The Maldives; simply looking at photographs of this gorgeous archipelago relaxes the shoulders but a question that will always linger, is the Maldives for solo travellers?
Whilst some people dream of spending a few days in a water villa with their significant other, we realise that for the rest of us, the reality of it is that if we don't have a partner, then it makes it all a little trickier. With the world growing smaller and smaller, people working harder, others growing apart, couples having children later or not at all, this does not change the fact that we still want to go to the Maldives! So, we encourage you to take the thought process of not who are you wanting for? But what are you waiting for?
We hope that by the time you have finished reading this article that you can actually travel to the Maldives alone and that you don't need to wait for anyone! After living though a pandemic, we all realise now that there is never a good or bad time to do something and we just need to make the most of the time that we have!
Located in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Sri Lanka, it is absolutely ideal for a tropical bucket list vacation. The country's amazing all-inclusive resorts, local islands and liveaboards make it simple to live the good life, both alone or with new friends, while enjoying its white sandy beaches and beautiful turquoise ocean.
Group Tours
We truely believe that the best way to explore this amazing places is with a group. The Maldives is full of Bucket List Experiences like swimming with Whale Sharks, Manta Ray and Turtles, explore a sunken shipwreck or sandbank, join a boat party or drink cocktails in an infinity pool at a five star resort, so why would you want to travel the Maldives alone? Our Maldives Island Hopping experience is the ultimate adventure and best way to meet people in the Maldives.
Boat Parties
Alcohol is certainly not the be all and end all of meeting people, but sometimes it sure does help! Although drinking alcohol in the Maldives is illegal on the local islands, the government have issued licences to the liveabord boats who dock offshore, no you just need to know where to find them! Foruntely for us, we are here to help you out and show you where to have some fun.
The Kaani Princess, is a non functioning Super Yacht that is docked off the coast of Maafushi. You can organise to get picked up from the port via a local dingy and will be taken out to see free of charge. Once you are aboard the Kaani Princess, you can order drinks just as you would at a standard bar (beer, gin and tonic, a cocktail, etc) and even order food both from the mainland or via delivery through the crew working on the boat. Once the sun sets, you will party late into the evening as the strobe lights and smoke machine cover the dance floor. The place can get back and is probably the best option in the local islands to meet people.
Hulhule Island Resort
At just a stone throw from the Airport, the Hulhule Island Hotel is the only place in Malé/Hulhumalé that you can order an alcoholic drink. For some reason this place has a licence to serve and is a popular watering hole for both local expats, international flight crews and tourists. The legends bar and the resort pool are two of our favourite places to meet people and mingle. There is also a free courtesy bus which runs between with the airport and the resort, if you had time to kill between your transfers. If you have an overnight layover and are looking for more things to do in Malé, we have a fantastic travel guide to keep you occupied!
Liveaboards
Liveaboards are the hotels on wheels for scuba divers! Essentially, a multi-day diving excursion which allows you to venture further from the coast, jump between sites and link up islands, without packing your bags each night and moving from hotel to hotel - What a way to see the world!
Majority of the Liveabord boats in the Maldives accomodate between 15-30 guests at a time, and most of the people do not know each other. Although there are some couples and groups of friends on the boats, it is a really great way to connect and met other solo travellers in the Maldives, just make sure that you like scuba diving!
Local Island and Resorts
There are a number of ways to connect with people whilst travelling solo in the Maldives. Most local islands will have few tourists and at times you could be the only tourist on the island, but not to worry. This just means that you will have more opportunity to make friends with the locals. Although there are a lot more tourists at the resorts, there are a lot of couples and people usually stay to themselves, so it might be a bit trickier if you are single and looking. In saying that, some couples do get bored of each other and be open to meeting new people and having a laugh togethers, so never be afraid to say hello and meet someone new.
Where you are on a local island or at a resort, you are lucky that you have a variety of other options. Some other ways to meet people in the Maldives could range from connecting with people on an Excursion, Day Trip or Scuba Diving, at the Gym, a Bar or a Restaurant.
Meet Up App
Meet Up is a renowned worldwide platform that enables users to find and connect with local communities, and the best thing is, its FREE! If you are looking to see what is happening in a certain city just log in and scroll through the events. The group are generally full of fun loving people who just want to get together and have a good time. There could be a mix of locals, travellers, couples, singles and solo travellers in the Maldives, who are also finding it hard to meet people. Thanks to Meet Up you now have a genuine opportunity to make new friends in the Maldives, from all over there world.
Dating Apps
Like anywhere in the world, dating apps are an awesome way to meet new people. With an abundance of options ranging from Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OKCupid, Happn.. (The list goes on!) we have found this to be a great way to meet other solo travellers or singles in The Maldives. There is only one catch.. They will have to be on the same island as you, otherwise it gets tricky. Given that resort islands are exclusive and hard to get to, your best best is to keep your perimeter tight. Whether you are looking for a holiday fling or just a friend to spend the days with, the Maldives I better to be shared than spent alone. If you're seeking friendship or something more, sign up today and begin meeting new Maldives people.
Overall, there are a number of ways to meet people if you are a single in the Maldives, from resorts, local islands, day trips, boat parties and bars. In saying that, being on islands that are isolated from the others, we do know from experience that travelling solo in the Maldives, can get lonely at times so we do obviously recommend joining us on our Maldives Island Hopping experience because 'hand on heart', this is the best way to meet people in the Maldives and maximise your fun!
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