Solo Travel in the Maldives: The Ultimate Guide for Solo Female Travellers (Budget, Safety & Local Islands)

The most surprising thing about solo travel in the Maldives is it can actually be affordable without the luxury price tag. The secret is to swap private resorts that cost thousands a week for the charming local islands. Same beautiful beaches, same turquoise waters, same colourful marine life – all for a fraction of the price, making The Maldives accessible for solo travellers looking for a more local experience.

Why should one of the most beautiful places in the world only be for loved up couples on their honeymoon? Do you deserve nice things regardless of your relationship status? Yes. Does that mean you deserve to go to the Maldives regardless of whether you’re coupled up or travelling solo? Also yes!

I travelled around the Maldives solo for two weeks as part of my backpacking career break and out of the 13 countries I travelled to over that year the Maldives was easily top 3, maybe even number 1 overall. It really is as beautiful as it looks in the photos, and if you love the beach and the ocean as much as I do, you will love The Maldives too.

Whether you’re planning a holiday, a career break adventure or simply wondering if travelling to the Maldives alone is worth it, this guide covers everything you need to know as a solo traveller including budgets, the best islands, how to get around, accommodation and safety tips for solo female travellers.

Is the Maldives Worth Visiting Solo? 

There’s this notion that the Maldives is too romantic for solo travellers; that one of the most beautiful countries in the world is only for loved up couples on honeymoon. I’ve never had a wedding or a honeymoon: frankly I deserve the Maldives more than someone who has.

If you love the water, the Maldives is a bucket list destination in it’s own right – the marine life in particular is some of the best in the whole world, with multiple opportunities to snorkel and dive with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, sharks and sting rays. Even swimming off of the stunning beaches at the house reef is an adventure in marine life.

If you love the beach, the white sandy shores of the Maldives really are as stunning as the photos you see on billboards and the tube. In short, if you love to relax on the beach or love being in the water, the Maldives is a fantastic destination regardless of whether you’re in a couple, with friends or solo – you just need the confidence to go.

Best Time to Visit the Maldives as a Solo Traveller 

Seaons in the Maldives are divided between wet and dry. The wet season officially runs between May and November, with December to April being the dry season. However, November, April and May can also be considered the shoulder season.

Prices tend to get a lot cheaper as soon as it turns to May – this is when you’ll start to see deals land for luxury resorts, as well as cheaper prices at guesthouses on the local islands, making the shoulder season a more attractive time to go to the Maldives for anyone on a budget, but particularly for solo travellers who won’t have the advantage of splitting accommodation costs – one of the cons of solo travel!

It’s important to bear in mind that the divide of wet and dry season isn’t gospel; the climate in the Maldives is tropical, and weather can be unpredictable, especially given the country is made of hundreds of small islands across a 90,000km stretch of the Indian Ocean.

I personally travelled in April and the start of May; towards the end of my time there were a couple of overnight downpours and a bit more cloud, but generally great weather. I have a friend who went for a week in February and it was overcast the whole time. You can’t control the weather!

Wet season will mean better deals on accommodation for solo travellers, but you may find it difficult to find enough people to do excursions with on smaller islands as they run with a minimum number, and some restaurants may be closed.

How Much Does a Solo Trip to the Maldives Cost? 

How to Visit The Maldives on a Budget

The way to keep a solo trip to the Maldives at a reasonable price is to travel to the local islands rather than spend thousands in one week for a luxury resort. This section will give you accurate costs from first hand experience island hopping around the local islands as a solo traveller, helping you plan a budget for your own solo trip to the Maldives.

Budget Breakdown for Solo Travellers

I spent two weeks island hopping around the Maldives on Ukulhas, Gulhi and Omadhoo islands as a solo traveller. You can see the breakdown of my budget and total spend as follows:

Cost of Accommodation On The Local Islands

Guesthouses and hotels on the local islands vary in price and by season. I stayed in lovely local guesthouses under £40/$60 a night and in better equipped hotels for £70/$100 a night. On some of the better established islands for tourism some hotels can be more expensive than that; you can expect these to be stylish design hotels. The key is: there is a range for all budgets.

