When I thought of the Maldives, I always pictured those overwater bungalows with price tags ranging into thousands of dollars. For years, I figured I’d never be able to afford it. The Maldives was firmly filed under “Things I’ll Do When I Win the Lottery”/ (alongside owning a yacht)
So I had accepted my fate: admire from afar, like a distant crush who thinks you are “a really good friend.” 🥲
Then I discovered something that changed everything: You absolutely CAN visit the Maldives on a budget.The secret? Skip those fancy packages that travel agencies offer. Sure, it requires a bit more logistics and planning but the money you’ll save is absolutely worth it. I’m talking potentially thousands of dollars!
It just requires:
- Choosing local islands instead of fancy resort islands.
- A little planning.
- The emotional strength to understand the ferry timetable (do not underestimate this one).
So in this post, I’m going to tell you exactly how I did it, how much I spent, and how you can do the same without crying into your credit card statement.
Your Pre-Trip Checklist: Let’s Get Organized
Before you book anything, here’s everything you need to sort out:
- Visa Do you need one?
- Flights Finding affordable tickets to Malé.
- SIM card How to stay connected
- Accommodation Where to stay that won’t break the bank.
- Transfers Getting from the airport to your island and between islands.
- Insurance You are in the middle of the ocean. Just get it.
- Food How to eat well without resort prices.
- Activities What you can do and how much it actually costs.
In the next sections, we’ll tackle each checklist item with specific prices, pro tips and the occasional reality check.
My Maldives Itinerary
My trip was short (5 nights), I went when I could find the cheapest flight tickets.😀 But I still managed to visit multiple islands and get a real taste of the Maldives.
The Route:
Arrived in Malé International Airport
1. Speedboat to Maafushi (a local island popular with budget travelers)
2. Public ferry to Gulhi (another local island)
3. Speedboat back to the airport for departure
Visa Requierements:
Good news! The Maldives is not one of those countries that demands your entire life story, your blood type, and a letter from your ancestors. They offer visa on arrival for most nationalities, which means you show up, smile, and they let you in.
However, there are a few simple things you need. Do not panic. This list looks scarier than it actually is.
At the time of writing this article, here are the requirements to enter the Maldives:
- A passport or a travel document with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) with at least 1 month validity.
(If your passport expires in two weeks… babe, please go renew it.) - A complete travel itinerary, including:
- confirmed return ticket
- a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered guesthouse/resort
- enough funds to cover your stay (they don’t specify how much, just don’t look like you arrived to start a new life)
- Entry requirements to your onward destinations; for example, the visa and passport validity. (if you’re not going straight home)
- All foreigners arriving in the Maldives must complete and submit the ‘Traveller Declaration‘ form. The good news is:
- You can fill it out up to 96 hours (4 days) before arrival
- It’s completely FREE (rare win!)
- It must be completed electronically via the IMUGA portal (fancy name for their online form)
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable. (Only if you’ve been to or transited through a Yellow Fever risk country.). Full list of affected countries here: LINK
Pro tip: Always double-check the official Maldives immigration website before you travel. Requirements can change, and you don’t want to be that person arguing with immigration officers at 2 AM because you read a blog post.
Flights (aka: The Part Where You Either Win or Cry)
A lot of people assume flights to the Maldives cost the price of a new car. And yes, if you only look at glossy travel agency packages, it appears that way.
But flights can actually be surprisingly affordable if you keep an open mind about travel dates and departure airports.
First things first: you need to get to Malé (the capital). Almost every international flight lands there, so that’s your target airport.
Now, personal example:
I found a flight for 72€ from Abu Dhabi.
Seventy. Two. Euros.
To the Maldives!
I genuinely thought the airline made a typo. It was beautiful. It was the closest I’ve ever felt to winning the lottery.
This was the base fare without luggage, so I paid extra to bring my 20 kg backpack. Even with luggage, the final price was still incredibly reasonable. (even for someone as cheap as me)
These sort of prices are usually possible if you’re flying from nearby countries like UAE, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, or Oman. Even from Europe, you can get there for around €500 if you plan ahead.
