Your Pre-Departure Pack: Everything You Need Before You Go
Maldives Island Impact
Explore island life, protect marine life, and dive into the real Maldives.
Visa
UK Citizens
Please make sure you have read the entry requirements for Maldives on the Gov UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/maldives/entry-requirements
If you are not from the UK, please check entry requirements on your government website.
Flights
Arrival
Your journey starts in Malé. Fly into Velana International Airport (MLE), where you’ll be met by the local team and transferred to your first accommodation in Hulhumalé. From here, everything is organised - so you can settle in, meet your group, and ease into island life.
Departure
Your trip will finish back in Malé. You’ll depart from Velana International Airport (MLE), with your return transfers arranged from your final island. From start to finish, everything is taken care of - so you can focus on the experience, not the logistics.
Important
Please note all flight information must be uploaded at least 8 weeks before your arrival or you will not receive airport pickup.
Insurance
You must have travel insurance to join a FurtherTravel trip. You can request a quote with our insurance partner here. Please upload a photo/screenshot of your insurance confirmation (showing name, dates, policy number etc.) to your Portal.
Emergency numbers
In-Country Emergency Numbers
Police: 119
Ambulance: 102
Fire: 118
Tourist Police: 1478
Int Dialling Code: +960
In case of emergency
In case of emergency, please contact your local guide (number in Whatsapp group chat).
In the unlikely event that you encounter any issues with or any aspect of your tour, (like accomodation or activities etc) please reach out to your local guide first. If your local guide is unable to resolve your issue to your satisfaction, please contact our in-country manager who will be happy to assist you further.
Maldives Office (9-5 Maldives Time): +960 3355590
Out of Hours Contact Maldives: +960 7529101
UK Office
For assistance from another team member, feel free to reach out to our UK office (Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm): +44 (0)161 222 3780
Itinerary
From day to night, your itinerary’s packed with unforgettable moments. Here’s the lowdown.
Accommodation
More Information
Dress Code
Being a hot country, visiting the Maldives is a chance for you to get out those summer clothes and flip flops.
However, it’s also important to remember that it is a muslim country and care needs to be taken in regards to dress code on local islands. It’s acceptable for men to wear t-shirts and shorts. Females should avoid causing offence by maintaining a conservative approach by wearing t shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulder. Shorts should be loose that cover the thigh, down towards the knee. Sundresses with a sarong around the shoulders are also recommended. A number of activities involve connection with the local community and for these we would require you to be suitably dressed.
The islands we visit are more tolerant of guests wearing traditional beachwear, but females should NOT wear bikinis and swimwear in the local community areas. The most important thing to remember is that you are a guest in another country and must be respectful to the local customs.
However each local island does have a private tourist sunbathing area on the beach, where you can wear bikinis. These areas also exist on certain terraces of guest houses. It’s also fine when you are out on private excursions. Your local guides will show these areas to you on arrival to each destination.
It’s likely you’ll swim at these private bikini areas, but also at local public beaches. When swimming from the public beaches you’ll need to wear either a t-shirt or rash guard, shorts or leggings, in order to swim and be respectful.
If you want some fashion advice you can always chat to the Camp Team who are here to help.
Culture
Our guides will advise you on culture throughout the programme, but you will be asked to change if you are wearing any items that would be considered offensive under Maldivian culture. You will be contributing as part of the community during your placement. It is important that you remain respectful and be polite at all times. Although it might not always make sense to you, it is their culture and we must respect it.
Please remember, you are coming to a different continent with its own unique culture. Maldivian people are very laid back and some things might take a while. Some people experience culture shock when they arrive. Come with an open mind and just go with the flow. Sometimes the wifi might be slow, a journey may be long and hot or the hot water might stop.
But just remember, you are not in a western country, things won’t be the same and it’s not the end of the world. You are here to make a difference and to have fun. You get out what you put in, so make the most of it, have as much fun as possible and don’t get wound up by any small issues that may arise.
Packing List
- Decent footwear, suitable for long walking and activities
- Light weight, casual clothing which appropriately cover the body. When in the company of the local communities it is important you dress respectfully, adhering to local customs and religious requirements on dress code. See clothing section below for more details.
- Flip flops
- Swimwear - Rash vests are recommended to avoid sunburn.
