bones of the Sinai archbishops are kept in separate niches.

Monastery library

Since since its foundation the monastery has never been conquered and ruined, at present it possesses a huge collection of icons and a library of manuscripts that is inferior in terms of historical significance only the Vatican Apostolic Library. The monastery contains 3304 manuscripts and about 1700 scrolls. Two-thirds are written in Greek, the rest in Arabic, Syriac, Georgian, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian and Slavic languages. In addition to valuable manuscripts, the library also contains 5,000 books, some of which date back to the first decades of typography. In addition to books of religious content, the library of the monastery contains historical documents, letters with gold and lead seals of the Byzantine emperors, patriarchs and Turkish sultans.

Prepared by Sergey Shulyak

This question is asked by those who have already bought the long-awaited or are just going to look for tickets and prepare for the trip. Everyone has heard of this stunning resort, the leader among the giants of beach vacations, and has probably seen more than once photos from best beaches and hotels. The Maldives are 8.5 hours away by direct flight Moscow - Male. This Island state located in South Asia in the middle of the Indian Ocean at the very equator. It is this geographical position of the Maldives and the equatorial climate that provide excellent weather for a beach holiday all year round in any season.

For selection the best hotel, it is worth understanding where the Maldives is, where the capital Male is located and international Airport and where you have to go to rest. I hope I have already convinced you of the importance of understanding geographic location Maldives? Then let's go!

The geography of the Maldives is so interesting that when you start exploring it, you immediately understand why the widespread “lostness” of the Maldives is not accidental. They are so small that they are really practically invisible on geographic map... And many people often don't know what the Maldives is. Some of them seriously think that this is not a whole country, but one small island (for example, as part of Chile) with magnificent beaches and hotels.

Where is Male

Male(Male) is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. Male is located in the very center of the country on a fairly large and densely populated island. It is part of the North Male Atoll (Kaafu). Thousands of tourists every day arrive in the Maldives at Male International Airport (its code is MLE), located on the island of Hulule, adjacent to the capital.

Good to know:

• For cheap flights to Male, see by link →
• A ready-made tour to the Maldives can be found on the website

Male city Is the financial, administrative and transportation center of the Maldives. It is home to many significant cultural attractions, modern hospitals, shops, restaurants, banks and a post office.

Male island associated with many inhabited islands in the Maldives different kinds transport - ferry crossings, speedboats and local air travel on conventional aircraft and seaplanes.

Male on the world map

Where are the Maldives resorts

Not all islands in the Maldives are inhabited. Of the nearly 1200 individual islands, only about 200 are inhabited or given over to resorts. The Maldives are located both south and north of the capital, Male. Some of them can be reached by speedboat or ferry, while others are located so far away that tourists fly to them either by seaplane (air taxi), or regular flights domestic airlines.

If you have already chosen your hotel, then on the map of the atolls you can understand where it is located approximately (see the map). And for those who still choose, it will be interesting to keep in mind:

• Closest resort island in Maldives to airport is famous hotel Kurumba... It is very popular among Russian tourists, and for good reason, because the rest there, judging by the reviews, is simply magnificent!
• The farthest island in the south, where the local population lives, is Gan(Addu atoll). Maldivian airlines fly there from Male. Near the island of Gan there is a magnificent resort on the equator. Who hasn't dreamed of relaxing right under the sun? In the Maldives, there is such an opportunity. See Villingili Island Shangri-La.
• The most distant resort from the capital in the Maldives is located in the north of the Maldives archipelago on the island of Manafaru: JA Manafaru

The farthest island in the Maldives - Manafaru

Summing up my article, I hope that now you know exactly where exactly the Maldives are and what special geographic features characteristic of this country. So when you are about to rest on Maldives, you will know exactly where you are flying, and you will never get lost!

This small country is located on 20 atolls in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The Islamic Republic is separated from India by more than 2000 km. The distance to Sri Lanka is much shorter: if you look at the Maldives on a world map, you can see that the states are about 700 km apart from each other.

Information about the islands

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

Interesting that the only city and the port of the country is its capital, Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The rest of the islets are almost uninhabited and only rarely are there hotels.

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

Maldives Monthly Weather

Climate features are determined by where exactly the Maldives are located. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather differs dramatically during dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of travel, you will have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month is sure to be a success thanks to the warm, sunny and calm weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although formally January refers to rainy season, there is a minimum of precipitation, which guarantees a wonderful beach vacation and the opportunity to go diving. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to at least +24 ° С, and the water temperature averages +27 ° С.

February. At this time, crowds of tourists usually flock here. The ocean continues to delight with a comfortable water temperature - + 25 ° С, and the daytime air temperature rarely drops below + 28 ° С. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can start learning the intricacies of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to ride a yacht or catamaran to your heart's content.

March. This month is also considered to be quite hot and dry, and the average air and water temperatures differ little from February. The sand remains very warm and tropical showers are virtually non-existent. Many native flora blooms in March, but be prepared for rare sandstorms.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon comes to the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat is intensifying, but the rains here are still infrequent guests. If you can't stand the stuffiness, you should postpone the trip: the air temperature is mostly + 30 ° С, and the water temperature reaches + 28 ° С.

May. Start to blow very strong winds, sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is much more precipitation: about half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly brings surprises. The sun is replaced by heavy downpours 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 the region, however, their number rarely exceeds 200 mm. Ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic proportions. The thermometer is kept at an average of + 30 ° С, and the temperature of the water in the ocean is + 27 ° С.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable because of the frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky is partially cleared and the sun peeps through the clouds. In July, about 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 coolness is felt.

August. This month is considered the most volatile 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 is more and more covered with clouds, it often rains, and the wind intensifies.

September. Both day and night, the weather predominantly remains warm, and the exhausting heat recedes. Rather high humidity remains, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures of around + 27 ° C.

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

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

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

How to get to the Maldives

In any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, it is indicated that the connection of the island state with 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 of the Aeroflot company from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircrafts take off from the Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long to fly from Moscow with 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 USD 10 - USD 15, which is not always included in the ticket price.

