The Maldives is the only place in the world where you can experience your own ‘Robinson Crusoe’ island getaway, staying in either a thatched roof beach bungalow directly on the beach or a thatched roof water villa on stilts in the lagoon. The Republic of Maldives is made up of 1,190 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka. The Maldivian resorts are confined to a ‘on
e island one resort’ policy and the height of a building in the resorts must not be above the tallest palm tree. The Maldives is famous for its rare underwater beauty, with some of the best dive sites in the world. The incredible marine life is so abundant that you can see the psychedelic fish from your villa deck or in the shallow waters. You need not be a diver to experience the indescribable beauty of the Maldives. The weather is always picture perfect, with daily temperatures averaging 30 degrees Celsius all year. The Maldives is regulated by two seasons, with the months of June and July experiencing tropical rains. The Maldivian people are warm, illuminating and extremely hospitable, so much so that you immediately feel relaxed in their presence. The Republic of Maldives has a proud history and rich culture that combines a mixture of African, Indian, Sri Lankan and South East Asian influences. This is noticeable in their sumptuous food, their colourful dance and their rhythmic music, particularly the hand beating of drums. The Maldives’ highly fragile ecological system is impressively looked after. The Maldivian Government and the people of the Maldives are extremely conscious of the vulnerability of the environment and are active in implementing measures to ensure that environmental protection receives the highest priority. The resorts themselves also actively play an important role in the protection of the environment, with initiatives such as the ‘save the sea turtle’ project, whale and dolphin protection and a ‘coral rejuvenation’ project. All in all, the Maldives is an extraordinary escape!
