Luxury Trip to Maldives by Delighted Journey

The Luxury Trip to Maldives by Delighted Journey Travelling to the Maldives on your own and cheap is possible, we have done it and here we propose a 7-day itinerary for the Maldives. 7, 10 or 15 days in the Maldives so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

When you start to prepare your independent trip to the Maldives you find yourself with a great dilemma, and that is that this country, characterized by being the lowest in the world, has more than a thousand islands, many of them paradisiacal and idyllic. So there you are, in front of the screen without knowing where to start.

But don’t panic, we will tell you what things you should take into account and which are the best islands that you can visit during your trip according to your preferences, time and budget. In addition, and that is why you are here, we propose different itinerary options of 7, 10 or 15 days in the Maldives.

What to consider when preparing a trip to the Maldives on your own
Before we dive into the itineraries, we will detail what you should take into account when preparing your travel itinerary to the Maldives:

The time and days you have available
Transportation and transfers between islands
The activities you want to do
The budget you have

The time you have available is one of the points to take into account when preparing your trip to the Maldives on your own. You should know that transportation between the different islands is expensive if you use private transportation.

If, on the other hand, you decide to use public transportation, the price will be ridiculous but it can be quite tedious and it will take you much longer. Therefore, it is important to know the different transportation options between the islands that you are going to visit during your 7, 10 or 15-day itinerary through the Maldives.

On the other hand, the activities and your travel budget to the Maldives will also be key when selecting the islands you are going to visit. Keep in mind that some islands have a better offer and better prices on accommodation, restaurants, activities and excursions.

Another important issue is that some local islands are very quiet and you won’t have much to do besides relaxing on the bikini beach and doing some snorkelling, so it can get a bit boring. Therefore, it is important to choose islands that have a good offer of snorkelling, diving, visits to sandbanks and, at least, alternate them with other smaller and quieter islands.

If you want to know how to move between islands in the Maldives and find out about the different options, prices and schedules, check out the post in which we give you all the keys necessary to prepare your 7, 10 or 15-day itinerary in the Maldives.

What to keep in mind when preparing a Luxury Trip to Maldives on your own

7-day itinerary for the Maldives
Option 1- Gulhi-Guraidhoo
Option 2- Rasdhoo-Thoddoo

10-day itinerary for the Maldives
Option 1- Gulhi-Maafushi-Guraidhoo
Option 2- Guraidhoo-Gulhi-Thoddoo

15-day itinerary for the Maldives
Option 1- Gulhi-Guraidhoo-Rasdhoo-Ukulhas- Thoddoo
Option 2 – Fulidhoo-Maafushi-Guraidhoo-Gulhi

7-Day Maldives Itinerary

If you only have 7 days for your trip to the Maldives, we recommend that you choose just a couple of islands to visit. As we have already mentioned, transfers between islands will take up quite a bit of your time. This way, you can be sure to have time to relax and enjoy your days in the ultimate beach paradise.

Option 1: – Gulhi-Guraidhoo

On this itinerary you will focus on the Kaafu atoll, south of Male. It is well connected by both public ferry and speed boats. Relaxation and tranquility on the tiny local island of Gulhi will combine perfectly with the charming Guraidhoo, which with its relaxed atmosphere also has a good offer of diving and snorkelling excursions to see marine fauna.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Gulhi
Day 1 to 3: Stay in Gulhi
Day 3: Transfer to Guraidhoo
Day 3 to 7: Stay in Guraidhoo
Day 7: Return to Male (night) and flight the next day

This itinerary is ideal if you don’t want to complicate your life too much with transfers and have enough time to relax and enjoy the paradisiacal beaches that these two small islands of the Maldives offer.

Gulhi is a tiny local island where the best thing you can do is enjoy its beautiful bikini beach and its crystal-clear, turquoise waters. We can tell you right away that its bikini beach is one of the best of all the local islands. You will also find, as on any other island, options for snorkelling excursions but the prices are much higher than on other islands as there is much less on offer. We tell you more in the practical guide to Gulhi.

