Comparison · Maldives vs Mauritius · Maldives / Mauritius
Maldives vs Mauritius
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Maldives for Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling, a milder winter and a short break; choose Mauritius for Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Mauritius is generally less expensive, and the two are about 3,236 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 3,236 km
- Less expensive
- Mauritius
- Best time for Maldives
- December–April
- Best time for Mauritius
- April–May and September–November
Side by side
| Maldives | Mauritius | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Maldives | Mauritius |
| Known for | Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling and Manta rays | Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant and Dholl puri |
| Best time to visit | December–April | April–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 9 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$500 | $150–$300 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | July, 24°C (75°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 3 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Hulhumalé beach | Trou aux Biches |
| Airports | MLE, GAN, DRV, VAM, KDO | MRU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Maldives for…
Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling, a milder winter and a short break. The Maldives is a chain of about 1,190 low coral islands grouped into 26 natural atolls that stretch across the equator in the Indian Ocean. Almost every visitor lands at Velana International Airport beside the capital, Malé, then continues by speedboat to…
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Choose Mauritius for…
Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, about 65 km long and 45 km wide, almost entirely ringed by a coral reef that shelters calm, shallow lagoons. Resorts and guesthouses line the coast: busy Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches in the north, long…
Top sights compared
| # | Maldives | Mauritius |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanifaru Bay manta rays | Le Morne Brabant |
| 2 | Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll | Black River Gorges National Park |
| 3 | Banana Reef | Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall |
| 4 | Maaya Thila and Fish Head | Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) |
| 5 | Lankan Manta Point | Île aux Cerfs |
Food compared
| Maldives | Mauritius |
|---|---|
| Mas huni | Dholl puri |
| Garudhiya | Farata |
| Mas riha | Gâteaux piments |
| Roshi | Rougaille |
Which is cheaper?
Mauritius is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$300 per person there, against $250–$500 in Maldives (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mauritius on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 3,236 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 17 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Maldives or Mauritius cheaper?
Mauritius is usually less expensive: about $150–$300 a day mid-range against $250–$500 (estimates).
+Is Maldives or Mauritius better for a first trip?
Pick Maldives for Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling, a milder winter and a short break, or Mauritius for Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife.
+How far is Maldives from Mauritius?
About 3,236 km in a straight line.