"How much does a Maldives trip cost from India?" — this is the first question every Indian traveller asks before booking flights. The honest answer? Anywhere from around ₹70,000 to ₹2,50,000+ per person for a 6-7 day trip, depending on whether you stay on local islands or in overwater resort villas.
This guide breaks down every single expense — flights, stays, food, excursions, transfers and hidden costs like Green Tax — with real 2026 prices. By the end, you'll know exactly what your Maldives holiday will cost and where you can save without compromising the experience.
Quick Answer: Maldives Trip Cost from India in 2026
Travel Style Daily Budget 7-Day Total (per person) Local Island / Guesthouse₹4,000-₹6,000₹70,000-₹1,10,000 Mid-Range Resort₹15,000-₹25,000₹1,50,000-₹2,20,000 Overwater Luxury₹40,000+₹2,80,000-₹5,00,000+ The Maldives offers something for every budget — backpacker-friendly local islands at one end and the world's most luxurious overwater villas at the other. The free visa on arrival and short flights help keep costs down.
Maldives Trip Cost Breakdown — All Expenses Explained
1. Flight Costs from India to the Maldives
Direct flights to Malé (MLE) from major Indian metros take just 3.5-4.5 hours.
- Delhi to Malé: ₹18,000-₹35,000 round trip
- Mumbai to Malé: ₹18,000-₹33,000 round trip
- Bengaluru/Cochin/Chennai/Hyderabad to Malé: ₹16,000-₹30,000 round trip
- Kolkata to Malé: usually via a hub; ₹22,000-₹35,000 round trip
Money-saving tips:
- Book 45-75 days in advance for best fares
- Mid-week departures are typically cheaper
- IndiGo and other carriers operate direct flights with occasional promotional fares
- Travel in the May-November wet season for lower prices — read our best time to visit Maldives guide
2. Maldives Visa Cost for Indians
This is the easy part — the visa is free:
- 30-day visa on arrival: FREE for all Indians
- IMUGA online arrival card: FREE (submit within 96 hours before arrival)
- No e-visa, no fee, no agency needed
For the simple step-by-step, see our Maldives visa guide for Indian passport holders.
3. Accommodation Costs in the Maldives
Where you sleep is the biggest cost decision. Here's what you'll pay per night:
Category Per Night (₹) What You Get Local Guesthouse₹3,000-₹6,000Private AC room, breakfast, excursion desk Budget Resort₹12,000-₹20,0003-4 star island, half board, house reef Mid-Range Resort₹20,000-₹35,000Beach villa, all-inclusive, watersports Overwater Luxury₹40,000-₹1,20,000+Overwater villa, fine dining, spa For a 7-day trip: expect ₹25,000-₹50,000 on local islands, or ₹1,00,000+ for resort stays per person.
4. Food & Drinks Cost in the Maldives
On local islands you pay as you go; resorts are usually half board or all-inclusive.
- Local cafe meal (curry, rice, roshi): ₹300-₹600 per meal
- Hedhikaa short-eats (gulha, bajiya) + tea: ₹100-₹250
- Indian restaurant in Malé/Hulhumalé: ₹500-₹1,000 per meal
- Resort a la carte main: ₹1,500-₹4,000 per dish
- Soft drinks/water: ₹100-₹300 (alcohol only on resorts/liveaboards)
Daily food budget on local islands: ₹1,000-₹2,000 per person; resorts are typically all-inclusive.
5. Inter-Island Transfer Costs
There are no roads or trains between islands — you travel by sea or air:
- Speedboat to a nearby local island (e.g. Malé-Maafushi): ₹2,000-₹2,800 one-way
- Public ferry (cheapest, slow): ₹100-₹400 one-way
- Domestic flight to a far atoll: ₹8,000-₹15,000 one-way
- Seaplane to a resort (daylight only): ₹20,000-₹40,000 round trip
Total transfers for a 7-day trip: ₹6,000-₹40,000 per person depending on how far you go.
