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
Photo credit: agoda.com
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
Photo credit: wallpaperstock.net
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
Palau (Belau) is a group of islands in the Micronesia area of Oceania, to the southeast of the Philippines. Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82°F (28°C), although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone.
Tourism is Palau’s most important industry, and it is one of the wealthiest nations in the Pacific. It’s a magnet for tropical vacationers and a revered UNESCO World Heritage site.
President Remengesau declared most of Palau’s territorial waters, the size of California, a marine sanctuary in 2015.
The Palau Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is connected by the Friendship Bridge to the main city of Koror. The larger and more luxurious resorts are set closest to the dive sites.
The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud. It has only been the capital city since 2006. The city of Koror previously held the title of capital. Palauan are making the largest ethnic group of the country. Other minority ethnic groups include Chinese, Vietnamese, White, Carolinian, and Filipino.
Palauians are known for their hospitality, and they are largely very happy to welcome and show respect for foreign visitors and cultural differences. However, this respect should be returned. Visitors should not violate historic areas, pollute the environment, harm the ocean, or denigrate the people or local culture.
Palau is also one of the few places in the world to see the nautilus. Don’t forget to check out the many shipwrecks which are littered with nudibranch, scorpionfish, pipefish and other critters.
The diving season is all year round, but the best time to dive Palau is during the “dry” season, between October – June.
This is one of the most beautiful island destinations on the planet and also one that is renowned for its incredibly diverse dive sites.
Kayak or snorkel tour of the Rock Islands
The famous Rock Islands are a maze of unsurpassed beauty—tropical gardens atop limestone ridges set in glass-clear waters.
From Koror you can take easy day-trips to the jungle-capped Rock Islands, to Turtle Cove, Soft Coral Arch, and Ngemelis Wall. The only free public place in Koror where you can find coral reef is Icebox Park, located within walking distance from the port.
The best way is to explore kayaking is by joining tours. Kayaks are specially developed for paddling on open waters of lakes or oceans.
It is a snorkeler’s paradise, and expeditions can take you on an in-depth exploration of Palau both above and below the water’s surface.
Ngardmau Falls
The Ngardmau Waterfall is located on the island of Babeldaob and it is Palau’s tallest waterfall.
The waterfall was designated the “Taki” Conservation Area in 2005 and expanded in the area in 2010. The conservation area includes a variety of terrestrial habitats, with upland old-growth forest, savanna, river, swamp forest, and secondary forest. The conservation area is part of the Middle Ridge Important Bird Area, and the endangered Micronesian megapode has been observed there, in addition to other endemic birds.
The constant foot traffic on the dirt trail has substantially increased erosion and sedimentation into the river. This threatens the community water source, river fauna, and marine flora and fauna at the river mouth.
There are 52 basalt megaliths, some of them weighing over 5 tonnes. The purpose of these monoliths are unknown, many believe that they served as supports of what could have been the largest bai (meeting house) ever built in Palau.
Six of these stone monoliths have rough faces carved into them. Island settled over 1,000 years before by inhabitants of the Philippines
Belau National Museum is Micronesia’s oldest museum. To get closer to the customs and an introduction to the natural history of the region or browse the extensive exhibits focusing on Palauan art, communities, and traditions. Here you’ll find an impressive array of specimens, artifacts, and models inform you about the area’s diverse animal and plant life, spiritual and ceremonial history.
The museum was established in 1955 and it was originally located in the former Japanese Administration Weather Bureau building and later relocated to a new building. The museum exhibits artifacts from all aspects of the local life of Palauan people.
The Milky Way is located in the rock islands of this Micronesian country and is famous for its being a natural spa treatment. Locals and tourists look forward to applying the white limestone mud from the lagoon all over their bodies. Locals claim that applying the mud will make you lose ten years off your age.
The Milky Way Lagoon also offers a stunning view of natural beauty and it is a nice place to have a soothing, relaxing and peaceful time.
Visit the Airai Bai
Palau’s oldest bai is over 100 years old, 21m long and 6m wide. Airai Bai is a men’s meetinghouse where we can gain a unique insight into local customs.
Palau was first inhabited by Austronesian settlers and it developed a unique society where women often played a dominant rule in government and religion.
The assembly hall is 79 by 20 feet, rising to a height of 40 feet. The roof is woven from nipa leaves and tropical woods are used across the floors and walls.
Etpison Museum
Learn about Palauan Culture at the Etpison Museum. The museum is open 9-5 Monday – Saturday and there is a $10 entry fee.
The museum features cultural displays with dioramas, and includes displays on the history and foreign influence, traditional money types, the famous 1st childbirth ceremony, Palau and Yap canoes.
The museum opened the Captain Wilson Art Gallery at the Palau Pacific Resort in April 2017, which showcases Palau’s nature and culture through the photography of Mandy Etpison.
Do you need a Palau visa?
Visas are not required for USA, UK, CAN and AUS. US citizens are issued a free one year visa on arrival. UK, AUS and CAN citizens are issued a free 30-day tourist visa upon arrival.
Taiping is among the top 3 most sustainable cities in the world, according to the 2019 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Awards, right behind Ljubljana, Slovenia and Vancouver, Canada in the “Best of Cities” category!
ITB Berlin hosted the most prestigious Awards Ceremony for Sustainable Destinations. This event is dedicated to recognizing innovation and good practices in tourism management: islands, towns, regions and whole countries. The award winners have been selected by a Jury representing 12 international organizations.
Taiping rated as one of the top green destinations.
The town’s Municipal Council president Datuk Abd Rahim Md Ariff received the award.
Taiping Municipal Council president Datuk Abd Rahim Md Ariff said, “This is the first time we received a prestigious international award. This achievement is due to the hard work of the community and all relevant governmental agencies.”
“The council always works hard to make Taiping a popular tourist destination,” Abd Rahim added.
The “Best of Cities” category of the awards recognizes cities that show leadership in urban sustainability and in avoiding disruptive over-tourism.
Taiping is the second largest town in Perak after the state capital Ipoh. The town also is known as the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia. Its unusual rainfall has also blessed its Lake Gardens with a fertile and splendid collection of flora and century-old rain trees. Itis characterized by aging buildings and clear blue skies with high chances of rain.
Green Destinations, a non-profit organization that focuses on the efforts of creating sustainable tourism, leading global cooperation between experts, listed Taiping on its 100 Sustainable Cities list in December 2018.
Taiping used to be a thriving tin-mining town that lost its luster with the rise of Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur as cities.
Taiping has previously been recognized as the Best Destination Manager 2016 by the Tourism Promotion Board for the Asia Pacific; besides having received the Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Award 2017 in Best Heritage and Eco Travel Destination Category and Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Award 2018 for the Best Tourism Promotion Campaign.
For those who have not visited Taiping, it is time to consider visiting this beautiful city!
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.
Photo credit: agoda.com
Photo credit: visitmaldives.com
Photo credit: wallpaperstock.net
Photo credit: snorkelaroundtheworld.com
Photo credit: constancehotels.com
1 Comment
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.