Flight with connecting companies Qatar Airways(transfer point - Doha), " Singapore Airlines»(Connecting point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (connecting point - Dubai). Airport tax is already included in the cost of tickets for air liners of these air carriers.

Srilankan Airlines connecting flight. 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 the sharp climate change and the exotic nature of the region, it would not hurt to purchase a medical insurance policy. One week insurance will cost about USD 25 - USD 45.

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

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• Without paying the duty, 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes, as well as no more than one item related to goods, are allowed individual use, for each passenger.
• It is strictly forbidden to carry pork and meat products from it, salami sausages, pornographic products, drugs, souvenirs from the shell of sea turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found at the bottom of the ocean.

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

The cost of a vacation in the Maldives

Many Russian celebrities like Volochkova are very fond of vacationing in the Maldives. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are interested in how much a standard trip to the Maldives costs, you should take into account that it depends on the following factors:

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

The more services the hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the rest will be. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days with the reservation of 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 assumes a romantic weekend for the newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes room decoration, photographers and musicians, fruit, 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 3500 USD to 7000 USD for a week's stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes three meals a day and free drinks throughout the stay.

Those who want to save money should pay attention to last-minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also on the most budget vacation in the Maldives within 8 days you will have to spend about 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without any special amenities. The price includes the cost of air travel and medical insurance.

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

Basic moments

The Maldives offers generous sunshine, glamorous sifted sand beaches, turquoise bounty lagoons and fantastic diving 365 days a year. And it is also a delightful atmosphere of complete relaxation, respectable laziness and detachment from everyday problems. Whatever economic cataclysms shake the planet, this asian resort continues to live in its own relaxed rhythm, independent of the big land. The classical Islamic state with its traditional taboo on everything that contradicts religious canons has managed to adapt to the free customs of the tourist elite, while absolutely not compromising its own traditions. The Maldives is the very place where the roads of visitors and indigenous people (unless they are hotel employees) hardly intersect, and the bank account, no matter how solid they are, can be reset in a matter of days. It is in the Maldives that you can arrange the most romantic wedding, improve your diving qualifications, and, finally, just feel like the last person on the planet by renting a secluded bungalow with private beach and stunning ocean views.

History of the Maldives

According to rough estimates, the history of the Maldives began more than 2000 years ago, when lost in Indian Ocean the atolls were inhabited by immigrants from neighboring India and Sri Lanka. It was the first settlers who brought Buddhism to the islands, which in the XII century supplanted Islam, actively propagated by the Arabs who arrived here.

Starting in the middle of the 16th century, the Portuguese and Dutch began to claim the territory of the Maldives. But the local inhabitants were in no hurry to turn their country into a raw material appendage of an insatiable Europe, actively resisting the attacks of foreigners.

In 1887, England still managed to establish a protectorate over the Maldives. But in 1967, the islanders rebelled, demanding complete independence from Britain, which was granted them a year later. The country was immediately declared a republic and a new president was elected.

Weather and climate

You can go to the Maldives at any time of the year: thanks to the subequatorial monsoon climate, it is always warm here. Even in the coldest months (January - February), the thermometer never drops below + 17 ° C, but average temperature air often fluctuates between +24 ... + 33 ° C. The main climatic differences depend on the two monsoon seasons. The winter northeast monsoon, which blows from January to March, occurs during the peak season, brings dry weather and coincides with European winter. The southwest monsoon from May to December causes wet weather, but rain rarely lasts very long. The rainiest months in the Maldives are May and November, while the sunniest months are March, as well as before and after.

Geography

The Republic of Maldives is an Asian state in the equatorial Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is 700 km from here, and only 430 km to India. By the way, the Maldives are considered the lowest state on the planet: almost all local land areas are only a meter or two above sea level, so in the distant future the fashionable resort risks repeating the fate of Atlantis.

For the most part, the Maldives are small, and the area of ​​the individual islands is even tiny. Almost each of these pieces of land has its own coral "shield", so the main feature of local beaches is that they almost never storm, and the water near the coast retains amazing transparency.

The main resort area the countries form the northern atolls, which guarantee their guests the highest level of service and complete privacy. The South Atolls are lagging a bit behind in terms of tourism development, but it is easy to predict that they will also "catch up" in the foreseeable future, given that their lagoons are full of suitable diving spots.

But tour operators reached the far southern atolls relatively recently, so while these islands continue to be inhabited by the Maldivians themselves. This, of course, does not mean that the ubiquitous backpacker did not step here - quite the opposite, given the fact that the distant atolls are perhaps the only place in the country where a tourist thirsty for national flavor can freely contact the local inhabitants. In other parts of the resort, you will not be able to walk so freely through the village streets.

Flora and fauna

The natural world of the equatorial paradise is surprisingly poor. The main inhabitants of the land are hermit crabs, giant Achatina (snails), flying foxes (relatives of our bats) and gray herons. The vegetation in the Maldives is even worse. Basically, the tourist will have to admire the coconut palms and bananas, which are cultivated in huge quantities on the islands. True, one has only to leave the coast and plunge into the azure ocean waves, and completely different Maldives will appear before you - bizarre, full of life and the most incredible colors. The reefs surrounding the resort are home to over 1,100 species of fish, 400 species of shellfish, 187 species of coral, 21 species of mammals (whales, dolphins) and 145 species of crabs.

Capital

The classic rule: "The capital is the face of the state" does not work in the Maldives. Male - small but incredibly tight populated city on the south coast eponymous atoll. Its area is 5.8 km². It is in Male that ¼ of the total population of the republic lives.

It is a paradox, but the capital of an elite world resort is not much different from the provincial cities of the same India. Close streets, high-rise buildings close to each other, a littered port and a permanent symbol of any Islamic country - a mosque. There are almost no significant attractions in the city, so tourists arriving in the Maldives do not stay in Male. Unless they go to the local market to gaze at the abundance of fish rows, or, if urgently needed, walk to the hospital.

