Thatched overwater villas on stilts in a pale blue Maldivian lagoon

Republic of Maldives · 4.18° N, 73.51° E

Maldives

A single resort on a single island — chosen carefully, because in the Maldives the island is the whole trip.

Best time
November to April
Ideal length
4–6 nights
Region
Abroad
Journeys from
₹2,45,000

The Maldives is not a place you tour; it is a place you choose well. With more than 170 resort islands, the hard part is matching the island to the people — reef or lagoon, seaplane or speedboat, barefoot or butler.

We have stayed at, or inspected, every resort we recommend. We know which overwater villas face the sunset, which house reefs are genuinely alive and which 'secluded' islands are fifteen minutes from the airport flight path.

Our honeymoon plans include the small things that matter: a sandbank dinner, a spa hour timed with the tide, and a transfer that lands before dusk so you see the atolls from the air.

(02)When to go

November to April

The dry northeast monsoon brings calm seas and clear water. May to October is quieter and cheaper, with some rain and excellent manta and whale shark season in the south.

  1. January: recommended
  2. February: recommended
  3. March: recommended
  4. April: recommended
  5. May: not recommended
  6. June: not recommended
  7. July: not recommended
  8. August: not recommended
  9. September: not recommended
  10. October: not recommended
  11. November: recommended
  12. December: recommended

(03)Don't miss

The moments worth the journey.

A ring of overwater bungalows beside a palm-covered island
Photo Hawk Hassaan / Unsplash
  1. 01

    An overwater villa

    With steps straight into the lagoon and a glass floor panel you'll pretend not to love.

  2. 02

    The house reef

    Turtles, reef sharks and parrotfish within a short swim of the beach.

  3. 03

    A sandbank dinner

    A table for two on a strip of sand that disappears at high tide.

  4. 04

    Arrival by seaplane

    Forty minutes over the atolls, the best view in the country.

(04)From the road

Maldives in pictures

  • A long wooden jetty leading across clear water to a palm-lined island
    A long wooden jetty leading across clear water to a palm-lined island
  • A hammock slung from a leaning palm on a Maldivian beach at sunset
    A hammock slung from a leaning palm on a Maldivian beach at sunset
  • A speedboat trailing a white wake toward a small resort island
    A speedboat trailing a white wake toward a small resort island
  • Curtained cabanas lining an infinity pool that runs out to the sea
    Curtained cabanas lining an infinity pool that runs out to the sea
  • A traveller on a rope swing between palms on a quiet Maldivian beach
    A traveller on a rope swing between palms on a quiet Maldivian beach

(05)Journeys

Ways to travel Maldives

Starting points our planners reshape around your dates, your people and your pace.

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