I Traveled to the Maldives Alone and It Was Great!
Last Updated on Aug 30, 2024
The Maldives is always advertised as an ultimate destination for couples. Many dream of visiting the Maldives for their honeymoon, and traveling solo isn’t labeled as typical. I traveled to the Maldives alone as a travel blogger, and I can assure you that sometimes I felt like I had more fun and learned more than couples and families I encountered.
I landed quite late, so I booked myself a hotel near the airport for a few hours, before hopping on a local seaplane the next morning. I was glad I booked a hotel in Hulhamale, not Male, as the airport isn’t actually in Male, but on another island. After a short drive to the hotel and a few hours of sleep, I was able to get back to the airport within a 10-minute drive.
You must have questions. Are there any things to do in the Maldives alone?
There’s a perception that the Maldives is a destination for doing nothing. On a typical day, a couple or family would enjoy their overwater bungalow and sunbathe on the beach. There’s nothing more wrong than that. There are plenty of things to do there and most of them didn’t require a partner.
I was lucky that during my time in the Maldives, the weather was absolutely perfect which enabled me to do everything I wanted. Sunny every day with just one day of occasional short showers which created a beautiful sunset.
First things first: choose your islands accordingly. The further away the resort is from Malé, the more isolated it is. Which can be both a pro and a con, depending on your preferences and financial possibilities. There are over 1000 islands in the Maldives and each offers something completely different, as each resort sits on its very own island.
But, no matter where you’re staying you’ll be able to find many things to do for a solo traveler.
Things to Do in the Maldives as a Solo Traveler
1. Snorkeling & Diving
Underwater you’re alone anyway and the Maldives has plenty of underwater attractions to offer you. Starting from small fish and blacktip sharks (they’re harmless to humans) to whale sharks and giant manta rays.
The reef surrounded by calm waters can be reached within a few minutes from the shore. It’s really impressive to see giant creatures swimming so close to you.
2. Surfing
Not many associate the calm waters of the Maldives with surfing. The waves are just about the right size (3′ – 6′) for beginners and advanced surfers.
The summer months of June, July and August are potentially the best months for the biggest swells, but tropical storms are more prevalent.
Some resorts specialize in surf camps, particularly in North Male Atol. As you can imagine, a great way to socialize and get to know your fellow solo travelers on the island.
3. Spa Treatments
I definitely enjoyed my spa treatments in the Maldives. The Maldivian treatment, for example, uses the coconut as a milky bath and scrub to exfoliate and soften the skin. I assure you that you won’t need another person to admire the turquoise waters and beaches while getting a massage to soothe the mind and nourish the body.
Most resorts offer spa services these days. While I got standard treatment, I was told that if I had more time I could have got a personalized assessment of my skin and treatment according to my results. Next time I guess.
4. Watching Sea Life
I spent hours at my pool watching tiny blacktip sharks swimming among fish in the ocean. During my stay, the water was so clean that I was able to stand over the water or float on my giant unicorn and observe the ocean coming to life. I swear, it gets addictive.
Other resorts had manta rays coming to the shore as well. They’re both completely harmless with their useless teeth, so if you dare you can jump in with them as I did.
When I went on a sunset dolphin cruise and I saw a big group of dolphins hanging out next to our boat, not even 5 minutes after we departed. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life before!
5. Interacting with Locals
Resort experience with overwater bungalows, as fun as it can be, shouldn’t prevent you from interacting with locals. I visited some local islands and learned a lot about the culture of the Maldives. The streets are lively and full of friendly locals who are always happy to show you around.
Getting out of the tourist’ places was surely one of the best experiences. When I travel alone, regardless of the destination, I usually get to interact with locals more than when I travel with someone. I feel that locals approach me easier when I’m on my own and it never feels awkward to ask a few questions about their daily life.
During my visit to Maalhos Island, my local guide introduced me to their daily routines and even took me to his house to give his little boy a hug! He showed me what happens to all the trash that’s being produced in the Maldives.
Not sure if you’re aware, but the Maldives used to have a huge trash problem and up until 4 years ago most of the plastic was being thrown into the water. These days locals and resorts have learned to recycle everything, and things they can’t recycle are being shipped first to the trash island near Male, before getting picked up by India.
6. Stargazing
Some resorts I stayed at had gigantic telescopes to watch the stars. Needless to say, I went to see what’s up in the sky twice in the Maldives. While most people were interested mostly in seeing the moon, the local astronomer was also showing everyone different stars.
Since I was there on my own, during the dinner with the astronomer I got to ask him a ton of questions and exchanged many fun stories on how he became an astronomer, while the other couple was more focused on enjoying themselves. I’ve never seen the sky being so clear anywhere else in the world.
For example, I was able to see one particular star that I’d never paid attention to before, but it turned out it’s the most blinking star in our galaxy. It’s called Sirius and it appears to twinkle the most because it’s pretty close to Earth, making it one of the brightest stars, combined with our atmosphere bending the light from it.