Locals and national traditions

As in any Islamic state, the Maldives has a strong religious tradition. The indigenous people do not drink alcohol and never sell it, or rather, they try to pretend that they are sick of it, and they also hide their women under shapeless robes. Such a way of life, of course, is not imposed on visitors. Moreover, many Maldivians work as bartenders in hotels, masterfully mixing cocktails and filling guests' glasses with drinks that they will never taste for themselves.

The bulk of the country's population is engaged in the tourism business, but those who have the stars shine a little less brightly have to earn their living by fishing, repairing boats and other not the most highly paid occupations.

Since not all islands have a regular transport connection with other parts of the land, the bulk of the Maldivians live in extremely isolated. Ordinary islanders have a monotonous and measured life: in the morning going out to sea, in the afternoon lazy swaying in a hammock chair and idle contemplation of the surrounding reality, and with sunset fishing again.

Code of etiquette and rules of conduct at the resort

In the Maldives, there are a lot of restrictions, failure to comply with which entails serious problems. For example, on the most beautiful beaches on the planet, it is forbidden to sunbathe topless, let alone completely naked. Walking around the cities and towns in ultra-short tops and shorts is also not recommended, as well as chipping off branches of local coral in memory of the trip. Fans of fishing near the coast and spearfishing are better off not spreading about their predilections at all: such types of fishing in the Maldives are equated with poaching. And for throwing garbage and drinking alcohol outside the hotel, hefty fines are imposed.

Video: Maldives from above

Maldives beaches

It is a thankless task to list the beaches of the resort, which consists of almost 2,000 islands, so it is easier to name the most popular and well-groomed ones. In North Male Atoll, these are Banyan Tree and Naladu. Do not suffer from a shortage of swimmers, Nothing and San, belonging to the Ari Atoll. You can swim in the company of Maldivian turtles on the beaches of Lhaviani Atoll, and the shores of Maafushi are better suited for observing dolphin behavior. The islands of Kunfadu and Hadahaa were occupied by the owners of fat wallets, while incorrigible romantics flock to the Vaadu coast, dreaming of meeting the dawn on a luminescent beach. Surfers and other wave catchers hang out at Kunuhura Island, where their unofficial headquarters - Pasta Point Resort - is located.

Attractions and entertainment in the Maldives

Once you get to know the amazing beaches of the Maldives and discover all the delights of the all inclusive system, you will hardly want to go anywhere else. Well, if such a desire still appears, then take a ride to Sultan Park on the island of Male, where it is also located National Museum... In the capital, you can also stare at Presidential palace- a rather modest building by modern standards, where all official receptions are held, and on the Great Friday Mosque, erected from coral blocks. If possible, book a table at the underwater restaurant Ithaa, one of the ten most unusual restaurants on the planet. The queue to this pretentious establishment is endless, and for an exclusive entourage visitors are asked for an inadequate amount, but if you believe the lucky ones who managed to appreciate the local service, it's worth it.

It is certainly hard to find a more comfortable place than a tropical island with upscale hotels, great food and impeccable, friendly staff. But if you have come to the Maldives for at least a couple of weeks, then most likely you will want to see what is hidden outside the border of a cozy hotel. Traveling around the Maldives is not easy, especially if you try to do it yourself, but there is the opportunity to join an organized excursion. It can be as aimless boating in search of a suitable angle for a selfie against the backdrop of sunset, or visiting a Maldivian village and getting to know the life of the islanders. You can relieve the burden of worries (and extra money) by ordering an air ride on a seaplane, or by renting a real submarine with a crew to explore the ocean floor. Well, lovers of picturesque ruins should go to Ari Atoll, where the ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple are still preserved.

Traveling around the area

Of course, which places you can visit and which trips to take is entirely determined by the location of the resort you are visiting. True, here you will find little variety, because one island is not much different from another. Perhaps only a trip to Male will give new impressions. Most of the resorts located near the capital can organize a one-day excursion for their guests. And although all the sights of Male are collected in one place and can be viewed in just a couple of hours, it is worth staying here for the night to get a taste of the capital and find out how its inhabitants have fun after the sun goes down below the horizon and the heat subsides. This can be done by going on a day boat trip to the capital, having previously booked a hotel room, and returning the next day with a day trip. You can also take a boat or seaplane that hotels send to pick up tourists from the airport.

Boat trips

Another popular form of exploring the Maldives is boat excursions. It can be short trips at sunset around the island where your hotel is located, or long journeys when you charter a boat or go on a safari (passengers live on their boat in the open ocean). The travel conditions depend entirely on the size of your wallet. On most boats, passengers are not provided with private cabins, but with berths separated by curtains, and it is assumed that the routine daily work will also be carried out by the tourists themselves.

More comfort is offered by boats such as the Atoll Explorer, which have air-conditioned cabins and a swimming pool on upper deck... Private yachts are intended for the very wealthy, famous and influential people, as well as for oligarchs who avoid resorting to resort rooms.

If these prices are a bit out of your budget, you can charter a speedboat with the team for the day at the resort. It will cost no more than $ 200. Ordering from the pier in Male will be cheaper due to the competition. To further reduce the price, it is possible to charter a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, but then you will not be able to travel long distances.

If you want to taste sweet life and sailing on a luxury yacht, day cruises on yachts are offered in Kuredu on Lhaviani Atoll, and night trips can be booked privately. The yacht is also available at W Retreat & Spa in Ari Atoll.

Uninhabited islands

Paradoxically uninhabited islands may be the busiest after Male. Often they are "adopted" by certain resorts, which build various utilities, cafes there and send their guests there on a day trip to have a picnic, snorkelling or just swimming. And since several groups of tourists come ashore at once, it would be somewhat incorrect to call these islands “uninhabited”.

There are tourists who want to visit the uninhabited islands of the Maldives on a smaller scale. Some resorts organize private dining on the sand for two or more guests and even provide overnight stays. Visitors are issued a flag that should be raised in case of danger.