Here are some example deals:
I talk about how I hunt down cheap flights in another post so check that out if you want to save your bank account from emotional trauma.
Interestingly, most of the travelers I met (including myself) were actually visiting the Maldives as a stopover on the way to another destination. The most common connection? Sri Lanka. It’s a perfect excuse to combine two amazing destinations in one trip without breaking the bank.
In short:
Getting to the Maldives is possible on a budget (no private jet energy required)
You just need to get yourself to Malé. The rest? We plan step by step.
Accommodation: Where to Stay Without Breaking the Bank
Once I had my flight ticket, I did some basic research to figure out where I could easily get from the airport to my stay. With only five nights in the Maldives, I had to be strategic: faraway islands that required hours of travel were off the table this time.
Maafushi
The most popular and easiest-to-reach island is Maafushi, so I decided to stay there. I booked my accommodation [LINK] and shortly after received a message from them offering an airport transfer for $15. I had already planned to get from the airport to Male by ferry (cheap and frequent) and then another ferry from Male to Maafushi but figured direct boat from the airport to Maafushi would save time, so I said yes.
Upon landing, I collected my luggage and headed to the help desk counter. Once I told them the name of my hotel, they introduced me to the driver who would take me. I waited 20–30 minutes for other passengers from the flight and in the meantime, I withdrew some cash (though if you’re bringing USD, you can skip this).
Important tip: There are two ATMs at the airport. Use the red one (Bank of Maldives), as it charges lower fees for international withdrawals. The other ATM (Habib bank) applies higher commissions, so it’s better to avoid it.
Finally, we walked to the speedboat and…holy shit, the water. The blue. Unreal.
Running on zero sleep and pure excitement.
Night flight nearly killed me (because middle seat) but…
I MADE IT TO THE MALDIVES!
It took around 25 min to get to Maafushi. When we arrived at the harbor, a golf cart picked me up and drove me to the accommodation. Maafushi surprised me with its size: it’s tiny! (but hey! size doesn’t matter😀) I was worried about staying far from the harbor but the island is so small that almost all hotels and guesthouses provide golf carts or small trolleys for luggage anyway.
The room: Basic. Clean. Exactly what I needed. No golden toilets or champagne on arrival, but also no bedbugs or existential dread, so… win?
I booked only 2 nights in Maafushi because honestly? I had no clue what to do next. The ferry schedules online are confusing as hell (we’ll get to that nightmare later) and I wasn’t sure if I’d even be able to hop to another island in the short time I had.
BUT … the receptionist at my Maafushi hotel was an absolute legend. She sat down and explained everything, including the fact that speedboats exist (groundbreaking information, I know). Turns out island-hopping is way easier than the internet makes it seem.
Gulhi
Armed with this knowledge, I booked 2 nights in another island: Gulhi. (On the 2nd day I extended for one more night directly with them because, surprise surprise, I didn’t want to leave.😃)
I loved the place. The staff (especially the guy working there) were super friendly and helpful. Breakfast was included and actually delicious and the room was clean, comfortable.
No luxuries but a solid bed, AC and somewhere to dump your sandy everything. I would definitely stay there again.
While wandering around (which takes roughly 11 minutes because, again, tiny island), I met some other travelers who recommended This Guesthouse where they stayed.
Everyone’s got their favorite spot, and honestly, you probably can’t go too wrong – Gulhi’s not big enough to have a “bad side of town.”
Just make sure your room has AC included, because it gets extremely hot!
Maldives on a Budget: Book Your Stay Before You Cry
The islands are tiny, like “blink and you’ve walked across it” tiny. That also means accommodations are super limited.
