Maldives from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi & Hyderabad: Which City Gets the Best Deal?

The Maldives cost from Mumbai is one of the first things Indian couples check when planning a honeymoon. Flights, resort category, and transfer type all affect the final number. This article breaks down the actual cost difference across four departure cities — Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad — so you can see exactly where the savings are before you book. How much does a Maldives trip cost from Mumbai? A 5-night Maldives trip from Mumbai costs roughly INR 80,000 to INR 1,60,000 per couple in shoulder season. Return airfare on IndiGo or Air India from BOM runs INR 18,000 to INR 35,000 per person. Resort and transfer costs make up the larger share of the total. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is the busiest Indian departure point for Malé. IndiGo (6E) operates direct BOM–MLE flights with base fares starting around INR 18,000 return per person in shoulder season. Air India (AI) also flies direct from BOM and includes checked baggage in the ticket price. On IndiGo, a 20 kg checked bag add-on costs roughly INR 1,500–2,500 per sector. Couples carrying resort luggage should factor this in when comparing fares. The apparent fare gap between IndiGo and Air India narrows once baggage fees are added. A standard 5-night package from Mumbai — covering return flights, speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport (MLE), and a 4-star water villa with daily breakfast — typically falls between INR 80,000 and INR 1,20,000 per couple in shoulder season. Peak season (December to April) pushes that range to INR 1,20,000–1,60,000 per couple or higher. The Maldives cost from Mumbai stays competitive because BOM has multiple daily direct flights to MLE. More flight options mean more fare competition, which keeps base prices lower than connecting-city departures. For a full breakdown of what these packages include, see our guide to Maldives honeymoon packages from India . How does the Maldives cost from Bangalore compare to Mumbai? A 5-night Maldives trip from Bangalore costs INR 90,000 to INR 1,40,000 per couple in shoulder season. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has fewer direct MLE flights than BOM, which reduces fare competition and adds roughly INR 5,000 to INR 12,000 per person to the airfare. IndiGo and Air India both operate BLR–MLE routes, but frequency is lower than Mumbai. Fewer seats means fares spike faster during school holidays and long weekends. Booking 60 to 90 days ahead is more important from Bangalore than from Mumbai. Some BLR departures route via Colombo or Chennai, adding 2 to 4 hours of travel time. Couples should confirm whether their ticket is a direct flight or a technical stopover before booking. A connecting itinerary also increases the risk of missed transfers at MLE. Speedboat and seaplane transfer costs from MLE are identical regardless of Indian departure city. The resort rate is also the same. The entire cost difference between cities sits in the airfare alone. See our article on Maldives visa rules for Indian passport holders to confirm entry requirements before you book any departure city. Which Indian city has the cheapest flights to the Maldives? Mumbai consistently offers the lowest return airfare to Malé among the four major Indian departure cities. Delhi and Hyderabad typically cost INR 8,000 to INR 18,000 more per person return because both cities rely on connecting flights or less frequent direct services to MLE. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) has direct MLE flights, but frequency is lower than BOM. Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) has the fewest direct MLE options of the four cities. HYD travellers often connect via Mumbai or Colombo, adding both cost and travel time. Departure City (Airport Code) Typical Return Airfare per Person (Shoulder Season) Direct Flights to MLE Available Estimated 5-Night Package per Couple (4-Star, Shoulder Season) Mumbai (BOM) INR 18,000 – INR 28,000 Yes — multiple daily INR 80,000 – INR 1,20,000 Bangalore (BLR) INR 22,000 – INR 35,000 Yes — limited frequency INR 90,000 – INR 1,40,000 Delhi (DEL) INR 24,000 – INR 38,000 Yes — limited frequency INR 95,000 – INR 1,50,000 Hyderabad (HYD) INR 26,000 – INR 42,000 Rarely — usually connecting INR 1,00,000 – INR 1,60,000 These ranges assume a 4-star water villa with daily breakfast and a speedboat transfer. Seaplane transfers add INR 25,000 to INR 40,000 per couple on top of these figures. The seaplane cost is the same regardless of which Indian city you depart from. According to the Maldives Immigration data cited by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, India was the single largest source market for the Maldives in 2023, with over 2 