If money is not an issue for you, you can rent an entire resort: many small islands can be a safe haven for wealthy people. For example, the boat-only part of Soneva Gili can be rented in its entirety.

Village islands

In the Maldives, excursions to nearby villages are very popular among tourists. Some resorts have a close relationship with the islands where the villages are located and regularly bring guests back and forth. If there is no such island near the resort, then, as a rule, a visit to the village is included in the program of a one-day excursion, which involves a visit to a desert island.

The Maldivian villages that you will visit on this guided tour will not provide a complete picture of the local community. There you will see crowds of tourists milling about and a market created with the special purpose of meeting their needs, not the needs of local residents. But schools, mosques and houses will be real, and the natural spontaneous development of these villages will allow your eye to rest from the strict correctness of resorts.

It takes a lot of effort to visit a "real village" in the Maldives somewhere far from the beaten track. Firstly, it is expensive (you have to rent a separate boat because transport going to the inland atolls does not take foreigners on board). Second, there are many bureaucratic hurdles to overcome, such as obtaining permission to visit the inner atolls from the administration of the ministry located in Male. And in order to get it, you need confirmation from the person living on the island you are going to visit. All this, of course, deprives acquaintance with the real life of the archipelago of spontaneity. If your determination is unshakable, a travel agent in Male will help you overcome bureaucratic hurdles.

Diving

The masters of scuba gear and action cameras in the Maldives will find perfectly heated water (on average + 27 ° C), excellent visibility even at a depth of 40 m and an incredibly rich underwater world. The only danger is the currents that are gaining strength outside the reefs, so beginners are better off dabbling inside the atolls.

It is better to go in search of bottom riches from September to May: the sea during this period is calm, it does not have that abundance of plankton, which happens with the arrival of monsoons. Coral slides, sunken ships (wrecks), inter-island straits - all these are the traditional routes of heroes in wetsuits.

One or another type of diving can be done in almost all resorts, but the conditions vary significantly. On some islands, scuba diving is not the top spot on the list of sports on offer. This means that both diving spots and scuba diving courses will be quite limited, which is more suitable for beginners or regular scuba divers.

True Maldives scuba diving fans have something more to claim, however. The resorts most popular with scuba diving fraternities offer a wide range of courses such as VIT, CMAS, SSI, PADI, NAUI, ANDI and RAB where you can upgrade your skills. They also provide additional and safety equipment, such as underwater video cameras. The choice may also be influenced by the presence of nitrox and a decompression chamber, as well as the proximity of the resort to places suitable for diving.

Most of the local diving centers are located on the basis of hotels ("Sun Diving School" PADI Golden Palm 5, Ocean Dive Center, TGI Maldives, Euro Divers, etc.). Well, for the most restless there is the possibility of a dive safari, for which a group of divers with the same experience is recruited. The advantages of such a cruise are obvious: you can get acquainted with almost all atolls and look into uninhabited islands, it is much cheaper than diving with accommodation in a hotel, and, finally, a yacht trip is an almost guaranteed opportunity to meet local sharks, which are exactly what those who come to Maldives scuba divers.

Video: Diving in the Maldives

Ranking of the best diving spots in the Maldives

Male Atoll

• Banana reef;
• Lyons Head;
• Manta Point;
• Old Shark Point;
• wreckage of the ship "Victoria";
• Poodle Place;
• Rainbow Reef;
• Hans Place.

South Male Atoll

• Vadu cave;
• Guraidhoo Strait.

• the sunken ship "Fesdu";
• Maaafushi-Tila;
• reef Fish head.

Northern atolls

The North Atolls are one of the main tourist destinations in the Maldives. Now the number of resorts has barely crossed the double-digit number, but this figure will steadily increase. It is planned to develop the virgin atolls, which will provide visitors with even more peace and privacy. Since there are much fewer cruising ships here than on the more populated atolls close to the capital, the air in the northern resorts is cleaner and the water is clearer than anywhere else in the archipelago.

New tour operators are forced to contend with hundreds of competitors, so they try to stand out by offering brighter deals and interesting entertainment... One of these ideas is embodied on an island called Haydeway. This is a relatively new resort that boasts the first marina in the Maldives. It is designed to attract as many customers as possible. People who are accustomed to vacationing on yachts, such as, for example, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, already regularly spend time in the North Atolls. They may be trying to avoid the busier islands near the capital. In high-class hotels, guests will find the appropriate service: this is the assistance of a butler, and a massage.

Guests who do not have their own yachts can be transported to hotels located on northern islands, on high-speed boats. The road will take just over two hours. Seaplane flights are much more likely, and more remote resorts sometimes organize their own commercial flights.

Beaches

In this part of the country, you will be able to see the same fantastic white-sand beaches lit by golden rays of the sun and washed by azure waves, as in other Maldivian atolls. But their seclusion guarantees you even greater purity and intactness than in central regions archipelago.

Diving

The relatively recent development of tourism in the Maldives, which began in the 1990s, as well as the small number of boats and ships plying around the atolls, keep these areas pristine and thus create excellent diving conditions. Both kailu (straits, channels between reefs) and tila (seamount, reef bank, the top of which is not visible from the surface) offer many opportunities for snorkeling. Diving in Raa and Baa Atolls, west of the group southern islands, includes the Horubadu Tila Protected Area, which is inhabited by oceanic fish, sometimes gray reef sharks and eagle rays can swim there. Among the other thila in the area stand out the most lively Daravandu, as well as Beriyan Faro, Kottefaru Kuda and Vaadu, each of which promises a lot to true diving enthusiasts. The southwest monsoon, which blows from May to June, brings manta rays and whale sharks to the shores. The strong currents in these areas mean that they are more suited to experienced divers and few areas are suitable for beginners.

