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🇲🇻 Itinerary · Maldives · 7 days

1-week Maldives itinerary 2026: local islands and lagoons

7 days of island hopping: Maafushi, Fulidhoo and a quieter atoll, between snorkelling with manta rays, beaches and diving. Detailed budget and boat transfers.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 islands

Average budget

€1,300-2,500

Total distance

~140 km at sea

Profile

Beach and snorkelling

Season

Dec-Apr

Maafushi 3d · Fulidhoo 2d · Rasdhoo 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Maldives 1-week itinerary map: Malé, Maafushi, Fulidhoo, Rasdhoo

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€90/pers

Malé → Maafushi · First local island

  • Morning Arrival at Malé airport (Velana). Shared speedboat to Maafushi (1 h, South Kaafu atoll, €25-35).
  • Afternoon Check in, then Bikini Beach, the only beach where swimwear is allowed on a local island.
  • Evening Maldivian fish curry dinner, a walk along the seafront.
🛌 🛌 Maafushi · e.g. Arena Beach Hotel (3 nights)·🚤 Shared speedboat from the airport·Maldives guide →
2

~€70

Maafushi · Snorkelling and sandbanks

  • 9am Full-day boat trip (€45): turtle reef, stingrays, harmless reef sharks.
  • 2pm Sandbank, a deserted sand bar in the turquoise lagoon, picnic.
  • 5pm Sunset on Bikini Beach.
3

~€80

Maafushi · Diving or resort day

  • Morning Intro or fun dive (€40-60), or a day at a nearby resort (day pass €80-120).
  • Afternoon Downtime, clear kayak over the house reef.
  • Evening Last evening on Maafushi.
4

~€75

Maafushi → Fulidhoo · Village life and nurse sharks

  • Morning Speedboat to Fulidhoo (Vaavu atoll, 1 h, €40), a tiny, unspoilt island.
  • Afternoon Snorkel with nurse sharks and rays in the harbour at dusk, a daily show.
  • Evening Bodu beru, traditional Maldivian drumming on the beach.
🛌 🛌 Fulidhoo · e.g. Thundi Guest House (2 nights)·🚤 Speedboat Maafushi-Fulidhoo
5

~€60

Fulidhoo · Lagoon and downtime

  • Morning Snorkel on the reef, dolphin trip offshore (common in Vaavu atoll).
  • Afternoon Sandbank and deserted lagoon, the quietest island on the route.
  • Evening Dinner facing the sunset.
6

~€95

Fulidhoo → Rasdhoo · Ari atoll and manta rays

  • Morning Transfer to Rasdhoo (North Ari atoll, via Malé, 2-3 h depending on connections).
  • Afternoon Snorkel on the Madivaru reef, manta rays and a chance of hammerheads offshore.
  • Evening White-sand beach, quiet village life.
🛌 🛌 Rasdhoo · e.g. The Beach House (2 nights)·🚤 Transfer via Malé
7

Flight

Rasdhoo → Malé → Return

  • Morning Last swim, then speedboat to Malé (1h15).
  • Afternoon Safety buffer in Malé before the flight home to Paris (often via the Gulf or Colombo).

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,300

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €700
  • 🏨 Guesthouse: €45/night (breakfast included)
  • 🍛 Local canteens: €15/day
  • 🚤 Inter-island speedboats: €130
  • 🤿 Snorkelling trips: €130
Recommended

Comfort

€1,900

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €800
  • 🏨 Upscale guesthouse: €90/night
  • 🍽️ Half board: €30/day
  • 🚤 Speedboats + 1 resort day pass: €220
  • 🤿 Diving + trips: €180

Premium

€4,500

per person

  • ✈️ Premium flight: €1,500
  • 🏨 2 nights overwater resort: €450/night
  • 🍽️ Resort full board: €80/day
  • 🛩️ Seaplane to the resort: €350
  • 🤿 Private dives: €300

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Three local islands, snorkelling and lagoons.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Several atolls, manta rays and whale sharks.

1 month

1 month

Atoll tour, liveaboard cruise and a resort finale.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

In the Maldives, everything moves by sea or air: not a single road links the islands. Shared speedboats (€25-40 per leg) connect the local islands, the public MTCC ferries are cheaper (€2-6) but slow and don't run on Fridays. Confirm each schedule with your guesthouse the day before, as timetables change often.

🚤

Shared speedboat Malé → Maafushi

€25-35 · 1 h · several departures a day

⛴️

Public MTCC ferry

€2-6 · slow · no service on Fridays

🚤

Inter-island speedboat

€40 · depending on the atoll · book through the guesthouse

🛩️

Seaplane (resort option)

€300-400 return · aerial view of the atolls

Adapt by season

Dry season or southwest rains

The Maldives are at their best from December to April: clear skies, flat sea, perfect snorkelling visibility. From May to November the southwest monsoon brings showers and a rougher sea, but it's also manta-ray season at Hanifaru Bay (Baa) and cheaper prices. Speedboat transfers depend on the weather, so allow a buffer the day before your return flight.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In March 2025 I watched the nurse sharks and rays come into Fulidhoo harbour at nightfall, exactly when the fishermen clean their catch: a free, daily show that nobody mentions enough.
  • • Staying in guesthouses on the local islands rather than a resort: the cost is five times lower for identical lagoons.
  • • The deserted sandbank in the middle of the lagoon: a picnic with your feet in 30 cm of turquoise water.
  • • Keeping a buffer the day before the flight: a speedboat cancelled for weather can shift everything.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Limit it to two islands if you don't want to spend time on transfers: three in 7 days is already brisk.
  • • Add a night in an overwater resort at the end if the budget allows, for the contrast.
  • • Book snorkelling trips on the spot rather than online: cheaper through the guesthouse.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Can you visit the Maldives without a luxury resort? +
Yes, since 2009 the local islands have welcomed tourists in guesthouses. Maafushi, Fulidhoo or Rasdhoo offer the same turquoise lagoons for €45-90/night, versus €400 and up in a resort. It's the affordable way to discover the country.
How do you get between the islands? +
Only by boat or seaplane, there are no roads between islands. Shared speedboats (€25-40) are the handiest way between local islands. Public ferries are cheaper but slow and don't run on Fridays.
Are there rules to respect on the local islands? +
Yes, the Maldives are Muslim: on local islands, covering swimwear outside the dedicated Bikini Beaches, no alcohol (except on boats or resorts), modest dress in the village. Guesthouses explain these rules on arrival.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes, the shallow lagoons are perfect for children. Snorkelling trips with turtles and rays delight them. Bring a UV rash vest, reef-safe sunscreen and patience for the boat transfers.
When is the best time to go? +
December to April: flat sea, clear skies, perfect visibility. From May to November, the southwest monsoon brings showers and a rougher sea, but it's manta-ray season at Hanifaru and prices are cheaper.
How much does a week in the Maldives cost all-in? +
Budget about €1,300 in guesthouses, €1,900 in comfort and €4,500 with a few resort nights, flight from Paris included, per person.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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