If you’re visiting during high season (roughly November to April, when everyone and their mother decides the Maldives sounds nice), I would definitely book in advance unless you genuinely enjoy:
- Last-minute panicking while refreshing Booking.com like a maniac
- Sending desperate WhatsApp messages to every guesthouse on the island
- Negotiating for a bed like you’re haggling at a market
- Potentially sleeping on a beach (romantic in theory, sandy and illegal in practice)
Low season? You can probably wing it. High season? Book that shit ahead or prepare for a very expensive lesson in supply and demand.
Pro tip: Even if you’re a spontaneous traveler like me, at least book your first night or two. Then you can figure out the rest from there without the added stress of arriving at sunset with nowhere to sleep and a backpack full of regret.
The Damage: What I Actually Paid
A lot depends on when you visit (season/off-season) , how early or late you book (last-minute can be cheaper but also chaotic) and even which days you stay (weekends tend to be pricier). So your numbers may look different, but here’s roughly what mine were:
I paid between $42–$55 USD per night for accommodation. Not bad, right? Especially compared to the overwater villas that look like Pinterest boards with a mortgage. BUT (and here’s the plot twist), the Maldives still ended up being the most expensive country I’ve visited… mostly because I was traveling solo.
For accurate current prices, just click the links because it changes faster than I can update this.
Pro Tip: Bring a Friend (Words I Never Thought I’d Say)
Here’s the thing: there aren’t many hostels in the Maldives. If you’re solo, you’ll likely pay for an entire room. So either:
a) Find a travel buddy
b) Make peace with paying extra
The Green Tax: Because Nothing in Life is Free
There’s a tourist tax called the “Green Tax” (I assume it funds palm tree maintenance or something equally tropical).
Fancy resorts (>50 rooms or private islands): $12 per person, per night
Small guesthouses/hotels (≤50 rooms): $6 per person, per night
Important: This is paid on top of your accommodation price, so don’t be surprised when your final bill is a little higher than expected.
Transport (Airport → Accommodation): Book Your Transfer in Advance
Sure, you can try to wing it once you land at the airport, but good luck. I met a girl on my flight who hadn’t booked anything. She missed the first speedboat because it was already full and waited four hours for the one that had a seats available. Four. Hours. At the airport. Surrounded by people who planned ahead and were already swimming in turquoise water while she sat there questioning her life choices.
Don’t be that girl.
Best options:
- Book through your hotel or guesthouse – Many accommodations offer speedboat transfers at competitive prices. It’s convenient, stress-free and you get a guaranteed seat.
- Book independently online (HERE) – There is main speedboat operator (Icom Tours) but booking early is essential. Last-minute availability is basically a lottery, when I checked a day before my flight, most boats were already full.
Okay, so… yes, there is another way to get around the Maldives: seaplanes. They’re fast, they’re scenic, and they make you feel like you’re starring in a luxury travel commercial filmed exclusively in slow-motion.
Are they budget-friendly?
Absolutely not.
Maybe one day, when I, too, have unlocked the level where $300–$600 for a 15-minute flight feels “reasonable” I will take a seaplane and then write a whole dramatic review about it.
Today, however?
We stay humble. We stay on speedboats. We stay on budget.
Transport Between Islands: Island-Hopping Made Simple (and Cheap)
Once you’re on one island, getting to the next is actually way easier than it sounds and way cheaper than you might think!
Public Ferries:
- Reliable and super affordable. For example, my ride from Maafushi to Gulhi cost about $5 USD.
- No prebooking needed: just show up at the harbor, hop on and pay during the ride.
- You can find schedule here*
Ferry Schedules: Confusing But Manageable (I Promise)
Okay, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: the ferry system is… a puzzle. Not impossible but definitely one of those “I need a coffee and maybe a small prayer” situations.
If you’re planning to visit islands in multiple atolls, you might need to take several ferries (and possibly stay overnight somewhere in between). So unless you have 10+ days, I’d stick to speedboats or stay within the same atoll to avoid spending half your trip sitting on docks wondering where your life went.