To the east of Raa and Baa, near Lhaviani Atoll, divers will encounter the remains of the fishing boats Skipjack II and Gaafaru, which have become part of underwater life over two decades at the bottom of the ocean. The place where they flood is easy to find: the bow of the Skipjack II rises above the surface of the water. In addition, there are two great places and for kettlebell diving (an accumulation of corals a few meters from the ocean surface): Narcola, south of Huravali, rich in ridges and faults, and Maa, southwest of Kanuhuraa, where underwater currents create a fantastic variety of marine life. Another ocean protected area called Kuredu Express offers enjoyable scuba diving, while Fushifaru Tila is 250 meters long with strong currents and is a great spot for advanced divers.

Southern atolls

Given the proximity to Male, some of the South Atolls remain relatively undeveloped in terms of resort, perhaps because the atolls here are not as close to each other as in the north of the Maldives. The slow pace of development has made the area popular for boat safaris that ply the archipelago in search of privacy and peace for their passengers.

If it were not for tourism, this zone could not have been called active at all, especially on the islands where they are engaged in fishing and agriculture... As in the North Atolls, the number of resorts here is barely double-digit, along with those that developers are still working on. From Male to your resort, you can fly by seaplane in 35 or 45 minutes.

Beaches

The lack of heavy boating ensures crystal clear waters and some even claim that local beaches- some of the best in the Maldives. And while ranking the countless coastlines it is almost impossible, walking on the sands of Fileitio or Vilu-Rif-Resort, I really want to agree with them.

Diving

Directly below South Male Atoll, in Vaavu, is the country's longest pristine reef ridge, 55 km long. It stretches from Hurahu Kandu to the southernmost point of the atoll. Main view Scuba diving in these locations is Kailu drift diving, for which there are many excellent spots including Wattara Kanda, a protected area and a reef. Thila (underwater coral reefs) are also popular, in particular Fotteyo, which many include among best places for diving in the Maldives. Here flows amazing life a variety of underwater inhabitants, and some of the corals are simply dazzling.

Water sports

All the usual water sports are available in the South Atolls, and among the centers that focus on this type of recreation are Alimatha Aquatic, Medhufushi and Vilu Reef.

Far southern atolls

Maldives' southern atolls, some of which are located on the other side of the equator, are rare islands where tourists freely mingle with the local population. The Equatorial Village is located on the island of Gan, which belongs to the southernmost atoll of Sina, where there are traces of the British presence. It used to be home to two Royal Air Force bases, which were dismantled in 1976, but the English lawns and reconstructed barracks still remind of them.

Another unique feature of this part of the country is that you can walk 17 km in a straight line without reaching the water. This became possible thanks to the dam, which was built by the British, connecting Gan with three islands - Feidu, Marada and the main atoll Hitadu - to the northeast of it. No special permission is required to visit these locally inhabited islands, which is why independent tourists love to come here who are curious to see real life Maldivians. A relatively inexpensive (by Maldivian standards, of course) stay at the resort attracts a whole crowd of backpackers here.

Until recently, Gan was a rather sleepy island, but in the near future that should change. The fact is that the local airport was brought in line with international standards, and now it can receive large quantity tourists seeking to visit resorts, the number of which is steadily increasing. Ghana's geographic isolation has caused differences in culture and language, as well as flora and fauna, so travelers can experience a very different island experience than the rest of the Maldives. For many years Gan remained the only island in the group of far southern atolls on which the resort was built, but now it is starting to experience competition from its neighbors.

Beaches

If you prefer immaculate beaches, then it is better to settle somewhere else in the archipelago. The beauty of Gan is that you can freely walk around its beaches, which are not overseen by strict resort management, and mingle with the locals. You can swim at Koattey Beach, which is at the northern tip of Hitadu.

Diving

With an almost complete lack of tourist infrastructure, ocean life is thriving in these areas. In this sense, Sinu Atoll is especially attractive, where divers will not find a crowd of like-minded people. This atoll has escaped the coral efflorescence that has engulfed most of the archipelago, making it particularly attractive. Perhaps the most famous diving spot is the British Loyalty, a multi-ton tanker torpedoed by the Japanese during World War II. Experienced divers are allowed to swim into the remains of the hull itself, where a dazzling variety of underwater life awaits them. Another point of attraction for the scuba diving community is Shark Point northeast of Hulumidu, named after the abundance of white and gray reef sharks.

Getting to know local life

Not to be missed is the rare chance to experience an authentic Maldivian village. Travel to the islands by motorcycle, bike, or on foot (there are tours to the equatorial village). There you will see mosques, schools and the remains of a British stay. At the far end of the dam is the most beautiful part of the atoll, the capital of Hitadu. In the center there are many tea houses and a stadium where you can even watch the competition. And on the lake with fresh water Eidigali-Kili you can admire the birds.

A wedding in the Maldives is no longer a fashionable trend, but rather a pretentious tradition that stubbornly does not give up positions, demonstrating the level of consistency of the spouses. You can order a ceremony in the best traditions of soap operas, which includes a visit to the spa, a romantic walk, a wedding ceremony and a wedding picnic, smoothly turning into a wedding night in a secluded bungalow, right at the hotel. For a spectacular theatrical performance and a wedding certificate, you will have to pay 2,833 rufiyaas (11,000 rubles). Fans of extreme and non-trivial experiences in the Maldives are offered an underwater option solemn event... Prices for a wedding at the bottom of the sea in the company of experienced dive instructors are already more serious - around 3993 rufiyaa (15,500 rubles).

The other side of the Maldivian paradise

The most fashionable resort in the world has practically no natural sources of fresh water. Life-giving moisture is either collected here during the rainy season, or pumped from wells. The water extracted from the atoll depths contains a large amount of salts, therefore it is subjected to demineralization. However, it is still of little use for drinking, since it has a meager shelf life, and therefore most tourists, and even the indigenous people, prefer to buy bottled water.

Maldives' own power plants are a luxury item, which is why fuel generators are replacing them on a number of islands. And if in relatively inhabited atolls electricity is supplied around the clock, then where there are fewer people, the light is supplied only in the evenings and then for a couple of hours.

