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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.

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 defense against wind and wave, the Maldives covers a total area of 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles), yet only 0.5 percent of this is land. Not surprisingly, this aquatic nation is considered one of the top ten 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 where around 65,000 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.

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

Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Time and distance to city centre

The capital, Malé, is 25 minutes by speedboat, or 20 kilometres/12 miles.

Time and distance to shopping

Limited shopping facilities are available in the capital, Malé, which is 25 minutes by speedboat, or 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Resort.

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Seasonal highlights

January-December

Guests can see Napolean wrasse, reef fish and turtles during dives and snorkelling.

May-October

Guests can see Manta Rays during dives.

November-March

This is the season to see sharks, eagle rays and dolphins during dives.