TRAVEL POINTERS British Airways flies from London Gatwick to the Maldives direct . The flight time is about 10 and a half hours . The flights are not daily . Emirates flies from London , Birmingham , Manchester or Glasgow to the Maldives with a change of aircraft in Dubai . The flight time is about 11 hours in total plus time for the change in Dubai . The connecting times are very good and the prices we offer you allow for a stopover in Dubai , making the Maldives and Dubai an excellent two-centre holiday option . Qatar Airways flies from London to Malé via Doha . The flights are not daily . SriLankan Airlines flies from London Heathrow to Malé both direct and via Colombo . The flight time is about 12 hours in total . Once you reach Malé we have included the most appropriate type of transfer to your hotel , either by speedboat or seaplane . Details can be found under the individual hotel descriptions .
FACTUAL Time difference : GMT + 5 . Language : Divehi . Population : about 300,000 . Size of the Maldives : 298 sq kilometres of land on 1192 islands in an area of sea measuring 754 kilometres long and 118 kilometres wide . Currency : Rufiya ( about 17 rufiyas = £ 1 ). Capital : Malé . Alcohol : is illegal outside the resorts and alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the country .
WEATHER Temperatures are consistently hot averaging about 31 degrees Centigrade . Sea temperatures average about 27 degrees Centigrade . The year is divided into two monsoon periods , the north-east monsoon from December to March ( drier ) and the south-west monsoon from May to November ( wetter months with stronger winds ).
GETTING OUT AND ABOUT Your island resort is reached by boat or plane from Malé . Traditional transport from island to island is by dhoni , but it is not usual for visitors to the Maldives to visit islands that are not resorts as invitations and permits are required .
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS The rich underwater life of coral , reef fish , sharks , rays and turtles . Bodu beru traditional music and dance . Traditional seating – the undholi ( like a hammock ) and the joli ( a net seat hung from a wooden frame ). Local crafts include mats , lacquer work and jewellery . Traditional dhoni boats . Tea shops in Malé with a selection of ‘ short eats ’ including rice pudding , curried fish cakes and small bananas .
TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS Depending on the type of transfer that is provided by your hotel ( sea-plane or boat ), you may have to leave the hotel at the time stipulated by the hotel which may mean waiting time at Malé . The transfers are arranged by the hotel and are not private for your party ( sometimes these can be arranged at an extra charge ) and particularly with seaplanes , they need to fly in daylight hours . The time of your transfer back to Malé is confirmed locally by the hotel . If the transfer time involves a wait of several hours at Malé , you could stay at a closer hotel ( eg Banyan Tree ) for the time or in an hotel in Malé itself ( you would just pay for a dayroom yourself at the hotel of your choice ).
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