Of course the disadvantage of solo travel is not being able to share the costs of accommodation, though on the plus side you don’t have to share a bed. The good news is the local islands make Maldives accessible with guesthouse accommodation for a fraction of the cost of a luxury resort island stay, and tend to be a bit more social whereas luxury resorts could feel isolating when travelling solo.

Food and Restaurants On the Local Islands

Food on the Maldives local islands can be a little repetitive depending on how developed the island is. An exception is Ukulhas, which has enough variety of restaurants and cuisines that you could happily eat somewhere different each night over a week.

Local dishes are fried rice, kottu (a chopped roti dish) and unsurprisingly, fresh sea food. Meals are between $5-20 per person on the local islands; with the fresh seafood being at the higher end of the cost scale, and fried rice dishes being much cheaper.

Breakfast was included in the rate for accommodation everywhere I stayed on the local islands. Don’t miss the traditional Maldivian breakfast Mashuni, made up of tuna, grated coconut, lime and red onion – it’s absolutely delicious. 

There is no alcohol available on the local islands in the Maldives as it is a dry country, so this helps keeps costs down if, like me, you’re usually one for a few sundowner cocktails!

The Cost of Transport In The Maldives: Public Ferries and Speedboats

One of the best ways to reduce your spend in the Maldives is to take the local ferries to your local islands of choice rather than the speedboat.

The caveat is this takes planning, as the local ferries do not run every day to each island and the journeys can take anywhere between 1 and 5 hours depending on which atoll you are travelling to. The plus is the ferries cost anywhere between $1 and $5 compared to the speedboat which can be $25-80 per person depending on the distance.

It’s a longer but much cheaper option, and perfectly safe for solo female travellers; please remember to dress respectively on the ferries as you would away from bikini beach on the local islands.

Excursions and Activities: The Biggest Cost in The Maldives

Excursions are likely to be your biggest expense during your time on the Maldives local islands. Snorkelling trips, diving, sandbank picnics and day trips to local resorts were definitely the biggest splurge for me, but well worth it and still less than you would pay to do the same trips from a luxury resort.

Sometimes, the more people on the trip, the cheaper it is per person, and many excursions will need to have a minimum number of people for them to go ahead. Obviously this can be a bit annoying as a solo traveller, but busier islands like Maafushi, Gulhi and Ukulhas are likely to have enough people signed up even in the wet season.

Top Things to Do Solo in the Maldives 

The Maldives is the perfect place to completely chill out; sunbathe and read books on the beach. Personally, I’m more than happy to spend days on end doing just that; I really enjoy how much it allows me to switch off and relax, so it doesn’t matter to me that I’m doing it solo. However, if you are looking for things to do to meet people, there are plenty of excursions you can do which opens up the opportunity to meet other travellers.

Snorkelling Trips

The snorkelling in the Maldives is not to be missed, and whilst you can snorkel of your own accord off of many of the local islands which have fantastic house reefs just off the shore (Ukulhas and Omadhoo have especially great house reefs), booking onto a snorkelling day trip is a great way to both meet people and see the best spots.

On many islands you can level up a regular snorkelling trip to a manta ray, whale shark or dolphin safari. These are not to be missed!

Diving

The waters of the Maldives boast some of the best diving in the world. It’s an expensive place to dive, so I would personally consider doing my diving certification elsewhere like Thailand if I didn’t already have it, though a diving course is a great way to meet people.

If you’re already qualified, a day of diving is still one of the best ways to meet others whilst travelling. Divers always have stories to share, and the shared passion means conversation rarely runs dry.

Sandbank Trips

Sandbank trips are often included as part of a snorkelling day trip, but you can do them by themselves. A shared lunch on a paradise sandbank is a great way to get chatting to others!

