Your passport to adventure
PHONE: 1 877 260 3950
PHONE: 1 877 260 3950
Thoughts of Maldives holidays evoke pictures of beautiful palm-fringed islands with great beaches, stunning coral reefs, hot sunshine and warm turquoise seas; and high prices! Well, we've devised a program of Maldives tours that see and experience a lot more of this beautiful island nation than most holidaymakers ever do, and at much cheaper prices as well.
Instead of staying in one resort, our Maldives tours visit various different local islands and stay in comfortable friendly guesthouses or onboard safari boats. We include a wide range of activities so you see the best of the Maldives' classic attractions as well as gaining an insight into the local way of life.
These include several snorkelling trips; day trips to beautiful palm-fringed picnic islands; beach BBQs; a sunset picnic meal on a deserted sandbar; several meals with local families where you can try the local cuisine; evening fishing trips with local fishermen where you can try some traditional hand and line fishing and cook your catch afterwards; and tours of Male city and various inhabited local islands.
You also have plenty of free time to relax on the beach or try some more watersports activities including a wide range of scuba-diving options, more snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. Various extension options are available to add more days on the local islands or to visit one of the Maldives' famous luxury resort islands.
All in all, our small group Maldives tour packages offer you an interesting, fun and exciting alternative to the average beach holiday at a much lower cost, and at the same time give you plenty of time to unwind and relax in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
If you're planning a Maldives tour, knowing when to go is really important. Read this blog to find out when is the best time to visit the Maldives.
Do you want to know more about the Maldives and its beauty? Or do you need accurate visa information?
Contact the Maldives tourism board for more information.
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The best time to visit the Maldives is between November and April, as the weather is warm and there is little precipitation.
Despite political unrest in the capital, the Maldives Ministry of Tourism has declared the country safe for tourists.
The currency of the Maldives is the rufiyaa, which is divided into 100 laari.
In resorts, you can be casual, and swimwear is acceptable. If you are visiting an inhabited island, you should dress conservatively and cover your legs and shoulders.
The tap water is not safe to drink in the Maldives and it is advised to drink only bottled water.
Planning a trip to the Maldives depends on the type of activities you would like to do, places you would like to visit and the duration of your trip. We offer a range of Maldives tours, from sailing and water activities to discovering the local culture and food - our tours have you covered. Each of our Maldives tours are eight days long.
A meal in the Maldives at an average priced restaurant costs around $6 per person. This can vary from restaurant to restaurant, however the Maldives boasts relatively affordable food prices by Western standards.
The Maldives is quite safe for tourists, despite the country’s political unrest. However, it is always important to be vigilant when travelling to any new destination as tourists are often victims of petty crimes such as pick pockets.
The country's primary language is Dhivehi. Interestingly enough, Dhivehi is a unique mixture of Arabic, English, Hindi. However, English is widely spoken throughout the Maldives as most Maldivian schools teach English.
Unless you are flying from certain African countries, there are no compulsory vaccinations for the Maldives for entry or exit. However for your own personal health it is strongly recommended that travellers ensure that they are up to date with common vaccinations, specifically against main food and water borne diseases (Hepatitis A and Typhoid) and Tetanus.
A trip to The Maldives will vary in cost depending on the places that you stay, the activities that you partake in and the food that you choose to eat. Our Maldives tours range in price, with Shoestring tours available for travellers who are interested in enjoying the Maldives on a budget.
We recommend visiting the capital of Male and exploring the markets and local culture in this beautiful Maldivian city. Travellers should also make a trip to Guraidhoo and Maafushi local islands as these are a must-see during a trip to the Maldives. These islands boast a myriad of watersports, culture and friendly locals.
We recommend a minimum of 8 days in the Maldives in order to fully immerse yourself in the unique culture as well as visit the scenic local islands. The Maldives boasts a myriad of exciting activities from water sports to cultural shows and foodie tours, therefore travellers should expect to spend at least a week in the Maldives exploring this fascinating destination.
The best month to visit the Maldives is November as the weather tends to be warm with little chance of rain. Many travellers also enjoy visiting the country in April as the weather conditions are beautiful and dry at this time of year.
Maldives is not expensive by Western Standards as travelers could enjoy an exciting holiday in the Maldives for less than $50 per day including food and comfortable accommodation. The country is expensive to visit if you plan on staying in luxury resorts, however our Maldives tours are designed to fully immerse you in the beauty of the country without breaking the bank.
Encounters Travel did such a superb job in organizing this tour. I had never heard of them before going on the Maldives Magic tour, however now I will recommend them to friends/family and use them for my future planned trips.
Our tour is what made the trip that much more memorable. Rather than being plopped at a westernized resort, we were able to get a taste of how the locals live, eat and entertain themselves. We stayed in quaint guesthouses on the islands amongst the locals, ate authentic Maldivian cuisine (one day even with a Maldivian family who made us breakfast), and viewed a traditional dance/singing performance which was absolutely delightful. This was a trip of a lifetime that I will never forget.
Conscientious in early communication; knowledgeable, humorous and caring tour guides; an exemplary itinerary that was well organized yet flexible; an overall extraordinary experience. I'd recommend them enthusiastically.
There was a lot of communication from the beginning. The encounters staff was very responsive and the tour guide was great and very accommodating. Encounters was also able to help me with last minute changes to my itinerary while I was on the trip.
My experience with Encounters was excellent from start to finish. The Tour Guide, Sheriff, was the most passionate, enthusiastic and professional guide I have ever had on a tour and his love for Egypt really made me enjoy my time so much more.
I was cautious about arriving in Egypt given the current circumstances about the country, but felt safer that I did living in London as soon as I arrived. All of the Encounters staff are very professional.
This is our first travel through Encounters Travel and so far the arrangement is working very well. Our travel is not until April 2017 so I am more than hopeful all will continue to run as smoothly as it has so far.
Time: GMT+5
Dial Code: +960
Area: 298 km2
Elevation: The lowest point in the Maldives is the Indian Ocean at 0m | The highest point in the Maldives is an unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu at 2.4m (7.88 ft.)
Population: 444,259 (2018
Capital: Male
Government: Republic, Presidential system, Unitary stat
Language: Maldivian (Dhivehi)
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a South Asian sovereign state, positioned in the Arabian Sea. The Maldives is made up of a chain of 26 atolls that stretch from the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to the Addu City in the south.
The country is one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population. Malé is the capital and the most populated city in the Maldives.
The Maldives archipelago is located atop Chagos-Laccadive Ridge - an expansive marine range in the Indian Ocean. Given the country's average ground elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft.) above sea level, the Maldives is the world's lowest country.
The dominant economic activity in the Maldives is fishing and it remains the largest sector. Tourism is the second rapidly growing industry. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper middle-income economy.
The country is made up 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain. The largest island is called Gan and more than 80% of the Maldives' land is composed of coral islands.
The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate and two seasons dominate the weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeastern monsoon and the rainy season, which includes storms and strong winds.
There are a diverse variety of habitats, including reef ecosystems and shallow coast. This part of the Indian Ocean is home to 1,100 species of fish and 187 species of coral.
Our video features aim to bring our adventure tours to life in a way that no photo can, giving you a great taste of the destination.
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.
The Maldives is truly a slice of heaven on earth. From sparkling blue waters to infinite beaches, from colourful coral reef palaces to vibrant local culture, the Maldives offers the chance for a coastal holiday that is relaxing, thrilling, and fulfilling all at once.
Planning a Maldives tour? Get some insight into the local cuisine you're more than likely to come across!
