The Maldives is, hands down, one of the most beautiful places in the world – but it’s almost one of the most remote places in the world…and this makes it one of the most challenging places to visit, packing wise. I’ve visited the Maldives several times now, and I wish I had read a packing list for the Maldives beforehand…because I missed a couple critical items the first and second visits. Before your dive into your beautiful retreat in paradise, make sure to triple check my ultimate Maldives packing list. Trust me, I’ve visited time and time again – these are the items you truly need in the Maldives….and the ones you can leave at home.
What to Pack for the Maldives
Ready to pack your bags for the Maldives? With year-round warm weather and stunning snorkeling, the Maldives requires a specific packing list. These are the items you need to pack – and the ones you can skip. Let’s dive into my ultimate Maldives packing guide.
Essentials
On your epic trip to the Maldives, the last thing you’ll want to forget is something important….Like sunscreen, or the right travel documentation. Here are some of the most essential items to pack for your trip to the Maldives.
Few countries need a visa to enter the Maldives; however, everyone needs to fill out an entry form to enter the country. You can find the form here. You’ll need to input your basic information and where you’re staying, and they’ll give you a QR code for your arrival.
The Maldives is an island nation, and because of this, I always bring a dry bag to keep my valuable items safe. It’s helpful to have when going out on a snorkeling or boat trip, but it’s also just nice to know in transit your passport won’t get waterlogged. It’s especially critical if you’re visiting local islands as the public ferries and speedboats often get a bit wet.
I’d also recommend packing a reusable water bottle, if you can fit one in your bag. The Maldives is an eco-conscious country, and many of the guesthouses and hotels will offer reusable bottles with water each day… And that’s how you can refill your own bottle.
One quick note regarding snorkeling equipment: unless you have high quality equipment, I’d recommend not purchasing snorkeling gear or scuba diving gear, or bringing your own. Many resorts will offer free rentals (with normally high quality equipment!) or inexpensive rentals.
One thing to keep in mind before you start packing: the Maldives has strict baggage weight and size limits, especially if you’re traveling via seaplane upon arrival. Having overweight baggage will mean steep, steep fees.
Important note: do not bring alcohol into the Maldives. The Maldives is an entirely Muslim country, and alcohol is forbidden. You will not find it on most local islands, and resorts will have plenty.
Clothing & Accessories
The average temperature in the Maldives is hot – 85F or hotter, so you’ll be spending a lot of time in your swimsuit.
No matter the resort, you’re going to want comfortable, warm weather clothes. I suggest packing a couple pairs of shorts, flowy t-shirts, sundresses and plenty of swimsuits.
In addition to comfortable clothes and swimwear, consider packing some cute sundresses, a beach bag (this is my favorite!!), water shoes for snorkeling, as well as flip flops (I live in these)! However, don’t bring heels or anything other than flip flops for day use (the sand can be hot!) – most hotels will allow and encourage barefoot dining, even in formal settings.
If you’re visiting local islands instead of resorts, you’ll want to pack clothing that covers your knees and shoulders out of respect for the local culture and Muslim traditions.
No matter what clothing you pack, there’s one thing you will need to bring: a rashguard for sun protection. This is by far the most important item you will bring! Because the sun in the Maldives is so strong, you might find yourself sunburnt after just one hour of snorkeling. A rash guard is a must. I love this one for men, or this one for women.
Here’s a more complete clothing list:
- Nicer Evening Dresses
- Summer Dresses and Sundresses
- Skirts / Shorts
- Leggings (for the plane ride)
- T-shirts
- Blouses / Shirts / Tank Tops
- Swimwear – bikinis / swimsuits
- Beachwear – kaftans / cover-ups
- Light knitwear / cover-ups
- Flip Flops / Thongs / Sliders
- Sandals
- Bras
- Briefs / Panties
- Shapewear
- Other lingerie
- Nightwear
- Sunglasses
- Hat(s)
- Beach Bag (Many Resorts will provide towels!)
