Updated 2021: For information relating to travel to the Maldives in this ‘new normal’ world of ours, head over to the Secret Paradise Maldives travel advice page. They make real-time updates as Maldives travel regulations change. Edits to the 2018 version of this blog have been striked-out and updated to relate to the current time.
I want you to picture the Maldives for a minute. What are the first thoughts that come to mind? Perhaps “Paradise” or “Beautiful” or “I could never afford to go there”. While the first two are correct, the latter is most definitely incorrect. Below I explain how you can visit these beautiful islands on a budget, not spending thousands of dollars on a resort, but rather supporting responsible and community-based tourism and travelling like a local.
Here is my Maldives 2 week sustainable, budget travel itinerary and everything you need to know to make your adventures to the Maldives unforgettable.
Things to know before you go:
- The Maldives is an Islamic country and therefore Islamic customs should be followed. This includes:
- Dressing modestly outside of the tourist beaches (Shoulders and knees should be covered)
- Refraining from alcohol (It is illegal to consume alcohol outside of high-class resorts or the airport)
- A 30-day visa is available on arrival to most nationalities
- ATM’s are only available in Male or Maafushi. USD is widely accepted but you will receive change in the local currency – Rufiyaa
- Tax – 10% service charge by law has to be applied to all rates for tourist services – accommodation, meals, transfers and excursions etc.
- SIM Cards are available at the airport and you can get a decently sized pre-paid plan (e.g. 15 GB) for about $20USD
- English is widely spoken on all the tourist islands
- Everything is surrounded by the ocean and the seas can become quite choppy when you’re island hopping, so if you’re prone to seasickness then medicine is advised
- The Maldivian people are extremely hospitable and very friendly
- Seafood is the main source of food for the islands, vegetarian food is widely available but vegan food is difficult to find
Travel Insurance
I recommend SafetyWing for travel insurance, as they are one of the few insurances that cover COVID-19.
Getting there:
The Maldives are located off the coast of Sri Lanka and many airlines fly directly to the capital of Male.
Moving on from Male:
All flights will arrive in the capital of Male and then you will have to make your way to any one of the hundreds of inhabited islands is these atolls. Depending on your flight arrival time there is a chance you may have to spend time in Male or neighbouring Hulhumale.
If your flight arrives in the early morning you could take a speedboat directly to your island destination on that particular day. Speedboats are the easiest way to get around the Maldives. While they’re not the cheapest option (Average $30USD one-way), they’re the most convenient.
COVID-19 NOTE: Ferries are currently not an option for tourists, only speedboat transfer. However, speedboat times change based on guest arrivals and departures that day so best to check with your travel agent or guesthouse at the time of booking.
Local ferries are also available albeit they take a much longer travel time than the speedboats. (Average $5USD one-way)
Ask anyone and they’ll probably express their distaste for Male. After all, it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and looks more like a concrete jungle than an ocean paradise. But, there is much to learn about the Maldivian culture from spending a day in its capital and you can do so with responsible travel company Secret Paradise Maldives who offer a Male City Tour accompanied by lunch with a local family.
As far as accommodation goes the most common area to stay is in neighbouring Hulhumale, an artificial island built to take the pressure of Male, home to a number of guesthouses and resorts for people travelling through to their next island destinations.
By no means is Hulhumale a true representation of the Maldives either. It is rife with construction that has corroded the assumingly once pristine beach here. While the beach has a few nice swimming spots, it is quite littered and lined with many local restaurants furthering the beach’s demise.
My 2 Week Itinerary
Days 1 – 3: Hulhumale
I decided to start my time in the Maldives on Hulhumale because I was particularly interested in participating in eco-tourism with Secret Paradise Maldives. From here I participated in two of their day tours –
Discover Huraa The Local Way – A trip to the island of Huraa by public ferry offering firsthand information about local island life.
An Insight into Marine Conservation – A trip to local island Villmale to snorkel coral nurseries with conservationist Bebe from Save The Beach, learning about their contribution to conservation efforts in Villimale.
Where I stayed: Rivers Beach & Spa – Double room with ensuite – CLOSED
Alternative: Planktons Beach
Cost: $97AUD p/night
Food & Drink: Average $10AUD p/meal
Read more about Secret Paradise Maldives and their commitment to eco-tourism
Days 3 – 6: Ukulhas
Ukulhas is a small island located in the Alif Alif Atoll (an Atoll is a collective group of islands) with a population of a little over 1000 people and can be reached by local boat or speedboat from the capital Male. I learned that in 2014 Ukulhas achieved a Green Leaf award for its outstanding services on protecting and preserving the island’s environment, so I wanted to catch a glimpse of the Maldives most eco-friendly local island. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.
