If you’re active on Instagram, you’ve probably seen some surreal-looking photos that capture the electric blues of the Maldives and its famous marinas. You may know someone who went there on their honeymoon. But what may not be as obvious as those Maldivian waters is where the Maldives is.
Mystery solved: The stunningly beautiful island nation officially known as the Republic of Maldives is part of South Asia and is located in the Indian Ocean. It is about 450 miles southwest of the Indian mainland and is the smallest country in Asia. Although it is made up of more than 1,100 coral islands, only a fraction of them are inhabited. Each of its 26 atolls has many islands and bays. The Maldives is the lowest and lowest country in the world, with the highest point less than 8 meters above sea level.
Before planning a trip to the Maldives, get the 411 on this amazingly beautiful country, including how to get there, the best time to visit and the latest travel news.
How to get to the Maldives
To reach this paradise island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, you have to jump at least a few flights. From most major US cities, it takes about 24 hours to get to Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE), so flying business class is an excellent and quiet use of saved points and miles.
From Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco on the West Coast and Atlanta, Boston and New York on the East Coast, there are one-stop options on Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Turkish Airlines, with less long-haul stops on Qatar Airways.
Keep in mind that many resorts are also a short flight or speedboat ride away from Madado, so be sure to factor in that time, too.
It is a good time to visit the Maldives
Travelers can expect year-round heat, as the Maldives is an equatorial country just a few degrees from the Northern Hemisphere. That said, month to month is not the same. In terms of weather, the best time to visit the Maldives is during its dry season, which runs from November to April. High temperatures are in the mid 80s on average (with the ocean about the same temperature), with little humidity and wind. The highest water clarity and visibility is usually in mid-March (although rarely throughout the year). Therefore, if you dive and snorkel, the end of the dry season will be your sweet spot.
There are still advantages to traveling during the rainy or rainy season, which runs from May to October. Between July and October, manta rays congregate in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll. Whale sharks can congregate there to feast on plankton at this time. Divers should look from February to November for the biggest swells. Otherwise, there may be a fair amount of rain, but it tends to come in bursts and doesn’t last all day. Additionally, there are fewer tourists and lower prices at this time of year.
Basic things you should know before the trip
The official language in the Maldives is Divehi or Maldivian, a cousin of the Sinhala language of Sri Lanka. That said, English is widely and fluently spoken in all resorts and tourist areas, so you can expect to easily communicate with the Maldivian people.
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The local currency is the rufiyaa: 100 rufiyaa is currently equal to $6.50. At resorts, menu and tour prices are usually listed in dollars, so no fancy math is needed. All nationalities receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival, free of charge.
A few other benefits: The Maldives is a malaria-free area. It’s full of Muslims, who you might not even notice when you’re ushered into the island’s secret resort. However, due to religion, public nudity is strictly prohibited, and visitors should avoid sunbathing without clothes out of respect.
Another thing to note is that while alcohol is prohibited for locals, hotels are the exception, and alcohol is legally available for purchase and consumption at all of the islands’ resorts.
The resorts in the Maldives are as beautiful and beautiful as they appear on social media
It’s safe to anticipate your arrival – by small plane or speedboat – at a Maldives resort to feel like you’re stepping into a postcard. The colors are bright, the beaches are amazing, the welcome is warm. Although there is a lot to do, one of the reasons why people go to the Maldives is to immerse themselves in the experience of a high-class, high-luxury hotel where you will feel like a VIP.
There are seemingly endless resorts already dotted around the powdered sugar islands, including favorites like Joali Maldives, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Soneva Jani, Six Senses Kanuhura and InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. There are also some very exciting buildings on the horizon.
The Hyatt Regency Samarafushi Maldives in North Male Atoll is slated to open in 2027, with 130 bathrooms featuring treetop designs. The same period is planned for the Rosewood Ranfaru Resort in South Male Atoll, which will have about 120 villas from one to five bedrooms, some on their own private islands. Baccarat Hotels & Residences Residences Maldives is also expected to open in 2027 in South Male Atoll, with more than 50 hotels, villas and 53 private residences.
While the recently announced opening of Aman Maldives remains a question mark (likely 2027), IHG’s Noku Maldives, part of the Vignette collection, will be booked soon. The resort is expected to open this December with 30 overwater villas and 20 beachfront properties.
Related: These are the best all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives, from overwater bungalows to family-friendly resorts
Bottom line: Is it worth the trip?
There is no way around it. Getting to the Maldives is a long journey – a long journey. But if the sun shines, the white sand, the bluest and freshest salt water imaginable, swaying palms, magnificent megafauna, coral reefs of various kinds, snorkels and sandals, beach cruisers, lots and lots of fresh lobster and tuna, hot drinks and dirty and kind resorts. The service is your vibe, yes, the trip is worth it.
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