Gulhi is a one hour and ten minute public ferry ride from Malé, the capital of the Maldives, where you will land upon arrival in the country. You will need to take the 309 ferry which only operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

In case the ferry doesn’t suit you, don’t worry, you can arrange a speed boat through your accommodation. When you book, ask about the speed boat from the airport and they will be happy to help you. It is also possible to find certain routes through the site, so feel free to check them out.

The transfer from Gulhi to Guraidhoo is quite simple. To reach the next stop on this 7-day Maldives itinerary, you can take the same public ferry line, namely the 309, to continue your route to Guraidhoo but keep in mind that it does not operate every day. If they don’t suit you, just like we told you about the transfer from the airport, you can organise the speed boat transfer through your accommodation.

The price of the speed boats varies a lot and usually ranges between US$ 20/50 per person per trip. Don’t hesitate to haggle a little on the final price as the accommodations speculate a lot with these prices and tend to inflate them a little.

Guraidhoo is also an island with a local and relaxed atmosphere. We found it to be the prettiest and most well-kept of all. Here, the white sand streets are always spotless, swept and adorned with colourful plants and flowers. In addition, this island has a bikini beach ideal for swimming from which you can access a beautiful sandbank.

It is true that it is artificially made, but it is still perfect for enjoying an idyllic day at the beach. It has free hammocks and chambaos, the water is crystal clear and turquoise, with the ideal depth for swimming and the sand is clean and well-kept. A curious fact is that this beach is only accessible to tourists. Here you will find better options and prices for snorkelling and diving excursions than in its neighbouring Gulhi. We tell you all the details about what to do in Guraidhoo in this post.

Option 2 : – Rasdhoo -Thoddoo

Here you will alternate between two atolls that are well connected by public ferry and speed boat. In Rasdhoo you can practice diving, snorkeling and take excursions at a good price. In Thoddoo it will be your time to enjoy the relaxation and the wonderful tropical beaches of the Maldives.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Rasdhoo
Day 1 to 4: Stay in Rasdhoo
Day 4: Transfer to Thoddoo
Day 4 to 7: Stay in Thoddoo
Day 7: Return to Male (night) and flight the next day

If your priority is to do water sports and explore marine fauna by snorkeling and diving during your 7-day travel itinerary in the Maldives, then this option is ideal for you. Here you can make the most of the aquatic experiences on your trip and, in addition, you will have time to relax on the wonderful palm-lined beaches offered by these local islands located west of Male.

Rasdhoo Island is the ideal alternative to Maafushi. Much more relaxed and less crowded, Rasdhoo is also a good base to enjoy good diving schools (many of them have Spanish staff), a good offer of snorkelling excursions and water sports. In addition, it has a good bikini beach where you can relax and enjoy one of the best snorkelling spots of all the local islands. Be careful because here it is possible to swim with different species of sharks, which is undoubtedly one of the top experiences of a trip to the Maldives.

To get to Rasdhoo from Male you can take the public ferry 303, the journey takes just over 3 hours but keep in mind that it only operates 2 days a week. It is also well connected to the capital and the airport by speed boats but the price is high and around US $ 40 Per Person.

To get to the next stop on this 7-day itinerary through the Maldives, you can take the public ferry that connects Rasdhoo with Thoddoo or organize a speed boat through your accommodation. If you choose to take the public ferry, you must take the 303 line again, which on Tuesdays and Saturdays makes the direct route between both islands.

Welcome to Thoddoo, the tropical paradise of the Maldives. This island, much larger than all the ones we have discussed so far, is characterized by being full of palm trees and tropical fruit plantations that serve the rest of the islands in the country. Its strong point is that it has two beautiful bikini beaches backed by a row of tropical palm trees that will make you feel like a real castaway.

On the main bikini beach (located in the west) you will find one of the best snorkeling spots on all the islands, where you can swim with turtles just a few meters from the shore (it is very easy to see them). It also has free sunbeds and the conditions for swimming are absolutely amazing, with crystal-clear, turquoise waters and super fine, pleasant white sand. Without a doubt, it is a perfect island to end your 7-day itinerary in the Maldives. We tell you more in a post about Thoddoo.