7. Simply Enjoying Yourself!
Let’s not forget about simply letting your hair down and enjoying your time in paradise. I had a blast eating the best fresh food out there and floating on my unicorn.
I’m not going to lie. Of course, it would be been fun if my partner or a friend came with me, but I wasn’t going to wait for someone else’s decision to fulfill my dreams of going to the Maldives.
I was very busy and enjoyed every minute of my stay. In the end, in the era of the internet, you can always stay connected through video calls…
During my Stay in the Maldives Alone I Stayed at:
Soneva Fushi
Soneva Jani
Kuramathi
Any questions about traveling to the Maldives solo? Don’t be shy, ask below!
Oh, Anna, you are right – your photos definitely make me want to visit the Maldives!! Actually just your stories on IG already made me want to visit!! That one hotel where you flew your drone from bed and opened up the ceiling using the switch next to the bed – omg!! LOVE.
I guess I need to start saving up for a trip there 😉
Looking forward to move Maldives posts!
Nice photographs and really they are having the power to inspire other people by the beauty. Thanks for sharing this post.
The beaches!! I enjoy solo travel and it’s posts like this which I believe help inspire other people to take the same step.
@Lottie, I am a solo traveller, but bit scared to take my first step. Is it fun to travel alone.
I didn’t know much about the Maldives other than the beautiful sea and overwater bungalows so I had been wondering what else there is to do there. Now I know!
Watching the sea life would be amazing – I totally believe you when you say it gets addicting! That’s great you got to hang out with locals too 🙂
Maldives is so amazing destination to enjoy the beauty of islands. There are so many islands to visit and you shared great information about that beautiful destination. Stunning photos you captured of that beautiful destination.
Thank u for the amazing post ..I am about to travel solo there and I was getting quite depressed before the flight..But it made me feel better to read your post.
What are the prices in local stores ? Often many hotels offers only breakfast. What about the prices in restaurants or cheap bar? Are there any where locals eat ?
If you eat locally then yes – super cheap. At resorts is more expensive.
Thank you for your article! I”m planning a solo trip to the Maldives from Kuala Lumpur from Feb 10-16, 2019. I’m planning to stay at the Island Beach House on Hulhumale and want to take a trip to Thoddoo Retreat in the north ari atoll. What are my choices on transport? Do they provide ferry services or flights? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
You can use public boats or small seaplanes, but I’d seriously spend not more than 1 night on Hulhumale.
I think when we do solo travel than its very interesting for us because we have no another guy to help us any things. so its great and Maldives is best place for solo travel .
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Now I’m sold on solo travel to the Maldives. Can you tell me how much an over the water bungalow would cost? Also, did you take your own unicorn? Lol!
The unicorn belongs to the hotel. I simply borrowed it from the water activities center 😀 The price of the bungalow depends on the resort, time of the year, etc. Prices can really range from $200 to $5000 per night 😉
Thanks! I’m enjoying your blog so much!
Can I ask why haven’t you been to Italy and Greece? Just curious. Although I see you’ve been to my country Perú????????????
Who told you I haven’t been there? I’ve been to both countries many times -> https://annaeverywhere.com/destinations/ 🙂
A solo trip to a place known as a honeymooners paradise is so bad-ass of you! Looks like you had a wonderful time – and those pictures are amazing!
Hi Anna
Thanks for sharing your personal holiday pics!
I loved the blue waters and your viller and the unicorn thanks for sharing.
Im planning to go Maldives solo too. But friends are telling me not go alone due to sunami and stuff. But ive tried to get myself to go with them, but i cant beacause i feel Maldives is just a dream for me, i want to emerse myself in the quite surrounding and sound of the waters and natural beauty and of course the spa is my kind of thing.
Please can you tell me in £ british pounds how much would i need to take for spending and food at restraunts?
Can i get a guide would they be free and can i include my package for spa and yoga in my holiday package would i be abe to have my massage next to blue waters? And food on the decks. Do they have boat rides and stops to hv free teas n food with the locals included in price of boat trips. And would you recommend me go with friends or alone.
I want to go to one and only rethi rhi
Were would i get best deals for villa would iy be worth to for two nights please let me know as im first time going alone thank you so so much kindest regards thank ypu
The amount of money you spend depends on specific islands, resorts or off resorts etc. I think One and Only is an all-inclusive resort? Everything you’re asking about you needt o ask the resort as each has different policies.
Thank you for your reply.
Hi Anna!
Loved your blog on Maldives. I wish to travel solo to Maldives in the month of February next year.
Could you please let me know if you came across any short diving courses for beginners in any of the resort’s you visited. Also would those courses be available in February?
Thanks.
Which one? Most resorts offer diving, both first-time dives and complete PADI open water.
