Discover paradise on earth! We’ve got cheap flights to the Maldives, accommodation and activity tips

The Maldives is an archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean that is home to hundreds of coral reefs. They are therefore the perfect exotic escape when you need to relax or simply enjoy some time to yourself. It’s no coincidence that the Maldives is described as one of the most popular destinations in the world. They are the epitome of unrivalled luxury, stunning white sand beaches and an amazing underwater world. Explore this paradise on earth and choose from one of our great flights and accommodation deals for an unforgettable holiday. We’ve also got some activity tips to help you get to know the authentic environment of the islands.

From where? With whom? When? Tips from Pelipeckers on flights to the Maldives

• From where? Some of the biggest international airports in Europe offer direct flights to Maldives include London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and Zurich (ZRH).
• With whom?

1. London: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
2. Paris: Air France offers direct flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Male.
3. Frankfurt: Condor offers direct flights from Frankfurt Airport to Male.
4. Amsterdam: KLM offers direct flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Male.
5. Zurich: Edelweiss Air offers direct flights from Zurich Airport to Male.

If you are unable to find a direct flight from the biggest international airports in Europe to Maldives, you can consider taking connecting flights or alternative routes. Here are some options:

1. Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines offers flights from several European cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Barcelona with layovers in Istanbul before flying to Maldives.
2. Qatar Airways: Qatar Airways offers flights from major European cities such as London, Paris, and Frankfurt with layovers in Doha before flying to Maldives.
3. Emirates: Emirates offers flights from several European cities such as London, Paris, and Amsterdam with layovers in Dubai before flying to Maldives.
4. Etihad Airways: Etihad Airways offers flights from several European cities such as London, Paris, and Frankfurt with layovers in Abu Dhabi before flying to Maldives.
5. Air France: Air France offers flights from several European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt with layovers in Paris and Mumbai before flying to Maldives.

• When? The Maldives benefits from its equatorial geographical location and tropical climate guaranteeing warm and sunny weather all year round. The hottest month is April, the coldest December. However, temperatures are largely dependent on the monsoon. The average temperature throughout the year is 27 °C, ranging from 31 to 33 °C in the hottest months. The sea in the Maldives has a year-round temperature of around 27 °C.

Accommodation in the Maldives: choose one that includes a transfer to the island

Don’t worry about accommodation prices. Just like anywhere else, you can find both expensive and very good value options here. Check prices and book a hotel through Pelican. Find accommodation tips on this handy map:

What you need to enter the Maldives: just a passport

• A valid passport that remains valid for at least 6 months after your return.
• For stays not exceeding 30 days, visas are provided free of charge to tourists.
• Upon arrival, you’ll also need to complete a registration ticket, specifying your exact address of stay.
• All Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted

What to see and experience in the Maldives? Here are the tips of our editorial team

Snorkel till you drop

You can snorkel practically everywhere in the Maldives, as the islands are surrounded by reefs teeming with rich fauna and flora. Resorts tend to organise several daily cruises to snorkelling sites in the nearby area. There really is a lot to discover underwater in the Maldives.

Enjoy water sports

The calm lagoons surrounding the islands offer great conditions for many kinds of water sports. In most resorts you will find water sports centres offering water skiing, banana boating, parasailing, kitesurfing, canoeing, jet-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, etc.

Explore the sea world

The Maldives is a diving paradise thanks to its fantastic visibility, diversity of underwater flora and fauna, warm water and countless dive sites. Each resort has its own professional dive centre, which must meet strict regulations. You can take scuba diving courses and get certified.

Visit the surrounding islands

If you want to get to know the real life of the natives in the Maldives, go to one of the islands inhabited by natives. You’ll see small fishing villages with traditional colourful houses and harbours and get to know the local lifestyle. A visit to an inhabited island is also a good opportunity to buy souvenirs, most often wooden lacquerware, coconut shell products and gold or silver jewellery. It is necessary to leave the island before sunset.

Explore the beaches

Every island resort in the Maldives archipelago has beaches with beautiful white sand and lagoons with clear water. The beaches are lined with palm trees and tropical vegetation. Most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs with an abundance of reef fish and underwater flora and provide great conditions for snorkelling. Some resorts organise excursions to the beaches of uninhabited islands, where you’ll feel like a real Robinson Crusoe.

Watch dolphins and stingrays

The chances of spotting a dolphin while on holiday in the Maldives are quite high. In addition, resorts organize trips to locations where dolphins are regularly fed and the chances of spotting dolphins are multiplied. Some resorts have regular ray feeding sessions in the early evening, where the rays swim up to the beach and take food from your hands. You may also spot turtles on the beaches.

Visit the capital – Male

The capital of the Maldives, Male, is the antithesis of the quiet island resorts. It’s a teeming city of hundreds of thousands, with shops and busy fish and food markets where you’ll see the true Maldivian life. Male is also a good place to shop at prices incomparably lower than anywhere on the surrounding islands. But you can’t buy alcohol here as elsewhere in the Maldives.

Treat yourself to a massage

Massages and spas using herbal oils and medicinal plants to regenerate the body are available in every resort in the Maldives. A variety of relaxing, therapeutic and rejuvenating treatments based on Thai, Balinese and Ayurvedic massage and treatment techniques are on offer. You can indulge in a herbal bath, a stay in the sauna or in the steam chamber.

Weather in the Maldives: year-round favourable

The Maldives benefits from its equatorial geographic location and tropical climate guaranteeing warmth and sunshine all year round. The hottest month is April, the coldest December. However, temperatures are largely dependent on the monsoon. The average temperature throughout the year is 27 °C, rising to 31 to 33 °C in the hottest months. The sea in the Maldives has a year-round temperature of around 27 °C.

Transportation in the Maldives: either by speedboat or by plane

Boat

As the Maldives is an archipelago, shipping is the most common mode of transport here. You’ll find different types of boats that will take you almost anywhere. One of the islands has an airport from which you can take a boat to your destination island.

1. public boats – called “Dhoni”, which cost 1-2 dollars per person. However, you should be careful because they do not run on Fridays.
2. Private boats or Speedboats – cost more (around 20€ – 80€). They also run on Fridays.
3. Private boats for individuals – here the price is the highest ( from 100€ upwards). Most of the time these go to luxury resorts.

Airplane

You have the option to reach the more distant islands by Air Maldives (there are about 10 smaller airports in the Maldives). You can reach the island by either a conventional plane or a private airplane, with the latter being more expensive.