Are you planning a trip to the Maldives and wondering how much it will cost? You’ve come to the right place. This guide will unpack all the flight considerations you should make when planning a trip to the Maldives.
The Maldives has been a prime location for beach destination weddings, romantic honeymoons, and summer family getaways for more than four decades. The island country is greatly endowed with pristine beaches, coral reefs, and luxury resorts offering tonnes of water activities.
Located about 466 miles off the coast of Sri Lanka and India, getting to the Maldives will require a flight. Depending on which part of the world you’re traveling from, you may need two flights.
How Much is a Vacation to the Maldives
To estimate how much it will cost to travel to the Maldives, consider this “how long does it take to get to the Maldives from where you are?”. This will help you put together a budget for the tickets and decide how long you should stay.
As a popular holiday destination, the Maldives boasts over 100 all-inclusive resorts and hotels. These establishments often offer package deals to cater to your every need.
They have got you covered, from romantic dinners to picnics on the beach. There are even water activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, or surfing.
A Maldives resort package usually features all-day meals, bottomless drinks, snacks, and fun guided boat tours like kayaking and sailing. Booking a package will likely lessen the average cost of a Maldives vacation.
How Much Does it Cost to Travel to the Maldives
With white sands and a turquoise-blue ocean entirely surrounding the country, flight tickets will have to be involved one way or the other. At this point, you may start wondering how much you’ll need to travel to the Maldives.
The average cost of a trip to the Maldives will vary depending on which part of the world you’ll be coming from. Those traveling from Asia or nearby continents will probably spend less on flight tickets than those from further afield.
Trip to Maldives Cost: Russia
According to the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism, Russia had the highest number of tourist arrivals to the Maldives in January 2022. With a continental climate of long, cold winters and short summers, it is not surprising that thousands of Russian citizens flock to the Maldives annually.
Although not very common, there are direct flights from the Russian capital Moscow and the former capital Saint Petersburg. These flights are shorter than their one-stop and two-stop counterparts taking approximately 11-to-14-hours.
The average cost of flight tickets from Russia to the Maldives, with an overlay at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA), is around $800 to $1000.
Trip to Maldives Cost: United Kingdom
At the beginning of 2022, UK travelers were the second-largest contributor of tourists to the Maldives. The Maldives saw more than 14,000 visitors coming in from the UK. To get to this picture-perfect island nation, they can board their flights at any of the many international airports in their respective countries.
UK travelers are also spoiled for choice, with over 40 airports to board from. You’ll find the busiest airport, London Heathrow, in the English capital. Traveling from Heathrow Airport (LHR) will cost you between $850 and $1000 for a round trip. Depending on the one-stop layover, you can expect travel times to range between 12-to-30-hours.
Trip to Maldives Cost: India
As the top source tourist market at the end of 2021, India has fallen to third place with less than 12,000 arrivals in January 2022.
Before this decline, Indian travelers were the top contributor of Maldivian tourists. The proximity of the two nations is one factor to attest to this statistic, as well as the affluent Indian society and their appetite for dreamy tropical getaways.
To travel to the Maldives, Indian citizens will fly from one of the major airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kochi.
Typically a direct flight will take 2-to-3-hours. However, flights with long layovers can take up to 10 hours of travel to get to Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldivian capital of Male. The average cost of flight tickets from India to the Maldives is around $400 to $600.
Trip to Maldives Cost: Germany
Like their eastern European neighbors, German travelers love vacationing in this tropical oasis. With over 10,000 tourist arrivals so far, it is evident that German travelers are dreaming of waking up to stunning views of crystal blue waters and tall coconut trees.
Travelers from Germany may choose from 36 international airports, depending on their flight routes. The busiest and most popular airport is Frankfurt International. A one-stop round trip from there will cost you less than $1000 and take approximately 13-to-20-hours.
Trip to Maldives Cost: Italy
In the last few years, Italian travelers have been vacationing in the Maldives in their thousands. Marginally falling behind Germany, the small Mediterranean country also contributed more than 10,000 visitors to the Maldives.
When visiting the Maldives, Italian travelers can expect a 12-to-19-hour flight from the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome. One-stop round trip tickets from Italy to the Maldives range between $850 and $1000.
Trip to Maldives Cost: USA
Although the Maldives is not as popular amongst American tourists, the archipelagic country still welcomes thousands of US citizens each year. The Maldives is located 9,656 miles from the USA, making the trip long and tedious.
The long flight time also means there are no direct flights from the US to the Maldives. Therefore, American travelers must connect via Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.
US citizens on the West Coast typically travel from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), while those on the East Coast favor the closer John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
The average cost of a round trip from LAX to MLE will cost you anything between $930 and $1400, with 25-to-36-hours of travel time and at least one layover. The round trip will take 19-to-35-hours from JFK and cost you between $950 and $1500.
Trip to Maldives Cost: The Middle East
In recent years, the Maldives has gained popularity amongst tourists from the Middle East. The desert nations of Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are all extraordinary in their own right. Still, they do not possess the sandy beaches and beautiful coral villages like those in the Maldives ocean.
To travel from the Middle East, one would need to catch a flight from one of the two busiest airports in the region, the Dubai International Airport (DXB) or Qatar’s HIA. Luckily there are many direct flights from the Middle East to the Maldives.
A nonstop round trip from Dubai will cost about $1000 to $1200 for 4-to-5-hours of travel time, while a one-stop trip will cost less than $500 but will have a longer travel time of about 7-to-8-hours.
If you’re traveling from a gulf nation closer to Qatar, your flight will probably take off from Doha. A nonstop round trip from HIA will cost you less than $950 and take around 4-to-5-hours. For a one-stop trip, except to pay less than $1000 and between 10-to-16-hours of travel time.
A bonus of flying from here is that the Middle East is geographically close to the Maldives. Therefore most Gulf nations have direct flights connecting to the Male from their respective capital cities.
How Much Does it Cost to Stay in the Maldives
Once you’ve figured out your flight plans, you can start planning your Maldives holiday itinerary. There are so many things to do in the Maldives. To experience all the island offers, you should book a stay for about 3-to-5-days.
However, keep in mind that the average cost of a trip to the Maldives is not cheap. As a secluded island nation, Maldives has no land borders, thus making importing and exporting very costly. These high costs, unfortunately, trickle down to Maldivian locals and tourists.
Maldives Resort Cost
The Maldives is world-renowned as a luxury travel destination. Therefore, the hotels and resorts often cater to travelers with deep pockets. The average Maldives resort prices for all-inclusive hotels range between $300 and $1000 per night.
Nonetheless, many Maldives resorts and holiday rentals cater to budget-sensitive travelers. These often have average prices that range between $50 and $80 per night.
Maldives Honeymoon Cost
As a top-rated wedding location, it is not uncommon for newly-weds to spend their honeymoon in the Maldives. An all-inclusive honeymoon package provides access to a private villa, a personal chef, and a private pool or hot tub.
You’ll be glad to know that the average Maldives trip cost for a couple is significantly less than for a group or family. This is mainly because resort rates are always priced for two adults.
This means that booking a stay at a honeymoon resort in the Maldives can be pretty affordable.
How Much Does it Cost to Go to the Maldives – Final Thoughts
By now, you have gathered that traveling to the Maldives requires excess patience and not so much money in your pocket. With budget options and all-inclusive resort packages, flight tickets are the only additional cost.
Once you land in the Maldives, the long flights, layovers, and dollars spent will all be worth it.
Start planning your trip today.