- Light rain jacket or small umbrella
- Sun glasses and hat
- Seasickness tablets
- Sun screen – 30+ factor and LOTS of it. (The Maldives is on the equator and even on cloudy days you will burn)
- Insect/Mosquito repellent & antihistamines
- Small medical kit, including rehydration sachets
- Small torch
- Watch with alarm
- Travel adaptor
- Extension cord (if you want to charge multiple appliances)
- Reusable water bottle
- Scanned & printed copy of your passport (in case you lose it)
- A printed copy of your insurance details
- Padlock
- Camera
- An unlocked phone if you want a local sim card
- Small bag, for excursions
- Earplugs for sleeping if needed
- Portable Speaker
- Deck of Cards or other games, books for entertainment during chill time.
*Special Note on Swimwear. Bring bikinis which you can use in allowed areas, which our guides will show you. But for swimming near areas close to the local community, you will need to swim in respectful attire, so shorts and t-shirt or rash vest. So prepare for both.
Sustainability
Protecting Wildlife
- Be a responsible photographer by avoiding handling animals, especially starfish (This can cause them to die as soon as you take them out of the water!)
- Choose ethical experiences by avoiding animal exploitation.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen without harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate.
- Be mindful of food choices by avoiding endangered species and supporting sustainable seafood.
- Buy ethical souvenirs by avoiding items made from animals, like ivory or coral.
Repect and Preserve Local Culture
- Dress modestly and follow local customs, especially at religious sites.
- Respect dining etiquette by learning local food customs.
- Be mindful of body language to avoid unintentional offense.
- Behave respectfully at cultural and sacred sites.
- Minimize impact at heritage sites by visiting off-peak, following guidelines, and not touching artifacts.
- Learn key phrases like "hello" and "thank you" to connect with locals.
Supporting the Local People
- Support local businesses that hire local staff to keep money in the community.
- Bargain respectfully, understanding the value of small amounts to locals.
- Eat locally by dining at restaurants using local ingredients or shopping at markets.
- Buy local handicrafts to support artisans and preserve cultural heritage.
- Stay informed about human welfare issues to make ethical travel choices.
Conserving Natural Environments
- Leave no trace by staying on trails and avoiding environmental damage.
- Conserve resources by supporting eco-friendly businesses and reducing water and energy use.
- Follow regulations to protect the environment, wildlife, and local communities.
- Research sustainability issues in your destination.
- Dispose of waste properly and join cleanup efforts.
- Avoid disposable plastics by using reusable bottles and bags.
More Information
Marine Life Practices
With lots of time spent underwater, it’s important to know about best practices in order to protect coral reefs and its inhabitants.
Feeding of marine life should always be avoided as it’s harmful to the ecosystem. Hand-feeding fish promotes behaviour called conditioning, where the animals learn to associate humans with food and it interferes with their natural feeding cycles. So if you see this going on outside of our tour, don’t get involved.
Please avoid touching corals or marine life. This can also be damaging as many animals, including rays, turtles can become vulnerable to harmful bacteria through contact.
During your impact work, you will learn more throughout the tour through our ongoing presentations and through your visits to our partner project Save The Beach. We are supporting coral conservation and planting in areas where reefs have been impacted around local islands and it is rewarding to see these marine nurseries thriving.
Alcohol
Maldivians, as Muslims are prohibited by law from consuming alcohol. This is why there is a total restriction on it being available on local islands and in Male. Please do not bring alcohol through the airport as it will be confiscated.
There are also a handful of bar boats that serve alcohol that are anchored off a few local islands which you may be able to visit. We cannot however guarantee that these boats will be operating during your stay but we will advise if they are.
FAQs
Should I bring Cash or Card?
The Maldives has a non convertible currency, Maldives Rufiyaa, so you can’t purchase it before you arrive. Bring some GBP or USD with you and this can be exchanged to MVR on arrival. USD is also accepted as legal tender. All major credit cards can be used in most shops and restaurants but on the local islands it’s advisable to have cash. ATMs are located at the airport so you can withdraw cash on arrival. We recommend a travel card such as Revolut or Monzo.
How much money should I bring?
It is difficult to estimate what you will spend during your trip as it will vary from person to person depending on your preferences and how much you splash out, on extra activities, food choices and souvenirs etc. We recommend around £200 per week to cover you for food, drinks and any extra activities you’d like to do. If you’re good at budgeting you can definitely go cheaper than this!
What type of bag should I bring?
Either a large backpack or suitcase is great but we usually find backpacks are a bit easier to carry around especially onto ferries and transport. We would recommend trying to stay under 20kg if you can.
Is there Wifi?
Every hotel will have WIFI as well as most restaurants and cafes. We do recommend having a local SIM card too to ensure you can contact the group anytime throughout the tour.
How do I speak to the group before departure?
We’ll add you into a Whatsapp group around 3 weeks before your departure so you can start chatting and getting to know everyone you’ll be traveling with.