Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Male

Top Things to Do and See

The tiny city of Malé covers just under 10 square kilometres, but is the most densely populated city in the Maldives. Made up of four islands, Malé consists of Malé central island, Velana International Airport (MLE) and two smaller islands. Most visitors disembarking their flights Melbourne to Malé land at Velana International Airport (MLE) before taking a transfer to one of the luxurious hotels the Maldives is known for.

Eco Tour to Villimale

A favourite of travellers headed to the Maldives on flights Melbourne to Male is the promise of taking a guided eco tour from Malé to the peaceful island of Villimale. Here, you can experience what the more urbanised areas of the island would have been like 20 years ago. Learn about the conservation challenges the Maldives faces and how various NGOs are working to protect the area’s ecosystem. End the day with a taste of local food at a cafe before heading back to the capital.

Snorkelling From a Dive Boat

Travellers looking for cheap flights Melbourne to Malé are normally most excited about the island’s incredible snorkelling opportunities. One of the options is to visit two reefs off the coast of Malé on a guided snorkelling trip to get up close and personal with mantas rays, sea turtles and stingrays in the crystal-clear water.

Surfing Tour of the Maldives

Surfers take note: looking for Melbourne to Malé return flights for a surfing trip should be on your bucket list. A surfing tour of the Maldives will allow you to surf the best locations around Malé, learn from the best instructors and experience some of the best things the Maldives has to offer, such as snorkelling with turtles and manta rays and exploring the city of Malé.

The Best Time to Visit

There are really only two seasons in the Maldives - a wet season and a dry season. It’s dry and hot from December to April, and wet and windy from May to November. It’s best to start looking for tickets to Malé from Melbourne departing around December as far in advance as possible. The weather is ideal from December to April, so cheap flights Melbourne to Malé during that period might be hard to come by unless you book in advance.

Top Experiences for Visitors

Stay in a Luxurious Overwater Villa

A quick image search on the internet will bring up hundreds of results of the beautiful five-star overwater villas the Maldives is famous for. There are many resorts to choose from, so your dates when looking for Melbourne to Malé return flights will most likely depend on the availability at your chosen lodge. Upon landing at Velana International Airport (MLE), you can then arrange to be transferred to your resort by boat or seaplane. You then just need to check in to your villa in order for your blissful Maldives holiday to start.

Visit Bikini Beach

Bikini Beach is the only beach on the conservative island of Malé where visitors are free to show some skin and wear bikinis. The shallow waters allow you to walk out into the clear Indian Ocean, soaking up the sun and enjoying the natural beauty around you.

Snorkel Banana Reef

Known as one of the best reefs in the North Atoll, Banana Reef is home to a huge variety of some of the most beautiful and exotic marine life in the world. It’s no wonder so many Australians board cheap flights to Malé from Melbourne to experience this shoreline for themselves. Our tip is to either take a tour from your resort or from Malé island.

Etiquette Tips

Shaking Hands

The locals in Male are relaxed and easy going. The chilled island lifestyle is one of the main reasons book their tickets to Malé from Melbourne. That said, there are one or two simple rules that the locals might not be so relaxed about. For instance, while it’s traditional to shake the hands of men upon greeting, women tend not to shake. Bear this in mind for when you meet a group of people.

Eating

When eating in the presence of locals, it’s not unusual to eat your entire meal without using utensils. Make sure though, that you only eat with your right hand. The left hand is considered unclean in Maldivian culture, so only the right hand is used for eating. Depending on where you’re eating and who you’re enjoying your meal with, there are slightly different rules. We suggest doing a bit of research before booking your Melbourne to Malé flights.

Clothing

Outside of private resorts, modesty should be observed when it comes to your dress. Be sure to throw a couple of extra sarongs or cover-ups into your luggage before catching your flights Melbourne to Malé and use it to cover your legs and shoulders when leaving the resort. Men should wear shirts and women should keep bare skin to a minimum.

Religion

There are so many reasons to visit the Maldives. It’s not just the perfect water and pearly white beaches, but a rich culture that compels people to book cheap flights to Malé from Melbourne. It is important to remember though, that when on a cultural exploration on the island, mosques in Malé and the greater Maldives are reserved for Muslims. Non-Muslim visitors are not permitted to enter, unless you have been specially invited.

How Much Time to Spend in Malé

When booking your tickets from Malé to Melbourne, plan to spend about a week in the Maldives. Unless you’re a scuba diving enthusiast planning to dive specific reefs or a surfer planning a multi-destination surfing trip, a week-long trip to the Maldives should be long enough to relax and unwind before boarding the return leg of your flights Melbourne to Male.