If you are looking for alternatives to the Maldives, then here are our handpicked suggestions
The Maldives continues to shape the way we think about tropical luxury. Maldivian overwater villas, blue lagoons, and coral reefs are well represented on luxury travel websites. That being said, the Maldives does sit under Sharia law, and for some couples, that changes the calculation.
Not because the resort experience is unwelcoming, it usually isn’t, but because knowing the legal context matters when you are choosing somewhere to celebrate a marriage.
If you would rather start your honeymoon without that small print, the good news is that the overwater villa, the lagoon, the complete removal from ordinary life, none of that is exclusive to the Maldives. Our team has sent same-sex couples to all of the destinations below.
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From the South Pacific to the Indian Ocean, here are the other islands where you’ll find Maldivian-style paradise with something extra.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Bora Bora is often called the Maldives of the South Pacific, and it’s easy to see why. Its lagoon rivals the Maldives’ with its crystal clear blues, framed by white-sand motus and the volcanic peak of Mt. Otemanu.
Here you’ll find the same overwater villas that made the Maldives famous, along with luxury resorts that look straight onto coral gardens and colourful marine life. Couples can book private lagoon cruises, snorkel with manta rays, or simply watch the sun drop behind the jagged mountain from their deck. Bora Bora is honeymoon territory at its finest, but with a distinct Polynesian spirit.
Unlike the Maldives, French Polynesia has never had anti-gay laws on its statute books. It also brings a deeper cultural dimension, from traditional dance and tattoo art, exploring Papeete Market, and high-end experiences like browsing Tahiti’s black pearl boutiques. You can even visit Point Venus Lighthouse (Tahiti) – built in 1867 on the site where Captain Cook observed the transit of Venus in 1769.
What Bora Bora offers beyond the legal comfort is a rival to the Maldives on every visual metric. The lagoon is extraordinary. The overwater bungalows at properties like the Four Seasons and the Conrad sit directly above coral gardens.
Seychelles Islands
The Seychelles decriminalised same-sex relationships in 2016 and has been steadily building a reputation as one of the Indian Ocean’s more genuinely welcoming destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers. It is not yet as legally progressive as French Polynesia, but the on-the-ground reality at the properties we work with is one of easy, uncomplicated hospitality.
The Seychelles stands apart from the Maldives through its extraordinary geological drama and terrestrial richness. While the Maldives offers uniform beauty across flat coral islands, the Seychelles presents ancient granite boulders sculpted over millions of years into otherworldly formations that create some of the world’s most photographed beaches, particularly at Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue.
The main islands of Mahé and Praslin host luxury resorts and spas, while tiny La Digue feels like a postcard brought to life with its sculpted rocks and slow pace of life. Beyond the beach, the Seychelles deliver adventure: hiking trails through Morne Seychellois National Park, rare birdwatching, and diving among pristine coral reefs. It’s a destination that combines Maldives-style seclusion, only with more options for wildlife lovers and more varied topography.
You can explore authentic Creole culture in Victoria’s markets, visit local artists’ studios, and experience genuine island communities rather than being confined to resort environments.
Mauritius
Like the Maldives, Mauritius provides pristine beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, and world-class luxury resorts, but its unique multicultural heritage creates experiences impossible on coral atolls. The island blends African, French colonial, Indian, and Chinese cultural influences, so you can start your day with French patisseries, explore Tamil temples at midday, enjoy Chinese dim sum for lunch, and end with Creole feasts accompanied by traditional sega music on the beach.
Le Morne Brabant mountain provides a UNESCO World Heritage backdrop to luxury resorts, whilst the seven-coloured earth of Chamarel creates unique geological formations perfect for helicopter tours between beach days. Unlike destinations where you must choose between beaches or culture, Mauritius allows the best of both – you might spend mornings snorkelling in lagoons comparable to any Maldivian reef, enjoy afternoon spa treatments using local ylang-ylang and frangipani, then explore Port Louis’s markets or tour sugar plantations before returning to beachfront luxury.
The island’s stable democracy, excellent infrastructure, and English-speaking population provide the reliability and ease of travel that luxury visitors expect, whilst its position in the Indian Ocean offers convenient access from Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it an ideal destination for a luxurious tropical trip, comparable to but distinct from the Maldives.
Mauritius decriminalised homosexuality in 2023 following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, a significant shift for an Indian Ocean destination. The legal picture is still developing but the direction of travel is clear, and the resorts we work with on the island have long operated with international standards of inclusivity regardless of the national law.
Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui has been a big draw for luxury travellers for many years, but it gained even greater global recognition as the backdrop for HBO’s “White Lotus” in its third season. White Lotus showcased its stunning beaches, luxury resorts, and that distinctly Thai blend of spirituality and decadence. Unlike coral atolls, Koh Samui’s mountainous interior provides dramatic elevation changes that create everything from secluded jungle temples to clifftop infinity pools with panoramic Gulf of Thailand views.
The island’s luxury resort scene rivals any tropical destination, with properties like Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and Six Senses Samui offering private villa accommodations, world-class spas incorporating traditional Thai healing, and beachfront dining.
You can explore Buddhist temples where monks still conduct daily ceremonies, learn traditional Thai cooking with local families, or enjoy traditional Thai massage on the beaches. Evening entertainment ranges from sophisticated beach clubs to full moon parties. Hopefully, you won’t find yourself in various life-or-death psychodramas like the cast of White Lotus had to contend with.
Koh Samui has emerged as Thailand’s premier luxury island and a great alternative to the Maldives. What’s more, Thailand is one of the most gay-friendly destinations on the planet.
Ready to plan your honeymoon?
Every destination in this guide is one our team knows personally. We know which resorts will treat you as a couple from the moment you arrive, which properties go beyond the welcome letter, and how to make sure every detail of your trip reflects you.
Out Of Office has been planning same-sex honeymoons for over 35 years. Talk to one of our specialists and we’ll take it from there.