lakh Indian arrivals recorded in the first half of the year alone. If you are comparing resort categories alongside departure cities, our guide to water villa vs beach villa in the Maldives explains the price difference in detail. When is the cheapest time to book a Maldives trip from India? The cheapest period to travel to the Maldives from any Indian city is May to July, which falls in the Maldivian wet season. Airfares and resort rates both drop by 20 to 35 percent compared to the December–April peak window. Rain is possible but rarely disrupts a full day. Shoulder season — roughly August to November — offers a middle ground. Fares are lower than peak but higher than the May–July trough. Most resorts run at 60 to 70 percent occupancy during this window, so room availability is good and upgrade requests are more likely to succeed. Booking 60 to 90 days ahead from any Indian city gives the best combination of fare and room choice. Last-minute Maldives bookings rarely yield savings because resort inventory is limited and airlines price remaining seats at a premium. Indian school holidays — October half-term, Christmas, and April–May summer break — push prices up sharply from all four cities. Couples who can travel outside these windows will save INR 15,000 to INR 30,000 per couple on flights alone. For month-by-month weather guidance, see our article on the best time to visit the Maldives from India . How much does a Maldives trip cost from Mumbai? A Maldives trip from Mumbai costs roughly INR 80,000 to INR 1,60,000 per couple for 5 nights in shoulder season. That range covers return airfare on IndiGo or Air India from BOM, a 4-star resort stay, and a speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is one of two Indian cities with a direct flight to Malé. IndiGo 6E operates BOM–MLE return fares from INR 18,000 to INR 28,000 per person in shoulder season, with no checked baggage included at the base fare. Air India AI covers the same route with checked baggage included, typically priced INR 24,000 to INR 35,000 per person return. The flight time from Mumbai to Malé is 3.5 to 4 hours on a direct service. No connection is needed, which keeps the total travel day short for couples. Baggage add-ons on IndiGo cost INR 1,200 to INR 2,500 per person per sector for a 20 kg check-in bag. A couple travelling on IndiGo should budget INR 5,000 to INR 10,000 extra for baggage across the round trip. Air India's included baggage allowance makes the fare gap between the two carriers narrower in practice. A standard 5-night Maldives package from Mumbai — covering return flights, speedboat transfer, and a 4-star water villa resort with daily breakfast — typically costs INR 80,000 to INR 1,20,000 per couple in May or October. December peak pricing pushes the same package to INR 1,30,000 to INR 1,60,000 per couple or higher. The Maldives cost from Mumbai is among the lowest of the four Indian metro cities because BOM has consistent direct service and strong airline competition on the route. Couples departing from Mumbai avoid the connection surcharge that Delhi and Hyderabad travellers typically pay. Velana International Airport (MLE) is the main entry point for all Maldives visitors. From MLE, most 4-star resorts in North Malé Atoll are 20 to 45 minutes away by speedboat. Speedboat transfers are typically included in package pricing. Resorts in Ari Atoll or Baa Atoll require a domestic flight from MLE, which adds INR 8,000 to INR 18,000 per person to the total cost. Resort meal plans affect the final budget significantly. A breakfast-only plan saves money if the resort has a la carte dining at reasonable rates. A half-board plan — breakfast and dinner included — adds roughly INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per couple per day but removes the uncertainty of per-meal billing. Full-board and all-inclusive plans suit couples who prefer a fixed total cost before travel. Trip Type Season Approx. Cost Per Couple (INR) What Is Included Budget (3-star guesthouse, local island) Shoulder (May, Oct) 55,000 – 75,000 Flights, guesthouse, breakfast Mid-range (4-star resort, water villa) Shoulder (May, Oct) 80,000 – 1,20,000 Flights, resort, speedboat, breakfast Mid-range (4-star resort, water villa) Peak (Dec–Jan) 1,30,000 – 1,60,000 Flights, resort, speedboat, breakfast Luxury (5-star overwater villa) Any season 2,00,000 – 4,00,000+ Flights, villa, seaplane or speedboat, half-board Local island stays are a lower-cost alternative to resort islands. Guesthouses on islands like Maafushi or Dhigurah charge INR 3,500 to INR 7,000 per room per night. These islands have public beaches and independent restaurants. The trade-off is that bikini beaches are designated areas, and the resort-style privacy of a private island is absent. Visa costs for Indian passport holders are zero. The