Tailor-made Maldives Holidays

Idyllic resorts, underwater adventures, soft sandy beaches, quintessential luxury

Maldives Holidays

Dotted within the azure-blue seascape of the Indian Ocean, to the south west of India and Sri Lanka, the Maldives’ 26 atolls, with nearly 1,200 islands, are genuinely as picture-postcard perfect as the glossy images promise. They fully live up to their hype as the ultimate ‘kick-back and indulge’ destination; all you need to do is choose your slice of paradise, grab something cool to sip, and unwind with stunning views over the crystal coast. Away from shore, discover an astonishing array of marine life in the Maldives’ clear, warm waters, which offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world.

However, there’s much more to this corner of the world than Insta-ready beaches and honeymoon bliss: there are lived-on islands to discover too, giving you a deeper glimpse into the archipelago’s vibrant local life. Plan in time on local islands to get a taste of the region’s daily rhythms, staying in properties within the heart of the community.

Whether you’re looking for maximum pampering, a small rustic hideaway, a family-friendly vibe or honeymoon seclusion, the Maldives has an idyll for everyone.

Idyllic resorts, underwater adventures, soft sandy beaches, quintessential luxury.

Start planning your journey here...

With every detail finely tuned by our Asia Specialists.

Maldives Highlights

Ultimate island retreats away from the comings and goings of life.
Local islands with their own character and community connection.
Sublime diving and snorkelling – some of the best in the world.
Honeymoon paradise & excellent combination destination.
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Local life

“While the single-resort islands allow you space to indulge, the local islands zoom in on the small communities who live there, each with their own character and traditions.”

Beneath the waves…

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Dive into the Maldives’ underwater world to discover diverse marine life in the warm waters. Take a boat to reefs teeming with life and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of turtles, sharks, and rays in the blue beyond, or snorkel in the shallows from the shore looking out for shoals of colourful fish.

Our expert guides ensure a responsible experience, so you can focus on the beautiful surroundings in the knowledge that safeguarding the ecosystem is the top priority. Find out more about the impact of development on the reefs and the challenges faced by this island nation, along with the inspiring conservation projects working to protect this beautiful region through education and action.

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a school of fish swimming in the ocean

Local connection

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See a deeper side to the Maldives with a stay on a locally lived-on island, combining the archipelago’s fabled desert-island luxury with genuine community connection.

Initiatives to combat overtourism and protect the environment and local infrastructure have allowed local communities to take greater control of their region’s tourism, and build stronger and sustainable connections to travel, meaning visitors can experience the archipelago from a lived cultural perspective. Take a wander through enclaves of brightly-coloured houses, visit pop-up markets and watch fishing boats come in from serene harbour-side cafes. Stop for traditional hedika afternoon tea, and chat over a selection of savoury and sweet short eats served with black tea.

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The Maldives pairs well with…

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We particularly love combining your stay in the Maldives with time in our other Asia destinations.

Connections times are generally short and any combination gives you the chance to include two different cultural explorations on your travels, alongside plenty of those beautiful beaches – win win! The Maldives makes a classic combination with Sri Lanka, offering both contrast and complement, as well as with Bhutan, Nepal and India, and can pair well with Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

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Idyllic beaches
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Under the waves
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Foodie delights
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Local streets
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Fresh fruit

Selective Asia is more than a booking agency...

When a museum sent its exhibits overseas on tour, they learned about this before our departure and steered another to another site. When a hotel that we had booked scheduled a noisy wedding for the period of our occupancy, they were able to identify a fantastic hotel without noise before our arrival. I am not sure that any other tour operator would provide such detail in follow up, even after the tour was booked and paid for.

David Kosh, Vietnam

Holiday of a lifetime

The planning of the holiday and the ongoing support was excellent. The organisation on the ground when we got there was perfect and the local guides were knowledgeable and very personable. We would definitely go with Selective Asia again.

Gillian Baker, Komodo & Borneo

Brilliant! Selective Asia covered every detail.

Travel, hotels, guides, and excursions all flawlessly executed. Selective Asia listened to our requirements and worked with us to refine a great holiday.

Tim Goodman, Thailand

Our trip was outstanding...

We had had several discussions with Andrew before booking the trip and he incorporated all the activities we were interested in, plus recommending other activities that he knew we would be interested in. The whole trip was seamless and managed at a thoroughly professional yet friendly level. I would travel with this company again.

Heather, Japan

A magical trip

Great planning and organisation, coupled with an amazing experience with the local guide and driver. Everything about the holiday was magical.

A great trip

We had an excellent holiday with an itinerary carefully arranged by Dave to suit our preferences. This is the third time we've travelled with Selective Asia and we will happily do so again in the future. We like the fact that they are a small company, passionate about what they do and committed to responsible travel.

Sarah Wilkie, Sri Lanka

Inspiring experiences and places to stay

Lean into the details of your bespoke Asia trip to discover rare experiences, exceptional hotels, local connections, inspiring conservation and much more…

Start planning your journey here...

With every detail finely tuned by our Asia Specialists.

Talk to our expert team...

Every Asia trip we build is finely tuned to fit you, and that all starts with a chat. Let us know what you're hoping to see, feel and experience on your travels, and the places you're dreaming of, and your Asia Specialist will craft a route that includes everything you want and more.

The Selective Asia difference

  • Bespoke journeys tailored just for you
  • Unparalleled local knowledge and expertise
  • Award-winning, nose-to-tail service
  • Responsible travel
  • 24 hour local support
  • Our flexi-booking promise and financial clarity

No ordinary Travel Company

Personally designed, exceptional journeys across Asia that champion a passion for travel with care for community connections and the planet.
Unfollow the herd.

Fully protected and flexible bookings

Selective Asia is a fully ATOL licensed and bonded tour operator, and our flexi-booking promise offers increased protection & peace of mind.,

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