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BEST
SEASON TO VISIT MALDIVES:
If you're looking for a few extra hours of sunshine
then you should visit the Maldives between December
and April, which is the dry season. This is the high
season, however, and resorts can be fully booked and
prices are higher than the rest of the year. The Christmas-New
Year period is the busiest and most expensive part of
the high season. Between May and November it's still
warm, but the skies can be cloudy, humidity is higher
and rain is more likely. This is the low season, and
there are fewer tourists and prices are lower. The transition
months of November and April are said to be associated
with increased water clarity and better visibility for
divers.
EVENTS:
Most holidays are based on the Islamic lunar calendar
and the dates vary from year to year. The most important
religious event is Ramadan (known locally as rorda
mas), the Islamic month of fasting. Other
noteworthy events are Kuda Id, the sighting of the new
moon (celebrated at the end of Ramadan), and the Prophet's
Birthday, which commemorates the birthday of the Prophet
Mohammed.
Fixed
holiday dates
include: National Day (the day Mohammed Thakurufaan
and his men overthrew the Portuguese on Malé
in 1573, the first day of the third month of the lunar
calendar); Victory Day (victory over Sri Lankan mercenaries
who tried to overthrow the Maldivian government on 3
November 1988); and Republic Day (which commemorates
the current republic, founded on 11 November 1968).
GETTING AROUND MALDIVES:
There are regular flights to Colombo (Sri Lanka), Thrivandrum
(south-west India), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), as well as many charter flights
from European centres. Malé International Airport
is the only international gateway; departure tax is
$US10. There are regular cargo ships, but they don't
usually take passengers. The Maldives is not popular
with private yachts because the reefs are so hazardous
and cruising permits are restrictive and expensive.
Tourism is strictly regulated, and independent travel
is discouraged because it is seen as disruptive to traditional
island communities. Those wanting to see the Maldivian
way of life can stay in Malé, the intriguing
capital city, and make daytime visits to island communities
close to tourist resorts. It's not impossible to visit
the outer islands, but it's difficult enough to deter
all but the most dedicated and determined. An Inter
Atoll Travel Permit is required to visit islands outside
the tourist zone, and the Ministry of Atolls Administration
will only issue them to those whose visit is sponsored
by a resident of the island concerned.
Air
Maldives,
the small national airline, has regular and very scenic
flights to the four air strips in the outer atolls.
Helicopters and seaplanes are used to transfer guests
to some of the remoter resorts. The main form of local
transport is the dhoni, a traditional all-purpose vessel
now usually powered by a diesel engine. Larger boats
called vedis are used for longer trips to outer atolls.
Safari cruises in modified, live-aboard dhonis are increasingly
popular, especially with dive groups who want to reach
more remote sites. Most safari trips cruise around the
tourist zone, but it is possible to arrange longer trips
to the outer atolls - the operator will have to obtain
the necessary permits. Most islands are so small that
transport is not a problem, but there are taxis, motorcycles
and bicycles in the capital.
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