The Maldives is stunning, but let’s be honest, every picture basically looks the same. So how can you decide on the right private island? Having investigated hundreds, first hand, here we share our top 5 resorts to help you find the right one for you. The Maldives are where people come to experience island life at its most relaxed — and most beautiful.
Tourism in the Maldives includes ecotourism, natural beauty, scuba diving, snorkeling, underwater scenery and listed as best recreational diving destinations in the world.
Here are our top 5 islands in Maldives
Fihalhohi Island
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Fihalhohi Island offers a great holiday with family and you will see the tropical natural beauty of the Indian Ocean.
Alimatha Island
Photo credit: visitmaldives.com
Alimatha Island of Maldives is rated as one of the best dive sites in the country and famous for its white beaches and aquamarine lagoons.
Ambara Island
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Ambara Island is located in Felidhoo Island. Our Vaavu Atoll sightseeing planner makes visiting Ambara Island and other Vaavu Atoll attractions simple and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.
Biyadoo Island
Photo credit: snorkelaroundtheworld.com
Biyadhoo Island is located 29 km from Male International Airport and famous for water sport activities such as windsurfing, canoe paddling, snorkeling, scuba diving and Catamaran.
Halaveli Island
Photo credit: constancehotels.com
Halaveli Island is a real paradise of the Maldives where the blue sky is as blue as the sea and the white sand of the beach are as white as the clouds in the sky.
Many people think about the Maldives as a dream holiday destination and never turn these dreams into reality because they believe that a Maldives holiday is too expensive. But with little research, we say that you can easily find deals that fit your budget! The differences are huge in service and in price level between the islands, there are 6-star luxury resort islands but fair hotels at affordable prices too. We recommend to set your maximum budget first, find a few hotels you like and start comparing prices on booking sites. It is always worth giving chance to travel agencies’ package prices. They might have good offers on complete (flight+hotel) options.
Maldives is an all-year destination with a hot, humid climate with two seasons. The monsoon season starts in May and ends in October. The rainiest months are June and July. The dry season runs from November to April. The best weather you can except between December and April
Bhutan is a small country located in the Himalayas with a population of over 800,000. The kingdom is a global leader in environmentally sustainable development. Its social, economic, political and spiritual foundations are rooted in the idea of Gross National Happiness – equitable socio-economic development, preservation of culture, conservation of the environment and good governance.
The UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative in the country helps to ensure that environmentally sustainable considerations remain an integral part of the country’s national development plans.
“The program provides an ideal platform for creating enabling conditions for achieving poverty reduction and environmental sustainability,” says Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi, Minister of Labour and Human Resources.
Bhutan is an example of sustainable development
Bhutan is committed to carbon neutrality, and environmental considerations are implemented into its Constitution, including a requirement that the country preserves 60 percent of its land as a forest.
This small country is an example of sustainable socio-economic development in harmony with nature for the other countries.
Bhutan is one of the world’s happiest and greenest country. Tourists need a visa to explore this South Asian country unless you are from India, Bangladesh, or the Maldives. The visa costs $40 plus there is an additional $250 “Minimum Daily Package Fee” and it needs to be booked through an officially approved tour operator. This fee covers lodging in three-star accommodations, all meals, a licensed tour guide, camping and trekking equipment, domestic travel, and taxes and fees.
There is a $65 daily sustainable development fee which is included in the package. This fee helps funding education, healthcare, the building of infrastructure for the growing tourism.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the country’s oldest conservation partner. Beginning in 1977 by supporting the capacity development of local conservation staff, the support gradually evolved into a full country program with several collaborative conservation projects. WWF Bhutan has been supporting the royal government and people of Bhutan in a number of conservation efforts to protect and conserve Bhutan’s natural capital and the immense biological diversity.
WWF Bhutan works on various environmental conservation programs including research and study, education and awareness, promotion of sustainable livelihoods, protection of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, and addressing human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change.
“It was easier for us than say India or China, because we have only 20 people per sq. km. We have also had political commitment,” says Vijay Moktan, conservation director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Bhutan.
The Bhutanese people’s love and respect for nature is part of their culture. Nature and biodiversity are not only a source of food and economic benefits in the kingdom but also important cultural and spiritual values.
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is working with different government agencies and several other related initiatives to integrate biodiversity, climate change and poverty elements in the country and contribute to poverty reduction and social progress.
BIOFIN success in Bhutan demonstrates the connection in conservation with the happiness of the Bhutanese people in their mountain stronghold.
“Our integrated approach to financing across sectors to tackle large challenges we face in preserving our biodiversity, mitigating and adapting to climate change and poverty alleviation, we believe, maybe a beacon of good sustainable development practice to the rest of the world.” said Ngawang Gyeltshen, BIOFIN National Coordinator.”
It is the only country in the world that has a negative carbon, which means it produces more oxygen than it consumes. According to UNFCCC report, the kingdom generates about 2.2 million tonnes of carbon annually, yet its forests absorb three times this amount, which creates a carbon sink.
“In 2014, the government imposed a 100% tax on the import of foreign cars, and people are still buying them,” says one Thimphu taxi driver, complaining about the increased traffic. “Where once people were content to walk everywhere, they now want cars.”
The Bhutanese government has also tied up with Nissan and Mahindra Reva to push electric cars. And in a very ambitious move, the country plans to go zero waste 100% organic and maintain its green cover.
In April, 108,000 trees were planted to celebrate the birth of the new prince.
