MALDIVES

One of the most attractive destinations are the exotic Maldives. Tours of this beautifulplace are becoming more popular among sophisticated public. Republic of Maldives is located in the equatorial Indian Ocean, about 700 km south-west of Sri Lanka and is a 
chain of 20 atolls, which, in turn, consist of 1192 coral islands. Of these about 200 are inhabited. The highest point of the archipelago - at the southern atoll of
 Addu - 2.4 m
The total area is about 300 km ². The state capital - Male. This is the only town and portof the archipelago, which is located on the same atoll.
Holidays in the Maldives makes it possible to modern man feel like Robinson Crusoe - many atolls in the Maldives is still uninhabited.

Maldives Today
Democratic Republic. The country is a member of the Commonwealth. The head of state and government - a president who is elected for a five-year term. The legislature -unicameral parliament (54 MPs). Maldives is divided into 19 provinces (atolls) and the
Capital Region Male.
All tours begin in the Maldives with the arrival of this largest island of the archipelago.

Male
Male, the capital of the state, its commercial and political center. Area Male - Over 1.77 km2 in the city is home to more than 60 thousand people. Male - the busiest and most popular island of the archipelago. Among the historical and religious attractions Male - Grand Friday Mosque, Massid al-Sultan Mohammed al-Thakurufaanu Az Deputy - the largest mosque in the Maldives with a majestic golden dome. The mosque can accommodate 5,000 people. It also includes the Islamic Center.Also interesting is the old Friday Mosque with its minaret, the tombs of national heroes and members of the royal family and a unique painting in the building of the mosque and royal cemeteries.In addition, the Male is worth a visit the tomb of legendary saints, Mulee-arg - the Presidential Palace and National Museum in the Park Sultan. All these attractions are just 10 minutes away from each other.It is very picturesque spectacle of a fruit, vegetable and wood markets, where people from other atolls trade their goods. Nearby is the fish market in the morning it was empty, and only in the afternoon here begin to throng the fishermen with their catch.Through the art of fishing, a virtuoso of cleaning and cutting fish right behind the counters, the market is very popular among tourists. Holidays in the Maldives is very measured and calm, but in Malé there 
are several discos and nightclubs.

CLIMATE
The climate is tropical in the Maldives, from November to March, dry weather persists through the influence of northeast monsoon. From June to August the weather affected the south-west monsoon with rain. Hot weather is year-round temperatures range from 24 ° to 30 ° C. Travel to the Maldives throughout the year bring you joy of tropical nature!The best time to arrange a vacation in the Maldives is between November to late April: at this time is a calm sea, sun and dry weather. From May to October the southwest monsoon may bring short-term rainfall for this period is characterized by not too hot weather, high humidity and the excitement of the sea. In June, there are storms and high waves. The water temperature throughout the year remains at +24 - +27 ° C.In the Maldives, no rivers and lakes, therefore, despite the abundance of rainfall, there is a shortage of fresh water. In the wells and water tanks, rain, the taste is slightly salty. The islands grow coconut palms and bananas.A little blood-sucking insects, but the evening is better to use repellents. As elsewhere on the equator, the Maldives is very short, only a quarter of an hour, morning and evening, and immediately after them come a bright day with a hot sun or the dark night.The average temperature in Male:
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
t, ° C +26 +27 +28 +30 +30 +28 +27 +26 +27 +28 +27 +26

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Restrictions on the import or export of foreign and local currency does not. Travel to the Maldives to import duty-free allow you to 200 pc. cigarettes and up to 125 ml of perfume, as well as articles of personal consumption (no more than one item per person).
Transportation of alcohol is strictly forbidden in any amount, including those bought in stores duty free, salami, pork and produce from her arms for underwater hunting,obscene publications and drugs.
The export of black coral and products thereof (other than gifts made ​​officially certified bythe manufacturers), products from the shell of the sea turtles, as well as objects andthings found on the seabed.


CURRENCY
Local currency - Maldivian Rufiyaa, 1 rufii - 100 GEL.
In the course of banknotes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rufy, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 GEL. Universally accepted U.S. dollars and major credit cards(American Express, Visa, Master card, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Card). On arrival to exchange dollars for local currency is not required.
When leaving the remaining rufii can be exchanged back into dollars. Change thecurrency in the bank and the big stores, which hangs a special mark next to the signs of international tourist cards.
Rates of local currency against major currencies:
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) / Ruble (RUB) 10 RUB = 5.45 MVR, 1 MVR = 1.83 RUB;
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) / U.S. Dollar (USD) 1 USD = 12.79 MVR, 100 MVR = 7.82 USD;
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) / Euro (EUR) 1 EUR = 20.15 MVR, 100 MVR = 4.96 EUR.


Cuisine in Maldives
If you are going to Maldives holidays in this paradise will take you a lot of gourmet sensations, you can taste the unique dishes. The local cuisine strong Indian and Arab culinary traditions. It is widely used rice, seafood, spices and various spicy seasonings, as well as in different kinds of fish - smoked, dried, cooked.The main byudo - cooked tuna with rice and various sauces (most often coconut curry) and pepper, as well as "hikimas" - dried and smoked fish. We recommend to try the fish pie, coconut and onion "badges" fish pie "coolies borkiba", a traditional fish soup and rice, "Garuda", tuna cakes with coconut "hum", baked fish with chilli paste "fihunu weight" rolls fried fish, "Kimia" fish paste "rihaukuru" fried fish with pepper and garlic "teluli May," etc.Of the meat dishes islanders eat mostly chicken, and then on holiday or in special dishes. The basis of the diet of the islanders - rice cooked in coconut milk with a variety of vegetables, pepper, fish or seafood, as well as bananas, papaya, mango, pumpkin, sweet potato, or breadfruit.Corporate dessert - coconut in all kinds, sweet rice dishes and vegetables. Popular coconut milk, pudding, fruit and vegetable salads and pastries. The main drink - tea, drink it with milk and sugar. Ordinary black tea does not enjoy the love of the locals, but there are everywhere. There is a growing gets coffee, mostly in Arabic, but, like all imported products, it is rather expensive. In very good heat juices, local sweet milk "sarbat Cyrus 'sweet toddy' time," drink "Sugi" and low-alcohol beverage "grad" of the fermented milk of palm.

TRANSPORT
On the resort islands have their own boats for transfers, it is either speed boats orseaplanes.
Between the inhabited islands, there is no regular transport system. The transport system is ad hoc served mainly by local motorboats dhoni (dhoani) or baththeli, their averagespeed - about 10 km / h. Rentals can take the dhoni and even modern boats. The airlineAir Maldives offers regular flights to airports Hanimaadu, Kadhdu, Kaadedhdu and Ghana.
The most popular types of land transport - bicycles and motorcycles. In Male 'and other major islands you can rent a car. Restless tourist can buy a tour to the Maldives, andtravel around on a motor boat all the atolls, island after island, including uninhabited.