Island Hopping Maldives Itinerary for DIY Budget Travelers

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Few places in this world live up to their hype. Especially when they are hyped by large resort conglomerates and multi-millionaire vacationers. The Maldives, however, emphatically does. It will ruin you for all other beach destinations. Snorkeling will never be the same again. In a single day, I swam with Whale Sharks, and Manta Rays, Hawkbill Sea Turtles, Cow-tailed rays, Nurse sharks, and massive Sting Rays. Not to mention the tropical fish. Oh and to cap it all off— sunset on the beach followed by an ethereal fairy dusting of bioluminescent plankton spit onto the shore. 

Yeah, it’s that good. 

And I didn’t spend THOUSANDS of dollars to see it either. The Maldives can be visited on a budget. Not a tiny Sri Lanka-sized budget mind you, but a reasonable vacation budget. 

In this blog post, I’ll outline some travel tips for those looking to visit on a budget and share what I believe to be the perfect Maldives itinerary for an 8-day trip, 2-week trip, and 3+ week trip. 

This isn’t just a Maldives itinerary for couples either! Solo travelers and families can visit all of these places easily as well.

Important Things to Know Before You Visit the Maldives

1. It’s a Muslim country. 

A devoutly Muslim country. You’ll need some good long flowy dresses with short sleeves (not tank tops) if you’re a woman. There will be one beach on each inhabited island where you can freely wear a bikini but still absolutely no topless sunbathing. 

2. And there’s no alcohol. 

Alcohol is illegal in the Maldives. Not a single place on any inhabited island serves it. Maafushi has a “floating bar” (it’s just a boat with $8 beer + $12 drinks) if you’re desperate. Those resorts on private islands can serve all they want, however, but obviously, it comes at a price. 

You cannot being your own alcohol into the Maldives either. It will be seized at customs. 

I know sitting on a beach with a cold beer and being able to wear your favorite swimsuit while you explore the island is nice. If those things are deal breakers for your beach vacation consider splurging on a resort-like Kuramathi. It’s locally owned and absolutely luxurious. We wrote a full post about our stay here.

3. Cash is important and ATMs are not everywhere.

On this itinerary (and most itineraries) you’ll only find ATMs in Male. This means you should get LOTS of cash here. Maafushi also has an ATM if you plan to visit the popular island. You cannot rely on credit cards alone on the inhabited islands. 

4. There are sandflies and mosquitos. 

Bring repellent for the mosquitos and coconut oil to cover yourself in for the sand flies. Usually, it’s worst around morning and nighttime. Somehow the resort island seemed to eradicate all their bug life. I swear there wasn’t a single mosquito. But on the “real” islands you’ll have them in full force.

5. The biggest complaint about the Maldives is the food. 

It’s similar to South Indian at times, but it’s not very diverse. Kottu, fish curry, tuna fried rice, and small coconut and fish stuffed disks called Masroshi are the local favorites. You can also get grilled reef fish. Western food is limited but most places will make some variety of pasta. I got mild food poisoning while I was in the Maldives but it lasted only 24 hours. Evan too. But from another meal. So maybe bring some Pepto Bismol to take preemptively. Or lots of probiotics before you go.

6. Tipping in the Maldives 

You don’t need to tip your tour guides. Fancy restaurants will add a 10% service fee but this is uncommon on inhabited islands. If you would like to you can round up the restaurant bill to the nearest 50 MVR or add 10%– but tipping is not expected. 

7. The Maldives has some of the most salinated water in the world. 

This means you float really well and you should shower shortly after getting out of the water to protect your hair and skin from the harsh salts.

Where are the Maldives? The Maldives is tucked into the Indian Ocean directly south off the tip of India. Well far off the coast. It’s further south than Sri Lanka actually. The Maldives touches the equator which is why it’s so bloody hot all the time.

Tips for Visiting the Maldives on a Budget

You are not getting lux resorts on private islands on a budget. But that’s okay. The inhabited islands of the Maldives have beaches that are just as incredible and numerous excursions to take you deep into the surrounding Indian Ocean. Here are some tips to travel to the Maldives independently and on a budget. 

1. Fly from somewhere cheap. 

If you’re from the US like me a round-trip flight to the Maldives is criminal in price. But from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Mumbai, and Sri Lanka it can be as low as $60 one way. Considering combining trips or buying a far cheaper round trip into one of these major hubs instead. 

