When relaxation is at the top of your list of what you’d like to do on holiday, Maldives, a chain of small islands in the Indian Ocean, is an ideal option. You won’t find big-scale shopping malls, fast-food outlets, traffic, or beaches that are jam-packed with sunbathers. The Maldives has a leisurely pace that allows visitors to de-stress and put worries far behind them. This is the kind of place where watching the sunset, or taking a nap in a hammock, could be the main events of the day.

 

While there are plenty of things to do and see, you never feel overwhelmed here. Travellers are encouraged to enjoy the islands at their own pace, and not to crowd their schedules with a plethora of activities. Resorts in the Maldives are some of the world’s very best, and the most luxurious, so if you find yourself content just to stay on-site, don’t worry. They were designed with that in mind. You’ll be able to spend your holiday having massages at the spa, gazing out at the ocean from a private over-water bungalow, or taking a leisurely walk through the grounds.

 

Surrounded by turquoise and emerald waters, it’s not surprising that many visitors come to scuba diving. The water conditions are ideal – clear and relatively calm – and the variety of sea life is astonishing. You may see manta rays, wrecks and vibrant coral formations. Truly magical, much like the Maldives themselves.

 

A hearty breakfast featuring mas huni (shredded smoked fish with onion and grated coconut) is a delicious way to start your day.

 

Pick up inexpensive saris at the local markets. You’ll find that a sari is about as dressed up as you’ll get in this relaxed destination.

 

Borrow snorkeling equipment from your resort and swim to offshore reefs, teeming with brilliantly coloured fish.