The Maldives is 26 atolls, turquoise lagoons and reefs you swim to straight from the beach. A classic holiday in the Maldives is an over-water villa on a separate hotel island, but there is also a budget option: guesthouses on the "local" islands where the Maldivians themselves live.
An independent trip to the Maldives is a choice of island and of how to get to it: a seaplane, a speedboat or a ferry. It is the transfer that often determines the final price, so it is worth finding out before booking a hotel.
Why independently
- The budget is in your hands. A guesthouse on a local island and an island hotel with over-water villas are completely different prices.
- Your own island. You choose by reef, beach, snorkeling and quiet, not by a tour catalog.
- Flexibility. You can combine two or three islands of different types in one trip.
When is it best to go
The dry season is from November to April: sunny, a calm sea, good underwater visibility. From May to October there is more rain and wind, but prices are lower. The time of year also affects which reefs and fish species you will see, so the date is worth choosing for the goals of the trip.
Visa and entry
The entry rules for Russians and the mandatory declarations before departure are best checked on the official websites of the Maldives immigration service and with the airline on the eve of the trip.
Where to stay: atolls and islands
- North and South Malé — the resorts closest to the airport, fast transfers.
- Ari — reefs and whale sharks, many island hotels.
- Baa — a UNESCO biosphere reserve, manta rays.
- Local islands — Maafushi, Thoddoo, Hanimaadhoo: guesthouses and a budget holiday.
Below are hotels by atoll and island: compare prices, look at guest reviews and book.