But if you’re determined (or on a budget), here’s how to make the ferry schedule make sense:
- First, Google which atoll your island belongs to.
- Then, find your atol on the map, open the ferry schedules for that atoll and scroll until your brain either understands or gives up.
- Look at the routes, find your islands, and match the days they run (not all ferries operate daily)
Example: I used ferry #309 (Male City → Guraidhu) which stops at both Maafushi and Gulhi. Perfect for my route, took less than 30 min cost less than $5 per trip.
It looks intimidating at first, but once you crack the code, it’s actually pretty straightforward. You got this.
Speedboats:
- Faster than ferries, more frequent, more comfortable but more expensive.
- Perfect if you want to save time hopping islands or have a packed schedule.
- You can book in advance through your hotel or online ([LINK]).
One-Day Trips from Maafushi:
- Perfect if you want a taste of another island (or multiple islands) without staying overnight.
- Pick-up is usually in the morning; drop-off in the evening.
- Great for snorkeling, exploring, or just showing off your Instagram skills.
Tips to Keep Things Smooth:
- Pack light: You’ll be hauling luggage on/off boats with limited space
- Bring cash: Ferries don’t accept credit cards
Travel Insurance: Don’t Be That Person
Alright, let’s get real: insurance is NOT optional. I know, I know… I’m literally the person who brings instant noodles on trips to save $3 on lunch.😂I once walked an extra 50 minutes to find an ATM that didn’t charge a $2 commission.
I am aggressively cheap about most things but insurance is the one thing I refuse to skip. I’d rather spend $50 now than potentially owe thousands in medical bills later (or worse… my family having to deal with it. Absolutely not).
Even if you’re the most careful traveler on the planet, shit happens! Boats capsize. People get food poisoning. Someone definitely gets stung by something every single day.
Personally, I use TrueTraveller and have had great experiences – one incident in Thailand and they handled everything like pros. But honestly, as long as the provider has solid reviews, fair pricing and covers water activities, you’re good.
Bottom line: Insurance is boring and feels like a waste of money until you desperately need it. Then it becomes the best $50 you ever spent. Don’t gamble with your health, your wallet or your family’s sanity.
Just get the damn insurance.
Food: Delicious, Cheap, and Surprisingly Not a Scam
I was honestly shocked, eating in the Maldives doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Both hotels I stayed at included breakfast, so I only needed lunch and dinner. After a bit of research, I found local restaurants where a meal cost around $5-$8 USD. That’s cheaper than your average airport sandwich… and way tastier.
Just to give an idea, here is an example menu from one of the restaurants (usually I would get something from ‘rice’ or ‘noodles’ section)
My favorites:
Maafushi:
- Sultan Mahal
- Mr. Octopus (Seafood that tastes like it just swam onto your plate.)
- Semili’s Restaurant Maafushi
- Hiyala Mariyaad Cafe
Gulhi:
- Hotel Fulhoi
- Salt Harbour
- Dhilakani Cafe – (very local restaurant, looks a tiny bit like someone’s basement… but honestly? The food slaps. I had a curry there that was shockingly good … and it was the cheapest meal I found anywhere else, around $3.5)
- Benha Restaurant
Pro tip: skip the resort restaurants if you’re on a budget. The food is good, yes, but it comes with a “tourist tax” in the form of your wallet crying. The local eateries? Cheap, tasty, and you’ll get a little slice of island life with every bite.
Activities: Swimming with Sharks, Mantas, and Your Instagram Feed
I did two tours: one in Maafushi and one in Gulhi, they were totally different experiences but both amazing and both surprisingly budget-friendly.
Maafushi – The Instagram Famous Tour
Vibe: Professional. Polished. Designed for maximum social media output.
- Cost: $60 (lunch included) + $30 for drone pictures (absolutely worth it).
- Focus: content. They want you to leave with the perfect photos. Think less “fun tour” and more “professional photoshoot in paradise.”