Read my guide to Ukulhas here
Getting there: Public Ferry from Male: Villigili Ferry Terminal | Duration: 4 hours | Cost: $3.50USD pp | Time: Mondays & Thursdays (depart at 9:00 am)
Speedboat from Male Harbor: Jetty No: 06 | Duration: 90 minutes | Cost: $50USD pp | Time: Daily at 09:30 am and 16:00pm
Where I stayed: Ukulhas Inn – Double room with ensuite
Cost: $70AUD p/night
Food & Drink: Average $10USD per meal
Read about how I swam with Manta Rays in Ukulhas
Days 6 – 9: Thoddoo
Thoddoo was the second island I visited during my time in the Maldives. It was recommended to me because of its close proximity to Ukulhas, and also because it’s known as the “Green” island, due to rich vegetation and fruit farming. In fact, most of the Maldives’ Papaya and Watermelon comes from this island. This island has the most beautiful coloured waters I had seen during my time here and I will certainly be returning again one day!
Getting there: I arrived at Thoddoo on the local ferry from Ukulhas, that had one short stop off at neighbouring Rasdhoo before the final destination. The 1.5-hour ferry cost me a total of $2 and I liaised with Ukulhas Inn regarding ferry times.
Where I stayed: Veli Thoddoo Inn – Double room with ensuite
Cost: $35AUD p/night
Food & Drink: Average cost of $7USD per meal
Read my guide to Thoddoo Island here
Days 9 – 12: Dhigurah
I decided to change pace and explore the southern atolls meaning I had to pass back through Male and head south. There are just as many beautiful islands in the south and an abundance of sea life too.
I chose Dhigurah as my destination because I was curious to explore the ethics of Whale Shark tourism and the Alif Dhaal Atoll is known as a direct route for the gentle giants of the ocean.
Click here to read about the ethics of Whale Shark tourism in Dhigurah.
Dhigurah was the largest island I visited during my time in the Maldives, spanning 4 kilometres in length. The beaches were beautiful but also suffered from litter washing in with the tides. With sustainability in mind, I spoke with the island chief and learned about their commitment to keeping Dhigurah clean, including running regular beach cleanups and education programs.
Getting there: Speedboat from Male $60USD one-way
Where I stayed: TME Retreats Dhigurah – Double room with ensuite
Cost: $75AUD p/night
Food & Drink: Average cost of $13USD per meal
Days 12 – 14: Maafushi
I couldn’t complete my trip without a stop in Maafushi, the Maldives most developed local island. Maafushi is the “go to” island for most backpackers as it is a short 30 min speedboat from Male.
The island is still tranquil but there is a lot of development going up. It reminded me of what Koh Samui would have been like 20 years ago before mass tourism hit. While I didn’t dislike Maafushi, as I witnessed the construction of 8 story hotels there was a part of me that hoped mass tourism wouldn’t ruin the island.
Fun fact: There is a “booze cruise” from Maafushi where you can legally drink alcohol out on the water.
From Maafushi there are a lot of day trips you can do including snorkelling, diving, fishing, sand-bank tours and water sports.
Getting there: Speedboat from Male $25USD one-way
Where I stayed: Lily Rest Guest House (A great eco-conscious, family-run guesthouse with a commitment to going plastic-free) – Under Renovation
Alternative: Stingray Beach Inn
Cost: $97AUD p/night
Food & Drink: Average cost of $10USD per meal
FAQ’s
Tell me about environmental sustainability in the Maldives
One would be naive to think that the Maldives doesn’t suffer from plastic pollution as much as it’s southeast Asian counterparts. The truth is that the Maldives is just as vulnerable to the impact of plastic pollution than any other country, if not even more because it’s surrounded by ocean.
The Maldives has no recycling facilities – and they use a LOT of plastic. So where does it all go? To one big giant land-fill island to pile up and get burned.
Plastic is rife here in these islands, and almost everywhere you turn someone is offering you a single-use plastic water bottle.
The good news is that island chiefs and governing bodies are aware of this issue and want to try and implement solutions before it gets any worse. The hospitality industry is slowly moving away from plastic use but according to many of the people I interviewed, this change may not take place for a few years yet.
Read about the Maldives most eco-friendly local island
What can you do? Refuse single-use plastic wherever possible and share alternative solutions.
🌎 Note: The import of plastic in the Maldives will be prohibited from June 2022. Watch the documentary below to find out more.
How is it travelling as a solo female?
In my experience, I felt extremely safe the whole time I travelled through the Maldives. I found the people to be extremely friendly and extremely hospitable.
I was treated with respect and was always helped when I needed assistance. Most people speak English so it was very easy for me to get around, and because alcohol is illegal and most islands lack nightlife I never really had to worry about running into any danger after sundown.
I did however always cover my shoulders and knees when in the local areas and I think this is an important part of gaining and giving respect to the Maldives’ customs.
Is it easy to go to a resort?
Yes, of course, you can choose to stay in a resort for a hefty price tag. The cheapest one I came across was about $700AUD per night which is pretty much my whole accommodation cost for the 2 weeks I was there.
One other option is to take a day trip or evening trip to a resort. This can cost as little as $100USD and this money can be used as a tab in the resort’s restaurant or bar. You will also need to pay for the return trip there by speedboat.
Check in with your guesthouse to see if they offer resort trips.
I only touched on a small part of the Maldives, there are hundreds of more islands to explore, all which can be done the local way and without breaking the bank account. I was so happy I could participate in community-based tourism there and ensure my money is staying in the local economy.
If you have any more questions for me please do leave them in the comments below or get in touch via email.
