Water so clear the boats look like they are floating on air, and a beach that stays warm after dark.
Gulf Air flies from London Gatwick to Malé from £495 return, with a stop in Bahrain each way. The dates fall in April 2027, at the end of the dry season.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London Gatwick, United Kingdom
- To: Malé, Maldives
- Airline: Gulf Air
- Stops: 1 stop in Bahrain
- Price: £495 return
- When: April 2027
Example dates:
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You leave Gatwick at 10:40, stop for 4h15 in Bahrain and land in Malé at 06:30 the next morning. The flight home leaves at 19:25, stops for 3h30 in Bahrain and lands at Gatwick at 06:55 the next morning. Kayak shows a cabin bag and a checked bag on the Economy Light fare. From Manchester the same airline costs £561 or more.
💰 How far does your money go?
The Maldives are only expensive in the resorts. On local islands like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo, a plate of fish curry with roshi costs £4-5, about the price of a Pret sandwich, and Maldivian short eats are about 25p each. The public ferry from Malé costs £2-3, less than a Zone 1 Tube fare. Alcohol is only served at resorts and on safari boats.
☀️ The Weather
April is hot and mostly dry, with highs of 31-32°C and a sea at around 29°C. It is the end of the dry season, so the odd shower is possible later in the month, but most days stay long and sunny.
🏨 Where to Stay
Stay on a local island to keep costs down, or splurge on a resort.
Canopus Retreat Thulusdhoo · 8.6/10 · From £70/night
A small guesthouse on a surf island, about 30 minutes by speedboat from the airport.
Seaside Dhigurah · 9.6/10 · From £74/night
On the long sandbank of Dhigurah, where whale sharks swim all year round.
Niva Kurumba Maldives · 9.1/10 · From £1,059/night
A classic resort just 10 minutes by boat from the airport, with water villas and seven restaurants.
🎯 What to Do
The Maldives are all about the water.
Nurse sharks and sandbank snorkelling: Snorkel with nurse sharks and stingrays, then relax on a sandbank in the middle of the ocean.
Dolphin cruise: A sunset boat trip from Malé or Hulhumalé to watch spinner dolphins.
Coral garden and turtles: A boat trip from Maafushi to snorkel over coral reefs where sea turtles feed.
Malé city tour: The capital in a few hours: the fish market, the Old Friday Mosque and the colourful streets.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
From Malé, the islands are reached by ferry, speedboat or seaplane.
Maafushi: The most popular local island, with guesthouses and a bikini beach, about 1h30 by public ferry.
Dhigurah: Whale sharks and a 3 km sandbank, about 1h30 by speedboat.
Colombo: Sri Lanka's capital, about 1h20 by air, for a two-country trip. Search flights
From £495 return, London to the Maldives at the end of the dry season. Check your dates soon.
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