10 day itinerary for the Maldives

If you have about 10 days, you can consider changing atolls and enjoying different types of islands. Although we recommend that is the best thing is to enjoy it in peace, here we propose two alternatives, whether you decide to alternate two atolls or stay enjoying the benefits of just one.

Option 1 :- Gulhi – Maafushi – Guraidhoo

If you decide to give priority to peace, relaxation and taking it easy, then this 10-day itinerary touring the 3 most beautiful islands of the Kaafu atoll is for you. This route stands out for the simple transfers between these 3 islands. But be careful, with your visit to Maafushi you also guarantee activities, adrenaline and maximum fun at a good price.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Gulhi
Day 1 to 3: Overnight in Gulhi
Day 3: Transfer to Maafushi
Day 3 to 6: Overnight in Maafushi
Day 7: Transfer to Guraidhoo
Day 7 to 9: Overnight in Guraidhoo
Day 10: Return to Male (overnight) and flight the next day

This route offers you the possibility of combining relaxation, the local atmosphere and the pleasant bikini beaches of Gulhi and Guraidhoo with the wide range of excursions and activities at good prices that exist in Maafushi.

Transfers from Male and between the islands of this atoll are very simple. The three islands are well connected by public ferry and speed boat. The line you should take, if you decide to take the public ferry, is the 309. If you opt for the comfort of the speed boat or the public ferries don’t suit you, don’t worry because you can organize everything through your accommodation or or just contact us.

We have already talked about Gulhi and Guraidhoo in this post (if you haven’t read it, just scroll up a bit to read it) but now it’s time to introduce you to Maafushi, the island that is best prepared for tourism and with the largest hotel and restaurant offering of all the local islands. It is the first local island to open up to tourism and hence its greater offer and development.

This has its downside, and that is that it is quite popular and here you will not find the relaxed atmosphere of other neighboring islands. On the other hand, you will find the largest offer of diving schools, snorkeling excursions and water activities at the best price in the Maldives. It also has a bikini beach, but we must tell you that it is not (by far) the best of the local islands.

So, if your idea is to save as much as possible on your budget but you don’t want to give up on a multitude of excursions and activities, we recommend that you spend a few days in Maafushi and give it your all.

Option 2 :- Guraidhoo – Gulhi – Thoddoo

If you want to make the most of your days in paradise and decide to alternate between two different atolls, then this itinerary is ideal for you. Here you can mix the local and relaxed atmosphere of Gulhi and Guraidhoo with the wonderful tropical beaches of Thoddoo. However, keep in mind that the price of excursions and activities on all these islands is higher than in Maafushi or Rasdhoo, it is a question of priorities.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Guraidhoo
Day 1 to 4: Stay in Guraidhoo
Day 4: Transfer to Gulhi
Day 4 to 6: Stay in Gulhi
Day 6: Transfer to Thoddoo
Day 6 to 9: Stay in Thoddoo
Day 10: Return to Male (night) and flight the next day

If you have read the entire post up to this point, you will already know that to travel between Male, Gulhi and Guraidhoo you can choose the public ferry line 309. But be careful with the days and times, as they are a bit complicated. If they don’t suit you, you can always take the speed boat as a more expensive but more comfortable and faster alternative.

We have also already talked about these three islands, so let’s continue with the transfers between them.

Things get a bit more complicated for the transfer from Gulhi to Thoddoo and you will have to change in Male. Here are different options:

Combine public ferry from Gulhi to Male and a speed boat from Male to Thoddoo.
Do it all by speed boat. Ask your accommodation if there is a possibility of going directly, although you will almost certainly have to change in Male.
Try to combine public ferry lines 309 and 303. We managed to do it but it was very tight, we recommend that you talk to your accommodation to consider this possibility. You can also ask us in the comments if you consider this option.

15 Day Itinerary for the Maldives

If you have 15 days to enjoy this wonderful country, you will have the chance to enjoy two different atolls without any stress or rush. So our recommendation is that you take advantage of the opportunity to discover several islands since each one has its strengths and attractions to offer.