Luxury Resort Day Trips

On many local islands guesthouses will offer day trips to a local luxury resort. As much as they weren’t my favourite local islands, Maafushi and Gulhi are great places from which to do a resort day trip.

These trips usually need a minimum number of people to run, as well as getting cheaper per person the more people there are, so they are a great way to meet others. You may get chatting on the journey over and even end up hanging out for the day as you enjoy the resort’s all inclusive (alcoholic) bar offering.

Solo Female Travel in the Maldives: Safety & Tips

The Maldives has been one of the countries I felt most comfortable in as a solo female traveller (and I’ve been solo travelling for nearly two decades!)

Solo Female Safety on The Maldives Local Islands

The Maldives has a low crime rate and feels very safe to travel solo. I was worried the islands might feel patriarchal but I didn’t find it that way at all, there were women present everywhere; in the hotels, guesthouses and shops.

Being a strict Muslim country makes it very conservative, but this also meant I felt very respected. Please ensure to show respect in turn by adhering to local customs of modest dress away from bikini beach.

It’s also important to respect the ocean and listen to any local guides when it comes to snorkelling and diving trips, both to ensure the safety of yourselves and marine life.

Internet, SIM cards and staying connected

As a solo female traveller I always ensure I am connected to the internet for safety. Whilst I found the wifi on the islands surprisingly reliable and strong, you won’t have wifi on the local ferries, and I highly recommend getting an e-Sim so you are always connected, either in advance from Airalo (use code CHARLI4330 for £2.50 off your first purchase) or at the airport on arrival.

How to Meet People and Avoid Loneliness

The Maldives isn’t the easiest destination to meet people – without hostels and with lots of people sunbathing and reading in the sunshine, it’s a very chilled out destination. I was more than happy to completely switch off; one of the things I love most about solo travel is the enjoyment I get from simply being by myself.

But there are ways to meet people as a solo traveller if you prefer a bit of interaction, you’ll just have to put yourself out there a bit! Snorkelling trips, diving trips and resort day trips will allow openings to chat to other travellers quite easily.

What to Pack for a Solo Maldives Trip 

You can read my full packing list here, but there are some Maldives specific items you should not forget to pack for your trip

• High factor, reef-safe sunscreen
• Dry bag
• Modest clothing for local islands: I’m a big fan of a glamorous kaftan
• Snorkel and mask
• Water shoes

Many guesthouses will have snorkel gear for hire or possibly to borrow for free, but if you’re a keen water baby like me, I find taking my own to a destination like this to be better.

How Long Is Good To Spend In The Maldives?

I assume you’re looking for a more serious answer than ‘forever’? In my view the ideal amount of time is two weeks for a trip to the Maldives. Unless you’re coming from within Asia or the Middle East, it’s a long journey that often requires a connecting flight. The flights aren’t the cheapest, and island hopping requires time.

Two weeks means you can comfortably visit 3 or 4 islands during your time there, justifying the flight cost, though I know plenty of people who spend one week on one island instead, which you certainly can’t turn your nose up at.

Maldives Solo Travel Itinerary Ideas

1 Week Maldives Solo Itinerary

If you only have one week to spend in the Maldives, I would recommend spending that week on Ukulhas. The island is a bit further away from some others, but that means it is less built up and quieter, giving far more of a desert island feeling than Maafushi or Gulhi.

There are enough restaurants there to dine somewhere different each night; the food was good and the cuisine varied. Ukulhas is also a great place from which to do a manta ray safari, with the mantas present all year round.

Alternatives include a week on Maafushi or Gulhi, or splitting your time between the two. I personally didn’t love the vibe of either of these islands; the bikini beach on Maafushi is tiny and the one on Gulhi has very loud music playing. However, these islands are great places to do excursions from; snorkelling with sharks and sting rays, lunch on a sand bank and there are several resort day trip options nearby too.

