The soulful waters of the Maldives beckon visitors to enjoy blissful holidays. This beautiful nation is the smallest in Asia, but the islands are spread across 90,000 sq m. And, getting around in the Maldives takes place mostly in boats and air crafts. Unless you plan on spending all your time at the resort island, you might need to know about public transport options too. In this article, we explore all the modes of transport in the Maldives.
How to get to your resort island from Male?
Much like accommodation, it’s always better to book your transport to the resort island in advance. Most Maldives villas offer to schedule transport from the airport to the resort. Check with resorts like the Baros Maldives to organize transport directly from Male. Seaplane rides are fast, while boat rides let you cruise the waters. However, both these options are only available during the day. If your flight is scheduled to land in the night, make arrangements to stay the night near the airport.
Travelling by plane in the Maldives
You can book seaplanes or air taxis to get around islands in the Maldives, and those rides often last merely 10 minutes. Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways offer air taxis services. You can identify these by the signature red and white shades (Maldivian Air Taxis) or bright yellow or cheerful blue (Trans Maldivian Airways). However, air taxi rides are on the more expensive side, and you must consult your budget before planning too many of these.
Travelling by boat in the Maldives
The most budget friendly way to travel between isalnds in the Maldives is to board public ferries. However, these do not sail to resort islands. Public ferries operate about 6 times a week. Private ferries operated by locals are the other option, but you need local contacts to book one. Typically, tourists charter speed boats to travel between islands. And, the good news is that these are available at any time of the day. Booking a ‘taxi boat’ as the speedboats are called is a little like ordering a taxi. The only difference is that these are water taxis. Since taxi boats are expensive, some people opt to share rides and split the fare. Dhoni cruises are an alternative option, even though negotiating a rate requires some grit.
However, if you’re in luxury mode, you can hire a yacht and cruise in and out of islands, pampered like royalty. You could even visit exotic islands a little further away from your typical islands on a yacht.
Using motorcycles to travel in the Maldives
If you plan on exploring Male, rent a motorcycle to get around. It is the best way to get to know Male’s real soul and its people. Even if you plan on spending most of your time at the resort island basking in luxury, spending a day in Male would add more colour to your schedule. While you’re at it, try some authentic Maldivian food and drinks.
Travelling in taxis in Male
If you’re not a good motorcycle rider, hire taxis to get around in Male. A taxi ride will cost about 2 USD in Male, but if you have a lot of luggage, you may have to pay more. But, the amount wouldn’t exceed the 1USD mark.
Walking in the Maldives
Male is a compact city and you can easily walk about. Take slow promenades around the city to explore life as it is in the city. You should lather up in sunscreen and wear your sunglasses and sun hat to protect yourself from the sun’s harsh rays. And, remeber to carry a bottle of water to quench your thrist.