The Maldives is an extremely unique location for the solo female traveler because, although it is very much a conservative Muslim country, none of the tourist destinations in the Maldives (i.e. the resort islands) reflect the countrys traditional values. For this reason, women traveling alone to the Maldives will have VASTLY different experiences depending entirely on where they stay.

The islands of Male and Hulhumale, for example, staunchly adhere to the religious-based laws of the country. Regardless of the suffocating heat, women are expected to dress conservatively. Locals dont drink alcohol; indeed, alcohol is not even available on the island of Male. Foreigners must go to a bar near the airport a 10-minute ferry ride from Male for an evening drink. And everything closes down multiple times each day to allow residents to observe specific times of prayer.

And yet, the local islands are not worth missing out on. Although they may not all be the epitome of Maldivian island bliss, theyre unique in their own way and they offer foreigners a glimpse into the reality of daily life for tens of thousands of the countrys citizens.

Male, the current capital of the Maldives, is a striking fractal of chaos. The tiny island streets are awash in traffic from sunrise to sunset. Cars, motorbikes and pedestrians fill every inch of the streets and sidewalk so that by mid-day it becomes impossible to move either easily or quickly around the city. And any woman who dares to wear shorts in the stifling heat, made only worse by the crowds, is sure to have every eye on the street directed at her. Even the merest suggestion of skin will inspire looks of shock, lust, anger, annoyance and jealousy, just to name a few, from both men and women.

Street harassment, as with everywhere else in the world, also occurs on these local islands in the Maldives. However, for the seasoned solo female traveler, this is nothing new. And since Maldivian street harassment is neither exceptionally threatening nor violent, just the typical, run-of-the-mill cat-calling and staring, this is no reason to skip these islands altogether.

Conversely, the resort islands in the Maldives have created an extreme on the harassment spectrum that women who travel alone do not often, if ever, experience no harassment whatsoever.

Resorts in the Maldives typically cater to honeymooners and families creating the PERFECT environment for the solo female traveler. The multitude of safety concerns that a woman traveling alone has to deal with, both consciously and subconsciously, on a daily basis, literally disappear. The men on these islands are either at work, and must conduct themselves accordingly, or with their significant others or families and therefore, none of them have any interest in harassing a woman who appears to be on her own.

It is common knowledge among solo female travelers that street harassment and unwanted advances are phenomena that are unperturbed by geographical borders. Harassment, in some form, is expected, regardless of destination a matter of when, not if. And yet, as impossible as it may sound, this is not the case at many of the resorts in the Maldives, such as Cocoon resort.

Here it is possible for a woman travelling alone to go about her day and simply enjoy her time, unencumbered by the typically ever-present shadow of mens desires. No stares. No cat-calling. No unwanted advances. These islands are quite literally a haven for the solo female traveler.

The Maldives is a popular vacation destination for obvious reasons. Just Google "Maldives" and hundreds of thousands of images of crystal-clear turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, palm trees, and a plethora of colorful marine life immediately appear. The natural beauty of the islands combined with the luxuries of the many resorts make it the epitome of vacation perfection. And the many Maldivian resorts popularity with families, couples and honeymooners, combined with their small size and remoteness, make them uniquely perfect for the solo female traveler who wants to experience what it feels like to not only travel alone, but truly also finally be left alone.

 Whether a first-time solo traveler, or a solo female traveler with a well-stamped passport, the Maldives is a must-visit. The stark contrast between the intense cultural aspect of the local islands and the idyllic island getaways of the resort islands highlights this countrys uniqueness as a travel destination. The Maldives is most definitely not a typical island country, which makes it the perfect match for the atypical solo female traveler.

From the grit and chaos of the capital city to the peaceful calm of the resort islands, the Maldives is sure to be one of the top solo female travel destinations in 2018.

The island chief has recently partnered up with popular travel blogger, Kattie Bernath, a solo female traveler aiming to visit 196 countries before her 30th birthday. This article was written by her during her visit to the Maldives. For more information on her adventures in the Maldives and her future endeavors visit her blog.