- Beach Towel
Personal Care, Hygiene and Cosmetics
When it comes to personal care, hygiene and cosmetics, it’s important to keep in mind much of this is personal – and many times, your resort will have plenty.
For example, most resorts will offer hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, body soap and plenty of toiletries. In addition, most resorts will have a medical center if you need some basic medicine (though bringing your own supply of Tylenol, for example, will make your life much easier).
However, one thing you will need to bring will be sunscreen. The Maldives is extremely isolated, and there’s nowhere to buy sunscreen, for the most part. I always recommend Beach Bum as it smells amazing and it’s also reef safe, which is especially critical for the Maldives.
You’ll also want to pack some Aloe Vera gel for after-sun care, too. We used this one during our two-week trip and it saved our skin. Pack it all up in this toiletry bag, and you’re good to go.
Here’s my full list:
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Aloe vera gel
- Mosquito repellent (most resorts will spray for mosquitoes, but local islands will not).
- Lip balm with SPF
- Travel-sized shampoo and conditioner
- Lightweight moisturizer
- Razor and shaving gel
- Deodorant
- Compact first-aid kit
- Toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste
Healthcare
Most Maldives resorts will have a resident doctor on site – or one closeby on-call.
However, it’s critical to visit the Maldives with travel health insurance. That’s because, for anything major, you’ll need to visit the hospital in your Atoll – or the one in Male. That will cost at minimum a charter boat, but you may also face seaplane charges, which can be hundreds of dollars…and that’s before the medical bills even begin.
Most Maldives resorts will spray islands to minimize mosquitoes, but it’s not always foolproof. And if you’re visiting local islands, you won’t have any protection against mosquitos. Just in case, I always pack mosquito repellant just in case.
Electronics
When you’re heading to the Maldives, electronics are pretty much required. Most tourists will take photos on their smartphone, but I always recommend a camera if you have one. The photos turn out so much better. I have the Fujifilm XT-30II, and it’s perfect because you can preset film filters onto the photos to create these insanely beautiful photos. I also use the Canon 5D Mark.
A waterproof phone case will most certainly be critical, too, especially if you’re planning to go on snorkeling trips.
An underwater camera is also critical in the Maldives, if you can swing it. The underwater world is truly one of the most spectacular parts of the Maldives, and you’ll want to capture all of it. I use the GoPro, but the DJI is also amazing and has much better color balance.
If you’re a reader, bringing your Kindle is a must. There’s plenty of relaxing time on the beach or in your villa, and physical books can be really tough to drag along.
One thing to keep in mind: most resorts, and even guesthouses on local islands, will have special plugs that fit a variety of plugs – or at least UK-style plugs. However, I always bring a universal plug adapter just in case.
Another thing to keep in mind: most resorts do not allow drones, but it’s worth checking in advance to see if you can fly a drone or not.
Here’s a more complete list of electronics:
- Smartphone
- Waterproof phone case
- Power bank
- Travel adapter
- Charging cables
- Camera
- GoPro or waterproof action camera
- Underwater camera housing
- E-reader or tablet
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Smartwatch or fitness tracker
- Laptop (if needed)
Misc. Items
Look, you may or may not need these additional items…But these are the random things I like to bring.
First off, if you’re looking to upgrade your luggage, consider this Samsonite combo. We’ve had these for four years now and it’s honestly the most durable luggage we have ever had. If you prefer to travel carry-on only, I am a huge fan of this Osprey bag, which I bring pretty much everywhere. It’s perfect because it actually fits in pretty much every overhead bin on planes, too.
If you’re a chronic overpacker like me, you may want to consider packing cubes. I’ve tried a lot of different ones that keep breaking, but these are the ones that don’t. Packing cubes help you compartmentalise your clothes and items, so you don’t have to unpack everything to find what you need. It also helps my bag feel more organised.
Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.
