10 atolls on this page, from 26 km to 538 km from Velana International Airport. Live availability comes from the booking partner.
Five-star resorts
Sorted by guest rating. Each booking through impt removes CO₂, with the amount shown on the deal.
Each pin sits at its real latitude and longitude. The distance is the straight line from Velana airport, and the transfer is the usual one for that range. Resorts set their own transfers, so confirm when booking.
Up to about 75 km from the airport. Transfers run day and night, which matters if you land late.
3 of the 10 atolls on this page
Further atolls within seaplane range. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late landing usually means a night near Malé first.
5 of the 10 atolls on this page
The far south and north. A scheduled domestic flight to a regional airport, then a boat to the island.
2 of the 10 atolls on this page
Atoll matcher
Pick one or more. Atolls are scored on how many of your picks they are known for, and ties go to the shorter transfer.
99 km from Velana · Seaplane range, daylight only
120 km from Velana · Seaplane range, daylight only
Around 99 per cent of the country is sea. Pick a picture and start there.
The year turns on two winds. Iruvai, the northeast monsoon, is the drier, calmer half. Hulhangu, the southwest monsoon, brings more wind and rain, and brings the plankton the mantas follow. The month you are reading this in is highlighted.
November
More wind, more rain in passing showers, and choppier crossings. Visibility can drop, but plankton brings the big filter feeders in.
In the water this month
Visitors are issued a tourist visa on arrival. Entry conditions change, so check Maldives Immigration before you travel.
Speedboat atolls can usually be reached at any hour. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late arrival for a seaplane atoll often means a first night near Malé.
On resort islands, yes. On inhabited islands, no, and that includes guesthouses there. Some guesthouse islands offer trips to a nearby resort or a licensed boat.
Cover shoulders and knees in the village. Swimwear is for designated beaches, which guesthouses can point you to.
North or South Malé, for the shortest transfers. If you want mantas or whale sharks, compare Baa and South Ari against your dates in the monsoon section above.
There is no fixed rule. Seaplane transfers fly in daylight only, and scheduled domestic flights to regional airports have set timetables, so both are worth arranging early once dates are firm. The season matters too: Iruvai, roughly December to April, is drier and calmer, and Hulhangu, roughly May to November, is windier. Confirm current transfer and booking details with the resort, guesthouse or official source.
Yes, provided transfers between them are planned. Speedboats run day and night in atolls close to the airport, while seaplanes fly in daylight only and domestic flights follow set timetables. Remember that local islands have no alcohol, swimwear is limited to designated beaches, and importing alcohol and pork is not allowed. Guesthouses know the current ferry and transfer timetables.
The atoll, because landing time and interests point to it. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late arrival may need a night near the airport or a speedboat in Kaafu. Interests then narrow the choice: South Ari for whale sharks, Baa for Hanifaru Bay, Vaavu for the Alimatha night dive. Island type, season and dates follow.
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Five-star resorts
Sorted by guest rating. Each booking through impt removes CO₂, with the amount shown on the deal.
Each pin sits at its real latitude and longitude. The distance is the straight line from Velana airport, and the transfer is the usual one for that range. Resorts set their own transfers, so confirm when booking.
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Atoll matcher
Pick one or more. Atolls are scored on how many of your picks they are known for, and ties go to the shorter transfer.
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Around 99 per cent of the country is sea. Pick a picture and start there.
The year turns on two winds. Iruvai, the northeast monsoon, is the drier, calmer half. Hulhangu, the southwest monsoon, brings more wind and rain, and brings the plankton the mantas follow. The month you are reading this in is highlighted.
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In the water this month
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