Can you really backpack the Maldives on a budget???

Spoiler: Yes… but be prepared to accidentally blow it when you see manta rays.

Before we came, I had the same thought you probably do right now:

“Is backpacking the Maldives actually possible, or is it all honeymoon villas and £1,000-a-night resorts?”

And historically, yes — that was true. Until 2009, tourists could only stay on private resort islands. But now? Local islands are open, guesthouses are everywhere, public ferries exist, and it’s finally possible to explore the Maldives without selling your kidney.

So here’s how we did it, what we spent, and the real truth about backpacking the Maldives.

PS: If you want to see exactly what this trip looked like, here’s the YouTube vlog guide 👇

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Quick Answer

Question	Answer
Can you backpack the Maldives?	✅ Yes
Will you actually stick to your budget?	❌ Probably not
Is it worth it?	⭐ 100% yes

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How We Found Cheap Flights

I basically live on Google Flights (obsessed is an understatement). We were originally looking at India, searched “Manchester → Anywhere”, and suddenly… Maldives for £311 one-way with Etihad popped up. With baggage!

Tip: Set destination to Anywhere and filter:

• ≤1 stop
• ≤20 hours travel time
• Flexible dates

I have a full guide here: How to Find Cheap Flights With Google Flights

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Budget Backpacking Maldives Strategy

There are 4 real ways to keep Maldives costs down:

Strategy	Best For
Stay on one island	Most budget-friendly
Use public ferries	Cheapest island-hopping
Pick islands with house reefs	Free snorkelling instead of tours
Stay near Malé / Hulhumalé	Cheapest transport + food options

We ended up doing a mix.

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Option 1: Stay on ONE island

Transport is what kills most backpacker budgets here.
Public speedboats = $65+ one-way
Inter-island boats = very limited

If we did ONE island only, we’d have chosen:

✅ Fulhadhoo

• Unreal turquoise water
• White sandbars
• Forest + quiet island
• Amazing house reef
• Mantas + whales in season
• Cheaper excursions than other islands

We paid ~£28/night each at Three Hearts Guesthouse and loved it.

Example tour price:
Private manta trip — $80 total for 2 people 😳

Read more about why we ABSOLUTELY loved Fulhadhoo here: Fulhadhoo Travel Guide or 6 Things to do in Fulhadhoo for Wildlife Lovers

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Option 2: Public Ferries (Budget Island Hopping)

This is the real budget hack — if you’re patient.

Website for ferry schedules 👉 https://mtcc.mv/schedules-2
(Make sure to double-check locally — things change!)

Example route we did:

Route	Cost
Mahibadhoo → Malé	~£2.70
Mahibadhoo → Dhigurah	£1.10

Yes. £1.10 to travel between paradise islands.

But slow boats = slow.
And schedules aren’t always reliable.

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Option 3: Choose Islands With Good House Reefs

Tours can be crazy expensive in some places.

Examples we saw:

Island	Manta Trip Price
Fulhadhoo	✅ $80 private / 2 people
Dhigurah	❌ $300 shared boat

We snorkelled ourselves most days — we bring our own:

• Snorkel + mask* – IMO the absolute best, I’ve had this combo for years now
• Fins* – the best packable fins
• Rash guard* – helps with UV but also potential jelly stings
• Floaty GoPro handle* – you don’t want to lose your footage do you?!

*Contains affiliate links.

If you’re a confident swimmer, having gear saves SO much money.

Some reefs were incredible (Dharavandhoo, Fulhadhoo, Dhigurah).
Some sadly bleached (Mahibadhoo).

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Option 4: Stay Near the Airport

Malé / Hulhumalé = cheaper food, cheap transport, decent snorkelling day trips.

We paid $45 each for a 3-spot snorkel tour here — great value.

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💰 What We Actually Spent

Category	Cost (per night / day)
Accommodation	£14–£28 each
Food	£8–£15/day each
Transport	£1.10–$150 (lol, more on that below)
Tours	$20–$80+ per person (varied a LOT)

💡Breakfast included at most stays which helped.

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The Real Truth (Important!)

Yes, you can stick to a budget.

But we didn’t.
At all. 😂

We planned:

• 1 tour per island…

We ended up doing:

• 2 failed manta attempts + a snorkel tour (Dharavandhoo)
• 3 tours in Fulhadhoo
• Whale sharks in Dhigurah
• Nurse sharks in Mahibadhoo
• Final snorkel tour in Hulhumalé

And honestly… no regrets.
This place is magic.

Just plan wiggle room!

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Final Verdict

✅ Possible to backpack Maldives
✅ Affordable guesthouses + local food + ferries
✅ Can keep costs low with snorkelling and one island

BUT…

🚨 Tours add up
🚨 Ferry schedules unreliable
🚨 You will want to splurge once you see what’s underwater

Would we recommend it?
100% — and plan extra snorkel days.