You have an upcoming flight to the Maldives and you’re ready to pack for a memorable trip.
Our travel style is the carry on backpack or rolling luggage, also known as the one bag travel. For this trip, we used a backpack and washed our clothes in the sink to pack lighter.
So, we’ll take this packing list to another level and share what to pack for a 1 week Maldives trip in a carry on luggage, bag, or backpack.
We spent 8 days/7 nights in the Maldives and covered three islands – Male, Maafushi, and Fulidhoo. Since we took Air Asia, a low budget carrier from Malaysia, they have a maximum weight of 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds. We didn’t want to pay for a check in luggage, so we limited the amount of stuff to bring on the trip.
Packing for our trip was very easy as we used packing cubes to organize everything. Plus, we didn’t need to worry about dragging a large luggage onboard ferries and speedboats or up and down the hotel stairs.
Continue reading on what we recommend that you bring.
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We just brought our two backpacks, located in the second row of seats
Recommended Things to Pack for the Maldives
2-3 T-shirts, technical T-shirts/long-sleeve shirts, or dresses
We recommend at least 2-3 shirts to wear.
We brought technical T-shirts and technical long sleeves so we could swim with them at the local beaches. After a quick wash in the sink, they dried in half a day.
If you prefer to wear dresses, go for it. Wear whatever makes you comfortable!
1-2 pairs of shorts or board shorts
These could double up as casual wear or wearing them in the ocean.
I wear Patagonia Women’s Barely Baggie Shorts in the ocean and around town. They’re light, dry very fast, and have fun colors and designs. The inseam is 2.5 inches, so they may be short for some people.
But there are Men and Women’s Baggie Shorts with inseam lengths of 5 inches and 7 inches.
1-2 pairs of long pants
We like to wear long pants for the plane ride and at night to prevent or deter mosquito and insect bites. It’s not foolproof as mosquitos and insects can go through all clothing materials.
We’ve been wearing joggers from Uniqlo and Patagonia and love the versatility and comfortability.
I wear Patagonia Happy Hike Studio Pants. The wide waistband is comfy and doesn’t leave any indentation marks on the belly, especially after a big meal.
We don’t recommend Jeans as they’re too heavy and thick for the humid weather.
A light jacket
You may need a light jacket for the plane or speedboat rides.
Uniqlo has thin, lightweight jackets such as the Airism UV Protection Hoodie. The material is made out of recycled polyester, spandex, and cupro, and also has UV protection. It comes in various colors and is an affordable price of $40.
Undergarments – A few pairs of underwear and bras
We recommend technical underwear and bras so you can wash them daily and have them dry by the next morning.
We wear ExOfficio undergarments and have worn these for years. I usually bring at least 2 bikini briefs and 1 bralette and wash them daily during the trip. They’re very comfortable and worth buying.
Check out the ExOfficio Women Bikini Brief here.
Click here for ExOfficio Women Bralette here.
Check out the ExOfficio Men Brief here.
1 pair of flip flops or sandals
Bring a pair of sandals or flip flops is a must for the beaches and showering. You never know what bacteria or other gross things may lurk at the bottom of the hotel showers, so protect your feet.
1 pair of walking shoes
1-2 pairs of socks
We use merino wool socks, such as Smartwool, as they absorb sweat and are breathable. They’re also quick to dry.
Check out pricing for Smartwool Women Cushion Ankle Socks here.
Click for Smartwool Men Cushion Ankle Socks here.
2 swimsuits or swim trunks
It’s recommended to have at least two swimsuits, so you can wash and alternate every other day.
A Sun Hat
The sun has intense rays so any sun hat that protects the face, neck, and ears is recommended. If you go kayaking, you’ll want to have coverage for the head.
We have a hat similar to this one sold on Amazon or this one and always get comments on how awesome it looks.
I wore my favorite hat when seeing the sting rays on Fulidhoo Island
A pair of sunglasses
Similar to the hat recommendation above, any sunglasses will be helpful to have. The water reflection and sun are strong so protect your eyes!
I’m a fan of the Oakley Radar EV sunglasses and wear them every day. Check out these options here.
Sunscreen
This is a must bring! Whether you use a bottle or spray sunscreen, you’ll need a lot of these. Don’t wait to buy them on the islands as the price will be more expensive and limited with choices.
We recommend using a sunscreen that is safe for the reefs and ocean. Check out this option here on Amazon.
If we’re not in the water, then we like to use either of these – Nivea Sun Protect, Neutrogena Mineral Sunscreen, or Biore Sunscreen.
Lip balm with SPF
Mosquito/Insect repellent
The mosquitoes are hungry in the Maldives. I received mosquito bites every day on the trip. I still have scars from some of the bites. Check out this natural mosquito repellent to bring with you.
