Travel guide · Maldives
Maldives travel guide
Overwater villas, house reefs, manta rays and local-island guesthouses
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
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 resorts in the North and South Malé atolls or by seaplane and domestic flight to Baa, Ari, Raa and beyond. Most resorts occupy an entire island of their own, with beach and overwater villas and a house reef for snorkelling, while guesthouses on inhabited local islands such as Maafushi, Thoddoo and Dhigurah offer a lower-cost, more local stay. The underwater world is the main event: manta rays, whale sharks, reef sharks and turtles. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are December–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Maldives
- Best time to visit
- December–April
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- MLE, GAN, DRV, VAM, KDO
- Mid-range daily budget
- $250–$500 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling, Manta rays and Whale sharks
Why visit Maldives
- Snorkel straight from the beach at resorts with house reefs, where turtles, reef sharks and parrotfish are common sights.
- Manta rays gather in Baa Atoll's Hanifaru Bay, usually between June and November, and whale sharks are seen year-round in South Ari Atoll.
- Choose between a private-island resort with overwater villas and a guesthouse on a local island where you see everyday Maldivian life.
- Seaplane transfers give a low-level view over turquoise lagoons and ring-shaped reefs that is a highlight in itself.
- Some of the world's most celebrated dive sites, from Maaya Thila's sharks to the tiger sharks of Fuvahmulah, are within a few hours of Malé.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Nature · Baa Atoll
Hanifaru Bay manta rays
When monsoon currents trap plankton in this small, shallow bay, dozens and sometimes more than a hundred manta rays gather to feed, along with occasional whale sharks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
Nature · Ari Atoll
Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll
The outer reef of South Ari, between Dhigurah and Maamigili, is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks are seen year-round, mainly juvenile males.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
Experience · Velana International Airport
Seaplane flight over the atolls
Twin Otter seaplanes fly low over lagoons, sandbanks and ring-shaped reefs on transfers from the seaplane terminal beside Velana airport to resorts across the central atolls.
- Time needed
- 20–60 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Nature · North Malé Atoll
Banana Reef
Named for its curved shape, Banana Reef was among the first dive sites opened in the Maldives and still offers caves, overhangs, coral walls and schools of snappers and jacks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
Nature · Ari Atoll
Maaya Thila and Fish Head
Two of North Ari's best-known protected dive sites: Maaya Thila, a small underwater pinnacle circled by whitetip reef sharks and famed for night dives, and Fish Head (Mushimasmingili Thila), with grey reef sharks and dense fish schools.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
- After dark
Nature · North Malé Atoll
Lankan Manta Point
A cleaning station where manta rays come to be groomed by small cleaner fish, best known during the north-east monsoon months.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Active
Where to stay
North Malé Atoll is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for budget and culture
Malé
Dense, compact capital of mosques, markets and motorbikes
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and families
Hulhumalé
Reclaimed island next to the airport with a long public beach and transit hotels
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, couples and luxury
North Malé Atoll
Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Maafushi
The original local-island guesthouse hub in South Malé Atoll
What to eat
- Mas huni — The classic Maldivian breakfast: shredded smoked or tinned tuna mixed with grated coconut, onion, chilli and lime, eaten with roshi flatbread and sweet tea.
- Garudhiya — A clear tuna broth, the backbone of Maldivian home cooking, served with rice, lime, chilli and onion.
- Mas riha — A tuna curry cooked with coconut milk, curry leaves and spices, eaten with rice or roshi.
- Roshi — A thin, soft unleavened flatbread similar to chapati, used to scoop up mas huni and curries.
- Hedhikaa — The collective name for Maldivian short eats served with afternoon tea, such as gulha (fried dough balls filled with tuna and coconut), bajiya (pastry parcels) and masroshi (baked roshi stuffed with mas huni).
- Fihunu mas — Whole reef fish or tuna steaks rubbed with a chilli paste and grilled over coals, often served at beach barbecues.
When to go
The best time to visit the Maldives is December to April, during the dry north-east monsoon, when skies are clearest, seas calmest and visibility best. It is also the most expensive period. May to November is wetter and windier with lower prices, but sunny spells are common, and it is manta season in Baa Atoll and the main surf season. Ramadan, which shifts about 11 days earlier each year, changes local-island life but not resorts.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| North-east monsoon | December–March | Dry, sunny and calm with excellent visibility; peak season with the highest prices, especially at Christmas, New Year and February. |
| Inter-monsoon | April–May | The hottest weeks with calm, warm seas; showers start in May as the monsoon turns, and prices fall. |
| South-west monsoon | June–September | More frequent showers, wind and swell, but lower prices, manta season in Baa Atoll and the best surf. |
| Late monsoon | October–November | Showery but improving weather with calmer seas towards November; good value before the high season. |
Getting there and around
Velana International Airport (MLE) occupies Hulhulé island beside Malé. Resort representatives meet guests in arrivals; speedboats leave from the airport jetty and the seaplane terminal is on the far side of the airport island. Malé is about 10 minutes away by bus or taxi over the Sinamalé Bridge, and domestic flights leave from the same airport to Gan, Dharavandhoo, Maamigili, Kadhdhoo and other regional airports.
Getting around the Maldives means boats and planes: speedboats to resorts near Malé, seaplanes and domestic flights to more distant atolls, and slow but cheap public ferries between local islands. Islands themselves are small enough to walk around.
Plan your days
Four nights is the minimum to justify the journey and transfer time; a week lets you settle into island life, dive or snorkel daily and add a sandbank trip or dolphin cruise. Many visitors split a longer stay between a local-island guesthouse and a resort.
Practical information
- Currency
- MVR
- Language
- Dhivehi and English
- Plugs
- Type D and Type G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Resorts and guesthouses supply desalinated, filtered or bottled water; ask before drinking from the tap.
- Emergency number
- 119 (police), 102 (ambulance)
- Tipping
- A 10% service charge is added to most bills.
Currents in reef channels (kandu) can be strong: snorkel with a buddy or guide and follow resort advice on where to swim. The equatorial sun burns quickly, and coral cuts heal slowly, so wear a rash vest and reef shoes.
Flights to Maldives
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Maldives?
Four nights is the minimum to justify the journey and transfer time; a week lets you settle into island life, dive or snorkel daily and add a sandbank trip or dolphin cruise. Many visitors split a longer stay between a local-island guesthouse and a resort. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Maldives?
The best time to visit the Maldives is December to April, during the dry north-east monsoon, when skies are clearest, seas calmest and visibility best. It is also the most expensive period. May to November is wetter and windier with lower prices, but sunny spells are common, and it is manta season in Baa Atoll and the main surf season. Ramadan, which shifts about 11 days earlier each year, changes local-island life but not resorts.
+What is Maldives known for?
Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling, Manta rays, Whale sharks, Seaplane transfers, Coral atolls and Liveaboard diving. Snorkel straight from the beach at resorts with house reefs, where turtles, reef sharks and parrotfish are common sights.
+Is Maldives expensive?
Maldives is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $250–$500 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Maldives?
No. Transfers are by boat, seaplane or domestic flight, and islands are walked or cycled; taxis cover Malé and Hulhumalé.