- Stops included:
- Fulhidoo Island – swim with stingrays literally right by the shore (or just walk into the water and they’ll come to you like friendly sea pancakes).
- Shark swimming – harmless reef sharks, but definitely a thrill.
- Sandbank lunch – rice, meat, veggies, and enough free time to pretend you’re on a deserted island reality show.
- Drone shots – Because nothing says “I’m living my best life” like aerial footage of you floating in turquoise water with sharks!
- Popularity alert: This tour is super popular on social media, even people from other islands come just for it. You can check them out on instragram. Because of that, it’s better to book in advance if you want a spot.
Gulhi – The Budget-Friendly, Chill Version
- Cost: $40, including Go pro photos and videos.
- Duration: 3–4 hours.
- Highlights: swimming with sharks, snorkeling
What You Get:
- Swimming with sharks (still terrifying, still safe)
- Snorkeling with fish who have zero concept of personal space
- Go Pro Photos/videos so you don’t have to risk dropping your phone in the ocean
Catch: Minimum participants required. If not enough people sign up, the trip doesn’t happen. You might end up sitting on the beach feeling mildly betrayed.
Free Snorkeling: Because Not Everything Costs Money
Many guesthouses in Maafushi and Gulhi provide free snorkeling masks, so you can just… walk into the ocean and explore without spending extra cash.
Personally, I hate the two-piece rental snorkel masks (the ones with separate goggles and a breathing tube.) No matter what I do, water always finds a way in and I end up looking like a flailing goldfish while gasping for air. 🙃
I brought my own one-piece mask where I can breathe normally through my your nose and actually enjoy snorkeling.
If you’re anything like me and don’t want to feel like you’re constantly drowning, you can grab one here: link.
Summary:
- Maafushi has dozens of tour operators: more choice, more chaos, more Instagram potential.
- Gulhi has one main tour operator, making it better for chill vibes, sun, snorkeling, and pretending you’re a travel influencer without a scheduling nightmare.
- Many tours give photos or videos, so no GoPro required (bonus: fewer chances of dropping your camera in the ocean).
- Swimming with reef sharks or mantas is safe. Think of them as gentle giants judging your swimming form.
Important Reminders (So You Don’t Die or Panic):
✅ Reef sharks and mantas are safe. They’re basically underwater puppies.
✅ Most tours include photos/videos – No need to bring expensive equipment you’ll might loose (but you totally can, especially if you own action cameras such as GoPro).
✅ Book in advance – Popular tours fill up fast, especially during peak season.
Bottom line: Whether you’re here for epic photos, relaxing snorkeling, or bragging rights for swimming with a shark without dying, the Maldives has a tour for every budget. And you don’t even need to sell a kidney to afford it.
SIM Card & Staying Connected (Because Even Paradise Needs 4G)
Let’s be honest: yes, you’re in paradise, but you’ll still want internet. For maps, ferry schedules, texting your family “I didn’t get eaten by sharks”, or just showing off your coconut in real time.
Option 1: eSIM before you fly
Personally, I like to have internet the second I land, in case something goes wrong with transpor or just to text my family “I’m still alive.”
I have a Revolut currency card (if you don’t, seriously get one: it’s free and offers way better exchange rates), and you can buy mobile data plans right in the app. You install it once, and then you just pick a plan for whatever country you’re in. Easy.
I’ve also tried Trip.com and it worked great too. The setup takes about 3 minutes (and if I can manage it before my morning coffee, anyone can).
Option 2: SIM card at the airport
If you prefer something physical, you can grab a local SIM card as soon as you land. There are a few stands right at the airport, and setup is quick.
This article breaks down the plans and prices in detail (and saves you from standing there at arrivals looking confused while holding your passport and 12 bags).
Alternatively, you can buy a small data plan before your trip, just enough to get you through the airport and your first few hours and then grab a local SIM at the airport for the rest of your stay.
Nightlife (or the Glorious Absence of It)
If you’re expecting raving clubs, EDM, or glow sticks, let me stop you right there… the Maldives is not that kind of party island.