The problem of garbage in the island state was solved ingeniously and simply - a separate island was taken away for household waste. But since official landfills cannot accommodate the entire volume of accumulated waste, in some parts of the Maldives, this issue is approached with a great deal of creativity. For example, in some atolls, sewage water is used to feed green spaces and enrich the soil with fertilizer from fish giblets; in other parts of the resort, tourists are supplied with special bags for waste, which the guest must take with him after rest. However, with all efforts to completely get rid of garbage, it has not yet been possible, therefore, plastic thrown out by passengers of yachts and boats is nailed to the shores of the Maldives from time to time.

Food and drink

In search of national Maldivian dishes, it is better to go to Male, since the hotel kitchens are mainly staffed by personnel from Sri Lanka, who adapt food to their own culinary traditions. In the capital's eateries, it is mostly the islanders who work, so the food in them is the most authentic.

Oddly enough, but in a tropical paradise, culinary preferences are nowhere more modest. True, such simplicity is a forced measure: in the Maldives, little grows, except for bananas and coconuts. The products here are imported and, therefore, expensive, so local chefs always have 1000 and one way of cooking rice with fish in stock.

A regular on the Maldivian table is tuna: fried, boiled, dried, smoked, boiled to a souffle (mas huni), canned ... They also love curry on the islands, which is much less spicy here than in neighboring India. The Maldivians prepare fish broth (garudia) from the first courses. This tropical soup is cooked for several hours, seasoned with lime and chili and served with the same rice. Meat on the local tables is a rare guest, since pork is prohibited in an Islamic country, and there is simply nothing to feed the cattle on the atolls.

The average Maldivian can season his "rice daily" with coconut or lime juice, onions and chili. The islanders' bread is replaced by the unleavened roshi flatbread (a local variation on the theme of Armenian lavash), and the main drink here is considered to be green tea with milk (masala). Maldivians do not drink alcoholic drinks, but they get their portion of alcoholic euphoria at the expense of raa - fermented palm juice. As for the desserts, almost all of them are coconut-based. The most striking representative of sweet dishes is the Bondi stick - a pressed and somewhat sugary treat made from coconut flakes, wrapped according to the principle of a Havana cigar.

Most hotels all inclusive international cuisine. Of course, they also host weeks of local delicacies, but on other days there are French croissants and every Maldivian's nightmare - juicy pork steaks.

Money

The country's official currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa ($ 0.06). The rufiyaa exchange rate is artificially supported against the dollar, and its rate against other currencies is based on this, so it makes no sense to look for a place where you can make a more profitable exchange. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rufiyaa and coins in 1 and 2 rufiyaa. Foreign currency exchange is carried out at the airport or at any of the banks, just keep in mind that the latter are closed on Friday and Saturday. In all places where tourists go, American dollars and euros are accepted, they are also in circulation at all resorts. If you wish, you do not have to deal with cash at all, but ask to include all costs in the hotel bill and pay at the end of your stay with a credit card.

Fun fact: The Maldives print their rufiyaa on the same paper as America's dollars.

Tips

Tipping, which is highly prevalent in nearby territories such as India, is not as strong in the Maldives. But low wages and tipping foreign visitors began to make a difference. In most resorts, a certain table is immediately assigned to the guest, so that the same waiter will serve him throughout the rest. If you do not have the desire to deal with small cash, then you can thank the service staff on the last day. Some tour operators charge $ 10 per week. There is no need to tip taxi drivers or cafes. If you want to thank a local for taking a photo with you, he may be offended.

Shopping

Shopping in a country where practically nothing is produced is like a kind of quest. Although for an unassuming tourist in the Maldives, of course, there is something authentic or skillfully imitating this very authenticity. It is worth noting that most of the knick-knacks with supposedly Maldivian flavor, which are sold in the shops of the capital, in fact, are not. All of these are, as a rule, Sri Lankan variations on the theme of "a truly Maldivian souvenir."

For authentic creations of Maldivian artisans, it is better to go to the islands of Mahibadhoo, Maafushi, Huura, Rasdhoo, where for not the most modest sum, local craftsmen will gladly endow you with wooden boxes, miniature "donis", rugs made of palm fiber, colorful shells and funny coconut monkeys. Hunters "for something like that" will certainly be persuaded to buy a Maldivian hookah gudo guda, into which local grandmothers love to blow at bedtime. If it didn't work out with a hookah, you won't be surprised with magnets and T-shirts, but you still want to bring a material reminder of your vacation, take a closer look at the ritual drums of Badu Beru.

By the way, about T-shirts and magnets - you don't have to go far for them: all of Male's souvenir shops are filled with this good. In them, you can also get the notorious shark teeth, which have long been turned into the main resort trophy.

Opening hours

Business life in the Maldives freezes on Friday, as well as five times a day for 15 minutes during prayer. Shops can start their work at 6.00, but most often they open at 8.00 or 9.00. They usually close at 20.00, but some may work until 23.00. Government offices and banks open at 7.30 or 8.00 and work until 13.30 from Sunday to Thursday.

Difference in time

The time difference with Moscow in the Maldives is +1 hour in summer (when in Moscow it is 11.00, in the Maldives it is already 12.00) and +2 hours in winter.

• Birthdays are not celebrated in the Maldives. Moreover, they don't even try to remember this date.
• Only a Muslim who has lived in it for several years can obtain citizenship of the country.
• The Maldives is in the top 10 countries in terms of divorce rate (about 50%). At the same time, citizens are criminally liable for adultery. Walkers to the left are here publicly "treated" with a whip.
• The working week in the country starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday.
• Entering the Maldives with a dog is strictly prohibited: according to the Quran, this animal is considered unclean.
• The resort's motto is No news, no shoes! (No news, no shoes!)
• There is no tax free system in the Maldives.
• Male International Airport is located on an artificial island.
• In the Maldives, not only the celebration of Halloween, but also the mention of it aloud is officially prohibited.
• The largest fish in the world, the whale shark, is found in the Maldives. Its size varies from 5.5 to 10 meters, and people can admire how this whopper cuts through the crystal clear waters Maldives.

