Maldives travel guide

• Some of the clearest water and best house-reef snorkelling anywhere, often straight off your own steps.
• Genuine privacy — most resorts occupy an entire island.
• Reliable diving and snorkelling with manta rays, whale sharks and reef sharks depending on the atoll and season.
• A strong honeymoon and anniversary destination where the logistics are handled for you.

November to April is the dry season

Dry season (November – April)

Sunny, calm seas, best underwater visibility. Peak rates, with the highest around late December and January.

Shoulder (May & October)

Mixed weather, noticeably lower rates, still plenty of sun between showers. Good value if you are flexible.

Wet season (May – October)

More rain and wind, usually in bursts rather than all day. Cheapest by far, and the best window for whale shark and manta activity in some atolls.

Rain in the wet season is typically short and heavy rather than continuous. Half-price resort rates in September can be a very good trade.

House-reef snorkelling

The single most important resort feature. A good house reef means unlimited free snorkelling; a poor one means paying for boat trips daily.

Manta and whale shark excursions

Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay) for mantas around June to November; South Ari Atoll for whale sharks year-round.

Sandbank picnic

A boat drop on a bare sand island for a few hours. Touristy and still one of the best things you will do.

Sunset dolphin cruise

Spinner dolphins are common and the success rate is high.

Diving

World-class. If you are certified, choose the atoll for the dive sites; if not, most resorts run introductory courses.

Malé and Hulhumalé

Worth half a day if you have a long connection — the fish market, Friday Mosque and a very different side of the country.

Speedboat-transfer resorts (North & South Malé Atoll)

20-50 minutes from the airport, transfers cost far less than seaplanes, and you can arrive on a late flight. Best value for a shorter trip.

Seaplane resorts (Baa, Ari, Raa atolls)

More remote and often more beautiful, but transfers can add $400-$700 per person return and only operate in daylight.

Domestic-flight resorts

A domestic hop plus a short boat. A middle option on both cost and remoteness.

Local islands (Maafushi, Dhigurah, Thoddoo)

Guesthouses from a fraction of resort prices. Public beaches follow local modesty rules, with designated bikini beaches. Alcohol is generally not available on inhabited islands.

• All international arrivals come through Velana International Airport (MLE) near Malé.
• Your resort arranges the onward transfer — speedboat, domestic flight or seaplane. This is not optional and must be booked with the stay.
• Seaplanes only fly in daylight. If your flight lands in the evening, you will need an overnight in Malé or Hulhumalé before continuing.
• Public ferries connect local islands cheaply but run infrequently and not on Fridays.
• Within a resort island, everything is walking distance or a buggy ride.

Need a vehicle at the other end? Our car rental page explains how driver requirements, deposits and insurance excesses usually work abroad.

• Check the transfer cost before comparing resort prices. A cheaper resort with a $600 seaplane transfer is not cheaper.
• Water villas are photogenic but hot in the afternoon, and beach villas with a pool are often better value.
• All-inclusive definitions vary widely. Confirm whether it covers house wine and spirits, snorkelling gear, non-motorised watersports and the à la carte restaurants, or only the buffet.
• Half-board plus a couple of paid dinners often costs less than full all-inclusive for travellers who do not drink much.
• Green tax and service charge are added per person per night and are not always in the headline rate.

We can shortlist properties against your budget and travel dates — see how our hotel booking service works.

• Book the manta or whale shark excursion through your resort's dive centre rather than an outside operator — they know the day's conditions.
• If you are not a strong swimmer, say so. Reputable operators provide floats and guides, and the drop-offs at some reefs are deep.
• A local-island add-on of two or three nights before or after a resort stay gives you a much fuller picture of the country.
• Reef-safe sunscreen is required at many resorts and is expensive to buy there — bring it.

See our tours and experiences page, or tell us what you want to see and we will build the day around it.

A free 30-day visa on arrival is issued to all nationalities, including Nigerian passport holders

Honeymooners

Five to seven nights, water villa for part of the stay, a seaplane resort if the budget allows. Tell the resort it is a honeymoon — most add something.

Families

Speedboat-transfer resorts with a kids' club and a shallow lagoon. Seaplane transfers with small children are tiring and expensive.

Divers

Choose the atoll first, resort second. Ari and Baa for the big pelagics.

Budget travellers

Local islands with guesthouses, public ferries and day excursions. A week can cost less than two nights at a resort.

• Pack light, soft luggage. Seaplanes have strict weight limits, typically around 20kg plus a small carry-on.
• Resort food and drink prices are high and there is no alternative on the island — factor this in honestly.
• Bring reef shoes; coral fragments in the shallows are sharp.
• Mobile data works on most islands; a local eSIM is cheaper than roaming.
• On local islands, dress modestly away from designated bikini beaches. It is a Muslim country and this is expected, not optional.

• Comparing resort rates without including transfers.
• Booking a seaplane resort with an evening arrival into Malé.
• Assuming all-inclusive covers everything, then facing a large bill at checkout.
• Choosing a resort by villa photos alone and ending up with a poor house reef.
• Booking three nights. With transfer days, that is realistically two days on the island.

Resort, per night

From about $350 at the accessible end to well over $1,500 at luxury properties.

Local-island guesthouse

Roughly $60-$130 per night including breakfast.

Seaplane transfer

Around $400-$700 per person return, paid to the resort.

Excursion

$60-$180 per person for snorkelling, sandbank or dolphin trips.

Indicative planning ranges only. Actual prices move with season, exchange rates and availability — ask us for a current quote for your dates.