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Highlights
General information
A double string of 1,190 coral islands to the southwest of Sri Lanka, stretching north to just south of the equator, make up the Republic of Maldives. This archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 130 kilometres (81 miles) at its widest point and 820 kilometres (510 miles) in length, is also the flattest in the world, with the highest natural land less than 2.4 metres (8 feet) above sea level.
Grouped into 26 atolls – ring-shaped coral formations enclosing a lagoon, which provide a natural defence against wind and wave – the Maldives covers a total area of 859,000 square kilometres (331,661 square miles), yet only 1% of this is land. Not surprisingly, this aquatic nation is considered one of the top 10 diving spots in the world. With only 200 inhabited islands and an additional 98 islands developed exclusively as tourist resorts, tourism is the dominant support for the economy.
Malé is the capital of the Republic of Maldives, an island 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long and 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) wide. Though built to the edge, Malé is clean and quaint, with markets, mosques and a maze of small streets that approximately 103,000 people call home. A pleasant 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé International Airport, visitors are welcomed to the enchanting island of Kuda Huraa, where Four Seasons awaits.
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Seasonal highlights
January-December
Guests can see Napoleon wrasse, reef fish and turtles while diving and snorkelling.
February-March
- Seas are generally calm with a glass-like surface, providing excellent opportunities for a variety of water sports, including wakeboarding and waterskiing.
- Guests can see coral spawning during night dives, with the greatest display in late March.
May-October
- Guests can see manta rays while diving and snorkelling.
- A combination of large swells from ocean currents and the western monsoon creates ideal conditions for surfing charters.
November-March
This is the season to see sharks, eagle rays and dolphins during dives.
Whether you need to know local public holidays or highlights through the seasons, we hope you will find the facts gathered below useful tools for your travel planning. Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you further.
More About the Maldives
Quick Reference
Time zone
GMT +5 hours in Malé
GMT +6 hours at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
Language(s) spoken
Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives, with its strong Arabic influence is as exotic as it sounds. The language with its own script is spoken only in the Maldives. All services at tourist resorts are available in English.
Electrical system
Local voltage is 220 to 240 volts AC. Adapters in all rooms, transformers available; please request through Housekeeping.
Shopping hours
The Resort Shop is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Working hours
Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Malé, the capital city