Maldives From Above — Stunning Aerial Photos that Will Make You Want to Fly there Now

Last Updated on January 11, 2019

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ittle atolls rise from the dark blue water like droplets of turquoise pearls, in different shapes and sizes. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them, scattered randomly all over the Indian Ocean. It’s as if Mother Earth had sprinkled a handful of sapphire gems into the sea and created this nation of atolls.

In actual fact, Maldives is made up of approximately 1,200 coral islands — only about 200 inhabited — grouped into a double chain that resemble a necklace draped along an undersea plateau. The islands are small, and none rise more than 1.8 meters (6 feet) above sea level. They are spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world.

Maldives is known affectionately as paradise on Earth, and as cliche as it sounds, I can’t help but agree.

The island nation is one of those places where you have to take to the sky and see it from above. And you don’t even need to take a pricey seaplane to get those views.

On board a commercial airline, we fly just low enough to feast on stunning aerial views of the Maldives. As the plane made its descent, the view became even clearer, as coral reefs, resorts and sand banks revealed themselves.

Words don’t do Maldives any justice – I’ll let our photos do the talking. Here are some iPhone photos I shot while on the plane. Enjoy the colors!

Travel Insurance for Frequent Travelers

I’ve been using Safety Wing for years now, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made as a frequent traveler. Their Nomad Insurance plan is affordable and provides solid coverage for medical emergencies regardless of where I’m traveling. It’s been super reliable for me, and I think you’ll find it just as helpful on your adventures!

Different shades of blue as seen from the plane.

Maldives is made up of 1200 islands – when seen from above, they look like little pearls shimmering in a sea of blue.

Atolls as seen up close.

Male Airport in the distance – the government is reclaiming more land to expand the island.

An island resort seen from the plane.

It was really cool to see our hotel Sheraton Maldives from the air.

Coral reefs and sand bars surround these islets.

An uninhabited island with a large sandbar underneath the water surface.

Don’t you wish you were cast away on this island?

Arriving at Male Airport.

How to: