Photo by flickr user kashmut
Pure white beaches, swaying palm trees and brilliant turquoise lagoons – wannabe Robinson Crusoes will not be disappointed. The Maldives, an archipelago of over 1000 coral islands, exemplifies the true meaning of the phrase ‘tropical island paradise’. Right on the equator, it offers a 12-hour day all year round; the temperature is the same year round too: from 25°-32°C. But be warned, these are the tropics and it can and does rain at any time. Driest time of the year is October to April and the best time of all, weather-wise, to visit is January to March. For honeymooners and scuba divers it's as near perfect a destination as you will ever find, and a number of its resorts and islands are internationally recognised as models of sustainable, eco-friendly tourism. All Maldivian resorts occupy their own island and offer the sort of barefoot luxury and pampering that most of us only dream of, plus a raft of watersports. It's not the destination for the budget conscious, and not for anyone who wants to do more than lounge on the beach with a good book, soaking up the sun, and swim, snorkel or dive in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. If that appeals – and why wouldn't it – then you've found paradise on earth. The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference.
