The Maldives is the closest thing to paradise that exists on Earth — 1,200 coral islands scattered across 90,000 square kilometres of the Indian Ocean, each surrounded by lagoons of impossible turquoise. The marine life is extraordinary and the underwater visibility unmatched.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Arrive & Settle In
Fly into Malé and take a seaplane or speedboat to your resort or local island. If on a budget: stay on a local island like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo — $60/night guesthouses with the same snorkelling. If splurging: check in to an overwater bungalow and never leave.
📅 Snorkelling & Diving
The house reef at any resort is world-class — Napoleon wrasse, reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays. For the best diving: Maaya Thila (night dives with sharks), Fish Head (grey reef shark aggregation), and Banana Reef (one of the world's top 10 dive sites).
📅 Whale Sharks & Manta Rays
The South Ari Atoll is the world's best place to swim with whale sharks year-round. Hanifaru Bay (Baa Atoll) — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — hosts the world's largest manta ray feeding aggregations May–November.
📅 Sandbank Picnic & Sunset Cruise
A private sandbank emerges from the ocean at low tide — your resort will set up a champagne picnic on it. Sunset dhoni cruise through the atoll. Last snorkel at the house reef at dawn before the seaplane home.
🏨 Where to Stay
Soneva Fushi
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The original barefoot luxury resort — beach and overwater villas, private observatory
💡 Key tips: Local island holidays are 80% cheaper than resort stays with access to the same reefs — book a day trip to a sandbank from your guesthouse. Seaplane transfers are stunning but expensive ($300–500 one way) — speedboats are cheaper and often available at night when seaplanes can't fly. Bikinis are only permitted on resort islands — cover up on local islands. The dry season (Nov–Apr) has best visibility.
