15 Things You Should Take on Your Maldives Trip (and 5 You Should Not)

You may already know that the Maldives is one of the most photogenic destinations in the world. I advise you to think in advance about what you are going to wear for your special vacation in the Maldives!

During my stay in the Maldives, I have stayed in 3 gorgeous resorts – Bandos, Kandima and Kanuhura! All of them are awesome, but each one of them is unique in its own way – you can read more about my experience staying there in my article about 3 Amazing Resorts in the Maldives!

It does not matter if you are planning a very adventurous trip or if you just want to relax most of the time under the warm sun, these are 15 essentials you should not travel without.

Packing List for Maldives

1. Swimwear – 2-3 bright swimming suits will contrast beautifully with the turquoise water. If I were you, I would go for 1 white, 1 orange or red (they make a very nice combination with the magical, turquoise sea) and maybe a blue one or one with a tropical print
2. Sun hat – to protect your head from the strong sun
3. Sun cream – face cream and body glow. The cream type completely depends on your skin, but I would start from 50 SPF and maybe switch to 30 in 5-6 days
4. Sun glasses – a couple of years ago I bought myself a pair of polarized glasses and I never looked back! They are awesome and they protect your precious eyes from the bad glares and radiation
5. Beach bag – otherwise, where are you going to put your book and a lip balm when you’re heading to the beach?

6. A couple of mini-dresses– these would be the perfect outfits for a dinner date in a romantic restaurant but also for walking around the island!
7. A long light dress– Unfortunately, I did not take one with me on my Maldives trip and I was so jealous of my friend who wore this super romantic wavy dress. Her pictures looked fantastic with that bright airy maxi dress!
8. A kaftan – also known as a tunika in some countries. This item is a great and sexy solution outfit idea for your bikini cover-up
9. Sporty clothes – in case you want to go to the gym or do some well-deserved sunrise yoga
10. Sandals – an elegant pair of sandals would suit the surroundings perfectly. You can also bring other footwear options such as flip-flops or just walk barefoot on the island, as many resorts have a “no shoes, no news” policy 😉

11. An adapter – most of the luxury hotels provide you with an adapter, but you should bring your own just in case they don’t have it or if you need more than one. If you are from the UK, lucky you – you do not need an adapter!
12. An underwater camera– you will take some amazing shots while discovering the amazingly colorful underwater Maldivian life! I recommend getting a GoPro before your trip. I use a GoPro Hero 4 and I’m completely satisfied with it. I also suggest you get a red filter too if you are going to do diving, as it will make all the colors look nice and natural.
13. A dry bag– it will be very useful if you are going to do some adventure activities like scuba diving from a boat, sunset fishing etc. The bag will keep your clothes and electronics dry – so handy!
14. Snorkeling gear– some resorts charge for mask and flippers, some not. But in case you want to have your own set and not use something that was previously worn by other people, then it’s always better to bring one with you!
15. Kindle – if you are a book lover like me, but you do not like to carry them around, then Kindle is a life savior! It has thousands of book options and it doesn’t irritate your eyes because it has a paper-like surface. I’ve had mine for over 6 years now and I am absolutely loving it!
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16. If you are into photography then you should know that you can take some crazy shots with a drone! Please check the policy of the hotel before though – some resorts do not want you to fly your drone over private bungalows. Just follow the rules and you will be fine!

Here are some amazing shots I have taken with my drone (I have a DJI Mavic and I love it!) from one of the resorts:

In case you’ll forget any essential item, like a shampoo or a hair conditioner (like I did), there are shops on the island where you can buy all the necessary things.

Maldives is one of those places that you don’t need to overpack for, seriously!

The vibe is very laid back, so any strict clothes would be out of place.

What not to bring to the Maldives

1. Computer
2. Alcohol – It is advised not to buy any alcohol from the duty-free as it will be confiscated upon entering the country. Beer/wine and spirits are always available in the resorts, but you cannot import them
3. Pork and its by-products
4. Many warm clothes – you definitely won’t need any wooly jumpers, not even on rainy days
5. Shirts and strict clothes
6. Many shoes – you will most probably wear flip flops all the time or even walk around barefoot
7. Hair dryer etc – it will be provided by the hotel

Tip: I always use packing cubes, they’re real life savers for me! I highly recommend using them, as they will make your travels so much more organized!

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☀️ Best time of year:	March and April
🥵 Avrg temperature:	28°C (82°F)
🌊 Avrg water temperature:	27°-30°C (80°-86°F)
😎 Don’t forget:	Sunhat, sunglasses, swimsuits

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Frequently asked questions about Maldives packing checklist

Conclusion:

Here was my list of things to pack for your Maldives vacation. As you can see, there aren’t many things on this list. You do not need much actually, so my suggestion is to pack light and just enjoy it!

P.S. If you want to learn some interesting facts about the country, read this post as well – 6 Things you did not know about the Maldives (and you should).

Yulia

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