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Surf in the Maldives: Best beaches and prices
Before you surf in the Maldives, we’ll show you some of the top spots, the best seasons, and the costs of this exciting activity.
Before you arrive in the Maldives to surf, we want to show you the best places to do it. This way, you can discover in advance the spots that suit your experience level best. You’ll also learn about several costs you must pay in the country to surf.
We’ll also explain which are the best seasons to go surfing in the Maldives, according to your experience level. Everything depends on thee winds that reach the country during specific months. Do you want to know which time of year works best for beginners?
Stay until the end so you can enjoy a better experience when you travel to the Maldives to surf.
Best Places To Surf In The Maldives
There are several places where you can surf in the Maldives, but some special spots in North Malé Atoll stand out. In these, surfers of every level can enjoy top surfing experiences, according to their skills and knowledge.
We’ll show you some places where beginners can face their first waves in smaller, more controlled conditions. Other spots we’ll mention suit intermediate and advanced surfers much better.
1. Kandooma Island
This private island requires you to stay there to surf without issues, or to buy a surf pass for one day or one week, which doesn’t include accommodation. On this island, you can’t paddle out to surf on your own.
Kandooma suits surfers with solid experience, because the waves reach high speeds and heights. To get there, you must take a speedboat from Malé, the Maldivian capital, and the journey takes around 45 minutes.
One advantage of surfing in this zone lies in the resort’s control over the number of surfers in the water. This control keeps the best sections from becoming overcrowded when the waves turn on.
Also, if you want to try another ocean activity, the island offers snorkelling plans, sightseeing tours and daytime activities.
2. Lohifushi Island
This island holds one of the most famous waves in the Maldives, called Lohis, and advanced surfers return every year. Lohis breaks consistently throughout the swell season, unlike other spots where wave quality varies more.
Because the waves stay regular and reach heights of almost 2 metres, this zone treats beginners kindly. You just walk from the beach to a certain point and start catching smaller waves. However, intermediate and advanced surfers also enjoy it when they position themselves further out to sea.
To reach this island, you must take a speedboat from Malé, which gets you there in 30 minutes. Remember that Lohifushi is also managed by a resort called Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi.
The island often hosts events with well-known surfers, who support campaigns and share tips with newcomers and seasoned riders.
3. Thamburudhoo Island
This island doesn’t have a resort, so you travel there by boat to hunt the best waves or spots. However, you can’t stay overnight on the island, because it doesn’t receive tourists and has absolutely no infrastructure.
Surfers usually book day trips that include transport from Malé, a guide and even snacks during their time on the island. To reach this part of the Maldives, you must take a boat, and the ride usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
It’s also one of the spots most visited by advanced or intermediate surfers who feel confident around reef breaks. Beginners could easily injure themselves on the reef here.
The main characteristic of this surf spot is that the waves break fast and sometimes unpredictably. Sudden changes in water speed create those rapid shifts in the wave.
Connectivity While You Surf In The Maldives
To enjoy reliable, solid and flexible internet, you can choose Holafly’s monthly plans. With them, you get unlimited data or 25 GB, so you can stay in touch with friends and family. You can also share that data with other devices.
These plans also offer global coverage in more than 170 countries, and you don’t need to change your SIM card or pay roaming fees.
If you prefer fewer days of connection because your island stay is short, you can choose the unlimited data from the eSIM for the Maldives. This way, you only pay for the days you really need.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
Recommended Seasons For Surfing In The Maldives
Choosing the best surfing season depends mainly on you. Your level in this sport determines the most suitable time of year. Here, we’ll explain how the surf seasons in the Maldives actually work:
- Beginner surfers: If you’re just starting out, the best months run from December to February. During these months, waves usually reach a maximum of 1 metre. The overall conditions feel ideal for learning and improving your technique.
- Intermediate surfers: The best time arrives when the winds start to hit the atoll zones with more strength. In this case, you should bring your full surf kit in March and April or in November. During these months, the winds lose some force but still create waves of up to 1,5 metres.
