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Destination
The Maldives
A seaplane over the atolls. A reef a few steps from the sand. Days measured by the tide.
Best months
December to April
The dry northeast monsoon. Calm seas and clear water.
Suggested stay
7 to 12 nights
The journey on this site is ten nights.
Climate
Warm all year
Around 30°C by day, and the sea not far behind.
Local time
Malé No daylight saving.
Twenty-six atolls, and most of the country is sea.
More than a thousand islands, scattered across hundreds of kilometres of ocean.
Each resort is its own island. Choosing the right one is most of the work. That part is ours.
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Best time to travel
The best weather and the best wildlife rarely share a month.
The dry season brings calm water. The wet season brings the mantas. We help you choose which matters more.
Weather, all atollsSun, calm seas, clear water
Weather, all atolls: best Dec to Apr.
Manta raysHanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
Manta rays: best Jun to Nov.
Whale sharksSouth Ari Marine Protected Area
Whale sharks: best Mar to May and Aug to Nov.
A guide only. Weather varies from year to year, so we check it with you when we design the journey.
What to expect
Island days, and how they run.
Pace
One island, one rhythm. The days follow the tide and the light, not a timetable.
Island time
Some resorts set their clocks an hour ahead of Malé, for longer evenings. We tell you which.
What to pack
Very little. Linen, a rash vest, reef-safe sunscreen, and something to cover your shoulders in Malé.
Under the water
Most islands have a house reef a few steps from the sand. Turtles are common. Mantas and whale sharks keep their own seasons.
Before you go
Visas, seaplanes and island customs.
We confirm each of these with you before you travel.
Checked against official sources in October 2026.
Entry
Visitors of every nationality receive a free tourist visa on arrival, usually for thirty days. You need a confirmed booking, a return ticket and a passport valid for at least one month. Six months is safer, as many airlines ask for it.
Declaration
Every visitor completes the IMUGA traveller declaration online, within the 96 hours before arrival. It is free. We remind you.
Seaplanes
They fly in daylight only. Land after dark and your first night is near the airport. We plan your flights around this.
Alcohol
Served on resort islands only. It cannot be brought into the country, and local islands are dry.
Customs
Malé and the local islands are conservative. Cover shoulders and knees there. Swimwear belongs on resorts and marked beaches.
Ramadan
In 2027 it is expected from about 8 February to 9 March. Resorts run as normal. Malé is quieter by day.
Official advice
Rules can change at short notice. Check your own government’s travel advice when you book, and again before you fly.
Where we stay
Islands we would choose ourselves.
Three examples of the kind we look for: four and five star hotels and boutique stays we would choose ourselves.
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The journey · Reef and Horizon
The Maldives, built around you.
Two atolls in ten nights. The rest is planned around who you are.
- Land, and wait for the light.
- A reef held in trust.
- Sharks, large and small.