Maldives Travel Guide · Costs
seaplane, speedboat & domestic flights
The transfer fee nobody mentions before booking — how it works, what it roughly costs by resort, and why your seaplane is the resort's job, not yours.
Updated
Quick Answer
Maldives airport transfers are charged per person, round trip, and are usually separate from the room rate. A shared speedboat (resorts near Malé) runs roughly $100–$490 round trip per person. A shared seaplane (resorts further out) runs roughly $400–$820. A domestic flight plus speedboat (far-south resorts) runs roughly $350–$520. For a couple that adds $200–$1,600 — often the biggest surprise on the final bill.
A note on the prices below. Costs shown are indicative round-trip-per-person ranges and are subject to change by season, resort, and current offers. For confirmed pricing on your travel dates, reach out to IM or your travel agent.
How it works
Your resort's location determines which transfer you take — it isn't a choice you make. All three are arranged by the resort; IM coordinates them as part of your booking.
For resorts within roughly 80 km of Malé airport. Runs 24/7. Takes 10–90 minutes.
From ~$100–$490 pp, round trip
Best value. Works for night arrivals.
For resorts 80–250 km from Malé. Daylight only (6am–4pm). Operated by Trans Maldivian Airways or Manta Air.
From ~$400–$820 pp, round trip
No night flights. Late arrivals may need an airport hotel.
For far-south resorts. A scheduled flight to a regional airport, then a speedboat to the resort.
From ~$350–$520 pp, round trip
Fixed schedule. Fewer daily flights.
Indicative round-trip cost per person. Resorts sorted by distance from Velana International Airport.
| Resort | Transfer Type | Approx. Time | Typical Cost (RT, pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurumba Maldives | Shared speedboat | 10 min | From $100–150 RT |
| Bandos Maldives | Shared speedboat | 15 min | From $120–180 RT |
| Baros Maldives | Shared speedboat | 25 min | From $180–260 RT |
| Adaaran Prestige Vadoo | Shared speedboat | 30 min | From $200–290 RT |
| Anantara Dhigu | Shared speedboat | 35 min | From $250–370 RT |
| Centara Grand Island | Shared speedboat | 75 min | From $350–490 RT |
RT = round trip, per person. Children aged 2–11 typically 30–40% less; infants under 2 usually free. Costs shown are indicative round-trip-per-person ranges and are subject to change by season, resort, and current offers. For confirmed pricing on your travel dates, reach out to IM or your travel agent.
Indicative round-trip cost per person. Seaplanes operate daylight hours only — roughly 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
| Resort | Transfer Type | Approx. Time | Typical Cost (RT, pp) | Atoll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuramathi | Shared seaplane | 20 min | From $400–560 RT | North Ari Atoll |
| Constance Moofushi | Shared seaplane | 25 min | From $450–620 RT | South Ari Atoll |
| Lily Beach Resort | Shared seaplane | 25 min | From $460–640 RT | South Ari Atoll |
| Soneva Fushi | Shared seaplane | 30 min | From $550–720 RT | Baa Atoll |
| Four Seasons Landaa | Shared seaplane | 35 min | From $600–800 RT | Baa Atoll |
| Soneva Jani | Shared seaplane | 40 min | From $600–800 RT | Noonu Atoll |
| St. Regis Vommuli | Shared seaplane | 40 min | From $600–820 RT | Dhaalu Atoll |
RT = round trip, per person. Children aged 2–11 typically 30–40% less. Costs shown are indicative round-trip-per-person ranges and are subject to change by season, resort, and current offers. For confirmed pricing on your travel dates, reach out to IM or your travel agent.
Seaplane transfers are arranged by the resort — not booked by you. The resort schedules your flight, handles your luggage, and meets you at the dedicated seaplane lounge at Velana airport. The transfer cost appears on your resort invoice; you never deal with the seaplane operator directly. IM coordinates all of this as part of your booking — you simply arrive at Velana and you're looked after from there.
Tell us which resort you are considering. We will confirm the exact transfer cost, method, and timing so you can budget properly.
For far-south resorts. The cost covers the domestic flight and the speedboat on to the resort.
| Resort | Transfer Type | Approx. Time | Typical Cost (RT, pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six Senses Laamu | Domestic flight + speedboat | ~2 hrs | From $350–480 RT |
| Amari Havodda | Domestic flight + speedboat | ~2 hrs | From $350–470 RT |
| Shangri-La Villingili | Domestic flight + speedboat | ~2.5 hrs | From $400–520 RT |
RT = round trip, per person. Costs shown are indicative round-trip-per-person ranges and are subject to change by season, resort, and current offers. For confirmed pricing on your travel dates, reach out to IM or your travel agent.
IM holds partner agreements with Maldives seaplane and speedboat operators. If you're travelling as a group, or for a wedding, send us your travel details and we'll arrange a private charter — so your whole party arrives together, on your own schedule, rather than waiting on the shared transfer timetable.
Indicative round-trip cost for two adults — what you add to your room total.
Shared speedboat (near Malé)
$200–$1,000
For 2 adults, round trip
Shared seaplane
$800–$1,600
For 2 adults, round trip
Domestic flight + speedboat
$700–$1,000
For 2 adults, round trip
For travellers staying on Hulhumalé or a local island rather than a resort.
| Destination | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hulhumalé hotels | Airport bus / taxi | $2–5 taxi ride from the airport |
| Maafushi guesthouses | Public ferry | $2 ferry (slow, 2+ hrs) or shared speedboat $25–35 |
Common questions
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Every IM package includes transfer coordination — seaplane, speedboat, or domestic flight, arranged end to end. Current offers first; no surprises at the airport.
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Tailored
Tell us your dates, group size, and budget — we'll build a trip around the right resort and handle every transfer for you.
We work with 100+ Maldives resorts — every trip is built from scratch around your answers.
Tailored holiday packages from $1,150. Honeymoons, weddings, family escapes, resort stays.
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When
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