What to book before you travel to the Maldives?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length

Weekend One week Two weeks

6 activities to book · about €630 per person

Malé

Day 1

Day 1Malé walk and the fish market2hThe coral-stone Old Friday Mosque of 1658, the market stalls and the harbour where the tuna boats unload in the afternoon.€15Book on GetYourGuide →

Day 1Reef snorkelling tripHalf dayA short boat ride to a nearby reef for a first look at the fish of the atolls.€45Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome · The busy harbour front · The local fruit and fish market · The artificial beach, where Malé swims

All activities in Malé on GetYourGuide

Maafushi (local island)

Days 2-4

Days 2-4Wreck and ray divesHalf dayDives in the channels between atolls, where the current brings in rays, and on wrecks already covered in coral.€60Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 2-4Sandbank and dolphin tripHalf dayA boat out to a bare sandbank, with spinner dolphins often riding the bow on the way back.€40Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Bikini Beach, the one beach where swimwear is allowed · Snorkelling straight off the beach · Sunset from a traditional dhoni · Daily life in a Maldivian village

All activities in Maafushi (local island) on GetYourGuide

Atoll and resort

Days 5-7

Days 5-7A night in an overwater villa1 nightA villa built on stilts over the lagoon, with steps straight down into the water.€350Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 5-7Swimming with whale sharksFull dayA day out to see the largest fish in the sea, harmless filter feeders, most reliably found year round in South Ari Atoll.€120Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The turquoise lagoon · The house reef, from the shore · The ocean view from the spa · A private sandbank

All activities in Atoll on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in the Maldives cost?

€630 per person if you do them all, across 6 bookings. The most expensive is "A night in an overwater villa" at €350, the cheapest "Malé walk and the fish market" at €15. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in the Maldives without booking anything?

12 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome, The busy harbour front, The local fruit and fish market, The artificial beach, where Malé swims. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Malé, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 2h for the shortest to Full day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Maldives guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit the Maldives, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→