For me, the Maldives is what comes to mind, with its crystal clear aquarium-like lagoons & palm tree fringed islands. There is no doubt, if you are an ocean, summer, beach lover like me, you are either dreaming of the Maldives OR since visiting, that’s all you can dream about.
Another thing I really wanted to mention before getting into the detail is that as a destination, the Maldives is for everyone. Although it’s perfect for honeymoons / special occasions, it’s also an epicentre for epic adventures, unforgettable moments with marine life, so so good for solo travellers looking to unwind & connect with other adventurous souls & couples who just want to do something rad together. I’ve been lucky enough to visit twice, once with Chesh (my partner) & once on a Mumma / daughter trip with my beautiful mum. Both were equally as good, for different reasons & experiences.
WHEN TO GO:
Honestly, I don’t think you’ll find a bad time to visit the Maldives. Of course there is a dominating wet (April -November) & dry (Dec – April) season, but each season brings beauty & depending what you are looking for, your ideal season might be different to what you might think… I’m actually all about shoulder season, which equals less crowds, variable weather conditions (which makes for beautiful experiences) & cost effective travel.
‘Wet’ season is actually the best time to spot whale sharks & manta rays, being mating season. This is a bucket list experience not to be missed & a small bit of rain each day is worth every second for this incredible opportunity (trust me). Generally in wet season you’ll experience down pours & lots of sunshine otherwise.
Beyond endless beauty & exceptional experiences, there was a deep love for the ocean & the natural ecosystem, which I found to be so humbling & beautiful from such a huge International brand. Both Kuda Huraa & Landaa Giraavaru have a Marine Research Centre with researchers, conservationists & marine biologists working around the clock to address key issues of coral bleaching, turtle & manta ray conservation & general ocean health. They are doing so much in the way of rehabilitating / releasing sea turtles, amputating their poor limbs (this is so sad, but I learned that many sea turtles loose their limbs due to getting tangled in netting), & taking care of some of these sea turtles for the rest of their lives due to their irreparable injuries. The Marine Centres are also working hard to breed & release native Maldivian fish to boost marine numbers & marine health.
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