Editorials
A guide to seaplanes in the Maldives
Find out about the journey you'll take on board a Maldives seaplane
One of the highlights of visiting the Maldives is getting from the airport to your resort via seaplane transfer. Whilst you’re likely to be exhausted from your international flight and the thought of getting on yet another mode of transport is likely to seem frustrating, the beauty is that the iconic seaplanes in the Maldives are a total adventure in themselves.
Many resorts in the Maldives need to be reached by seaplane whilst those closer to the mainland can be reached by speedboat. On rare occasion it’s necessary to take a domestic flight followed by a speedboat – not something we’d usually recommend for our clients.
Upon arrival into Male International Airport, you’ll be greeted by an OutOfOffice.com representative who will help you check-in for your seaplane flight. They’ll take care of your bags and then depending on the time until your flight you’ll be escorted to a lounge where you can relax ahead of your seaplane journey. Read more: Seaplanes or Speedboats in the Maldives – which is better?
Watch our video of the seaplane journey in the Maldives.
Seaplanes in the Maldives
Boarding the seaplane is relatively straightforward though you’ll find that the room on board is cramped. You are allowed 20kg as your main luggage and 5kg for your hand luggage per person, so make sure you’re within those limits – even if your international flight allows more baggage.
Taking off on a Maldives seaplane is a really interesting experience. It’s noisy, bumpy but totally worth it as the scenery you’ll see en route is astonishing. Small island atolls, remote desert islands and beautiful blue waters.
Depending on the resort you’re staying at you will either have a plane that is dedicated to your property or you may find that it makes a stop en route at another island.
Your personal travel specialist, from the first conversation to the flight home.
Request a quote →We Suggest…
The Maldives: The Out Of Office Collection
Tailor-made HolidayFew destinations do luxury quite like the Maldives. Spread across more than a thousand coral islands in the Indian Ocean, this is a place built almost entirely around the art of doing nothing particularly well: overwater villas, house reefs at your doorstep, and the kind of stillness that genuinely resets you. It's one of our most-requested destinations, and it's not hard to understand why. The Maldives is a resort destination in the purest sense.
7 days tailor-made from £4,400 per person View trip
The Maldives Premium All-inclusive
Tailor-made HolidayThe Maldives, renowned as one of the world's premier luxury destinations, boasts a dazzling array of elegant resort offerings that are bound to leave you in awe. In this tropical paradise, leading hotel brands and visionary entrepreneurs continually push the boundaries of luxury, each striving to outdo the other in crafting ever-more exquisite resorts.
7 days tailor-made from £3,150 per person View trip
It’s also important to note that seaplanes can only operate in daylight hours in the Maldives and so you must make sure your international flight arrives in good time to catch a seaplane to your resort – we do not recommend staying in the capital city of Male.
Some people will combine two resorts in the Maldives and stay at more than one island. This can allow you to experience both a seaplane and a speedboat.
View Maldives Island Hopping Collection
Travelling to the Maldives as an LGBT couple comes with some risks and we’d recommend you read our dedicated blog about gay travel: the law vs the reality in the Maldives.
All in all this journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and must be sampled as part of the authentic Maldivian experience. The experts at OutOfOffice.com are meticulous in our planning and handpicking the resorts that we work with. We also look after the seaplane transfer as part of our service and can offer more competitive pricing that most online booking websites so enquire below to speak to one of the team today.
New to Out Of Office?
We are a luxury travel company for LGBTQ+ travellers. Everything we sell is tailor-made, planned by one named member of our team throughout, and nothing on this site is a fixed package unless it says so.
Where exclusivity meets inclusivity
Ten years, hundreds of five-star reviews, and a team who will tell you when a destination is not right for the trip you have in mind.
Suggested Tours
The Southern Maldives: Pullman Maamutaa & Park Hyatt Hadahaa
Tailor-made HolidayThe Southern Maldives operates on a different scale from the atolls clustered near Malé. Gaafu Alifu, where both properties sit, is roughly five to six hours away by speedboat, or a shorter domestic flight followed by a transfer, and that distance does the real work of keeping the atoll quiet. It filters out day-trippers, leaving reefs with far less traffic than the more accessible northern resorts.
10 days tailor-made from £3,175 per person View trip
Barefoot Luxury: Six Senses Laamu & Gili Lankanfushi
Tailor-made HolidayEnjoy an unforgettable journey to the heart of the Indian Ocean with a luxury holiday in the Maldives, where the concepts of barefoot luxury and sustainable elegance are redefined. This exclusive getaway features stays at two of the most prestigious luxury Maldives resorts: Six Senses Laamu and Gili Lankanfushi. At Six Senses Laamu, the only resort in the pristine Laamu Atoll, you'll discover a harmonious blend of sustainability and luxury.
10 days tailor-made from £6,550 per person View trip
Better in Baa: Finolhu & Anantara Kihavah
Tailor-made HolidayDiscover the epitome of luxury in the Maldives at the breathtaking Baa Atoll, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, home to two exquisite resorts: Finolhu and Anantara Kihavah. These luxury resorts in Baa Atoll offer a fusion of modernity and natural beauty, making them ideal for an unforgettable Maldives gay holiday. Finolhu, known for its modern and experimental design, stands out as a beacon of contemporary luxury in the Maldives.
10 days tailor-made from £3,250 per person View trip
Authentically Maldivian: Milaidhoo & Nautilus
Tailor-made HolidayThe Maldives boasts some of the world's most breathtaking island resorts, and it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you. Our experts have handpicked two island resorts that they feel provide an authentic, luxury Maldivian experience - Milaidhoo and Nautilus. For an authentic Maldivian experience, consider the resorts of Milaidhoo and Nautilus.
10 days tailor-made from £7,250 per person View trip
The Maldives Premium All-inclusive
Tailor-made HolidayThe Maldives, renowned as one of the world's premier luxury destinations, boasts a dazzling array of elegant resort offerings that are bound to leave you in awe. In this tropical paradise, leading hotel brands and visionary entrepreneurs continually push the boundaries of luxury, each striving to outdo the other in crafting ever-more exquisite resorts.
7 days tailor-made from £3,150 per person View trip
The Best of Malé: Waldorf Astoria & Reethi Rah
Tailor-made HolidayStaying close to Malé is often seen as the lesser option in the Maldives. The built-up capital is not on the tourism circuit. It's a place you pass through on your way to and from your resort.
10 days tailor-made from £4,595 per person View tripTell us how you like to travel. We will shape the trip around it.
How long you want to be away, how much you want to move, and what you would rather leave out entirely.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.