Country guide · South Asia & the islands
Maldives
16 places across 4 regions, how to get there, the entry rules for your passport, and day-by-day plans priced in your currency.
- Trip from ₹99,376 per person · 5 days from Delhi in Nov, for two at mid-range ·
- Visa on arrival on an Indian passport, up to 30 days · no visa fee (other passports below)
- Best Dec–Apr · month by month
Classic routes
Flying in
Flights from India
- Male (MLE) · from 8 Indian cities, from ₹9,000 one way
Entry rules
Visa on arrival for up to 30 days
Within 96 hours before you land, fill in the free IMUGA traveller declaration at imuga.immigration.gov.mv (one per traveller) and save the QR code. Nothing is needed to leave: the departure declaration was dropped in August 2024.
Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.
🦈 Northern Resort Atolls (Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani)
The resort atolls north of Malé, 35 to 50 minutes by seaplane (daylight only) or by domestic flight to Dharavandhoo or Ifuru and a boat: Baa's UNESCO biosphere reserve and the manta feeding at Hanifaru Bay (June to November), the newer resorts of Raa, and Lhaviyani's turtle reefs and wrecks.
Baa Atoll ResortsUNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Manta Feast at Hanifaru Bay4 days · best December – April, July – October
Lhaviyani Atoll ResortsTurtle Reefs and Resorts a Seaplane Hop North4 days · best December – April
Raa Atoll ResortsNewer Resorts in a Big, Quiet Atoll North of Baa4 days · best December – April
🐋 Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls
West of Malé across the Ari channel: the whale sharks of South Ari (Dhigurah), the hammerheads of Rasdhoo, the long bikini beach of Ukulhas, farm island Thoddoo, and seaplane resorts with some of the best manta and shark diving in the country. An hour or more by speedboat, or 25-35 minutes by seaplane.
DhigurahWhale Sharks and a Three-Kilometre Sandbank in South Ari3 days · best December – April- 🍉ThoddooFarm Island of Watermelons and Papayas, with a Turtle Reef3 days · best December – April
- 🤿RasdhooHammerheads at Dawn on the Edge of Its Own Small Atoll3 days · best December – April
- 🐢UkulhasA Long Bikini Beach and Manta Trips in North Ari3 days · best December – April
Ari Atoll ResortsWhale Sharks, Mantas and Seaplane Resorts West of Malé4 days · best December – April
🏝️ Malé Atolls & Vaavu
The atolls round the capital, reached by speedboat or public ferry, never needing a seaplane: the guesthouse islands of Maafushi, Gulhi and Thulusdhoo (surf at Cokes), Fulidhoo in Vaavu with its nurse sharks, and the speedboat resorts of North and South Malé Atoll, 20 to 60 minutes from the airport at any hour.
MaafushiThe Budget Maldives: Guesthouses, Sandbanks and Excursions3 days · best December – April- 🐠GulhiA Small, Quiet Local Island Near Maafushi2 days · best December – April
FulidhooNurse Sharks at the Jetty and a Village of Sand Streets3 days · best December – April- 🏄ThulusdhooSurf at Cokes and Chickens, Half an Hour from the Airport3 days · best December – April
- 🏖️North Male Atoll ResortsPrivate-Island Resorts 20 to 45 Minutes from the Airport by Speedboat4 days · best December – April
South Male Atoll ResortsSpeedboat Resorts with Channel Dives and Quieter Lagoons4 days · best December – April
🕌 Malé & Hulhumalé
The capital island and the airport town beside it, joined to Velana International Airport by the Sinamalé Bridge: the old mosques and markets of Malé, Hulhumalé's beach and hotels for the first or last night, and the jetties every boat, seaplane and domestic flight leaves from. Every trip in the Maldives starts and ends here.
Opens the planner with the usual places in the Maldives picked: change them, the dates or your city there.