COST EXCLUDES: Airfare, airport taxes, meals not mentioned, any cost of personal nature, any cost not mentioned in ‘Cost Includes’ section COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISE FOR MALDIVES:  On Arrival to Maldives : To ensure safety of all, the health protocol agency (HPA) has made it a mandatory requirement for all tourist and other travellers entering Maldives for short term stay to present a negative PCR test result for Covid-19. The said PCR test has to be conducted within a maximum of 96 hrs prior to departure to Maldives  In accordance to health requirements all travellers travelling to Maldives are required to submit an online Self declarative Health Declaration via https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv within 24 hours prior their departure to and from Maldives.  On Departure from Maldives : Negative PCR Result is not compulsory when departing from Maldives, if required then Resorts in Maldives are conducting PCR Test in resort itself on a chargeable basis ; in case if guest wishes to do before reaching India, they can avail the services.  With the prevalent COVID-19 situation, there are frequent changes in Protocols - which are completely at the discretion of the authorities; whether foreign or domestic. U & I Holidays being a DMC involved in the ‘Booking of Services’ only, cannot be held liable in whatsoever way regarding the discrepancies in communication by several state and country authorities respectively. Travel agents need to verify the information available in public domain for the smooth sailing of their customers

Maldives officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small archipelagic state in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) from the Asian continent's mainland. The chain of 26 atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south (across the Equator). Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population, with around 515,696 inhabitants. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynasties ruled for its central location.[12]

The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep.[13] With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level,[14] it is the world's lowest-lying country, with even its highest natural point being one of the lowest in the world, at 5.1 metres (17 ft).[14]

In the 12th century Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid-16th-century the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform,[15] and environmental challenges posed by climate change.[16]

Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper-middle income economy.[17] Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. Maldives rate "high" on the Human Development Index,[11] with per-capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations.[18]

Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest at allegations by the other nations of its human rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support.