Three ways to the island
Transfers to the resorts start at Velana International Airport, beside Malé. Where the resort is, and the transfers it runs, set the options; where a resort offers more than one, you can choose.
| Transfer | How it works | After dark | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | By sea, for resorts closer to Malé | Can run after dark | Usually under an hour |
| Seaplane | By air, landing on the water at the resort | No: sunrise to sunset only | 20 kg + 5 kg luggage limit, extra weight charged; may stop at other resorts |
| Domestic flight | A flight to a regional airport; some islands then need a short speedboat ride | Can run after dark | Flights can land late in the day |
Speedboat
Resorts closer to Malé are reached by speedboat, and the crossing is usually under an hour. Speedboats can run after dark, so a speedboat island can suit a late arrival.
Seaplane
Seaplanes take off and land on the water, so they fly you from the airport to the resort itself. They fly in daylight only, from sunrise to sunset, and are not allowed to fly at night. A seaplane may stop at other resorts on the way.
To reach your resort by seaplane the same day, land in the Maldives by 15:30 local time, or by 15:00 to be safe. If no flight gets you there in time, plan a night in Malé or Hulhumalé; some resorts transfer later arrivals the next morning instead.
On the way home, resorts usually transfer you two to three hours before your international flight, so from a seaplane island a flight home after 9am is the safer choice.
Domestic flight
For some resorts, you take a domestic flight from Velana to a regional airport, sometimes followed by a short speedboat ride to the island. Domestic flights can run after dark, and can land late in the day.
Luggage
Seaplanes have a set luggage limit. They usually allow:
- 20 kg in the hold and 5 kg of hand luggage per person, 25 kg in all.
- No extra allowance for infants.
- Extra weight is charged by the kilo.
Pack for the seaplane’s limit, not only your airline’s.
Which will you take?
Usually the island decides. Every quote we send lists the transfer on its own line, there and back, timed around your international flights. If your flight lands late in the day, say so in your brief: it changes which islands make sense.