2. Friday is the worst day. 

Do not arrive on a Friday. Do not try to switch islands on a Friday. Friday is the Muslim Sunday but magnified to an extreme level. Make sure that you will be planted firmly on a beach every Friday. 

3. Local ferries exist! 

They are slow and usually only once per day. That’s why it’s extra important to plan ahead in the Maldives. They cost about $1 vs the $35 per person shared speedboats. Read my full blog post on getting around for exact schedules. You will need it.

4. If you move to a different atoll — you have to transit back through Male. 

Island hopping can get expensive and time-consuming quickly if you don’t plan ahead. Local ferries + shared speedboats only service one atoll. This means to get from Gulhi to Omadhoo for example…you have to take one local ferry back to Male then another to Omadhoo. 

This was not made super clear on other websites while we were researching how to get around. I think it’s because most people who visit find the local ferry schedules hard to decipher and just give up. Read my transport guide and I promise to break it all down for you.

5. Maldives has a lot of taxes. 

Many islands have a 3% “green tax” for accommodation as well as an 18% tax for foreigners. This can all add up quickly. Our hotel on Omadhoo had nearly 30% in taxes added. You can see it on booking.com — it’s not a hidden fee but it’s something to be aware of. 

6. It’s helpful to have a variety of payment methods. 

USD, local Maldivian Rufiyaa, and credit cards can be used for different things. Throughout my guides, I’ll always indicate if one particular method saves you money. Food will always be purchased with local currency.  

When you arrive in Male you should pull out a large amount of local cash for the smaller islands. They don’t always have ATMs. The Habib Bank ATM doesn’t charge any fees. The Maldivian Bank does.

7. The Maldives is not the cheapest when it comes to food either. 

Expect meals to run between $2-10 depending on the island (& meal) and a fresh coconut plucked from a tree or fresh juice to be $3-$5. 

Island Hopping Maldives Itineraries on a Budget

Here’s a quick look at my recommended itineraries for those on a budget. 

8-Day Island Hopping Itinerary for Maldives (The Quick Trip) 

Gulhi (4 nights) 

~ Overnight in Male ~

Omadhoo (3 nights) 

This could also be shortened to a 5-day or 7-day Maldives itinerary. But really I recommend that you just visit Gulhi if you have less than 1 week in the Maldives.

2-Week Island Hopping Itinerary for Maldives (The Best of Paradise) 

Gulhi (4 nights) 

~ Overnight in Maafushi ~

Fulidhoo (4 nights) 

~ Overnight in Male ~

Omadhoo (4 nights) 

3 weeks+ Island Hopping Itinerary for Maldives (The Beach Bum)

Gulhi (4 nights) 

~ Overnight in Maafushi ~

Fulidhoo (3 Nights) 

~ Overnight in Male ~ 

Omadhoo (3 nights) 

~ Overnight in Male ~ 

Dhigurah (4 nights)

~ Overnight in Male ~

Ukulhas (3 nights) 

Or longer on each of the islands above! These are just the general destinations that I recommend to the long-term traveler in the Maldives.

You can always skip the overnight in Male by booking an afternoon speedboat instead of the local ferry. The speedboat costs $35 per person while the local ferry is $1-$4. The most painful transport is to Dhigurah and Omadhoo. Consider splurging for the speedboat on these transport days instead. 

There are lots of food options in Male, several beaches, a national museum, beautiful mosques, and enough to keep you occupied for the evening. 

Let’s take a quick peek at the islands I’ve suggested on the itineraries above so you can know for sure which is best for you. 

The Best Islands in the Maldives

What is the most beautiful Maldives island? Honestly any of the islands that make this list. Each island in the Maldives was spectacularly beautiful in its own way. Here’s a breakdown of the Maldives islands you should island hop to.

Gulhi (Best Island in Maldives for Activities)

Gulhi is the most well-rounded island in the Maldives and a must-visit no matter how short your Maldivian vacation might be. For starters, it’s only a 1-hour local ferry from Male. It also has an incredible bikini beach, and epic excursions with the best snorkeling we’ve ever had for the best prices in the Maldives. Even excellent budget accommodation (the best and cheapest we stayed in)! 

Read More: Check out my full guide to Gulhi to plan your trip. 

Maafushi (Best Island in Maldives for Backpackers)

I hesitantly recommend this place for backpackers only because of the ability to meet fellow solo travelers, cheap food, and lots of tours available. That being said…

I don’t really recommend travelers visit Maafushi other than as a transit stop on the way to Fulidhoo. Led astray by numerous travel blogs recommending island hopping from Maafushi we washed up on its shores after 3 glorious days in Gulhi and were almost immediately disappointed. 

