Maldives (Republic of Maldives) - the world's largest "coral state", located in South Asia, on a group of atolls. Atoll - a coral island or archipelago, having the form of a continuous or broken ring surrounding the lagoon.
Most of those people who want to get to the Maldives use the services of tour operators. Travel packages to the Maldives →
However, you can also visit the Maldives on your own! Preparing for the trip will not be difficult, and for some it will even be a pleasant pastime and acquaintance with the islands in absentia. Read more about how to independently organize your vacation in the Maldives...
The only way to get to the Maldives is by air.
The Maldives has well-developed air transport links with other countries.
There are several airports in the Maldives, including international ones.
The most sought-after airport serving as the main gateway to the Maldives is the Velana International Airport Gan, which has both international and domestic terminals. Airport website: macl.aero.
Velana Airport is also known as Male Airport and is located on Hulhule Island (airport island) in the northern Male Atoll, near the capital of the Maldives, Male Island, which is connected to the island by the airport by a transport and pedestrian bridge. Also, the island of Hulhule is connected by a transport and pedestrian bridge with the island of the urban type Hulhumale.
Velana Airport regularly receives (poisons) international flights from: Sri Lanka (Colombo), Thailand, UAE, Singapore, Russia (Moscow), cities in India, Germany (Frankfurt), etc.
Seasonal international flights are carried out from: Kazakhstan (Almaty), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Great Britain (London), France (Paris), Poland (Warsaw), Italy (Milan, Rome, Verona), Austria (Vienna), Germany, China (Hong Kong) , Beijing), etc.
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Usually tourists use the islands of Hulhumale and Male to spend the night after arrival or before departure near the airport, as well as, if anyone is interested, to walk and see the life of the locals.
Hotels near Male Airport: The 3-star Hulhule Island and Noah Safari Vessel Holiday Home, located on a yacht.
There are also international airports in the Maldives:
- Gan International Airport, located on the eponymous island of Gan in Addu Atoll;
- Hanimaadhoo International Airport, located on the island of the same name in Haa Dhaalu Atoll;
- Maafaru International Airport, located on the island of the same name in the Noonu Atoll. The airport accepts (sends) flights from Bangladesh, India, Thailand and, like all international airports in the country, from the islands of the Maldives itself.
In addition to direct flights, the Maldives can also be reached with transfers, following through third countries (cities). When choosing such flights, it is necessary to take into account the visa regimes and transit conditions of the countries through which the route will run. For example, when traveling through the Schengen countries, a valid Schengen visa is required.
Tickets to the Maldives, both for direct flights and with transfers through third countries (cities), can be viewed and purchased here →
The Maldives is divided into 26 atolls, which, in turn, consist of a total of 1,192 islands, among which there are industrial islands, an airport island, resort islands, local islands and islands-reserves, some of which can only be visited as part of a guided tour.
Suitable for holidays in the Maldives: islands-resorts (islands-hotels, - resorts where the local population does not live, and all or most of the island is occupied by one hotel, rarely-two or three hotels) and local islands-residential islands. All accommodation facilities in Maldives →
If you are going to relax on the island resort, then these hotels can arrange a transfer from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport for an additional fee (rarely included in the price). Also, some hotels on the local islands can provide a shuttle service for an additional fee.
The transfer includes a trip to the island by speedboat or seaplane.
When booking a hotel on Booking.com the transfer conditions and the cost of the service are described at the bottom of the hotel page - in the "Notes" section. The service can be ordered at the time of booking or later by contacting the hotel and providing information about arrival and departure flights. After that, the hotel will send you instructions on how to proceed upon arrival. Often it happens like this: upon arrival, you approach a certain counter at the airport and are picked up from there. All conditions and the cost of the transfer depend on a particular hotel.
Between the local islands, you can travel independently on public passenger ferries and regular boats that connect many local islands (atolls) of the Maldives.
Some islands can be reached by cargo ferry or by arranging with local fishermen.
Attention! Friday is a day off in the Maldives, public ferries do not run.
You can also book a seaplane or travel with the help of domestic airlines that fly to airports located on the islands. Several daily flights operate from Velana International Airport (Male) to 12 domestic and international airports in the country.
Airports in the Maldives:
- Velana / Male (Velana International Airport) - the main international and domestic airport of the country;
- Gan International Airport, located on the eponymous island of Gan in Addu Atoll;
- Hanimaadhoo International Airport, located on the island of the same name in Haa Dhaalu Atoll;
- Maafaru International Airport, on the island of the same name in Noonu Atoll;
- Dharavandhoo Airport, on the island of the same name in Baa Atoll;
- Fuvahmulah Airport, on the eponymous island of Fuvahmulah (Fuvahmulaku) in Gnaviyani Atoll);
- Maavarulu or Maavaarulaa (Maavaarulaa Airport / Maavarulu Airport), on the island of the same name in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll;
- Ifuru Airport, on the island of the same name in Raa Atoll;
- Kaadedhdhoo Airport, on the island of the same name in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll;
- Kaddhoo Airport, on the island of the same name in Laamu Atoll;
- Kooddoo Airport, on the island of the same name in Gaafu Alifu Atoll;
- Dhaalu Airport, on Kudahuvadhoo Island in Dhaalu Atoll;
- Villa (Villa Airport Maamigili), on the island of Maamigili in Alif Dhaal Atoll;
- Thimarafushi Airport, on the island of the same name in Thaa Atoll;
- Kulhudhuffushi Airport, on the island of the same name in Haa Dhaalu Atoll;
- Funadhoo Airport, on the island of the same name in the Shaviyani Atoll.
Ferries to the local islands from Male depart from the ferry piers located directly on the island of Male. From Velana Airport to the ferry docks can be reached by ferry (frequency every 10 minutes from 6: 00 to 23: 59 and every 30 minutes from 00: 00 to 6: 00), bus (frequency every 30 minutes), taxi or on foot (distance somewhere 4.6 kilometers).
At the airport, next to the arrival terminal, there is an information desk that works around the clock and seven days a week, where you can check all the necessary information about the hotel, transport, tickets, prices, airport or airline.
For citizens of all countries, a visa to the Maldives is not required. The maximum total number of days of a possible visa-free stay in the Maldives is 30 days, unless a different number of days is provided for by bilateral acts or a treaty between the countries.
Upon entry, the tourist must have a passport or a travel document with a machine-readable zone (MRZ) and a validity period of at least 6 months from the date of arrival. Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, the passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the date of arrival.
It is also necessary to have with you:
- hotel/accommodation reservation or travel voucher (if follow the tour to the islands);
- sufficient funds to cover the period of the intended stay in the Maldives - on average, it is recommended to have 50-100 dollars per person per day;
- confirmed return tickets to your country of residence or to a third country;
- certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, if applicable to certain tourists.
Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), everyone staying in the Maldives must complete a Traveler's Health Declaration (THD) and submit one within 96 hours prior to travel. The declaration is free of charge, you can fill it out online and send the form in electronic form from home.
Attention! The conditions of visa-free stay may change. The requirements for the Coronavirus may also change. We recommend that you check the information immediately before visiting the Maldives. Official website where you can specify the conditions and fill out a health declaration: immigration.gov.
Officially, for a stay in the Maldives, travel insurance is not included in the list of mandatory documents.
Nevertheless, it is still worth taking care of your health and the health of your loved ones, and to issue a travel insurance policy.
Insurance can be issued without leaving your home-online, via the Internet.
