Overview

You have to hand it to the Maldivians. Here, on a far-flung archipelago of low coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, they have raised the notion of the private island resort to a fine art. The conservative Islamic nation encompasses nearly 1,200 islands stretched over some 35,000 square miles, but the scantily clad, beach-going overseas visitors are steered (and pretty much restricted) to about 90 small resort islands. These cater to an upscale clientele looking for a tropical getaway where the thatched huts come with fine linens and haute cuisine.

So what's paradise like, Maldives-style? In the small, crowded capital of Male, you can visit mosques and bustling street markets. But the outer isles are really a place for quiet comforts and doing less, not more. Aside from white-sand beaches and the amenities of a tropical resort, there's first-class diving, good fishing, and phenomenal surfing (a recent discovery among globe-trotting wave chasers). Whether enjoyed in slow -- or slower -- mode, these islands are a blue-lagoon getaway far from the outside world.

 Plan Your Trip

DIVING

Take advantage of the year-round warm water, the dazzling reefs, and visibility up to 150 feet. Virtually every resort island in the Maldives operates a professional dive center and has its own "house reef" close at hand, giving snorkelers easy access to a kaleidoscopic collection of tropical fish.

SURFING

Windsurf across waist-deep water in vast sheltered sandy lagoons (windsurfing lessons are available at most resorts), or take your surfboard and head offshore for some beyond-the-lagoon waves. The Maldives are one of the last, best-kept secrets in the surfing world. A trio of resort islands - Lohifushi, Kanifinoihu, and Tari Village - specialize in surfing trips. They'll motor you out for a day in the waves, but lately they've also begun offering longer trips, running small live-aboard boats to the North Male and South Male atolls.

FISHING

Generations of Maldivians have fished from small traditional sailboats called dhonis. Visitors, however, can board sportfishing boats to troll for marlin, swordfish, sailfish, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna. Those who don't feel like giving up their beach time during the day can try night fishing - anchored off a gentle reef in pursuit of red snapper under the stars.

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