Maldives at Kuda Huraa

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

Spring:

• Sea Conditions: Seas are generally calm with a glass-like surface, providing excellent opportunities for a variety of water sports, including wakeboarding and waterskiing.
• Marine Wildlife: Guests can see coral spawning during night dives, with the greatest display in late March.
• Migrations: The Maldives is on the migration path of dolphins and some of the world's largest whales, including sperm, false killer and blue whales. Limited sightings of these gentle giants are possible during dives.

Summer:

• Sea Conditions: A combination of large swells from ocean currents and the western monsoon creates ideal conditions for surfing charters.
• Marine Wildlife: Guests can see manta rays while diving and snorkelling at pelagic hotspots close to the Resort, such as Hanifaru Bay and Bathalaa.
  
• Ramadan takes place for an entire month, with the Maldives operating on shortened work and school hours to fast throughout the day.
• Independence Day is celebrated with parades, fireworks and abbreviated work schedules.
  

Autumn:

• Marine Wildlife: This is the season to see sharks, eagle rays and dolphins during dives.
• Eid al-Adha celebrates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Animals are sacrificed across the nation in honor of the prophet's actions.
  

Winter:

• Marine Wildlife: Guests can see Napoleon wrasse, reef fish and turtles while diving and snorkelling.
• Islamic New Year is celebrated in a quiet manner, with house cleaning, new clothes buying and praying the primary activities.
• National Day marks the day Muhammad Thakurufaanu gained victory over the Portuguese colonial powers. The day is marked with fireworks, parades and marches.

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.