Skip to main content
Elitech TravelsHolidays · Visas · Forex
CallWhatsAppVideo callFree quote
Diamonds Thudufushi Beach & Water Villas, a luxury resort on Thudufushi , Ari Atoll , Maldives .

Packing list

Maldives Honeymoon Packing List: What to Carry (and What to Leave Behind)

Maldives honeymoon packing list for Indian couples: swimwear, reef-safe sun care, seaplane baggage limits, the IMUGA form and items customs seize at Malé.

Fact-checked 2 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
43 items6 categories
Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

Pack light: swimwear, rash guards, reef-safe SPF 50, kaftans and a dressy outfit each for dinners, plus flip-flops and reef shoes. File the IMUGA traveller declaration within 96 hours of arrival and carry your resort confirmation. Keep each bag near 20 kg for seaplane limits, and never pack alcohol or pork, because customs at Malé airport confiscates both.

Documents & money

  • Passport with six months' validity — The safe rule airlines follow at check-in.
  • Confirmed resort booking — The free 30-day visa on arrival needs it, along with a return ticket.
  • IMUGA traveller declaration — File it online within 96 hours before arrival and again before departure; screenshot the QR.
  • Return flight ticket
  • US dollars in small notes — For tips and local-island purchases; resorts bill in USD.
  • Credit card with a low forex mark-up — Resort bills are settled at checkout.
  • Marriage certificate — Some resorts ask for one, issued within the past 6–12 months, before giving honeymoon extras.
  • Travel insurance covering water sports — Check that snorkelling and diving are included.

Clothing

  • Swimwear, three sets each
  • Kaftans and beach cover-ups
  • Linen shirts, shorts and sundresses
  • Dinner outfits — A few resort restaurants ask men for long trousers and closed shoes at dinner.
  • Modest outfit for Malé and local islands — Cover shoulders and knees; bikinis only on designated beaches.
  • Light layer for air-conditioning and the seaplane
  • Sun hat and sunglasses
  • Outfits for a photo shoot — Plain, light colours photograph best against the lagoon.

Beach & water gear

  • Reef shoes — Coral and sea urchins hide in lagoon shallows.
  • Long-sleeved rash guards — Sun protection for long snorkelling sessions.
  • Your own snorkel mask (optional) — Most resorts lend snorkel sets free; bring a mask only if fit matters to you.
  • Anti-fog spray for masks
  • Underwater phone pouch or action camera
  • Dry bag — For speedboat excursions and sandbank picnics.
  • Flip-flops — Many resorts are no-shoes islands.

Health & sun care

  • Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 — Resort shops often charge USD 30 or more a bottle.
  • Aloe vera or after-sun gel
  • Seasickness tablets — Speedboat transfers can be choppy.
  • Prescription medicines with the prescription
  • Paracetamol, antacids and ORS
  • Swimmer's ear drops — On a doctor's advice, if you snorkel every day.
  • Mosquito repellent — Useful in the evenings and on local islands.
  • Personal and contraceptive supplies — Resort shops stock little and charge a lot.

Electronics

  • Universal adapter — Sockets vary, with UK-style Type G common; many resorts have universal sockets.
  • Power bank — Cabin baggage only, including on seaplanes.
  • Waterproof action camera
  • Phone with offline playlists and films — Resort Wi-Fi can be slow in water villas.
  • Small portable speaker
  • Drone (only with permission) — Drones need prior approval from the aviation authority and your resort.

Customs & what to leave behind

  • Leave behind: alcohol — A prohibited import, confiscated at Malé, including duty-free bought in transit.
  • Leave behind: pork products — Also a prohibited import.
  • Leave behind: idols for worship — Listed among prohibited imports by Maldives customs.
  • Packaged vegetarian snacks — Resorts serve Indian and vegetarian food, but snacks help between meals and on transfers.
  • Celebration decor — Ask the resort to arrange cakes and decorations instead of packing them.
  • Leave behind: expensive jewellery — Room safes are small, and you'll spend most days in swimwear.

Seaplane and domestic baggage limits

Most resorts are reached by seaplane or domestic flight from Malé, and those carry tighter limits than your international ticket. Seaplane operators typically allow about 20 kg of checked baggage and 5 kg of hand baggage per person and charge per kilo above that; check with your resort. Two soft 20 kg bags fit a seaplane hold more easily than one 28-inch hard case. Flights from India to Malé usually include 20–30 kg; check your fare.

What resorts already provide

You don't need to pack beach towels, toiletries, bathrobes, umbrellas or, at most resorts, snorkel sets. Bring your own mask if fit matters to you, plus reef shoes, rash guards and reef-safe sunscreen, which often costs USD 30 or more in resort shops.

Customs rules at Malé

Alcohol and pork products are prohibited imports and are confiscated at the airport, including duty-free bottles bought in transit. Idols for worship are also on the prohibited list. Resorts sell alcohol legally on their own islands.

Dress codes

Anything goes inside a resort. On inhabited local islands and in Malé, cover shoulders and knees, and keep bikinis to designated bikini beaches.

Documents

Visa on arrival is free for 30 days with a confirmed resort booking and return ticket. File the IMUGA traveller declaration online within 96 hours before arrival and again before departure.

Read the Maldives visa guide, choose your honeymoon month, add travel insurance that covers water sports, and see our other packing lists.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take alcohol to the Maldives?
No. Alcohol is a prohibited import, and customs at Malé airport confiscates it, including sealed duty-free bottles bought in transit. Resorts hold licences to serve alcohol on their own islands, so you can drink there, but not on inhabited local islands. Pork products are also prohibited imports.
What is the seaplane baggage limit in the Maldives?
Seaplane operators typically allow about 20 kg of checked baggage plus 5 kg of hand baggage per person, with charges for each extra kilo, though limits vary by operator and resort. Soft bags are easier to load than large hard cases. Ask your resort for the exact allowance before you pack.
What should I wear on a local island in the Maldives?
Cover your shoulders and knees in villages, cafés and shops, because the Maldives is a Muslim country and local islands follow its customs. Swimwear is allowed only on designated bikini beaches. Inside resorts, normal beachwear is fine almost everywhere, though some restaurants ask for smart-casual clothes at dinner.
Do I need to fill in the IMUGA form for the Maldives?
Yes. Every traveller must submit the IMUGA traveller declaration online within 96 hours before arriving in the Maldives, and again within 96 hours before departure. It is free on the official immigration portal. Save the QR code and keep a screenshot, because airlines may ask for it at check-in.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.