Maldives

Make your dream holidays come true in the perfect natural combination of sunshine, endless white sand beaches and deep turquoise lagoons...

For a long time, the Republic of the Maldives was one of the best-kept secrets in the world; a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and sun seekers alike. Now the tourism potential of the country has developed significantly: the islands have become an increasingly popular long-haul destination. Many islands embrace enormous lagoons, where bright blue-green water laps gently.

Local time: GMT/UTC +5             Currency: Rufiyaa and Laaree

Climate: The Maldives have a sunny tropical climate which is warm all year round. Average temperature around 29 - 32 °C. February is the driest month and from January to April it is relatively dry. May and October records the highest average monthly rainfall

Language: Dhivehi but English is commonly spoken

Best time to visit: If you're looking for a few extra hours of sunshine then you should visit the Maldives between December and April, which is also the brilliant height of the dry season. The Christmas-New Year period is the busiest and most expensive part of the high season

Things to do: The country has 26 natural atolls and the resort islands offer nautical delights from night-fishing trips, windsurfing and scuba diving

Things to know: Between May and November it's still warm, but the skies can be cloudy, humidity is higher and rain squalls and tropical storms blow in on the southwest monsoon. This is the official low season. The transition months of November and April are said to be associated with increased water clarity and better visibility for divers