The Maldives is 1,200 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, most of them given over entirely to one resort each. It's built for slowing down — snorkeling the house reef, drifting between spa and sandbank — with day trips to a local island or Malé for anyone wanting more than the resort bubble.
Month by month
Best: January, February, March, April, November, December
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
How long to stay
4–7 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 18h from the US East Coast, 10h from Europe, 3h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Book seaplane or speedboat resort transfers in advance — they're arranged through the resort, not on arrival.
- Alcohol is served only on resort islands; local islands like Maafushi are dry under Maldivian law.
- Reef-safe sunscreen is worth packing — many resorts now require or strongly prefer it.
Plan a trip to Maldives
Pick your dates and Offdays builds a day-by-day itinerary from Maldives's best places.
Destination