A Traveller's Guide to The Maldives

Everything you need to know about travelling to the Maldives.

Essential Facts

Currency

The Maldivian Rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives, though it is not used at the hotels. All hotels in the Maldives accept Euros, USD and CAD, plus most major credit and debit cards. Clients will not need to convert to the local currency during their stay.

Language

Devehi is the main language of the Maldivian people. It is a mix of Arabic, Hindi, Portugese, and others. But all hotel staff will also know English, which is the predominant language used at the resorts, and to communicate with anyone on the islands.

Best time to go

The Maldives is a year round destination for travel with some caveats. November to April is arguably the best time to travel to the Maldives, having the best overall weather.

Climate

From November to April, The Maldives see warm sunny days with cool breezy nights. Things get rainier from May to October, though prices during this time do drop if you are looking for a deal. Monsoons in the Maldives are equatorial. Given the small size of the islands, the rain clouds normally pass over, eventually leaving only the sunshine. Temperatures range from 25 C to 35 C (77 F to 95 F).

Ideal traveller

The Maldives is an upscale destination geared toward travellers looking to capture that feeling of being on their own private island for a few nights. It won’t be for travellers who want to explore or tour around. Travellers are essentially limited to the island where the resort is located, with no island hopping excursions. That said, both families and couples will find activities to appeal to everyone. The Maldives is well suited to someone looking to laze on the beach and get some sun, staying in luxurious accommodations with world class food.

The Maldives is one of the world's top dive and snorkelling destinations.

Getting There From North America

Major Airports

There is only one major airport in the Maldives for international flights, Velana International Airport in Male.

Major Air Routes from the United States

There are no direct flights to The Maldives from the United States. All major routes go through, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, or India. Flights to these locations are available from most major hubs in the US.

Major Air Routes from Canada

There are no direct flights to The Maldives from the United States. All major routes go through Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, or India.

Top Activities and Experiences in the Maldives

Snorkelling

Snorkeling in the Maldives is one of its best experiences, short of going on a dive. The water in the Maldives is crystal clear with great visibility. You will see many different varieties of fish, and if you are lucky, manta rays and sea turtles.

Diving

If you have a dive license or want to train for one, the Maldives is a great destination for diving. The crystal clear water and beautiful corals make it an ideal diving location. The currents are very slow and calm as well, so it is a pretty easy dive, and the chance to see some of the ocean’s rarest life is higher than in most diving locations.

Surfing

The Maldives is known for some of the best surfing in the world. Entire islands within the country are dedicated to surfing and have daily classes if you want to learn, or get better at the sport.

Tips for Sustainable Travel

Carry a reusable water bottle to save on using plastic water bottles in-destination. Be mindful of water sports and activities that use fuel and gasoline. Our best tip is to visit a barefoot luxury resort with some experience in sustainable accommodation.

Where to Go Next

The Maldives is a great beach destination and can be paired with a number of different destinations in Asia. You could travel to Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Bangkok, The Seychelles, Mauritius, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and many others, many of which serve as hubs with connections to The Maldives from North America.

What do the experts say?

Emma Woodward

Destination Specialist

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I would say October and April are the best time to visit as you can get good prices and good weather! Rainy season is between May and September, but even then it's just short showers with plenty of sunshine. Likewise, in the dry season (November-April) still expect to have a good shower every now and then!

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Emma Woodward

Destination Specialist

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Do not pack a lot of shoes as you will not wear them—just barefoot or flip flops. "No news, no shoes" is the slogan!

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Cedric Wai

Destinations Specialist

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Be careful not to overpack your luggage - no matter what your airline limit is. To get to most resorts you need to take either a speedboat or seaplane and these have restrictions which vary from the airlines!

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