For many travelers, the Maldives is on the top of their bucket list – and for good reason! The crystal clear blue waters, vibrant marine life and long stretches of sandy beaches are truly beyond beautiful. But before planning your Maldives trip, it’s only natural to want to know: Is it safe to travel to the Maldives? Is the Maldives safe for my family and my kids? I’ve visited the Maldives several times now, both resort islands and local islands, and one of my most frequently asked questions is: is it safe in the Maldives? Generally, the Maldives is a safe country and there are many beautiful times of year to visit – but you’re going to want to keep a couple tips in mind if you visit. Let me explain.
Visiting the Maldives: Resorts vs. Local Islands
Before we dive into safety in the Maldives any further, it’s important to note the difference between local islands in the Maldives and resorts.
For many visitors heading to resorts in the Maldives, the below rules may not apply. For example, on resorts, alcohol is sold and women do not have to dress modestly. Resorts have much lighter restrictions, if any, as they exist in a different realm from local islands.
However, if you plan to visit the local islands in the Maldives, and stay in guesthouses among locals, you’ll need to keep in mind the below rules and safety warnings to travel safely in the Maldives.
Is It Safe to Visit the Maldives?
In general, the Maldives is a safe destination to visit. I’ve visited the Maldives on several occasions, visiting both local islands and resorts, as a solo female traveller, and have always felt extremely safe.
The Maldives is one of the most peaceful and calm places in the world with absolutely wonderful locals, making it a safe destination to visit. However, just like when traveling anywhere, it’s critical to exercise caution when traveling in the Maldives.
Prior to traveling to the Maldives, consider checking government warnings from your home country, such as UK Foreign Travel Advice or the U.S. State Department Website.
Safety in the Maldives as a Female Solo Traveler
As a female traveler, I am always cautious when visiting any new destination and before visiting the Maldives, I asked myself, is the Maldives safe? Is it safe to travel to the Maldives? Especially as a woman?
In general, I found the locals in the Maldives to be kind, helpful and generous. If we ever needed anything, locals would go out of their way to help. It made visiting the Maldives such an amazing place to visit and I made so many friends.
In general, however, I always exercised caution – but I truly cannot express how welcomed I felt by locals in the Maldives, no matter the local island (and we visited multiple!). The locals are so happy to share their slice of paradise with you.
Safety Tips for Your Maldives Vacation
Though the Maldives is a safe place to travel, there are still precautions to take when traveling to a remote country such as the Maldives. Here are my top safety tips for your Maldives trip.
Visiting Male, Maldives
It’s important to emphasize that, in general, the Maldives is a safe and calm country. However, when visiting the Maldives, perhaps the most unsafe destination you may visit is the capital city of Male.
During times of political unrest, which may happen occasionally, visitors may find themselves caught up in public demonstrations if they travel to Male. However, for the most part, tourists will likely remain unaffected by this as many tourists will never travel across the bridge into the capital city of Male.
In general, the outlying islands and international airport are mostly unaffected by political protests when, and if, they do happen. Flights, hotels and other tourism facilities will operate as normal. Due to the booming tourism industry in the Maldives, the Maldivian government pays excellent attention to the safety of tourists.
Clothing & Attire
The Maldives is a Muslim country, and if you plan to visit the local islands in the Maldives, it’s critical to bring clothing and attire to dress modestly. The degree to which women will need to cover up will depend on the local island, and it is encouraged that tourists ask their guesthouses what to wear and what they might expect.
(I made a Maldives packing guide here in case you’re looking for help!)
For example, when we visited the local island of Kendhoo, local tourism was still quite new – and because of that, in all public spaces, covering your knees, shoulders and chest was required. However, on Thoddoo, where local tourism has long since been established, locals simply asked tourists not to wear anything transparent – but shorts and t-shirts were fine.
In addition, wearing bikinis is strictly prohibited on any beach but the tourist beach. Every local island has their own tourist beach, and it’s often a long stretch of sand. However, locals ask if tourists want to swim at other beaches, they cover up and wear modest swimwear.
Caution in the Water
When traveling to destinations such as the Maldives, with lots of marine life, it’s critical to stay aware of safety underwater. When snorkeling in the Maldives, be mindful of strong currents and avoid touching coral and marine life alike.
In general, make sure to have travel insurance when visiting the Maldives, as many local islands and resorts do not have full medical facilities. If you need medical care, you may be airlifted to a nearby local island – which can cost a significant sum of money.
Alcohol and Drugs
As previously mentioned, the Maldives is an Islamic country, and for that reason, visitors cannot import any alcohol or drugs. Alcohol and drugs are strictly banned in the Maldives, among other things (more on that below). If you stay at a resort, however, expect to find alcohol at the resort.
Islamic Laws
The Maldives adheres to Islamic law, and when traveling the local islands, it’s important to adhere to these rules. For example, import of non-Islamic items such as alcohol, pornography, and pork products is strictly banned.
In addition, public displays of affection are often looked down upon. In addition, during the holy month of Ramadan, eating and drinking in public during the day may be seen as insensitive.
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.
