The Maldives is promoted as 'the last paradise on earth'. If your idea of paradise is a pristine tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives is the place to go.

The country is very popular with scuba-divers for its fabulous coral reefs and the enormous variety of marine life. But the Maldives is not cheap and low budget backpackers who want to travel independently will have a hard time finding cheap transportation and accommodation, as well as special permits to stay outside the resorts. Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed. The country lacks local resources, so everything visitors need has to be imported. As a result, the island-nation can not compete on price. The strategy has been to develop a limited number of quality resorts, each on its own uninhabited island, free from traffic, crime and crass commercialism.

The tourism strategy also aims to minimize the adverse effects of tourism on traditional Muslim communities. Tourists can make short guided visits to local fishing villages, but must then return to their resort. To stay longer or to travel to atolls outside the tourist zone requires a good reason, a special permit and a local person to sponsor the visitor.

The high season in the Maldives runs from December to April, when the weather is warm and dry. During this period, accommodation is often fully booked and prices are higher than the rest of the year. The low season is between May and November, the temperatures are also warm, but it is often cloudy and rain is more likely. This is the low season. There are fewer tourists and prices are lower. The transition months of November and April are said to be associated with increased water clarity and better visibility for divers.

Most holidays in the Maldives are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and the dates vary from year to year. The most important religious event is the Ramadan Islamic month of fasting, which is locally known as rorda mas.

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