Holidays in the Maldives (Maldives): tours from Almaty from 1,054,000 ₸

A holiday in the Maldives is a year-round destination with two distinct seasons. The dry season lasts from November to April: clear days, calm sea, the best underwater visibility. From May to October there are rains and winds, but prices for tours are noticeably lower. The flight from Almaty takes from ten to sixteen hours with a stopover in Dubai, Doha or Istanbul.

Visa, documents and entry rules for Kazakhstanis

A trip to the Maldives begins with a simple rule: the tourist completes most of the formalities upon arrival. Below is what a resident of Almaty needs to know before departure.

What is needed to cross the border

A citizen of Kazakhstan needs only a valid passport for a trip to the Maldives. The arrival stamp in the Maldives is placed free of charge right at Male airport. The passport validity is counted at the moment of return home. A migration card is handed out on board the plane, it is filled in before landing. Confirmation of the hotel booking for all nights of the trip is prepared in advance and kept on the phone or as a printout. The return ticket is also asked for at the counter. There are no direct flights from Almaty to the Maldives, so taking into account a stopover in Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, the journey takes from ten to sixteen hours. There is no time difference with Almaty: the Maldives, like Kazakhstan, is on UTC+5 all year round.

Medical insurance and booking confirmation

Insurance for a trip to the Maldives is officially not on the list of mandatory papers. But tours to the Maldives with a stopover through third countries are more convenient to take with a policy in hand. It is arranged separately by those who plan diving: without medical clearance, dives are not conducted. The hotel booking must cover every night of the holiday. If part of the holiday takes place on a guest island and part at a resort, both bookings will be useful. Copies of documents are saved on the phone and in email. That way at the counter in Male you won't have to look for papers in the suitcase.

Money, communications and everyday expenses

The financial side of a holiday in the Maldives is arranged more simply than it seems: dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Let's sort out cash, cards and communications.

Cash, cards and resort fees

The main currency of payment in the Maldives is the US dollar. The local rufiyaa is in circulation, but there is no need to exchange it in advance in Almaty. Cards of Kazakh banks are not accepted everywhere: on guest islands and in small cafes it is safer to have cash. Resort fees and taxes are often not included in the price of accommodation and are paid separately upon check-out from the hotel. Small banknotes will be useful for tips and purchases in local shops. Large sums are better not to carry around the island.

Mobile communications and internet on the atolls

Communications in the Maldives depend on where exactly the holiday takes place. At resorts, internet is usually included in the accommodation and works in the room and by the pool. On guest islands the speed is more modest, and on the open sea the signal disappears. A local SIM card is bought in Male, at the airport or in the city. Roaming of Kazakh operators on the islands is expensive, so it is turned off immediately after landing. Maps and films downloaded in advance help on the road between the atolls.

How to prepare for a trip from Almaty?

Packing for the journey from Almaty takes more time than the flight itself. Let's sort out the seasonality and the contents of the suitcase.

Seasonality and choosing the time for a tour

It is more convenient to plan a trip to the Maldives starting from the dry season. It lasts from November to April and gives clear days and a calm sea. From May to October rains and winds come, but prices for tours are noticeably lower. For diving and snorkelling, the transparency of the water is important, and it is higher in the dry months. Newlyweds more often choose winter, families with children — school holidays. Tickets from Almaty for peak dates are snapped up several months in advance. Booking a hotel in advance is also worth it because popular atolls fill up first.

What to put in the suitcase and first aid kit

When packing for the Maldives, it is worth remembering the heat and the sun. Light clothing made of natural fabrics, two swimsuits and sandals are put in the suitcase. For visiting mosques and local villages, closed clothing with long sleeves is needed. Sunscreens are taken with a reef-safe label: ordinary creams with oxybenzone are banned in some protected lagoons. Remedies for sunburn, bites and stomach upset are added to the first aid kit. When flying between atolls by seaplane, luggage is limited by weight, usually about twenty kilograms per person plus hand luggage. Weather can delay the departure of a seaplane or boat, so the return flight to Almaty is planned with a margin of a day.

Island cuisine and local traditions

Maldivian cuisine is built around fish, rice and coconut. A holiday on the islands is also an introduction to the local way of life.

What to try from Maldivian dishes

Maldivian cuisine begins with tuna: it is served with rice, in curry and as dried flakes. Coconut curry is cooked with fish, chicken or vegetables and eaten with rice. Roshi flatbreads are similar to thin pancakes and replace bread. Spicy snacks made of tuna, coconut and onion are served with tea. Pork and products with it are practically not found in the Maldives. Fresh fruits and juices on guest islands are cheaper than at resorts. Alcohol on guest islands is prohibited, spirits are available only on the territory of private resorts and in specially designated areas.

Rules of conduct and dress code

Respect for local traditions makes a stay in the Maldives calmer and more enjoyable. Swimsuits are appropriate only on resort beaches and in pools. In villages and on public beaches of guest islands, people swim in covered clothing. To visit mosques, long trousers or a skirt and a covered head are required. It is better to photograph locals with their consent. During Ramadan on guest islands, people do not eat or drink on the street during daylight hours. Public beaches on guest islands are divided into zones for tourists and for locals.

What to do on and under the water?

The sea is the main reason a tourist chooses the Maldives. Let's talk about snorkeling, diving and holiday formats.

Snorkeling, diving and sea trips

Snorkeling is available on almost any atoll directly from the shore. Masks and snorkels are provided at resorts, but bringing your own is more convenient. Diving in the Maldives requires a medical certificate of fitness. A PADI certificate obtained in Almaty will save you from taking a course on site. Sea trips to reefs and sandbanks are booked at reception or with local boatmen. Evening fishing with local fishermen ends with dinner from your own catch. Sea trips to see dolphins are arranged at the end of the day, when the animals come closer to the shore.

Romantic and family formats

The Maldives is a destination for honeymoons and family holidays. Many hotels offer special packages for couples and newlyweds. Dinner on the sand, a photo shoot and a spa for two are included in such programs. Resorts with a kids' club and a shallow lagoon are suitable for families with children. A nanny and a children's menu are not available everywhere, so this point is clarified in advance. For active couples, islands with water sports and excursions to local villages are suitable.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — Maldives Immigration, https://www.immigration.gov.mv/visa/tourist-visa. The information on this page was verified on 14.09.2026.

In short

• A holiday in the Maldives begins with a flight from Almaty with a connection in Dubai, Doha or Istanbul.
• There is no time difference with Almaty: the Maldives, like Kazakhstan, is on UTC+5 all year round.
• The arrival stamp is placed free of charge at Male airport.