• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Sailing in Hong Kong - inclusive sailing courses by charity SailabilityMaking sailing accessible to everyone
        • We chat with two GSIS families
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • A New Home in The New Territories
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Reclusive Means Exhibition at Pearl Lam Galleries Hong KongTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • Best playgrounds & parks for the kids
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • We chat with two GSIS families
        • A boarding school with wildlife on the doorstep!
        • Children's teeth and bracesKids and braces – all you need to know
        • Child reading for web article on Books and Brains - helping children with reading and phonicsHelp for children struggling with reading
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • A New Home in The New Territories
        • Transforming an old Hong Kong junk
        • Image of Altfield home furnishings showroomWhere to get designer home furnishings
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Laura Pezza
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Son Doong CaveJourney into the world’s largest cave
        • Famous movie locations in Asia - Hong Kong - Gage Street8 Famous Movie Locations in Asia
        • Gaining access to an EU passport
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • Popcorn Shrimp with Spicy Honey Mayo
        • Indulgent chocolate cake - recipeRecipe: Indulgent Chocolate Cake
        • Spicy Asian Coleslaw - recipeRecipe: Spicy Asian Coleslaw
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • where to get botox in hong kongBotox in Hong Kong – All you need to know
        • Where to buy (and sell!) watches
        • Face masks, spa products, body scrubsWe test body scrubs, creams, masks & more!
        • Hong Kong Spas - Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong - facial and body treatmentTried and Tested: 2 Luxury Spa Treatments
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • family dental clinics and dentists in Hong KongFamily Dental Clinics and Dentists in HK
        • Children's teeth and bracesKids and braces – all you need to know
        • Safe & healthy eating during pregnancy
        • Couples therapy for divorce and separation, MindNLife Hong KongDivorce: how to break up with dignity
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Close

Travelling to The Maldives from Hong Kong: All you need to know

30 November, 2016 by Expat Living 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/travelling-to-the-maldives-from-hong-kong-all-you-need-to-know/

Are you heading off on holiday to the Maldives from Hong Kong soon? We’ ve covered all the basics and things to know before you leave:

Population: 330,000

Capital: Malé

Currency: Rufiyaa, Laree, and US dollars are accepted in most resorts

Language: Dhivehi and English

Religion: Sunni Muslim

Emergency number: 102

These guys are waiting to say 'hi'
These guys are waiting to say ‘hi’

Visa, Please

Who needs one?

No visa is required to enter the Maldives. Easy!

 

Health Hints

Medical facilities are limited to two hospitals on the capital island, and neither has a trauma unit. Treatment can be expensive so make sure your travel insurance is comprehensive.

 

Learn the Lingo

Hello: Assalaamu Alaikum

Thank you: Shukuriyaa

What time is it? Gadin kihaa ireh?

Yes/ no: Aan/ noon

How much does this cost? Agu kihaavareh?

 

Let’s Explore: Hot Spots

The Maldives is less about choosing a destination and more about choosing a luxury resort! Malé has a bit more going for it than many people think, and it at least gives a taste of Maldivian “street” culture, plus mosques, markets and more.

 

Itinerary Ideas

There are really only two decisions to make regarding a Maldives itinerary: either you fly into Malé and then take a ferry to one of the resorts that are located closer to the capital, or you opt for a connecting sea-plane flight to a more far-flung atoll. If you choose the latter, it will often mean you’ll require an overnight stay in Malé itself.

 

Times & Dates

Flying time

6 ½ hours

 

Time difference from Hong Kong

3 hours behind

dreamstime_xxl_5365959

When to go

The dry season between December and April is the most popular, with accommodations particularly in demand at Christmas and New Year. Between May and November, the weather is still hot but there is a greater chance of rain.

 

Key dates

9 July: Ramadan. All Maldivians mark the month of Ramadan, but service at the resorts should remain uninterrupted.

26 July: Independence Day. Commemorating the Maldives’ independence from the British protectorate in 1965.

11 November: Republic Day. This is a day that wishes peace and prosperity for its islands inhabitants. Expect parades with an Arabian influence.

 

Culture Corner

Before you go, watch…

The Island President. The story of the ousted President Nasheed and his fight for democracy and against climate change.

 

Before you go, read…

The Strode Venturer by Hammond Innes. A 1965 thriller novel set partly in the Maldives.

Maldives: Kingdom of a Thousand Isles by Andrew Forbes. History, culture, politics, economics: all are covered in considerable detail in this guide.

 

While you’re there, please don’t…

go from beach to bar or restaurant in you bikini. Although the resorts are tolerant, you will be asked to cover up in areas other than the beach. And definitely don’t go topless, it’s illegal.

 

For more dreamy destinations head over to our Travel page and start planning your next trip!

Categories: Newsletter Short Breaks Travel

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Gaining access to an EU passport

Famous movie locations in Asia - Hong Kong - Gage Street

8 Famous Movie Locations in Asia

Staycation Sanctuary at Rosewood’s Asaya

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.