Lined with coconut and palm trees, beaches of Maldives offer a pleasant retreat from the hustle-bustle of Kolkata. Beach-side restaurants, tons of water activities and scenic water villas make the Maldives a fun destination to explore.
It is an island nation, located to the south-west of India, and it is a collection of over 1000 coral islands. Malé, the capital, is about 2700 km away from Kolkata. Maldives is nothing less than a paradise with its shimmering white beaches surrounded by turquoise lagoons and palm trees along with vast blue water of Indian Ocean.
Breathtaking coral gardens beneath the Indian Ocean, exquisite marine creatures along with a calm and soothing environment creates a setting that is perfect for all kinds of tourists from varying age groups travelling from Kolkata.
Whether you want a break from work, spend quality time with your partner or get together with friends, the Maldives is the place to be. Clear sky, pleasing atmosphere makes it perfect to relax and just laze around with your loved ones admiring the serenity of the island. Maldives offers not just romantic settings or a calm environment but also adventure and excitement.
There are umpteen numbers of excursions and water sports in the Maldives promising thrill and excitement to all the tourists such as water skiing, jet skiing, snorkelling, fishing, parasailing, surfing, dolphin and whale watching.Find everything you should know about the Maldives below.
From an all-inclusive honeymoon to a customisable family holiday, you will get a variety to choose from with your Maldives tour package from India.
Maldives Map from Kolkata, India
How to reach Maldives from Kolkata?
Kolkata to Maldives by Flight
Duration
There aren’t any direct flights from Kolkata to Maldives. But you can find one-stop flights via Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai. And depending on the duration of the layover, the flight duration might be anywhere between 8-20 hours.
Most regular flights take around 15 hours. And a few flights, via Colombo, take only 8 hours from Kolkata to the Maldives.
Flight Companies
GoAir operates regular flights between Kolkata and Maldives. These fly via Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai, and take around 15 hours to reach Maldives Velana International Airport in Malé.
Srilankan Airlines also connects Kolkata to the Maldives, via Colombo.
And you also have the option to fly to Trivandrum or Kochi. Maldivian has direct flights from those cities to Hanimaadhoo International Airport Maldives.
Average ticket price
The average ticket price of Kolkata Maldives flight of GoAir is around ₹10,000-₹15,000 per person. But the ticket price of Srilankan Airlines flights cost ₹30,000 (or more) per person.
Maldives Airport
Velana International Airport in Hulhule is the primary airport of Maldives. And it hosts flights from many countries around, including India and Sri Lanka.
From the airport, you will get seaplanes and speedboats to reach the island where your hotel or resort is. Many resorts in Maldives also have private seaplanes and speedboats to pick up the guests. And depending on your package, you’ll get to enjoy one of them on the way to your island.
Kolkata to Maldives by Road (possibility)
The Maldives is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and you can’t take a road to reach the islands. But you can still enjoy a road trip for some part of your journey.
Instead of taking the flight from Kolkata, drive to Bangalore or Mumbai. From there, you can take one of the regular flights to the Maldives. You can also drive all the way to Trivandrum or Kochi if you want to spend more time on the road. Then, you can take a Maldivian flight.
So, check the flight schedules and plan your trip accordingly.
Kolkata to Maldives by Sea
And if you want to go to Maldives by ship, you should be in Mumbai first. Kolkata doesn’t have a cruise to the Maldives. But in Mumbai, you can board the 7-night Costa cruise to the Maldives. The cruise also stops at New Mangalore and Kochi on its way. And sailing on the ocean, cutting through the waves, would be a lifetime memory for sure.
India & Maldives Currency
Accepted currencies
The national currency of Maldives is Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). But hotels, resorts and local shops also take payments in US Dollars (USD) or Euro (EUR). Cash, as well as card payments (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), are accepted all over the Maldives.
Average Conversion rate
The value of 1 Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) converts to about 5 Indian Rupee (INR). 1 US Dollar (USD) is about 15.50 MVR on average, 1 Euro (EUR) rounds off to 18 MVR and 1 Pound Sterling (GBP) equals about 20 MVR.
Is USD accepted in Maldives?
The USD is common in the Maldives. You won’t face a problem paying your hotel bills or buying souvenirs at the airport. Many restaurants and shops around tourist places also accept payments in the US Dollar.
Maldives Visa details for Indians
Is a passport required for Indians?
Indians will need a valid passport for a trip to the Maldives. And the passport must be valid for at least six months.
Visa Fee
30-day tourist visas are free for Indian travellers. And you can get an extended stay in the Maldives too, for up to 90 days. But you’ll need to pay 750 MVR (approx. 3,500 INR) for that.
Visa on Arrival
The Maldives allows Visa on Arrival to Indian travellers. Along with the passport, you’ll need other travel-related documents to be shown at the arrival counter, and you’ll get your 30 days visa. These travel documents include the booking confirmations of your hotel / resort and the confirmed onward/return ticket, among others.
Discover Maldives
Availability of Indian cuisine in Maldives
You’ll find plenty of Indian delicacies in the Maldives. Some resorts also have dedicated Indian restaurants, serving dishes from across India.
Whether you want some stuffed parathas for breakfast or biryani for lunch, you can have them. From dal makhani to poha, and fritters to seafood, the Maldives has them all.
Dress code
You don’t have to follow any dress code in the Maldives. While in your resort, you can dress any way you wish. But you should dress modestly when you’re in public.
Have clothes which cover the shoulders and reach below the knees. Some places require you to cover your head with a scarf. Also, men must not be shirtless on public beaches and other places.
Maldives Tour Packages from Kolkata
A range of options is available for Kolkata to Maldives tour packages. Some packages include airfare, while others take care of accommodation and local transport only. While some packages have Full Board meal plans (breakfast, lunch and dinner), others offer Half Board (breakfast and dinner).
But, in general, 3-4 nights Kolkata to Maldives package with airfare starts at around ₹50,000-₹60,000 per person.
Maldives Honeymoon Packages from Kolkata
Kolkata to Maldives honeymoon packages start at around ₹80,000 per person. And these packages are for 3-4 nights’ holiday.
India to Maldives Honeymoon packages also offer freebies or discounted upgrades depending on the booked package. Water activities, beach-side dinners and special celebrations might also be available with the packages.