Abha to Male Flights

  About Abha

Located in the Aseer Province is the lush green city of Abha in Saudi Arabia. The city's proximity to the Red Sea and other intriguing geographical features give it a canvas, unlike the rest of Saudi Arabia. The city's Aseer National Park is famously known for being home to some of the exotic birds. It also houses dense juniper forests. The city is famed for its mild temperatures and is hence, a prominent tourist destination in Saudi Arabia.

Best time to visit Abha

Unlike some parts of Saudi Arabia, Abha actually enjoys some pleasant weather with equal summers and winters. In fact, it is one of the colder parts of Saudi, which enjoys a mild climate all year long. The temperatures go as high as 34 degree Celsius during summers and are surprisingly quite low during winters. In fact, there was a time when the recorded temperature crossed the negatives. While this might have happened in the past, the temperatures don't cross negatives anymore. However, it is one of the pleasant cities in Saudi Arabia with a lovely weather that makes travelling ideal for every season. The winter season in Abha is from December to February. During these months, the temperature could touch a staggering low, and you might need to carry enough parkas to ensure that you don't have trouble breathing. The city's rough climate does make it unfavourable to travel and engage in touristy activities. The season does see a drop in the hotel prices as well. If you are okay with the excessively cold winters in Abha, then you should book your tickets and hotels too.

June to September is considered to be the best season for a tourist excursion in Abha. The summers are quite decent as the temperatures don't touch beyond 34 degree Celsius. While it might seem too much for some people, it is actually quite convenient as there is less humidity in the air during this time. The hot and dry summers are tolerable as long as you carry proper bottles of water and hydrate yourself at all times. Out of the summer months, August is recognised as the best month to visit Abha. The city has perfect temperatures and doesn't require you to go beyond your limits to enjoy the vibe. The hotel prices in Abha during the peak season does see a surge though. Since many folks from around Saudi Arabia also flock over to Abha for a summer vacation, it could be a little crowded with a spike in the hotel prices. You might want to make prior bookings of flights and hotels in Abha if you want to evade the tourist crowd. Or you can avoid the tourist crowd altogether by visiting the city during spring, which is from March to May.

Places to visit in Abha

Abha's pride comes from the exquisite Green Mountain, which is located at the heart of the city. It is basically a mountain that has been lined up with green lights to complement the name. Abha Dam is another place that you should visit. The water body is surrounded by lovely land on all sides. There are many restaurants too around the dam that would add to the quaint vibe of the place. Do not miss the Art Street in Abha. It is more of a park laced with well-maintained streets and has shrubs on either side of the track. The place is beautiful, and you will have a good time hanging out here. You should also visit the Aseer National Park. Connected to the Jabal mountains, the coastal park has many cold spots. You would find the best air and vibe in the national park. Al Sahab Park is another such place that would keep you engaged. You will have to rent a car out and drive up to the amusement park. It is actually one of the first amusement parks that were constructed in Abha. The park is second to the Al Saudah Park, which is about 15 km away.

Things to do in Abha

Do not be surprised by the greenery that you will find in the desert city of Abha. As part of your excursion in Abha, you can visit Jabal Sawda by trekking up the peak. Aside from the Sawda, you should also trek up the trails of Jabal Ferwa. The two Saudi Arabian mountains would be cold, so make sure to carry a light jacket and lots of water. If trekking is not your thing, then you should visit Abu Kheyal Park. It is relaxing and has lovely floral trees lined up that adds to the beauty of the place. As the city has many parks and green spaces, you should also check out the Andalus Park. This place is especially perfect if you are travelling with kids. They can have fun on the slides while you can relax and enjoy the breeze while lying on the grass. As the city is surrounded by many parks and mountains, you will always be up for something to do.

Food and restaurants in Abha

Jalamah is a famous dish that you will find in the city. It is a traditional Saudi Arabian dish which is made from lamb. The meat is blended perfectly with Arabic spices consisting of cinnamon, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and coriander. The aromatic stew certainly brings a lot of flavour on the plate that you would enjoy. Saleeg is another famous dish of the Saudis which is basically rice porridge topped with a marinated and roasted piece of meat. It could be lamb or chicken or any meat of your choice. The lovely dish is comforting and would be a nice indulgence. Another dish that you would find in Abha, a common Saudi meal is the Martabak. A roti-like bread is stuffed with ground meat, garlic, eggs, curry, peppers and onions. It is basically a Saudi version of a paratha. You can actually eat this when you are not in the mood to eat excessively. Do leave some room for dessert as the famous Saudi savour Ma'amoul is a must-have. It is basically a dome-shaped tasty sweet made with fillings of fruits, walnuts, dates and more.