Nightlife here consists of:
- Relaxed dinners at local restaurants
- Strolling along the beach pretending you’re in a movie
- Sipping virgin mojitos while contemplating existence
- Going to bed at a reasonable hour like a responsible adult (boring but healthy).
Alcohol alert: Officially, no alcohol is allowed on local islands. That means if you were dreaming of cocktails by the sandbank… tough luck.
But There Are Two Loopholes:
Option 1: International Waters Cheat Code
On Maafushi Island (one of the most popular local islands), there’s something called the Maafushi Floating Bar and Safari. It’s literally a party boat. A floating bar. Anchored offshore because apparently alcohol can’t touch the sacred local island ground, but if it’s floating in international waters adjacent to the island? Totally fine.
Here’s how this beautifully chaotic system works:
- You go to the harbor
- You take a FREE boat to the party boat (yes, a boat to get to the boat)
- You board what is essentially a floating bar
- You can FINALLY get a drink
- You pay approximately $10-18 per drink and cry into your overpriced coctail
When I went, there was actually a queue of people waiting for the boat shuttle, so I had to hang around for a bit. Worth it?
Honestly, yes … because it’s definitely an experience.
There’s a DJ spinning tropical house beats on the main deck, and two top decks with tables where you can sip your overpriced beer, catch the sea breeze, and pretend you’re on the Titanic ( minus the icebergs, plus questionable dance moves)
Is it worth $18 per drink? Absolutely not.
Should you do it anyway for the plot? Absolutely yes.
After you’re done, the small shuttle boat takes you back to the harbor, where you stumble onto solid ground feeling both slightly seasick and very amused at how far you went for a drink.
Option 2: Resort Day Passes – The Fancy Loophole 🍹
Many of the tour stands and even some hotels on local islands offer day trips to nearby luxury resorts. Yep, those fancy overwater-bungalow-type places you see on Pinterest.
You hop on a speedboat in the morning, get to pretend you’re rich for a day, and then come back to reality by dinner.
The best part? Most of these resort day passes include unlimited food and alcoholic drinks. So you can sip cocktails by infinity pools, eat like you’re on a honeymoon you didn’t pay for and still be back in your budget-friendly guesthouse by night.
It’s basically a cheat code for the “no alcohol” rule and a genius way to get the 5-star experience without committing your life savings.
Weather: The Great Maldivian Lottery
So, according to the internet, chat gpt, and about 500 identical travel blogs, the best time to visit the Maldives is November to April, also known as the dry season. Translation: bluer skies, calmer seas, and fewer chances of your beach day turning into a dramatic “survivor of the storm” moment.
I went in December, and it was mostly perfect. Sunny, warm, classic postcard weather. It only rained twice in five days, which honestly felt like nature’s passive-aggressive reminder that perfection doesn’t exist.
The Local Weather Wisdom (A.K.A. “It’s Complicated”)
After chatting with locals, I learned that Maldivian weather is essentially a lottery. During the so-called “wet season” (May to October), sometimes it barely rains at all. Other years? Nonstop downpours that make you question eveyrything. There’s no real pattern. One guy literally said: “It’s sunny until it isn’t.”
Deep. True. Poetic.
The off-season does have its perks, though:
- Cheaper accommodation – resorts and guesthouses drop prices like crazy.
- Fewer tourists – more peace, fewer people taking 47 selfies in the same spot.
- Still warm – it’s the Maldives, not the Arctic. Even the rain feels like a warm shower.
- Occasional rain = guilt-free naps – Embrace it. You’re on vacation. Rest is productive.
So, if you’re feeling lucky (and budget-smart), don’t completely rule out the off-season. Worst case? You get a few rainy afternoons to nap guilt-free. Best case? You score luxury views at off-peak prices.
