Maldives cruises & tours
Uncover the Maldives beyond the big resorts
With crystal-clear lagoons, world-class snorkelling and picture-perfect beaches, this South Asian paradise has long been a hot spot for luxury travellers. But the real cultural connections happen beyond the glossy hotels. Whether you're dancing to the beat of bodu beru drums, tasting sugary huvadhoo bondi from an island market, watching tuna fishermen bring in the day's catch, or just basking in the views from the deck of your traditional dhoni boat, this is your chance to see the Maldives like a local.
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Explore tailor-made tripsChoose Kethi for your next adventure in the Maldives. This sleek dhoni boat (a traditional motorised vessel used in the Maldives) houses 12 passengers with a small crew of five, including your captain and onboard chef. The six cosy cabins all feature ensuites and air-conditioning with wooden interiors. You can spend your days aboard looking out to sea on the sun deck, chilling out in the dining area or the bar, or making the most of the snorkelling equipment. At night, maybe watch the sunset from the sun loungers with a drink.
Choose Kethi for your next adventure in the Maldives. This sleek dhoni boat (a traditional motorised vessel used in the Maldives) houses 12 passengers with a small crew of five, including your captain and onboard chef. The six cosy cabins all feature ensuites and air-conditioning with wooden interiors. You can spend your days aboard looking out to sea on the sun deck, chilling out in the dining area or the bar, or making the most of the snorkelling equipment. At night, maybe watch the sunset from the sun loungers with a drink.
Maldives at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Malé
POPULATION
523,787
CURRENCY
Maldivian Rufiyaa (Rf) & USD
LANGUAGE
Dhivehi, English
TIME ZONE
(UTC+05:00) Maldives Time (MVT)
CALLING CODE
+960
ELECTRICITY
Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type G (Irish/British 3-pin)
Learn more about Maldives
Best time to visit
Although you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Maldives at any time of year, the best time to visit is during the dry season, between October and May. Conditions are clear and sunny with average temperatures around 28°C, ideal for anyone looking to escape a Northern Hemisphere winter.
During the dry season, visibility for snorkelling and diving is excellent. Between August and November, manta rays and many shark species are commonly seen.
Although technically classified as the wet season, rain showers between May and October are often short-lived and provide a nice break in the humidity so you can continue idyllic island living. Hatching season for sea turtles occurs during July and August and is an extraordinary sight.
Culture and customs
Daily life in the Maldives is tied to the sea, and the island environment influences cuisine, handicrafts, cultures and traditions.
The Maldivian people are master boat builders, and the dhoni, or traditional Maldivian fishing boat, can be found across the archipelago. These days, dhonis have been modernised with comfortable fittings for live-aborad sailing adventures.
The Maldives national tree is the coconut palm, and coconut is a key ingredient in Maldivian cuisine. Food is cooked in coconut oil, coconut sap is a popular morning drink, and coconut honey and sugar are added to many sweet treats. Other Maldivian cuisine is mainly seafood-based. The coconut palm has been used in traditional medicine, to build homes, dhoni boats and for Maldivian handicrafts.
Geography and environment
The Maldives is a South Asian island nation in the Indian Ocean, spread over 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi). It's made up of 1190 coral islands that form an archipelago of 26 natural atolls.
Of the 1190 islands, less than 200 are inhabited. Most of the islands are very small; it's not unusual to be able to cover an entire island in under 10 minutes.
The islands are all low-lying, and the highest elevation anywhere in the archipelago is under 2.5 metres, making the Maldives the lowest country in the world. Due to the low elevation, the temperatures stay consistently high, even at night and hover between 25-28°C year-round.
Eating and drinking
Top things to eat and drink in the Maldives:
1. Mas Huni
Mas huni is the traditional Maldivian breakfast made of shredded smoked tuna, onion, coconut, lemon and chilli. It's served with roshi, or a baked flatbread made similar to roti or chapati, and a hot cup of Maldivian black tea.
2. Hedhikaa
Also known as 'short eats,' Hedhikaa are bite-sized snacks accompanying Maldivian high tea. Hedhikaa is a cultural experience, and the short eats, whether baked and sweet or deep fried and savoury, are shared among friends and family during social gatherings and religious events.
Tuna is a staple in Hedhikaa dishes. Popular short eats include Gulha, fried dough balls stuffed with tuna, onion and coconut, Bajiyaa, a Maldivian samosa and Githeyo Boakibaa, a sweet coconut and ghee cake flavoured with cinnamon. Hedhikaa are always served alongside a hot cup of Maldivian black tea, known as Sai.
3. Huvadhoo bondi
A slightly addictive sweet treat, the sugary, coconutty delicacy can be found at island markets around the Maldives. Huvadhoo bondi is a coconut patty rolled into a long stick and wrapped in a banana leaf... and it looks totally unlike any candy you'll find elsewhere.
4. Garudiya
A staple on most islands, Garudiya is a fragrant ginger and garlic soup with big, fresh chunks of locally caught tuna. Yellowfin and skipjack are the most common types of tuna in the Maldives. Garudiya is served with steamed rice or roshi to mop up the broth.
5. Aluvi Boakibaa
One of the most popular and most mouthwatering desserts in the Maldives, Aluvi Boakibaa is cake made of coconut and cassava (also known as yuca or tapioca). You can find this sweet treat at restaurants or street vendors, and it's especially popular at high tea with a hot cup of sai.
Money matters
The official currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa (Rf), but since it is a non-convertible currency, it cannot be purchased beforehand. The US Dollar is accepted as legal tender throughout the Maldives, but damaged notes, badly creased, well-worn, or defaced notes will not be accepted. Change will often be given in Rufiyaa, so it's a good idea to carry a mix of local currency and clean, small USD notes for purchases and tipping.
At the end of your trip, you won't be able to exchange Rufiyaa back to USD or any other currency, so make sure to spend as much as you can on the islands.
ATMs are available in Malé, but access is minimal outside the city. There are no banks on local or resort islands.
Major credit cards can be used at many shops and restaurants in Malé, as well as on local islands
Maldives travel FAQs
Most nationalities will not need to obtain a visa in advance to travel to the Maldives. However, entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.
You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.
Tipping 10% at restaurants and for services provided is welcomed in the Maldives.
While it may not be customary to you, it's of great significance to the local islanders and makes a big difference to those working in the tourism industry.
Wi-fi can be found at hotels, restaurants and cafes in Male, but speed may vary. Purchasing a local SIM or using an eSIM can help you stay connected on your trip.
We don't recommend drinking tap water in the Maldives. Your local leader can source filtered or bottled water for you. If you're joining a Maldives sailing trip, unlimited drinking water will be provided.
Being an island paradise, you'll want to pack warm-weather clothing, swimwear and lots of SPF for a trip to the Maldives.
Other must-haves for a Maldives trip include:
-A daypack for island excursions
-A lightweight sweater or jacket for evenings and early mornings
-Comfortable walking shoes and sandals/flip-flops
-Sunglasses and a sun hat
-A refillable water bottle
-Insect repellent
-A camera
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
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From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
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