Traveling to Maldives can be an expensive venture. Several of the guided tour options range from $3,000 to $8,000 and even more, though there are packages out there advertised as much lower. Be aware that these less expensive package rates do not include your travel expenses to and from the islands of Maldives. A big part of your Maldivian vacation will be the travel involved in actually getting there. As such, visitors tend to spend more than a few days on the islands to make the trip more worth their while, ranging from one week to 12 days to sometimes even longer visits.

• Live-Aboard Adventure--A Live-Aboard adventure is one in which you "live aboard" a vessel for a period of time and participate in multiple water sporting excursions. There are two companies in Maldives which now offer dive trips specifically suited for American tourists and they provide four dives each day as opposed to the two dives which are generally offered to European dive travelers. The vessels are comfortable and roomy, with clean and air-conditioned cabins.

The dive boats operate seasonally between January and early May and late July through October. The best weather conditions will be seen in the earlier months, though rainy days can come at any time. There are land based diving tours available as well, though the live-aboard options allow you to cover more area and see a wider variety of underwater life than could be found closer to the islands. An average excursion like this will cost around $4,500, which includes airfare from Los Angeles.

• Fishing Safari--On a fishing safari, you make your own arrangements to and from the islands, and once there, together with your fishing safari tour guide, you customize your trip including the length of your stay, the locations you would like to see, and the type of fish you wish to catch.

• Visitng Maldives as the end of your trip--Some people choose to spend their sightseeing energy touring around India or Sri Lanka and then end their journey by taking a trip to Maldives to simply rest and relax. Maldives is perfect for just that purpose and you could easily spend an entire week doing just that.

• Guided Tours--Examples of some guided tours of the Maldives islands follow in the next section.

• Exploring Kanuhura and Huvafen Fushi--
o Day One--Today will mark your arrival to Maldives by Malé, the capital. After getting picked at the airport, you will be taken to the Mookai Hotel. From here you will have opportunities to explore Malé and enjoy the architecture and attractions.
o Days Two through Five--These days will be spent in Kanuhura, by which you will arrive by seaplane. One & Only is the name of the resort and it is located on one of the islands of Lhavivani Atoll, which is northeast of Maldives. The resort is private and offers a plethora of activities, sports, relaxation spots, and restaurants, and nearby are some of the best diving spots in the world including an outer reef which drops down almost 2,000 meters.

Among its many amenities listed, the One & Only resort boats of these three main restaurants: Thin Rah, Olive Tree, and The Veli Café. Favorite activities include tennis, squash, windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, canoeing, catamaran trips, and dolphin safaris.
o Days Six Through Ten--The next days will take you to the North Malé Atoll where you will experience the Huvafen Fushi resort, hailed as a naturalist's wonderland. Your accommodations include a split-level bungalow, which floats over the lagoon from which you can step directly from your deck into the water. Activities offered by the resort include yoga, an outdoor salt-water flotation pool, scuba diving, non-motorized water sports, sunset fishing, big game fishing, and sand bank snorkeling.
o Day Eleven--Today you will pack up and begin your journey home.

• Honeymoon Get-Away--
o Day One--After your arrival at the Malé International Airport, you will be escorted to the honeymoon resort island of your own prior choosing.
o Day Two--Today the two of you will simply enjoy relaxing on the pristine-white sandy beach and gaze at the beautiful Maldivian sunset that evening.
o Day Three--Today you will have the opportunity to go snorkeling and take in the amazing marine life of the Maldives. Other water sports will be available upon request.
o Day Four--Several excursions are available to choose from including island hopping, more snorkeling, night fishing, game fishing, and delicious barbeque lunch.
o Day Five--Today you will visit Malé and do some sightseeing of the local religious and political structures as well as shopping in the local market districts.
o Day Six--Another day to enjoy the relaxing pace of island living. You may enjoy more snorkeling if you choose, or simply lay back and work on your tan.
o Day Seven--Today you will pack up and begin your journey back home.

Sources:
www.islandream.com
www.iexplore.com
www.trinetratours.com
www.webindia123.com
www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
www.about-travel.org
www.maldives.info
www.bookmaldives.com
www.travelaine.com
www.thebigday.com
www.infohub.com

Among these atolls are 1,192 islets and of these about 200 are populated by people. The meaning of the name Maldives is debatable, some say it means "Palace" or "Mountain Islands" and still others say it means "a thousand islands."

The capital and largest city of the Maldives is Malé. The official language is Dhivehi. Maldives' form of government is a republic and the president as of this writing is Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. The population of the area is 349,106 (as of July 2005) and the total land area is 300 square kilometers. The national anthem of Maldives is: Gavmii mi ekuverikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam, which means In National Unity Do We Salute Our Nation. The form of currency used on the islands is called the Rufiyaa (MVR). The time zone is UTC+5, internet TLD is .mv, and the calling code is +960.