The options of indulgence in Abha is minimal. The city does not have a plethora of food joints with international or fusion cuisine. The place is humble and serves most of Saudi-inspired menu at their restaurants. Most of their restaurants are for a family setting. You can find some tasty Saudi dishes along with plates of mezze meals. Some of the main restaurants include Al-Tahy, N Lounge, Maharaj Indian Restaurant, to name a few. The Green Mountain Restaurant is actually a good place for you to hang out with your family or friends. The place is perched atop a lovely hill and illuminates the scintillating lights of the city. The breath-taking view interspersed with tasty food is definitely unmissable. You can also get coffee and cake as the establishment serves a lot of things.

How to reach Abha

The flight connectivity to Abha is quite decent. Although there are no direct flights to Abha from Indian cities, there are flights connecting to the Saudi city. The most popular route to Abha is from Jeddah and Riyadh. Both the cities are located in Saudi Arabia, and this domestic route to Abha is perfect and well-connected. Airlines such as Air Arabia, Flynas, Saudia, flydubai, Emirates, Etihad Airways, to name a few, have immaculate flight connectivity to Abha. A majority of these flights have layovers in Sharjah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai. These cities offer enough options to reach Abha and hence, are more popular. It is imperative that you get a transit visa as it is required in Saudi cities. Interestingly, Jeddah and Riyadh are the only cities where you will need a transit visa. You can either get it from the embassy, or you can apply for the same online. Saudi Arabia's embassy website has the form that you need to fill out to apply for the transit visa. The flight duration to Abha ranges from 11 hours to 13 hours approximately.

The domestic route from Jeddah is considered to reach Abha. Since flight connectivity to Jeddah is much better than Abha, it is often a better way to reach the Saudi city. The flight tickets to Abha are quite reasonable. The ticket price to Abha ranges from INR 19,000 to INR 25,000. You can actually get tickets to Abha for cheap, provided you spend time on the internet and get hold of some flight deals. A little snooping around on the internet will help you find the best flight deals to Abha online. Along with the flight tickets, you can also book your hotel in Abha. This will actually enable you to receive more discounts and offers. You will have to check for peak season as the flight tickets will be expensive during this time.

  About Malé

Malé atoll is the capital of the most romantic island nation of the world, the Maldives. Located beautifully in the Indian Ocean, the city is particularly famous for the azure blue waters touching white and shores. Not to mention some of the astounding hospitality, private islands and to be one of the poshest places.

Best time to visit Malé

The best part about the Maldives is the sunny, positive weather the island country receives throughout the year. The temperatures do vary, but throughout the year, it is a beautiful place with exquisite waters and weather. To visit Malé, it is recommended that you book for tickets between November and April. The weather during these months is just splendid. The peak season for the Maldives is from December through March. Basically, throughout these months, you will be able to soak in the summer sun yet not be bothered by the excess heat. This is also the dry season in the Maldives, which works perfectly well if you're planning for a romantic trip. Since it is the peak season, there might be too many tourists on the streets. Plus, the flight bookings to Malé might also be expensive. However, if you manage to get great online flight deals, then you can use your budget to splurge on some fancy water houses and hospitality services that the city is predominantly known for. The hotel reservations will also be expensive during this time, so it is best to book hotels in Malé ahead of time to avoid exorbitant rates.

Malé also receives rainfall for one half of the year. May to November is the months when the city gets maximum rainfall. June is when the monsoon is at its peak. It is not favourable to make flight bookings or hotel reservations during this time as the climate wouldn't do justice to the pristine beaches. For the rains too, the northern atolls receive torrential rains from May to November. Similarly, the high rainfalls are experienced between November to March in the southern atolls. It is essential to learn about this when you are booking your flights and hotels. The geographical stance of both the atolls would help you make better choices. From indulging in excessive scuba diving or other water sports, the rainy days would keep you nestled in your water houses. Irrespective, the city does have something in store for people booking flights and hotels in Malé during all seasons.

Places to visit in Malé

Malé Atoll is the city where you will land and before you take off to you romantic rendezvous in one of the quaint and silent islands in the Maldives, you should look around the city and visit some of the interesting places it had to offer. The city has tourist attractions which don't just limit to its blue beaches and white sands. Places such as the Malé National Museum would be a good way to start the trip. You can visit the place and learn more about the history of the island country. Over the years, the settlements have seen quite a lot of changes from Europeans to Indians to Sri Lankans. It would be an educational venture to see the exhibitions of what makes Make and the Maldives so relaxed and amazing. You should also visit the Tsunami monument while you're in the city. The monument was basically erected after the horrific 2004 Tsunami that shook the island nation.

