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Maldives

Dream atolls and turquoise waters: free visa on arrival.

Capital
Malé
Currency
Rufiyaa (MVR) — USD widely accepted
Flight from Pékin
From Pékin (varies)
Time difference
GMT+5 (+4h vs Cameroon)

Maldives is among the destinations a Chinese passport reaches without a visa. Dream atolls and turquoise waters: free visa on arrival. Here: visa, real budget, best seasons and what to do — departing from China.

In pictures

Formalities

The visa, step by step

Visa-free
Allowed stay
short stay
Cost
Free
Processing
Immediate on arrival

How to apply

No visa for a short tourist stay: show a valid passport and a return ticket on arrival.

Required documents

  • Passport valid 6 months
  • Return ticket
  • Yellow fever certificate

Good to know

  • •Visa-free tourist stay; confirm the exact allowed duration before departure.
How much it costs

A one-week budget

Backpacker
420 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight
Comfort
2 100 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight

Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé

420 000 FCFA–840 000 FCFA

Flights from Pékin (Air France, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines…), depending on the destination.

Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.

Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)

🏨252 000 FCFA
🍽️84 000 FCFA
🚕36 000 FCFA
🎟️72 000 FCFA
Hostel
24 000 FCFA–54 000 FCFA
Mid-range
90 000 FCFA–210 000 FCFA
Nice hotel
240 000 FCFA–900 000 FCFA
Tailored

Budget simulator

Comfort level
Estimated total budget
840 000 FCFA
Must-sees

What to do there

1

Atoll hopping

Explore the 26 coral atolls; Baa Atoll is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

2

Diving & snorkeling

Reef walls, channels, wrecks: turtles, rays and reef sharks.

3

Private-island resort

An overwater villa or a simple day pass to enjoy Maldivian luxury even on a budget.

4

Maafushi local island

Guesthouse hub: bikini beach, cheap excursions and authentic Maldivian life.

5

Sandbank trips

By boat to a white sandbank for swimming, a picnic and dolphin-spotting.

6

Hanifaru Bay & Malé

Whale sharks and manta rays (Baa Atoll, Jun-Oct); the capital Malé: fish market, mosques.

Itinerary

One week, day by day

  1. D1

    Arrive in Malé: Old Friday Mosque, fish market, overnight in Hulhumalé.

  2. D2

    Speedboat to Maafushi (~45 min), settle in, bikini beach and sunset.

  3. D3

    Snorkeling trip: reefs, turtles, reef sharks.

  4. D4

    Sandbank excursion and dolphin cruise.

  5. D5

    Resort day pass (pool, lunch, overwater photos) or scuba diving.

  6. D6

    Nearby local island (Gulhi/Guraidhoo) or whale shark trip depending on season.

  7. D7

    Return to Malé, last shopping, flight home (departure IMUGA filled in advance).

✓

Travel checklist

A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.

Travel checklist — Maldives

Before you leave

What to pack

Visa sources: en.wikipedia.org

Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.

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