Option 1:- Gulhi – Guraidhoo – Rasdhoo – Ukulhas – Thoddoo

If you are looking for white sand beaches and palm trees, in the purest tropical style, then keep reading. With this 15-day itinerary you will be able to relax on small local islands, enjoy the marine fauna, water activities and rest on the best tropical beaches while you enjoy a ‘’fresh coconut‘’ under the shade of a palm tree.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Gulhi
Day 1 to 3: Overnight in Gulhi
Day 3: Transfer to Guraidhoo
Day 3 to 6: Overnight in Guraidhoo
Day 6: Transfer to Rasdhoo
Day 6 to 9: Overnight in Rasdhoo
Day 9: Transfer to Ukulhas
Day 9 to 11: Overnight in Ukulhas
Day 11: Transfer to Thoddoo
Day 11 to 14: Overnight in Thoddoo
Day 15: Return to Male (overnight) and flight the next day

Here we suggest you include the tropical island of Ukulhas, as it is relatively close and very well connected by public ferry to Rasdhoo and Thoddoo.

Ukulhas is the island you imagine when you think of the Maldives… Crystal clear water and a thousand shades of turquoise, white sand and a huge row of palm trees loaded with coconuts will leave you speechless the first time you step on its bikini beach. Also, a very good point is that the bikini beach is huge and very long so you will never have the feeling that there are too many people.

In its easternmost part it has a turquoise lagoon that is crazy to spend hours swimming without getting out of the water. On the other hand, you should know that the prices on this island are the most expensive of the local islands. Even so, it is possible to go on good excursions and enjoy the marine fauna if you look a little around the different places on the island. Check out our practical guide to Ukulhas if you are going to include it in your itinerary.

If you plan to use the public ferry, as we have mentioned in the post, to get around Gulhi and Guraidhoo you will have to use line 309 and, for transfers between Rasdhoo, Ukulhas and Thoddoo, you will take line 303 that connects these islands with each other and with the capital, Male. You already know that if the days or times of the ferry do not suit you, then you will have to dig deep into your pocket and organize the speed boat through your accommodation or you can contact us our expert team.

Option 2 :– Fulidhoo – Maafushi – Guraidhoo – Gulhi

If you are a diving enthusiast, we suggest this itinerary where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the best seabeds in the Maldives. In addition, you will also have time to enjoy white sand beaches and take snorkelling excursions at a good price to enjoy the marine life of this country. It is quite easy to do since all the islands are south of Male and are well connected by public ferry.

Day 1: Arrival in Male (capital of the Maldives) and transfer to Fulidhoo
Day 1 to 5: Stay in Fulidhoo
Day 5: Transfer to Maafushi
Day 5 to 8: Stay in Maafushi
Day 8: Transfer to Guraidhoo
Day 8 to 11: Stay in Guraidhoo
Day 11: Transfer to Gulhi
Day 11 to 14: Stay in Gulhi
Day 14: Return to Male (night) and flight the next day

If you have read this far, you already know almost all the islands that we propose in this itinerary, we only have to introduce you to one of them. Fulidhoo is one of those islands that has recently opened to tourism and still retains a local and super relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, one of its strong points is that it is one of the islands with the best seabeds and diving spots in the country. It stands out for the great variety of sharks that can be seen during a dive or just by snorkelling. It is also possible to see dolphins, turtles or visit beautiful sandbanks on organised excursions.

To get to Fulidhoo from Male you have the option of the public ferry, the transfer will take you a little more than 3 hours. You will have to take the line 306 that only operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. For the return trip to Maafushi, you will have to take the same line but it only operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If the schedules do not suit you, you can always opt for the speed boat but keep in mind that the price can exceed $40. As for transfers between the islands of Maafushi, Guraidhoo and Gulhi, you already know that you can use the public ferry line 309 or organise a speed boat through your accommodation or just drop a mail us, we will send you all update etc.

We hope that all these 7, 10 or 15-day itinerary options for the Maldives will make it easier for you to prepare your independent trip to paradise. If you have any questions, you can share them in the comments and we will be happy to help you.