I felt we need to address it here because it’s the most highly recommended island for budget travelers. 

It’s far more crowded. The bikini beach is far less lovely and is backed by a 10-story resort. The water is somehow murkier and despite what the many bloggers who have visited say…it is NOT cheaper than other islands. 

All the same tours are offered on this island as Gulhi for the same prices. The only difference is you’ll be in a group of 20 rather than 8. We actually even ended up spending more money on a hotel (that was definitely of poorer quality) in Maafushi than on Gulhi. The islands are so close together but couldn’t be more different in terms of enjoyment. Thankfully, we only stayed two days. 

The only plus side to Maafushi is a large number of restaurants including two fancy Lebanese and Indian places inside the island resorts. Well, that and the floating bar bobbing in the distance. This is the only place you can purchase alcohol in the Maldives (outside of private resort islands). But you can also get here from Gulhi if you really want to pay $5 for a beer. 

Omadhoo (Best Island in Maldives for Couples)

Omadhoo is the winner for my favorite beaches. Spectacularly white, good reef snorkeling, and lots to see on the island. This is an island for peace and quiet. But excursions from here are expensive. Gulhi is a much better option for snorkel excursions. It’s better to just enjoy the beaches here. Check out my full guide to Omadhoo to plan your trip. 

We went on a rather expensive trip to see whale sharks from Omadhoo. I wrote about it here in “Is snorkeling with Whale Sharks in the Maldives Worth It? 

Dhigurah (Best Island For Whale Shark Excursions)

Speaking of Whale Sharks…if you do decide it’s worth your money, this is the best island to make the trip from. It’s around $100 per person here maybe less if you can scrounge together a big group. The island is also less visited than many of the others since it is quite far from Male and well worth some beach time. 

I can’t really speak to which is the best island in Maldives for family. But we did see kids on Maafushi, Gulhi, and Omadhoo during our stay. I think the Maldives is a very family-friendly destination in general. But please, don’t ruin the peace and quiet of the more remote islands by bringing your crying children to the beach.

Fulidhoo 

This island offers quiet isolation and excellent snorkeling opportunities including a large shipwreck not too far from shore. It’s one of the islands that hasn’t gained a huge amount of tourism yet since it is so far from Male. 

We didn’t make the time to visit ourselves but it’s on the list for our next visit to the Maldives. 

Thulisdhoo 

From May to November this northern Atoll is the perfect place to see hundreds of many rays migrating through the ocean together. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But it’s only during this specific time of year. Otherwise, enjoy the snorkeling and lovely beaches of this small island. 

Read More: Check out all the best excursions in the Maldives.

Ukulhas (Best Island For Year-Round Manta Rays)

Ukulhas has become a domestic travel haven for Maldivian citizens. It’s full of cheap guesthouses (Nala Veli being the best), lovely beaches, and plenty of restaurants and well-stocked grocery stores. It also is one of the only islands with year-round Manta Ray encounters in its surrounding waters.

Daily Budget for the Maldives 

After spending nearly 2 weeks in the Maldives ourselves here’s what we spent per day on the island. We did two major excursions (Whale Sharks + Full Day Snorkel Trip) and took 2-speed boats due to poor planning. So, it could be done even cheaper. 

$130 per day for two people! 

Average nightly accommodation: $75 

Excursion costs: $70-$130 per person 

Average meal costs: $3-$10 per meal. 

The cheapest way to do the Maldives is to couch-surf! With that, local ferries, and basic meals you could spend as little as $50 per day and STILL get to do a couple of excursions. These couchsurfing spots are highly coveted so contact them far in advance. 

Independent Island Hopping Not For You?

There are loads of tours for the Maldives. Some of them even include Island Hopping. Here’s a collection on Bookmundi if independent travel isn’t for you.

Want to splurge on an overwater bungalow? 

Kuramathi Resort near Rasdhoo island is Maldivian owned and one of the best places to stay in Maldives. We visited at the very end of our island-hopping Maldives trip for a luxurious send-off. You can read about it here.

We were not ready to leave the Maldives. After two weeks, we realized we wanted four! It’s not simply a destination for lounging but also for exploring. This underwater playground held incredible opportunities and adventure for snorkelers or scuba divers. The Maldives has been our favorite island vacation we’ve ever had! Let me know what your favorite Maldives island is.

Save This Maldives Itinerary for Later!