I managed to convince Toby a week before leaving the UK, that 7 days of paradise in the Maldives was just what we needed. I was right! With only a 90-minute flight between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, we’d have been mad not to pay this beautiful island nation a visit! 

Resort-life was not the life we headed for. Instead, we opted for the more budget friendly local islands. The lodgings are simple and spacious, there is no alcohol and you can only wear swimwear on 1 beach per island, often called “Bikini Beach”. The locals we met were the friendliest people. The islands were so clean. The sea was crystal clear. We explored, hand fed stingrays from the beach and took boat trips. This was one of the most magical trips and we had the best experience we could ask for!

Duration: 7 days, 7 nights

Country: Maldives

Budget: £700 / $935

Spend: £930 / $1,240

Miles Travelled: 655

Note: The Maldives was a lot more affordable than we expected. It was however quite difficult to stay within our budget when going on trips.

Use our interactive map below to see which areas we visited in order! Plus, a couple of extra gems which were our favourite trip spots.

There are a number of different methods of transportation to get to your chosen island(s). In line with our budget trip, we opted for the public ferry. You can also use speedboats or even seaplanes, if your budget stretches that far!

Public Ferries

Public ferries are the slowest route to take to your chosen island, and they only run once per day. If your timings don’t quite match up with the ferry schedule, you may need to get a hotel for the night in Malé.

Be sure you know which atoll your island is in and use the following website to find the correct route:

https://www.atolltransfer.com/ferry-routes

We took the 308 route which covered both Dhiffushi and Thulusdhoo, along with a number of other islands:

308 Male – Dhiffushi

Based on our route, the following journey times applied:

• Malé to Dhiffushi: 3h10
• Dhiffushi to Thulusdhoo: 45mins
• Thulusdhoo to Malé: 2h15

Speedboats

The most popular mode of transport is speedboat. There are many companies offering this service online.

Seaplanes

Seaplanes are a less common option, but those who can afford it can marvel at the stunning crystal blue waters and coral reefs from above. Again, there are a number of companies offering this service online.

Feeding stingrays from the beach

Feeding stingrays from the beach was the most unexpected and exciting experience! The local fisherman feed them most evenings at the local beach in Dhiffushi and you can get involved if you like!

7 days of paradise in the Maldives brought rain, intense sunshine, amazing wildlife encounters, new experiences and some unexpected surprises!

Snorkelling once for Alisha led her onto big things. Nurse sharks were next – her 2nd ever snorkel experience! The fear, the excitement, the anticipation and the never-ending joy. Those unparalleled emotions were beaten only by Toby proposing at our favourite spot in Thulusdhoo, Naafi Jetty, during the most perfect and colourful sunset – still unbeaten!

There were dolphins at sunset, crystal waters for miles and the most gorgeous beaches. Not to be missed!