“A car for each family has become more a necessity than a luxury in Bhutan because undisputedly the public transport is not only unreliable and inefficient, it is also often expensive,” writes Sonam Tashi, a lecturer, in a letter to the local paper. “The people are paying for the government’s incompetence.”
Bhutan’s agricultural income is declining and can’t support the increasing population. The country is heavily dependent on imports — nearly 50% of its rice comes from India.
“The Himalayan ecosystem is very fragile. Water resources are critical for us—because our chief export is hydropower—and the only way to save water is to save the forests.”, says Namgyel, one of Bhutan’s negotiators at the Paris climate change agreement in December 2015.
Bhutan for Life, Brand Bhutan, and the Ecotourism program are just a few of the initiatives bringing interest to for tourists, investors, trading and development partners.
Taiping is a charming old tin-mining town in Perak, northern Malaysia, between the strong mountains of Ipoh and the murky seas of Georgetown. This small city is not known as a popular tourist spot, but it contains such a rich history of the country, the first railway, the oldest museum, good food, and scenic views of mountains, lakes, the first zoo, the oldest prison. and centuries-old rain trees.
The name Taiping is made up of two Chinese characters (tai – ‘great’) and (ping – ‘peace’). The area developed quickly in the 19th century when tin was discovered. The discovery of tin deposits in the area attracted settlers from China.
The months of June to August may be more convenient due to the slightly warmer and drier weather.
Taiping Lake Gardens opened in 1880 becoming Malaysia’s first park, built on the site of an old tin mine, its sprawling 62-hectare forest and lake offer a perfect spot for a picnic, chill out or relax. There are plenty of well-maintained tracks around the lake or you can rent a variety of small boats from the Pusat Rekreasi Dayung. There are lots of various plants, iconic rain trees that are dramatically bent downwards towards the lake that makes walking around it a wonderful experience.
Check this video taken from DJI Phantom 3 Profession from Mode Media MY
The Lake Gardens are also popular with cyclists as well as groups of martial artists.
Taiping Zoo
Taiping Zoo is Malaysia’s oldest zoo that houses more than 1,000 animals or 180 species of amphibians, mammals and reptiles. The zoo is located nearby Taiping Lake Gardens. It is also one of the popular things to do in Taiping, and the zoo has active participation in conservation and breeding efforts.
Perak’s oldest church
All Saint’s Church along Taming Sari Street is Perak’s oldest church. It was the first church in the Federated Malay States, founded in 1886. The church features a timber facade and gothic architectural design, with a small adjacent cemetery. Its cemetery is laden with beautifully crafted tombstones of European settlers.
Muzium Perak, otherwise known as the Perak Museum, was the first museum established in Malaysia in 1883. Located at the intersection of Jalan Muzium and Jalan Taming Sari, it sits directly opposite the Taiping Prison.
The 8474 exhibits displayed show Malaysia’s history, zoology, and geology, amongst many other parts of old history that have long been forgotten. Some of the exhibits show the culture and products of the indigenous tribes of Perak, including the Senoi and Negrito tribes.
Explore Taiping for FREE with an electric shuttle bus
After Taiping was established as a Heritage town, the shuttle buses were gifted to Taiping by the Japanese government. Not only are the shuttle buses convenient for tourists to go sightseeing in, the buses are also environmentally friendly. Buses stop in a total of thirty-nine places including Taiping Museum and Taiping Lake Gardens.
Visitors can board the bus along the Taiping Heritage Trail, the Zoo, Clock Tower, or Museum.
Founded in 1884, it is the oldest hill resort in Malaysia. It is approximately 1250 m above sea level. The name Maxwell comes from the first British resident of assistant of Perak. The hill was supposed to be a tea plantation, but the tea plants didn’t grow very well here, so the British planters moved to Cameron Highlands instead.
You can see different types of trees and plants here due to the slightly lower temperatures from the rest of the mainland.
Malaysia’s first railway station was situated in Taiping and was opened in 1885 when the Taiping-Port Weld Railway Line, Malaysia’s first, was opened.
Located about an hour drive away from Ipoh, Taiping Railway Station has been a heritage building in town, in which it acts as part of the history. The station remains in the state as a heritage site and serves as a tourist attraction.
Taiping Railway Station has a gallery explaining the 33 things that happened first in Taiping.
Covering an area of more than 40,000 hectares, Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is recognized as one of the most well-managed expanse of mangrove swamps in the world. Established in 1902, it is the largest mangrove reserve in Malaysia. Mangrove forests are considered as one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and have a well-established ecological, economic and cultural importance.
The state of Perak has received various international awards for its excellent maintenance of this mangrove.
The Burmese Pool is a large rock pool along a stream at the foothills of Bukit Larut, an especially popular weekend nature attraction among locals.
The area is popular with the locals who come here to bath in the river. Burmese Pool got its name from the natural rock pool fed by a waterfall.
Opened in 2015, by Malaysia’s largest bottled water manufacturer, dedicated Kidz Zone and 18-Hole Mini Golf, an ideal family retreat, the Spritzer EcoPark has a mini-golf course, and a rainforest walk with scenic views of the park. Entry to both the EcoPark and the bottling plant is free.
Watch this video from Malaysia Truly Asia to find out what are the must visit places when you are in Taiping.
Love the content. My husband and I run a diving center in Cyprus. We want to offer something more than diving to our existing customers. Anyone have any ideas? It can’t be coffee.
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Love the content. My husband and I run a diving center in Cyprus. We want to offer something more than diving to our existing customers. Anyone have any ideas? It can’t be coffee.