It would be a first time dive. Could you also let me know what would the charges be? N list a few of these resorts where it’s available..
Thanks for your reply.
Again, charges vary per resort. Diving is available at almost any resort in the Maldives.
Let me know about a few PADI courses as well????
I have always thought of the Maldives as a “couples retreat” until reading your article! I love that you made it a point to meet the locals and not stay bound to the resort. My favorite place to travel alone was Anguilla and meeting the locals was easily the best part of my trip. I am going to plan my next trip to the Maldives and hopefully have an amazing experience like yours!
Thank you for your blog on the Maldives. I was supposed to be going on a ‘girls trip’ but my friend has had to pull out due to medical reasons so I am unintentionally going alone. I land in Male on a Wednesday and leave on Sunday. Where in your places would you recommend going for 4 nights? With activities I could maybe do alone?
It really depends on your budget. Many solo travelers to go Maafushi because it’s very cheap and beautiful. You can do any activities alone and I highly recommend dolphin cruises and snorkeling.
Maldives is the most beautiful place and known for a honeymoon. Thanks for sharing your Maldives experience with us.
The reviews and feedbacks from the travelers and tourists who visited Maldives earlier is pretty much positive and amazing. It is safe and secure place to visit with your family and friends. Crimes are less likely to occurred due to official’s management and rules and regulation.
Hi Anna stunning pics. As you have travelled a lot I need your advice. I was looking at going somewhere luxurious I’m stuck on the Maldives atm. I love the white sand beaches clear waters and seeing the sea life. Which island did you stay on and is all inclusive worth it if I don’t drink alcohol and I only really eat twice a day? Also which island is best for seeing sealife? I will also be travelling alone as I usually do.
Hello! Just wanna ask if going to maldives is safe? We are 3 women who plan to go to maldives this year. I won in a giveaway with free accommodation for 4d3n. Inclusions are meals, accomm, tours and etc. And we will just shoulder the airfare. Airfare only. And i believe that the travel agency is legit.
Yes, it’s safe 🙂
Thank you for such an inspiring review! I am traveling solo to Maldives in April. Is there one resort in particular that you’d recommend to be near whale shark dive spots but also not be off in honeymoon land? Cost is not a factor, just seeking the best experience. Thx!
I haven’t personally visited all resorts, so I can’t say this but what I can say is that I recommend Soneva and Sheraton.
Hi, Anna! Thank you for your post. I like staying when I travel, so I can meet more solo travelers. Do you know if there are hostels in the islands you stayed?
Apart from local islands like for instance Maafushi, each other island belongs to a resort, so one island = one resort, and you cannot go to an island unless you stay at the resort. I’ve never even heard of any hostels in the Maldives, it’s not like in Fiji, but there are guesthouses on Maafushi.
It is so cool that you went by yourself as well. Whenever people would tell me I’m crazy I always mentioned that I loved myself and that’s why I was in a honeymoon with myself hahaha.
Hi There! Such a good read. I do the same on most of my Solo trips.
But here now, I’m with a question, where I have planned my accomodation, domestic transfers and water villa stay well at Dharavandhoo and Finomagadhoo coming March end/April 1st week.
When its coming to sandbank trips, scuba or any excursions, I’m learning that they need a minimum of 2 pax for any of these to be arranged.
Im hoping that I find someone in my resort for making it a 2 for experiencing these above mentioned things. Else I also have Plan B to splurge with private boat/guide/ rental to go solo here as well 😉
Many resorts do scuba, dolphin cruises etc in groups. There were about 20 people on my dolphin cruise. Sandbanks trips are usually arranged as those romantic lunches, but I see no issue going on your own 😀
Thank you ????
I will let you know how it goes ????
Hi Anna
Thanks for your reply.
Id luv to go maldeves solo if you plan to go next time it will be nice to travel there with knowing som1 i know is there
I have not yet gone alone yet
But my work manager and some of my cleints have been solo and it is great to know.
Im planning maybe to go next year alone would like to go morroco to a retreat for 3 days any tips please do share.
Thanks
Have fun 🙂
Sharon
Hi Anna!
I love your pictures and would love to visit Maldives sometime in the future. Before reading your blog i actually thought Maldives was a quiet place for relaxing and do nothing. I understand your opinion from when you said travel alone can be a lot more exciting and inspiring, “I traveled to the Maldives alone as a travel blogger, and I can assure you that sometimes I felt like I had more fun and learned more than couples and families I encountered.”
My dream is to be able to travel alone and explore different areas around the world and off course Maldives is one of them. By reading your experiences from different trips it makes me excited to start my own journey and explore new things.
Thanks for sharing your journey!
This visit looking great.