- Experienced surfers: You can enjoy waves of up to 3 metres in the Maldives between May and October. During these months, the climate turns more humid, and the swells stay consistent thanks to the strong winds entering the atolls.
Costs Of Surfing In The Maldives
Surfing in the Maldives comes with a high price tag, because of several conditions linked to the sport. You need to pay for transfers to the main surf spots, transport for your gear from your home country and accommodation in resorts. Let’s break down these costs in detail:
- Flight to the Maldives: The price of flights depends on your country of origin. For example, return flights from America or Europe to the Maldives usually cost between €630 ($700) and €1,350 ($1,500).
- Transport for fins, board and leashes: This cost varies according to your airline, but on average you’ll pay between €90 ($100) and €180 ($200).
- Resort accommodation: Expect to pay between €270 ($300) and €720 ($800) per night. This option is the most expensive because it offers luxury stays for surfers and usually includes at least one daily meal and boat trips to top surf zones.
- Surfhouse accommodation: These guesthouses cater especially to surfers. They offer transfers to surf spots within the country and storage for your board and belongings. Prices range between €63 ($70) and €135 ($150) per night, depending on the services they provide.
- Surf tour: If you want a half-day tour, prices usually sit between €45 ($50) and €90 ($100).A full day often costs between €90 ($100) and €180 ($200). In both cases, if you want to hire a guide, which we strongly recommend when you’re new to the country, the price can rise by about €63 ($70).
- Transfers to surf spots: A shared boat transfer normally costs between €27 ($30) and €90 ($100).
- Food: If you buy your own groceries to cook, you’ll probably spend between €14 ($15) and €27 ($30) per day. If you prefer restaurant service in one of the resorts, you’ll pay between €45 ($50) and €90 ($100) per day.
How To Start Surfing In The Maldives
Like any sport with a significant level of risk, you should consider several safety elements before you start surfing in the Maldives.
Besides safety measures, you also need tools to prevent board damage, local knowledge of each spot and support from a guide. We’ll list each point so you can prepare everything before you travel to the Maldives:
- Identify the best season for beginners: In the Maldives, you can start learning between December and February. During this period, the winds stay softer and create waves of up to 1 metre.
- Know the location where you’ll surf: It’s important to identify the most suitable beginner spots in advance. This helps you plan transfers to the right island.
- Hire a guide: A guide doesn’t count as an expense but as an investment. You can rely on them for important decisions, like whether a spot offers safe conditions for you.
- Bring your own equipment: You won’t find many options in the Maldives for renting a quality board that suits beginners. So, it’s best to bring your own board, fins, leashes and essential tools.
- Wear the right clothing: Water temperatures in the Maldives stay relatively warm. You can surf in a full rash vest that covers your arms, because the sun can cause serious burns.
- Book a course: Learning with local instructors can make your experience richer. You can even progress to the next level more easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time for surfing in the Maldives changes according to your surfer profile. For experienced surfers, the top months run from May to October, because the winds blow stronger. However, if you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer, you’ll prefer the months just before or after the strongest winds, such as April, late October and all of November.
Intermediate and advanced surfers usually face lower risk, because they handle different situations more confidently and understand the hazards better. For beginners, the risk feels medium to high, especially if they choose southern atolls, where the winds and swells hit harder.
Besides surfing, you can try several water sports in the Maldives. The most popular ones include flyboarding, water skiing and kneeboarding.
First, you should identify your surfing level, so you can choose the most suitable spot for you. Then, it’s important to bring all your equipment, including board, fins and leashes, because the islands don’t always offer a wide range of quality surf products. You should also pack suitable clothing that protects you from the sun.
The Maldives ranks among the most expensive destinations for surfing. Accommodation prices and everything involved in finding good surf spots, plus hiring a boat or catamaran to move between islands, all push the total cost up.