I used Tiger Balm as a more natural insect repellent, but it wasn’t as strong as I’d expected to prevent bites. But we lathered the Tiger Balm to lessen the itchiness.
First aid kit
Bandaids, gauze, antibacterial ointment, tweezers, motion sickness medication, anything that you may need for your trip
Reusable water bottle
Let’s reduce the single waste plastic on the islands. While there are recycling bins, much of the garbage is burned.
We like to use double-walled reusable water bottles and use this one (available on Amazon). These help keep hot and cold beverages warm for 8 to 12 hours. We stayed at hotels that provided free water refills or a water dispenser.
Umbrella
We went to the Maldives at the end of April to early May and encountered rain on the first two days. It didn’t rain all day long, but it did last for a few hours at a time. We experienced an intense rainstorm during dinner on the beach and the electricity went out a few times!
So, it’s recommended to have a small umbrella on hand. We bought umbrellas from Costco and have used them for years. Or, you can consider this option.
Besides the rain, the umbrella can be used to block the sun. I like to use the umbrella to cover my shoulders and heads
Hand fan or paper fan
It’s hot and humid in the Maldives, so a rechargable hand fan or paper fan will help when you’re outside or in a stuffy place. I had a foldable paper fan from a wedding and used that throughout the trip.
Personal toiletries under 100mL (3 oz) – shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face wash, floss, toothpaste, skincare, makeup, etc
Ear Plugs
You may need them if you’re sensitive to noise.
Underwater camera + charger
We recommend having an underwater camera so you can capture the most unbelievable moments on your snorkeling and diving excursions.
We used GoPro in the past but wanted to try the DJI Osmo Action 4. Click here to learn more. So we bought one with a Diving combo and enjoyed the footage and videos that it took.
We took two tours from Maafushi – 1) Seeing whale sharks and manta rays, and 2) Seeing nurse sharks and a shipwreck.
If we didn’t have our own camera, the tour guides used GoPro or DJI underwater cameras. They ensured that everyone received photos and videos and provided them for free. It’s a nice perk for taking the tours.
This tour agency, iCom Tours, took this photo of me with a GoPro camera. Photo credit: iCom Tours
Phone or Camera + charger
Travel adapter
We brought a universal travel adapter but didn’t need it. Our hotels provide wall chargers that accept U.S. plugs.
Here is a travel adapter to consider getting on Amazon.
Passport
Check the basic requirements to enter the Maldives here.
Copies of Flight information & Hotels (either on phone or paper copies)
Screenshot of the IMUGA on your phone
When entering and departing the Maldives, everyone needs to complete an IMUGA Traveler Declaration 96 hours before the flight. It’s free to use and only takes 5 minutes to complete.
Click here to complete the declaration.
Once you’re done, save a screenshot of your completed form. You may need to show it before boarding the flight to Maldives.
Credit card, ATM card, and U.S. dollars
If using a credit card or an ATM card to receive Maldivian Rufiyaa, notify your bank in advance that you’ll be traveling to the Maldives.
Also, bring clean, crispy U.S. dollars to the Maldives. U.S. dollars are widely accepted here. You’ll need small bills such as $1, $5, and $10 for public ferries and smaller purchases, and $50 and $100 can be used for accommodations, restaurants, excursions, etc.
*One of our travel tips is to use U.S. dollars only and not exchange to Maldivian Rufiyaa. Or just charge everything with a credit card.
Extra Ziploc/zipper storage baggies
Here are Optional Things to Bring
Water shoes
Snorkel & fins
If you’re taking a snorkeling day trip, the tour group will most likely give you a snorkel and fins to borrow. But you can use your own if you prefer to not share.
We brought our own sets of snorkels but just used the ones provided by the tour group.
Diving gear
You can rent gear if you want to cut down on the luggage weight.
Beach towel
You can ask your accommodation if they provide beach towels to guests.
Dry bag
We bought one from Decathalon but didn’t use it for our trip. Oops.
Laundry Detergent Sheets
These will be helpful when handwashing clothes in the sink. But you can also use hand soap that your accommodation provides.
Final Thoughts
Packing light with one backpack or bag is doable for a 1 week trip in the Maldives.
Due to the country’s humid weather and island breeze, you just need comfortable, lightweight clothing, and swimwear. We brought some things that we didn’t need such as the snorkel and dry bag.
Hope this post has helped you think about what to bring on your next Maldives trip.
Check out our other Maldives travel blogs for inspiration:
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Featured photo & pin graphic icon credit: vesvocrea from Vesvostd, Canva