6. Excursion & Activity Costs
The Maldives' best experiences are in the water:
- Whale-shark snorkel safari (South Ari): ₹3,000-₹6,000
- Manta-ray snorkel/dive (seasonal): ₹3,000-₹6,000
- Sandbank picnic: ₹2,000-₹3,500
- Sunset dolphin cruise: ₹2,000-₹3,500
- Guided reef dive / Discover Scuba: ₹4,000-₹7,000
- Resort day pass: ₹6,000-₹12,000
Total excursion budget for 7 days: ₹10,000-₹25,000 per person
7. Hidden & Miscellaneous Costs
Don't forget these:
- Green Tax: ~$6/night on resorts, ~$3/night on guesthouses
- Service charge & GST: added to resort and restaurant bills
- Travel insurance: ₹500-₹1,500 (cover diving and seaplane evacuation)
- Tourist SIM / eSIM: a few hundred rupees for data (Dhiraagu/Ooredoo)
- Tips: for resort staff, dive guides and liveaboard crew
- Equipment hire / nitrox: extra for divers
Maldives Trip Cost: 3 Sample Budget Plans for Indian Travellers
Plan 1: Local-Island Budget (₹85,000 for 7 Days)
- Flights: ₹22,000
- Visa: FREE
- Guesthouses (6 nights): ₹28,000
- Speedboat/ferry transfers: ₹10,000
- Excursions (whale shark, sandbank, dolphin): ₹15,000
- Food + extras: ₹10,000
Plan 2: Mid-Range Resort (₹1,80,000 for 7 Days)
- Flights: ₹25,000
- Visa: FREE
- 4-star all-inclusive resort (5 nights) + a city night: ₹1,00,000
- Domestic flight + speedboat transfer: ₹18,000
- Excursions (diving, manta, sandbank): ₹18,000
- Green Tax, tips + buffer: ₹19,000
Plan 3: Overwater Luxury (₹3,00,000+ for 7 Days)
- Flights (premium): ₹35,000
- Visa: FREE
- 5-star overwater villa (6 nights): ₹1,80,000+
- Seaplane transfer: ₹35,000
- Spa, private dining & excursions: ₹30,000
- Green Tax, service charge + buffer: ₹20,000+
Family of 4 — Maldives Trip Cost from India
Travelling with kids? Here's a realistic estimate:
- Local-island family trip (7 days): ₹2,80,000-₹3,50,000
- Mid-range resort family trip: ₹4,00,000-₹6,00,000
- Overwater luxury family trip: ₹8,00,000+
Family rooms in guesthouses, kids' clubs at resorts, and child discounts on excursions help reduce per-person costs.
Honeymoon Couple — Maldives Trip Cost from India
For Indian honeymooners, the Maldives is the dream destination:
- Local-island honeymoon (7 days): ₹1,60,000-₹2,20,000 (couple total)
- Mid-range resort honeymoon: ₹3,00,000-₹4,50,000
- Overwater luxury honeymoon (Baa or South Ari): ₹6,00,000+
Overwater villas in South Ari and Baa Atoll, with seaplane transfers, are the classic Indian honeymoon choice.
10 Smart Money-Saving Tips for Indian Travellers in the Maldives
- Use the free visa on arrival — no e-visa, no fee; just file IMUGA
- Book flights 45-75 days early — fares spike closer to departure
- Travel in the May-November wet season — save 20-40% and see mantas and whale sharks
- Stay on local islands — guesthouses cost a fraction of resorts
- Eat at local cafes — hedhikaa short-eats and curries are cheap and tasty
- Take public ferries for nearby islands — far cheaper than private speedboats
- Bring your own mask and fins — saves on daily rental
- Buy a tourist SIM at the airport — far cheaper than roaming
- Book a resort day pass instead of staying — enjoy the resort for a day from a local island
- Travel as a group — split speedboat charters and excursion costs
What's Included in BookMaldivesHoliday Tour Packages?
Booking a packaged tour can be easier than DIY for first-time travellers. Our destination-wise packages for Baa Atoll, Malé, Maafushi, and South Ari Atoll typically include:
- Resort or guesthouse accommodation (3-star to overwater options)
- Daily breakfast or all-inclusive board
- Speedboat, domestic-flight or seaplane transfers
- Snorkelling, whale-shark or manta excursions
- Airport meet & greet
- 24/7 on-ground support
Packages are tailored to your budget and travel style.
Final Verdict: Is the Maldives Affordable for Indian Travellers?
More than you'd think. With a free visa on arrival, short direct flights, and local-island guesthouses keeping costs down, a Maldives trip from India can start from around ₹70,000 per person — while resort and overwater holidays scale up to suit any budget.
The key is planning ahead — book flights early, file your free Maldives arrival card on time, and pick the right season for your trip.
Want a ready-made plan? Check out our tested 7-day Maldives itinerary from India with day-by-day cost breakdowns.
Ready to book? Explore our curated packages for Baa Atoll, Malé, Maafushi, Addu Atoll, Hulhumalé, South Ari Atoll, and Fulhadhoo — or chat with our travel experts for a free customised quote that matches your budget and travel style perfectly. Or see our Maldives tour packages from India with package-wise cost breakdowns.