Don’t Be an Idiot (Like Me): The Sun Will Destroy You
Okay, listen. Even on the cloudiest days, the Maldivian sun is aggressive. Sneaky. Violent. The kind of sun that will smile at you sweetly while casually grilling you like a chicken skewer while you’re busy taking Instagram photos of your feet in the water. You won’t even notice it’s happening.
So please, for the love of your future peeling skin:
- Bring sunscreen. SPF 50. Non-negotiable.
- Reapply every couple of hours, even if you swear it’s “not that sunny.”
- Make sure it’s coral-safe (the reefs will thank you).
- And don’t rely on buying it there — sunscreen on the islands is so expensive it might as well come with a payment plan. (We’re talking $30-40 USD for a bottle that would cost $8 at home.)
- Wear a hat (even if you look dorky). Survive with your face intact.
Don’t be me. Protect your skin. Future You will thank you.
Flying Back: The “Please Don’t Miss My Flight” Chapter
My flight was in the afternoon, which meant I could take the first morning speedboat, cruise over without panic, and arrive at the airport a solid three hours early (full airport dad mode engaged—passport, ticket, snacks, existential dread all accounted for).
Morning Flight = Potential Disaster
If your flight is in the morning, plan carefully.
Speedboats don’t run 24/7. Depending on the island, the first ones usually leave around 7–8 a.m., which sounds early… until you realise your flight might already be boarding by then.
The Solution: Sleep in Malé the Night Before
If you’re not a fan of stress dreams about missing planes (and let’s be real, who is?), spend your last night in Malé. It’s the capital island, close to the airport (but technically separate), and you can catch a quick ferry or speedboat in the morning.
Basically:
- Afternoon flight = chill, maybe even time for one last coconut.
- Morning flight = go to Malé the night before, sleep, and let Future You thank you for the good decision.
Maafushi vs. Gulhi — Which One Should You Choose? (Spoiler: Both)
Okay, so these two islands are siblings but definitely not twins.
Maafushi is the louder, busier, “let’s-do-all-the-things” sibling.
It’s bigger, more crowded and the bikini beach is honestly kind of small and packed (you’ll be playing towel Tetris with other tourists).
BUT — Maafushi is the place for tours, activities, restaurants, shops, speedboats, life, chaos, fun. If you want action, this is your island. Perfect for the “I want to do something every day and maybe even twice a day” type.
Gulhi, on the other hand, is the chill little sister. Smaller, quieter, and way less crowded (because everyone’s busy fighting for beach space in Maafushi). The bikini beach is huge and gorgeous- like, actual postcard Maldives vibes. Crystal water, white sand, room to breathe. It looks exactly how I imagined the Maldives when I was daydreaming about it from my desk job.
There aren’t as many restaurants or tour options, but honestly? That’s kind of the point. Gulhi is for when you want to do absolutely nothing and feel good about it.
Personally? I fell in love with Gulhi. But I’m also glad I saw both.
Maafushi gave me the activities, Gulhi gave me the peace, the sunbathing, the “main character walking slowly on the beach” vibes.
My recommended plan:
✨ Start in Maafushi → do all the tours, activities, and “I’m an adventurous queen” stuff
✨ Then move to Gulhi → decompress, sunbathe, snorkel, take 700 photos, heal your soul
Best of both worlds. Literally.
Final Thoughts
The Maldives isn’t exactly a “just wing it” destination: it takes a bit of planning, logistics, and mild spreadsheet energy. You’ll be juggling ferry times, comparing speedboat prices, and occasionally wondering if your next boat actually exists.
But honestly? It’s so worth it!
You get turquoise water that looks like someone used the “Enhance” filter IRL, islands so small you can walk across them in 10 minutes (perfect for the directionally challenged), and the sunsets are so outrageously pretty they make you question all your life choices (especially the one where you didn’t move here permanently.)
So yes, the Maldives might test your organizational skills a little. But once you’re floating in that ridiculous blue ocean, sipping coconut water, and realizing you didn’t need to spend thousands for it… you’ll know exactly why people keep calling it paradise.
