Atolls in the middle of the ocean: you can stay at a resort, or in guesthouses on local islands by the same reefs.
Russian passport: visa-free · 30 daysprices ×1.7 vs Russia
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kaafu Atoll, Maldives
Local Islands of the Maldives
Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND
Since 2009 you can stay in the Maldives not only on resort islands but also in guesthouses on local islands, such as Maafushi. It costs several times less, and the sea and reefs are the same.
Local islands have their own rules: modest clothing, separate “tourist beaches” for swimming in swimwear, and no alcohol.
Getting there
Fly to Malé, then a speedboat or ferry — from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Fees and tickets
The green tax is $6 a night in guesthouses with up to 50 rooms and $12 in larger hotels.
Photo: Ahmed Abdul Rahman · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Baa Atoll, Maldives
Hanifaru and Baa Atoll
Access 2/5 · fairly easyJFMAMJJASOND
Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During the south-west monsoon, plankton gathers in Hanifaru Bay, and manta rays follow it — sometimes more than a hundred at once — along with whale sharks.
The bay is a protected area: the atoll authorities set the rules for visits, so check them with a local operator before the trip.
Getting there
Seaplane or domestic flight from Malé to Baa Atoll, then a boat.
Fuvahmulah is a lone island close to the equator with no lagoon around it: deep ocean begins right at the shore. That is why big animals come here — tiger and hammerhead sharks, manta rays and sometimes whales.
On the island itself are freshwater lakes, wetlands and quiet beaches. There are few tourists.
Getting there
A domestic flight from Malé takes just over an hour; on the island, get around by bicycle or taxi.
Fees and tickets
The green tax is $6 or $12 a night, depending on the hotel.
Why it’s hard
A remote island with infrequent flights and ocean currents. Dives with big sharks are for experienced, certified divers.
Maldives: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.
Entry
Russian citizens: visa-free — on arrival you get a free 30-day tourist permit, like everyone else. Under the 2019 agreement between Russia and the Maldives, the visa-free stay is up to 90 days (the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department).
You need a paid accommodation booking, a return ticket and funds for the trip. The IMUGA declaration is filled in online no earlier than 96 hours before arrival.
Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.
prices ×1.7 vs Russia · price level 0.62 (US = 1), 2025
Prices are 1.7 times higher than in Russia, and resorts cost more still. Local islands are cheaper. Mandatory: a green tax of $6–12 a night and a $50 departure fee (usually included in the ticket).
The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.