Where to stay

The Maldives is not a place where you can go with a hundred dollars clenched in your fist, hang out all weekend and still bring "change". On the one hand, there are several hostels and guest houses in the country, but even in such places a tourist will not be required to pay a modest sum. You can, of course, try to negotiate with the locals and settle with them, but this is rather an extreme option for backpackers and seasoned adventurers. On the other hand, people do not come to tropical paradise to count every bill and cut themselves off in everything, so why not relax in a big way.

The classics of local housing are water bungalows (wooden houses on stilts, standing right in the sea). For the waves lapping right under your feet and an exclusive snorkeling opportunity at your own porch, you will have to pay an average of 5,153 to 20,6,611 rufiyaas (20,000-80000 rubles). An excellent chance to combine comfortable living conditions and acquaintance with the most picturesque Maldivian atolls - yachts, renting a cabin on which at the price is equal to an excellent hotel room.

There are relatively few budget three-ruble hotels in the Maldives, and even those are mostly occupied by divers. Booking.com's top picks are Gunbaru Inn, Rihiveli by Castaway and Sun Tan Beach. There is a wide range of prices here: you can find a room for 902 rufiyaa (about 3500 rubles), or you can find it for 3865 (15000 rubles).

Safety

In the Maldives, they are madly afraid of yellow fever, so they scrupulously check for the vaccination against this disease in all travelers arriving from South America and Africa. For some reason, all other pathogens of infections do not cause interest among local doctors, but, just in case, it is better to pre-vaccinate against rubella, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever. If you are not coming from an infected area, then vaccinations are optional.

You shouldn't leave without a strategic stock of essential medicines - normal pharmacies in the resort can be found only in Male, while on most other islands the choice of medicines is extremely scarce, and hospitalization in this country costs decent money. It is also better not to appear on Maldivian beaches without good sunscreen, repellent and a bottle of water. Due to the high concentration of solar radiation, earn sunburn at the equator, you can not just wallow under a palm tree, but also sit up to your throat in the water.

Despite the fact that the local beaches give the impression of calm and "lazy" places, do not rush to demonstrate your own prowess and swim behind the line of red flags that mark safe swimming areas. Of course, most of the hotels on the shore are guarded, but the underwater ocean currents, which cannot be dealt with, have not yet been canceled.

Crime in the republic is minimized, so the Maldives can be safely called one of the most safe resorts... In force majeure situations, when you cannot do without the help of law enforcement agencies, it is better to contact the hotel security, which itself will establish contact with the police station.

Connection

The resort's cellular services are provided by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, whose SIM cards can be purchased at the airport or in specialized stores in Male. The call quality is pretty good, unless you've gone too far out to sea. It is customary to top up the phone balance using special cards, which are usually sold in hotels. A call to Russia from a Dhiraagu SIM card will cost around 4.9 rufiyaa / minute (about 19 rubles). For calls within the country, it is better to use local payphones, which are also paid for by card (easy to find in hotels and street vendors). For wealthy tourists, there is such an exclusive option as landline calls from a hotel room. So, if you are the lucky owner of a couple of oil wells, you can calmly solve business issues without leaving your bed.

Free Wi-Fi in the Maldives is a rare beast that lives exclusively in hotels. Those who are unlucky with the hotel can go to the Internet cafes of the capital, having lowered in them from 45 to 150 rufiyaas (175-582 rubles) per hour of online surfing, or connect the necessary service from one of the local mobile operators, thereby robbing himself of at least 290 rufiyaa (1125 rubles).

How to call Maldives

To call the Maldives from Russia, dial:

• from landline phone: 8-10-960 (Maldives code) - code desired city- subscriber number;
• With mobile phone: 8-10-960 - mobile operator code - subscriber's mobile phone number.

There are no area codes in the Maldives. All numbers are now seven-digit.

How to call abroad

To call Russia from Maldives, dial:

• from a landline phone: 00 - 7 - required city code - subscriber number in Russia (00 - international line prefix; 7 - Russian telephone code);
• from a mobile phone: +7 - subscriber's number. International operator - 190; help desk - 11.

Transport

Ground transportation in the Maldives is absent as such, since the vast majority of the local islands can be bypassed on foot. And only in Male, a tourist can afford the luxury of a ride for 27 rufiyaa (97 rubles) by taxi or 4.70 (18 rubles) by bus.

For those planning to travel from island to island, there are three main modes of transport:

• hydroplane;
• boat / boat;
• ferry.

The first option is ideal for travelers with an unlimited budget - the pleasure costs from 2,400 to 3,000 rufiyaas (9,316-11,645 rubles), but it gives a unique opportunity to get a bird's eye view of the atoll chain. A trip on a speedboat or national boat "doni", depending on the distance of the destination, will cost 470-860 rufiyaa (1824-3380 rubles). Well, a ferry ride will be affordable even for a budget tourist, since the final amount of the ferry will be from 31 to 46 rufiyaas (approximately 120-179 rubles). Main airport The Republic of Maldives is located adjacent to the capital, on the small island of Hulhule. This is where all international flights arrive.

Insurance

We highly recommend getting insurance, especially if you are going to spend time on the island; Delivery to the hospital in case of danger can cost a tidy sum. Buying insurance in no way will ruin you: a two-week trip will cost you about one euro per day. If you travel frequently, it is more profitable to buy an annual policy. The package may not include the risk of active recreational activities such as scuba diving. When choosing a policy, be sure to consider this.

Visa information

When entering the Maldives, a tourist visa for Russian citizens is put in their passport free of charge, for a period of 30 days. A foreign guest will need a passport with a validity of at least six months, return tickets, a receipt confirming tourist services, and the presence of an amount of money at the rate of at least $ 30 for each day of stay.

customs control

There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency in the Maldives. In addition, you can bring to the resort duty-free cigarettes (no more than 200 pieces) and perfumes in an amount not exceeding 125 ml. But goods worth more than $ 200 (about 12,000 rubles) will have to be declared.