Things to do in Malé

As an island city, Malé caters to the traditional water sports needs of tourists. You will find a slew of gorgeous islands with azure blue waters reflecting the bright yellow sun. With a view so fine and divine, you cannot expect any more of awesomeness from the place. However, Malé continues to entertain the traveller by providing a series of recreational activities that would only make them want more. Some of the fun things that you can indulge in at Malé is to do some island-hopping. As the Maldives is an archipelago, it is surrounded by a plethora of other islands tucked together. Interestingly, all the islands are diverse and have a different quality that stands out. Some are even private beaches and islands owned by people with restrictions and prohibitions. You can imagine how luxe the environment would be of the place with so much at your perusal. Water sports is a big thing here. You can indulge in a slew of fun water activities.

With clear waters, scuba diving and snorkelling are one of the fun activities to undertake. You can simply take up a short course by signing up in the city of Malé. They will take you to the coast or rather some of the places where snorkelling and diving is possible. Accordingly, you will be allowed to experience the beauty of the marine ecosystem. Similarly, some beaches in Malé also have provisions of activities such as parasailing, surfing, banana boat ride, jet ski, kite surfing, to name a few. It would be quite an expedition to visit beaches in Malé. Also, no matter what, do not skip a spa session on the island. There are countless spa establishments that offer quality massages and pamper you with some of the best products and services.

Food and Restaurants in Malé

Being surrounded by water makes seafood as Maldives' staple food. As the waters of the Indian Ocean do come with a plethora of varied fish and marine life, the same is incorporated in the food as well. With influence from the Indian, Malaysian and European cuisines, the Maldives food has coconuts and contemporary food to offer to the customers. The city of Malé is blessed with some fine restaurants and luxury food establishments which add to the experience of the travellers. One can find an abundance of lovely joints and restaurants as tourism is predominantly the highlight of Maldives. To start your food expedition, you can start from Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, which is famous for its European seafood spread. The establishments serve some of the finest and interesting dishes ranging from malossol imperial caviar, yellowtail kingfish, champagne risotto and everything downed by some lovely wine and mango sorbet.

While seafood might be the highlight of Maldivian food, you can always savour some vegetarian dishes at Muraka. The idyllic restaurant setting has a fancy wooden decor and international menu to serve. They make Maldivian tuna loin, lobster bisque, papaya salad, to name a few dishes. Simultaneously, they also have some impeccable salad options for vegetarians. The salads are derived from the Mediterranean flavours, which adds to the vibe the place has. Places such as Sala Thai, Seagull Cafe House, Shell Beans, Aioli Restaurant and Jazz Cafe offer pristine food menu and views to die for. There is no speciality dish that needs to be tasted in Malé as such since their food is derived from varied cultures and the availability of diverse fish in the water. It would be interesting to taste some random marine animal on your plate.

How to reach Malé (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Malé from India is excellent as it is located in proximity to the country. Malé is also known as one of the most prominent places for honeymooners or romantic rendezvous. With the azure blue waters touching white sand beach shores and resorts built on top of the ocean water, it is undoubtedly a place with excess demand throughout the year. Hence, there are many flights available to Malé. In fact, you will find direct flights to Malé from Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Delhi, to name a few. Airlines such as IndiGo, GoAir, Srilankan Airlines, SpiceJet, AirAsia and Vistara have regular flights flying to and from Malé. It hardly takes three hours to reach Malé from India, which makes travelling to the island country convenient. Some of the popular routes chosen to travel to Malé from India are from either Kochi or Chennai. As for international routes to Malé, Sri Lanka's Colombo is the only airport that directly connects to Malé. The island country has immaculate connectivity and a lot of demand as well.

The flight tickets to Malé are also quite cheap. In fact, you can complete a round trip to Malé from India for approximately INR 25,000 to INR 30,000. The flight costs depend on whether you are opting for a longer duration flight or if the airlines have more or less connectivity. Some of the flights to Malé are as cheap as INR 10,000, which is ideal for many budget travellers. However, this comes with some excess time spent in layovers and connecting flights. Even though the distance is quite less from India to the Maldives, you might end up spending close to nine hours in airports. You can book your flights to Malé in advance to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. You must check the season before heading to Malé. Depending on the season you choose, your flight ticket costs to Malé also change. Peak seasons often see a surge in the flight tickets to Malé so ensure that you book in advance. While you're booking your flight tickets to Malé, also make hotel reservations in the city. There are a plethora of combo deals online that you might be able to get hold of.