A lagoon in nine hours of flight
There are no direct flights from Moscow to Malé. Best connections via Dubai (Emirates, FlyDubai) and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). Total travel time 9–11 hours.
Not a resort. A world apart.
Best fares
Resorts in the Maldives, for every style of escape
From water villas with direct ocean access to eco-luxury with seaplane arrival. Every resort — one island, one hotel.
Atolls and their character
When to go to the Maldives
Warm year-round. Dry season (November–April) is optimal. Wet season (May–October) brings rain but 30–40% lower prices.
Curated journeys to the Maldives
What you need to know before you go
Visa on arrival
Russian citizens receive a free 30-day visa on arrival at Velana Airport. Extendable to 90 days for $30. Return ticket and hotel booking required.
Money in the Maldives
All resorts operate in USD. Card exchange rates are favourable. Cash needed only for excursions on local boats and markets in Malé.
Transfer to your island
From Velana Airport to resort: speedboat (15–45 min), seaplane (20–45 min) or domestic flight. Transfer included in resort package.
Connectivity in the Maldives
Internet at resorts is often paid or bundled. Sales.Travel eSIM — from 4 € per week, QR activation. Current plans on the eSIM page.
Must-try experiences
At sunset — aboard to a plankton hotspot. Mantas feed right alongside the boat. Arranged by any resort dive centre.
Mantas gather at the surface near plankton hotspots at dusk — underwater lights from the boat attract plankton, and mantas follow. The spectacle lasts 1–2 hours; sometimes 5–10 manta rays with wingspans up to 4 m gather alongside. Tour price 80–150 USD per person, organised by any dive centre. Season in North Malé year-round, Baa — July–November.
Blacktip reef sharks — in the shallows near any island. Harmless, used to tourists. Just put on a mask and wade in.
Reef sharks (blacktip and whitetip) inhabit the shallows at almost every Maldivian island. Length 1–1.5 m, they ignore people — on the contrary, they're curious. Simply put on a mask and enter the lagoon at your resort around 17:00–18:00 (feeding hour). Best spots — Vaadhoo, Kanuhura, Dhigurah. No certification needed.
A table right on the lagoon — dedicated platform, candles, lobster, rosé. Offered by all 5★ resorts. Book 2–3 days ahead.
Romantic private dining: the resort builds a 4×4 m timber platform on the lagoon, white linen, ambient lighting, rose petals. Menu of 5–7 courses to order: lobster, black cod, wine tasting. Price 400–800 USD per couple. Book 2–3 days ahead. Essential for honeymoons or anniversaries.
Traditional Maldivian boat, sunset, dolphins in the wake. Included in many all-inclusive packages.
Dhoni — a traditional Maldivian sailing boat with characteristic S-shaped hull. Sunset cruise 1.5–2 hours: open sea, dolphins in the wake, bar on board. At many resorts included in all-inclusive (part of program), otherwise — from 80 USD/couple. Best sunsets — April–October. On Baa dolphins appear 90% of the time.
Most resorts organise trips to inhabited islands: market, mosque, village. A different world 20 minutes by speedboat.
Most guests spend their entire trip on the resort island — but 20 minutes by speedboat there's a 'residential' island with real Maldivian life. Village of 200–500 people, mosque, school, shops with local souvenirs (lacquer boxes, woven mats). Tour 4 hours — 50–80 USD. On Maafushi, Thulusdhoo and Dhigurah you can stay in a guesthouse instead of a resort.
Baa Atoll, October–January: hundreds of mantas feeding in the bay. One of the world's top 5 dive sites. Requires PADI Open Water.
Hanifaru Bay on Baa Atoll — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the world's top 5 sites for manta encounters. Season July–November, especially strong on full moon: up to 200 mantas feeding simultaneously in a small bay. Snorkelling only (scuba diving prohibited to protect wildlife). Access — licensed guide, around 60–80 USD entrance. Baa resorts (Soneva Fushi, Anantara, Four Seasons Landaa) — all organise trips.
Massage in a pavilion on stilts above the lagoon. Waves, warm breeze and views of the reef — the perfect setting.
Spa pavilion on stilts right over the lagoon with glass floor, fish visible below. Thai, Balinese, Ayurvedic massages; rituals from 90 minutes. Price 200–500 USD for 90 min. Top spots — Six Senses Laamu, Soneva Jani Reflection Spa, COMO Maalifushi. Book for sunset time — the most beautiful light.
Not in the restaurant, but right on the white sand at the water's edge. Many resorts offer this without surcharge on request.
Beach breakfast — the simple luxury of the Maldives. Many resorts prepare a set on a private stretch of beach: croissants, fruit, champagne, fresh omelette from the grill. On advance request, usually no surcharge at 5★. Best time — 7:30–8:30, before the heat. Turquoise lagoon views and absolute privacy guaranteed.
Bioluminescence — June–August at select islands. Wade into the dark water — and your body glows blue. Best at Vaadhoo.
Bioluminescence — plankton glow in the dark when disturbed. Season June–August, especially on new moon. Islands Vaadhoo (Raa Atoll), Mudhdhoo, Reethi Beach — most famous. Wade into the water at night — every step glows blue. Phenomenon is irregular, 50–60% dependent on tides and currents. Check with resort concierge for overnight forecast.