For solo travellers it may be easier to meet people on Maafushi as it is a livier island, being the most established as it was the first local island that opened to tourists.

2 Week Island Hopping Route

Ukulhas – Gulhi – Omadhoo

I spent two weeks island hopping the Maldives, stopping at Ukulhas, Gulhi and Omadhoo. This route was a great combination; despite all being local islands, they all had a different feel to them.

Although Gulhi wasn’t my favourite, it was a fantastic place from which to do excursions, especially a day trip to a luxury resort, which was a highlight of my time in the Maldives. It’s also super easy to get to from Male, with well timed and regular ferries by Maldives standards, and given you need to pass through Male to get to other atolls, is a good place to break up the island hopping to atolls further afield. 

Ukulhas is one of the local islands that is more popular with tourists, despite being further away than other islands from Male, and Omadhoo is so small that you get a true local experience staying there.

A good alternative to Omadhoo would be to swap with Dhigurah, which is in the same atoll, a little further but the island best placed for whale shark excursions, making them cheaper. It’s also more popular with tourists so could be better for solo travellers, though I loved the peace and quiet I experienced on Omadhoo. 

Common Mistakes Solo Travellers Make in the Maldives 

Relying on Wifi

As a solo female traveller I always ensure I am connected to the internet for safety. If you’re taking the public ferries in the Maldives, you are likely to have some long days ahead of you and there will not be wifi.

I highly recommend getting an e-Sim so you are always connected, either in advance from Airalo or at the airport on arrival. Use code CHARLI4330 for £2.50 off your first purchase with Airalo.

Not Planning in Advance

I’m afraid to tell you that if you’re a type B person, you’re gonna have to get a little organised to get the most of out of your trip to The Maldives. I generally think a bit of organisation helps you enjoy and get more out of solo travel anyway, but for a destination like the Maldives it could ruin the trip if you don’t plan it.

Islands are small and accommodation can book up; booking in advance will avoid disappointment and higher in-demand pricing. If you want to take the local ferries to save money, you will need to check the days they run and plan an island hopping route accordingly. If you want to spring for the speedboat, you will still need to book this in advance with your guesthouse.

A little bit of organisation goes a long way in the Maldives, and given the islands are one of the most relaxing destinations I’ve been to, at least you can breathe easy knowing everything is sorted once you are there. 

Not Understanding The Ferries

If you plan to take the local ferries and subsequently save yourself a lot of money, you will need to check the routes and schedule prior to booking your accommodation. The times and days the ferries run to each island will affect the order in which you travel to them, so be sure to understand the timings in advance.

It’s important to remember that there are no ferries at all on Fridays as it is the holy day, though most islands will have a speedboat as an alternative if you need to travel on a Friday.

Arriving On A Friday

Avoid arriving into Male on a Friday if you can help it; especially if you have an overnight flight that arrives in the morning, else you’ll be stuck on Male for a day and night unless you want to pay extra for a speedboat to your onward island of choice. Avoiding flights on Fridays make your trip simpler (and cheaper) overall. 

Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss The Maldives Just Because You’re A Solo Traveller

Travelling to the Maldives solo is far more of a flex than never going because you have no one to go with. It’s perhaps not the first place I would recommend trying out solo travel if you aren’t accustomed to it; there are other destinations better suited to a first time solo trip, but if you love the beach, ocean and a bit of peace and quiet, it’s a fantastic place to visit regardless of whether you’re solo or not.

Honeymooning couples tend to stick to luxury resorts, whereas the local islands tend to attract friend groups, families and solo travellers. The bonus is you get to experience the beauty of the Maldives in an affordable way, making it a great option for a stunning beach holiday for solo travellers. If you need much more convincing, I loved it there so much that I am in the process of planning another solo trip to the Maldives for next year. I can’t get enough!

FAQ: Solo Travel In the Maldives

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