A 5-day Maldives trip from India costs ₹1.1 lakh per couple on guesthouse islands or ~₹2.9 lakh at resorts: flights, stays, transfers, Green Tax and food broken down.
Cover image: Aerial view of overwater villas on a turquoise Maldivian lagoon — photo by Matheenfaiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A 4-night, 5-day Maldives trip from India costs roughly ₹1.2–1.5 lakh per couple on a local-island budget, ₹2–2.8 lakh mid-range, and ₹4 lakh-plus at a resort with an overwater villa. Return flights from Mumbai, Delhi or Kochi run ₹15,000–25,000 per person, Indians get a free 30-day visa on arrival, and the real budget lever is where you sleep: guesthouses on inhabited islands charge ₹5,000–10,000 a night while resorts start near ₹30,000 and climb fast. Add seaplane transfers (up to ₹40,000 return), a US$12-a-night Green Tax at resorts, 10% service charge and 16% GST on most bills. All conversions use about US$1 = ₹88.
How much do Maldives flights from India cost?
Nonstop returns from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kochi on IndiGo and Air India typically price at ₹15,000–25,000 per person when booked 6–8 weeks out. One-stop options via Colombo or Dubai can dip to ₹13,000 in shoulder months (May–June, September) but add hours each way. Malé's Velana airport is the only international gateway that matters for tourists; departure taxes are already included in ticket prices.
No visa fee applies. Immigration grants Indian passport holders a free 30-day visa on arrival, provided you hold a confirmed hotel booking, a return ticket and proof of funds. Travellers comparing island destinations should also read Bali vs Maldives for honeymooners from India before locking in dates.
Guesthouse islands vs resorts: the big cost split
Since 2009 tourists have been allowed to stay on inhabited local islands, and this is what makes budget Maldives possible. Guesthouses on Maafushi, Dhigurah, Thulusdhoo and Omadhoo charge US$60–120 (₹5,000–10,000) a night for clean air-conditioned rooms, often with breakfast and free snorkelling-gear hire. Mid-range beachfront guesthouses run US$120–200.
Private-island resorts start around US$300–400 a night for a beach villa in shoulder season, US$500–800 for established four- and five-star resorts, and US$1,000-plus for overwater villas at peak-season luxury properties. Resort rates usually bundle speedboat transfers; seaplane transfers (US$200–500 per person return) are almost always extra.
Transfers, food and hidden taxes
Getting to your island is a line item, not an afterthought. Public ferries from Malé cost US$2–4 but run limited schedules; shared speedboats cost US$25–50 per person each way; seaplanes cost US$200–500 per person return and only fly in daylight.
Food follows the same split. Local cafés on inhabited islands serve meals for US$5–10; resort restaurants charge US$30–60 per person per meal, which is why half-board and full-board packages usually pay for themselves. Then come the taxes: a Green Tax of US$12 per person per night at resorts (US$6 at guesthouses), a 10% service charge, and 16% GST stacked on top. A US$500 room night effectively bills near US$640.
| 5-day trip for two (4 nights) | Budget (guesthouse) | Mid-range (resort) |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights × 2 | ₹36,000 | ₹44,000 |
| Stay (4 nights) | ₹28,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
| Transfers | ₹4,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Food + activities | ₹30,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Green Tax + service + GST | ₹12,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Total per couple | ≈ ₹1.1 lakh | ≈ ₹2.9 lakh |
How to keep a Maldives trip cheap
Pick one island and stay put: island-hopping multiplies transfer costs. Travel in May, June or September for the lowest resort rates, book speedboat transfers with your guesthouse rather than at the jetty, and carry reef-safe sunscreen and basic medicines from India since island shops charge double. If diving is the goal, local-island dive centres certify open-water courses far cheaper than resort dive schools. For regional budget strategy, see the cheapest way to travel Southeast Asia from India and time shoulder-season fares across the region.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Maldives trip cost from India per person?
About ₹55,000–75,000 per person sharing a guesthouse-island trip of 4–5 days, or ₹1.2–1.5 lakh per person at a mid-range resort with speedboat transfers. Overwater-villa luxury starts near ₹2.5 lakh per person.
Do Indians need a visa for the Maldives?
No prior visa. Indians receive a free 30-day visa on arrival with a confirmed hotel booking, return ticket and proof of sufficient funds.
What is the Green Tax in the Maldives?
A nightly environmental levy of US$12 per person at resorts (US$6 at guesthouses), usually added to your bill alongside 10% service charge and 16% GST.
Are speedboat or seaplane transfers better?
Speedboats (US$25–50) suit nearby islands and late arrivals; seaplanes (US$200–500) serve distant atolls with spectacular views but fly only in daylight. Resorts beyond 30 minutes from Malé generally require one or the other.