Hi anna this is my first time traveling solo. Which place u recommend me to stay, also i wanna stay in a good resort
Hello Anna ! The Maldives is a amazing place. I hope, it will give me more experiences and beautiful memories. So I also plan to visit the Maldives alone. Thanks for sharing the things to do in the Maldives alone. It’s really helping me to plan my trip in an amazing way.
Hi Anna, this is very timely for me. I’ve just booked a 12 day holiday to the Maldives for next year March…going solo. Your blog makes me feel encouraged that as a solo traveler that I’ll be able to find plenty to do and not feel ‘left out’ because I’m not a honeymooner. I’m staying at a resort on Kanifushu and will embrace snorkeling, sunsets, boat trips, and spa treatments.
Hi Anna,
I‘m traveling solo to Maldives and basically want to copy this exact itinerary. Can you tell me how many days you spent on each island and how you got from one island to the next? I assume it’s a ferry. Does it take long to travel between islands? Is it expensive to use ferries?
Thanks for the post, making my planning SO much easier 🙂
So in terms of moving around the Maldives, it really depends where are you going. You can get to some islands by ferry when they’re close enough, but for instance, to Soneva Fushi and Jani you gotta take a small 45-minute long flight (sadly, these flights are never cheap). Usually, the resort will give you all the options and you book it through them. Then you can visit local islands by boat from there. I took a boat to Kuramathi because it was cheaper, but I regretted this decision. It was way too bumpy and way too long. If I was to do it again I would probably take a flight.
Fabulous article, I am definitely going to look into this as a solo trip. I’m looking to go over Xmas time but my budget isn’t super high as the flight is taking a lot of my money. So knowing you can do it a bit cheaper is good to know.
You are so motivating. I want to travel solo now! Have you visited Rasdhoo island by any chance?
How long was this trip? Do you think 2 weeks is too long for a solo trip to Maldives if spent at Six Senses and cocoa island?
If you dive not at all for sure. If you don’t… it really depends on what kind of person you are, because activities are limited to relaxing mostly. My husband would probably say too long for him, but many of my friends would love it.
Thank you for sharing!!! I do 95% of my traveling solo. You inspire me. I looked in to Bora Bora however was told it isn’t for singles.
Hi Anna, I hope you’re well and I’m glad to have come across your post. I’m in mid-30’s, a male, and travel solo exclusively. While Maldives hadn’t really caught my attention as a destination for solo traveler, reading your post and a few others got me super excited. Thank you for spending the time to write about it. Wondering if there are resorts or islands you recommend for male solo travelers? I do enjoy quiet time but also enjoy nightlife quite a bit (if there are island that have both).
Best,
Neil
Hi Anna, I hope you’re well and I’m glad to have come across your post. I’m in mid-30’s, a male, and travel solo exclusively. While Maldives hadn’t really caught my attention as a destination for solo traveler, reading your post and a few others got me super excited. Thank you for spending the time to write about it. Wondering if there are resorts or islands you recommend for male solo travelers? I do enjoy quiet time but also enjoy nightlife quite a bit (if there are island that have both).
For nightlife, I’d suggest not staying at the resort actually since they’re mostly catered towards quiet dining, outdoor cinemas and those types of things. Maafushi would be a good island for a solo traveler, but as it’s not a resort then there’s no alcohol but I know there’s nightlife there for sure as there are many solo travelers.
Wow, Thank you for sharing such an amazing post! I am so happy to read this and will also plan to visit the Maldives as soon as possible; it is such a wonderful country to explore.
Glad you made the most of being there solo. Who took all your pics?
I did with my tripod and drone. You don’t need another person to photos. I have a whole other post about taking photos when traveling solo 😉
I am curious if you have one suggestion on a must place to stay in Maldives where would you say?
If budget isn’t an issue then Soneva Fushi 😉
I would love to know your itinerary and how long you were there. I’ve wanted to go here for so long, and to see the bioluminescent bays. Costs of things would be great to know as well. The solo travel bug has bitten!
Costs vary per season, hotel, room standard, and many other things so it can be $50 per night or $5000 per night. The good news is that bioluminescence happens between June and October, which is low season due to the possibility of rain.
You stayed in different places, how did you get to each one? I’m a first time female solo traveller and sorry if my questions sound silly.
Thanks so much,
Julie from 🇨🇦
Depends on the island. Some are accessible by a ferry, some only by a private boat transfer, some only by a seaplane.
Hello! Im planning a trip to the Maldives with a couple of friends and was wondering if u could share your guides contact? He sounds wonderful!
The guide for the local island? He was basically my boat driver as this wasn’t a touristy island, but if you want to go to a local island you don’t need a guide.
How did you take all the far away pictures by yourself?
Yes I have 🙂
Hi, I’m looking for my next trip. It is going to be my first solo trip and I do not know where to go. I would like beach but something extra to do…like visiting small towns.. I was thinking in Bali or Maldives, your post help me a lot! I´m 57 and this 2024 is going to be the year! Thanks!!!