Maldives yacht charter
The Maldives are coral atolls, and a yacht week is about the water: reefs, lagoons, mantas and whale sharks. January to March, the dry season, has the calmest seas. It suits honeymooners, divers and snorkelling families.
The Maldives are rings of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, with water so clear you see the reef from the deck. Most visitors stay on one island in one resort. A yacht moves you between atolls instead: a sandbank to yourselves at lunch, manta rays or whale sharks in the afternoon, and a different lagoon every night. It is a trip about the water, above it and below it.
Why go, and whom it suits
Couples and honeymoons
This is the classic honeymoon destination, and a yacht makes it more private. Sandbank dinners, snorkelling from the stern, and resort spas for a day when you want one.
Families
Families with children who swim and snorkel well. The lagoons are shallow and warm. But there is little to do ashore except the beach, and the reef asks for some care.
Friends and celebrations
For a group of divers or surfers, a yacht reaches more reefs and breaks in a week than any one resort can. For a party with nightlife, less so.
Less suited to anyone who wants towns, culture and restaurants ashore. Local islands are small and quiet, and alcohol is sold only on resort islands.
The areas
These are the atolls a yacht week usually covers. For the region's other islands, see the Indian Ocean.
North and South Malé atolls
Closest to the international airport, with many resorts, surf breaks and good reefs. The usual first and last days.
Ari atoll
West of Malé. Known for manta rays and, in the south, for whale sharks. The South Ari Marine Protected Area keeps a register of approved tour guides.
Baa atoll
A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2011. Hanifaru Bay, a protected area, is known for manta rays, and visits to the Maldives' protected areas are made under a permit.
The northern and southern atolls
such as Lhaviyani, Raa and Laamu, are further and quieter, for longer charters.
When to go
- January to March is the dry season of the north-east monsoon, with calmer seas and more sun; December and April are the months of transition. This is the main season, and the busiest around Christmas and Easter.
- Mid-May to November is the south-west monsoon: more rain and wind, but warm and quieter.
- The water is warm all year.
Months | Weather and sea | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
December | A month of transition | Busy around Christmas |
January to March | The dry north-east monsoon: calmer seas, more sun | The main season |
April | A month of transition | Busy around Easter |
Mid-May to November | The south-west monsoon: more rain and wind, still warm | Quieter |
What it costs
The charter fee is each yacht's own weekly rate. Her page shows it "from", which is her lowest season. Our guide sets out what a crewed charter costs, line by line.
- Taxes. The Maldives add their own taxes to tourist services. Ask us which apply to the yacht you are considering.
- Permits. Ask us what the yacht needs to cruise the atolls you choose, and whether it is in the fee.
- APA, the Advance Provisioning Allowance, is paid with the balance. It is money held by the captain for fuel, food, drinks, berths and similar costs, spent on your instructions and accounted for at the end; anything unspent is returned. Budget up to 40% of the charter fee; long or remote passages can need more. Diving, resort visits and excursions are paid from the APA.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
Malé to Ari and back
The yacht, the weather and the season decide the real route.
Board after landing at Velana International Airport. A short passage to a North Malé lagoon for a first swim.
Reefs and a sandbank lunch, and a surf break for anyone who surfs, if the swell is right.
The crossing west. In the evening, snorkel a reef wall.
A morning looking for whale sharks with a registered guide, and a night at anchor in a lagoon.
A reef by snorkel or dive, with a chance of mantas, and a beach dinner set up by the crew.
A resort day for the spa or a restaurant, or a quiet local island, dressed for it (see below).
Disembark for the flight home.
The yachts that cruise here
We arrange crewed yachts in the Maldives and look across the market for the ones that fit each enquiry.
The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
When is the best time?
For calm seas and sun, January to March, with December and April either side. For fewer visitors, the south-west monsoon months, if you accept more rain and wind.
Can we drink alcohol on board?
Alcohol is sold only on resort islands, and having or drinking it on an inhabited island can lead to arrest. Ask us whether the yacht you are considering serves it on board.
What should we wear ashore on local islands?
Modest clothing: shoulders covered, and no short or tight shorts. On beaches used by local people, keep arms and upper legs covered when you swim. Topless sunbathing is not allowed anywhere, resorts included.
Is it good for diving?
Very good. Ask us which yachts carry dive equipment and an instructor, and tell us your certification.
Can we visit resorts?
Ask us. Each resort decides whether it takes guests from a visiting yacht, for a meal, the spa or a day pass, and we arrange it before the day.
How do we get there?
International flights land at Malé (Velana International Airport). The yacht usually meets you in the North Malé atoll.
Is it safe for children to snorkel?
In the lagoons, with the crew, yes. Some reef channels have currents and are for strong swimmers only.
Can we see whale sharks or mantas for certain?
No one can promise it. In South Ari, go with one of the guides registered for the marine protected area; Hanifaru Bay, in Baa, is visited under a permit.
Do we need a visa?
Tourist visas are granted on arrival, with no approval needed beforehand. You fill in the traveller declaration (IMUGA) online in the 96 hours before you land.
If you are also weighing the Seychelles
The Seychelles have granite islands, forests and more to explore ashore. The Maldives are flatter and more about the water and the reef.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family holiday, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
Plan
Maldives.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.