Save money and nerves by once and for all abandoning attempts to smuggle alcohol into the Maldives (even bought in stores Duty free). Alcohol will still be taken away from you and disposed of. The same fate will befall pork delicacies and pornographic magazines. You should also be careful with local souvenirs: no one will be released from the equatorial paradise with pearl oysters, corals and turtle shell products (if these are not certified products). It is allowed to carry a certain amount of presents and tobacco. Carriage of weapons or drugs is considered the most serious offense. The punishment can be life imprisonment.

Airports

For those who travel a lot to the countries of the Indian subcontinent, the international airport in Male will seem like a breath of fresh air. Here, unlike other airports in the region, civilized tranquility reigns, passengers are not overwhelmed by crowds of barkers, porters and taxi drivers. The airport is located on a separate island called Hulhule, which is not far from the capital. As soon as you reach the terminal, you will immediately see two rows of counters that belong to different resorts and tour operators. Find the one you need and a representative will tell you all the details about the transfer. If your resort is nearby, a speed boat will suffice; if it is far away, then you may need to take a seaplane to get there. In any case, you will receive precise instructions and leave the airport in a planned manner without hindrance. When you return to the reception at the hotel, they will also explain all the details in detail.

If you are a rare type of independent traveler, you should most likely head to Male. Ferries run round the clock between the capital and the island where the airport is located. They depart from the main pier at Thulhula and dock at Moles 9 and 10 in Male. Boats start every 15 minutes or when crowded, the trip costs 10 rufiyaa or $ 1. For about $ 10, you can rent a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, which is now powered by a motor.

For flight information, call Male International Airport at 333-8800.

In the Maldives, you have the opportunity to visit another, very unusual airport. The seaplanes, which transport passengers from Male to the resorts, land on the water and only then taxi onto a small floating platform just a few meters long and about the same width. From here you will be taken by boat to the desired island. The miniature size of these "airports" is the subject of jokes for resort companies. One of the floating platforms has a sign that reads: "Welcome to Soneva Fushi International Airport."

How to get there

Regular flights to the Maldives from Moscow are carried out by the following airlines:

• Aeroflot - direct flights from Sheremetyevo twice a week.
• Turkish Airlines - flights from Vnukovo with a transfer in Istanbul.
• Qatar Airlines - flights from Domodedovo with a connection in Doha.
• Emirates - with a transfer in Dubai.

You can go to the most expensive resort on the planet from St. Petersburg with “ Turkish Airlines"," Aeroflot "," Russia "and" Emirates ". All flights are connecting. Another option is charters that fly in the direction of the Maldives both from St. Petersburg and from other cities of Russia. Delivery to the hotel usually falls on the shoulders of tour operators, whose representatives meet their clients as soon as they leave the plane.

Maldives is by myself nothing more than a group of atolls - rings covering sea lagoons. The archipelago is located south of India, and the sea of ​​the Maldives is the majestic and vast Indian Ocean, which here merges with the sky, making a line the horizon nearly invisible.

Paradise vacation

Which sea washes the Maldives? This question ask myself one of first happy holders of tours to luxury Maldivian resorts. The Indian Ocean is the third largest among the world's oceans and it is its waters made beach holidays on the islands so awesome and memorable.

The main visitors to the local resorts can be roughly divided into three groups:

Newlyweds who decided to have a honey month royally. The sea of ​​the Maldives, the white sand of the beaches and the bright sun, complete with magnificent hotels and the opportunity to retire for two on the whole island - weighty arguments in favor of choosing this particular tourist directions.

Divers, for which in the first and only place is the rich underwater world of the Indian Ocean in the Maldives. Other aspects of them few disturbing, and diving at the local resorts is possible in any season.

Fans of high-class recreation and ideal services for which the issue price does not matter.

Ocean of dreams

Indian Ocean in the Maldives islands can be called ideal. Have him beautiful color, the water is clear and transparent, the underwater world is striking in its variety, and the water temperature makes bathing pleasant and comfortable. A thermometer in its waters on local resorts not descends below +26 degrees throughout the year, from which and beachgoers and the divers are thrilled.

Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is an island state in the Indian Ocean, located on a group of atolls south of the Indian subcontinent, just north of the equator. The archipelago consists of 20 atolls, which include almost 1200 small islets formed by the skeletons of coral polyps on the seamount. Only about 200 islands are permanently inhabited by people.
All the islands of the atoll archipelago barely rise above the surface of the ocean - the most high point- 6 m above sea level.
The capital of the state is the city of Male, located on the atoll of the same name.

The question is which seas in the Maldives usually puzzled and those who like to go out on yachts. In the archipelago, there is an opportunity to even stay on a yacht, and its rent will not exceed cost good number at the hotel here.

This kind of rest allows see many new islands and get a real ocean of impressions.
Indian Ocean rich the most diverse representatives of fauna.

In the early 70s, the Maldives were “discovered” for tourism by diving travelers, discovering the most beautiful corners underwater world... Gradually, the tourism industry on the islands reached a high level and on this moment tourism in the Maldives occupies 98% of the country's economy. The Maldives is one of the best diving destinations in the world.

There is everything here: uninhabited islands, warm and crystal clear waters, a huge number of reefs and countless diversity. marine life... Excellent visibility under water, sometimes exceeding 50 meters, and warm water temperature + 26 ... + 27 ° С all year round make diving in the Maldives extremely attractive. Those who wish are offered a variety of excursions: visiting Male, fishing villages, trips to uninhabited islands for half a day or a whole day, fishing (in the morning or evening), helicopter rides. The Maldives is considered one of the safest holiday destinations in the world.

Here you can find not only sea turtles and dolphins, but even blue whales and sperm whales. In the Maldives region, the ocean waters are inhabited by plankton, some of which can glow at night, making the waves especially picturesque.

Dangerous animals there are no islands on land, but cetaceans sharks that can swim to the shores for enough near distance, eat only plankton and do not pose a threat to swimmers.