• Island furthest north--
Haa Alifu is the most northern atoll and is 600 km southwest of mainland India.

• The Capital Island--
Malé is the capital island of Maldives. It is centrally located and is about 600 km southwest of Sri Lanka.

• Climate--
The climate of the Maldives islands is sunny, hot, and humid and regular rainfall is heavy and averages about 100 inches each year. The humidity level on the capital island of Malé hovers around 70 to 75% and on the southern islands, near the equator, it reaches 85%.

On sandy islands, rainwater collects just below the surface, which is very porous, and creates a surface of fresh water, which is easy to get to by way of shallow wells.

The northern and central atolls create a barrier that is narrowly passable by ships traveling across the Indian Ocean. The southern atolls are separated from the northern islands by two ocean gaps, which are wide and deep. These are the One and Half Degree Channel, which is between the Laamu and Huvadhu atolls, and the Equatorial Channel between the Huvadhu and Fua Malaku and Addu atolls. There are 400 km of deep ocean just south of the Addu atoll until the Chagos Archipelago.

According to archaeological and linguistic research, close ties between the Maldives islands and the kingdoms of southern India and Sri Lanka existed in this stage. Researchers concluded that the migration took place over a series of chronological phases rather than one big movement, thus their history of two languages and the various ethnic differences. While many people settled on the Maldives islands willingly, there were a number of people who were forced to go due to being exiled from Sri Lanka.

The people of the Maldives converted to Islam in 1153. The conversion was based on economic reasons in order to put the country in a favorable light with the foreign traders who sailed along the Indian Ocean. The switch did not happen without resistance, however. Early records show rebellious Buddhist monks from the Laamu atoll were beheaded in Malé due to their opposition. What once were monasteries, were now mosques. And those who were serfs to the monasteries, were now serfs to the mosques.

During the 16th century, the Portuguese came and colonized the islands and brought with them a serious threat to Islam on the islands. According to folklore, at this time, almost the entire population of Malé converted to Christianity. This time is recorded as being hostile and brutal to the people and as such, Mohamed Thakurufaan came to liberate them, and revive Islamic observance.

After this came periods of intermittent European influence and colonization. In the mid-seventeenth century, the Dutch replaced Portugal as the main power and established domination over the workings of the islands. In 1796, the Dutch were thrown out by the British and in 1887, the Maldives islands became a British protectorate and military base, though they retained an internal self-government. During this time, Maldives continued to be ruled by sultans who were established along hereditary lines. An attempt to change this to an elective succession in 1932 was made. It wasn't until 1965 that Maldives received total independence as a sultanate. In 1968 the ad-Din dynasty came to an end after six centuries of rule and the Republic of Maldives was declared.

Today, Islam remains the state relgion of the Maldives islands.

More recently, tourism and the fisheries make up the main elements of the Maldivian economy. In addition to these, shipping, banking, and manufacturing are also growing on the Maldives. The countries they trade the most with are India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

• Vegetation and Items of Export on the Maldives--
Coconut and Coconut Products
Coir Rope Making
Banana
Breadfruit
Papaya
Lime
Taro
Fish
Cowry
Tortoise Shell
Sculpture
Handicrafts
Ship-building
Ambergris
Mat Weaving
Lacquer Work
Printing
PVC Pipes
Brick Making
Marine Engine Repairs
Bottled Aerated Water
Garment Production

During these early years, the Maldives were frequently ruled by queens, and even in later years women remained influential in the political realm at the highest levels of government, though in spite of this, it is rare for women to hold office there.

The great tsunami caused by the 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean devastated the islands. Almost all of the country was swamped and at least 75 people died and many more were left homeless. The infrastructure on 13 of the inhabited islands and 29 of the resort islands was completely wiped out.

• Social Demographics--
A social stratification system similar to that of the Indian caste system is in place on the Maldives islands. It is not as hard of a line as other caste systems, as the rank is based on a variety of factors: economic, occupation related, religious oriented, and familial. The socially elite members reside in great proportion on Malé and this is the only portion of the country in which foreign and domestic populations interact outside of the service industry. The tourist islands are not populated by native Maldivians, and contact between foreigners and natives is discouraged among the people.

Sources:
www.maldivesculture.com
www.infoplease.com
www.wikipedia.org

Maldives - People and Culture Overview

The People of Maldives

The Culture of Maldives; Language, Writing, Religion, and Education

The Culture of Maldives; Food, Healthcare, and Handicrafts

Maldives Activities and Attractions Overview

Things to do in Malé, the Capital of Maldives

Things to do in and around the water of Maldives

Other Maldives Underwater Information

Maldives - A One Week Itinerary Overview

What to do for one week on the Maldives islands

Sample One Week Guided Tour Itineraries

How do we get around the islands?

Maldives Overview and History

Navigating the Maldives

Religious and Political History of Maldives

Industry of the Maldivian People