Abuja to Male Flights

  About Abuja

The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Abuja

Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.

From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.

Places to visit in Abuja

As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.

Things to do in Abuja

One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.

Food and restaurants in Abuja

Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.

From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.

How to reach Abuja

As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.

The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.

  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.