Maldives grants a free 30-day on-arrival visa to Indian citizens. No prior application or fee is required. Travel insurance for a 5-night Maldives trip from India costs INR 800 to INR 2,000 per person depending on the insurer and coverage level. Booking 60 to 90 days in advance typically secures the best combination of flight fare and resort rate. Last-minute bookings in peak season rarely yield savings on the Maldives route from Mumbai. Shoulder season travel in May or October gives the best value without a significant drop in weather quality. For a full breakdown of what a Maldives honeymoon package from India includes at each price tier, see our Maldives honeymoon packages from India guide. Why does a Maldives trip from Delhi cost more than from Mumbai or Bangalore? Delhi (DEL) has no direct flight to Velana International Airport (MLE). Every DEL–MLE routing requires a connection, typically via Mumbai or Colombo. This adds INR 5,000 to INR 12,000 per person to return airfare and extends total travel time by two to five hours. The most common routing from Delhi is DEL–BOM–MLE on IndiGo or Air India. A second option is DEL–CMB–MLE via SriLankan Airlines. The Colombo connection is sometimes cheaper on the airfare line but adds a longer layover, often four to six hours. On a connection surcharge basis, a Delhi traveller pays INR 10,000 to INR 24,000 more per couple on flights alone compared to a direct-city departure. A 5-night 4-star package from Delhi lands in the INR 1,10,000 to INR 1,85,000 per couple range in shoulder season, versus INR 95,000 to INR 1,65,000 from Mumbai. DEL–BOM–MLE on IndiGo: layover at Mumbai is typically 1.5 to 3 hours DEL–CMB–MLE on SriLankan: layover at Colombo is typically 4 to 6 hours Total travel time from Delhi to Malé: 7 to 11 hours depending on connection Checked baggage on connecting itineraries needs attention. When two separate tickets are booked, baggage is not automatically transferred. Booking a single through-ticket via Air India or a codeshare avoids re-check-in at the transit airport. The Mumbai layover option suits travellers who want a shorter transit. The Colombo option occasionally saves INR 3,000 to INR 6,000 per person on the base fare. That saving can disappear if you need a hotel or meal during a long Colombo layover. Departure timing from Delhi also affects the overall experience. Early morning DEL–BOM flights, departing between 5 AM and 7 AM, connect to midday BOM–MLE departures. This gets you to Malé by early afternoon. You can then take the speedboat or domestic transfer to your resort the same day. Late evening DEL–BOM connections often mean an overnight in Mumbai or a very late resort arrival. Departure City Typical Return Airfare Per Person (Economy, Shoulder Season) Direct Flight Available Estimated Total Travel Time to Malé Mumbai (BOM) INR 18,000 – INR 28,000 Yes 3.5 – 4 hours Bangalore (BLR) INR 20,000 – INR 30,000 Yes (seasonal) 4 – 5 hours Delhi (DEL) via Mumbai INR 26,000 – INR 38,000 No 7 – 9 hours Delhi (DEL) via Colombo INR 23,000 – INR 36,000 No 9 – 11 hours One practical tip: check whether IndiGo or Air India is selling a single PNR for the DEL–BOM–MLE route. A single PNR means your bags are checked through to Malé and the airline is responsible for the connection if the first leg is delayed. Two separate PNRs put that risk entirely on you. Peak season pricing, roughly December to February, pushes Delhi package costs up by 20 to 35 percent above shoulder season rates. Travelling in May or early June, just before the monsoon, brings the lowest fares from Delhi. Resort rates drop sharply in that window even though the weather is mostly fine until mid-June. According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry, India was the top source market for Maldives arrivals in 2023, accounting for over 11 percent of total tourist arrivals — more than any other single country. Indian passport holders do not need a prior visa for Maldives. For full details on entry requirements, see our Maldives visa for Indian passport holders guide. Which Indian city offers the cheapest Maldives package when you include flights, resort, and transfers? Mumbai and Bangalore offer the lowest total Maldives package costs from India. Both cities have direct flights to Malé, keeping airfare between INR 18,000 and INR 32,000 per person return. A 5-night 4-star water villa package for a couple runs INR 1,10,000 to INR 1,70,000 from either city in shoulder season. This comparison uses a fixed methodology. The package includes return economy airfare, 5 nights at a 4-star resort with a water villa, daily breakfast, and a speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport (MLE) to the resort. Seaplane transfers are excluded because seaplane pricing varies by resort location and adds USD 300 to USD 700 per couple on top of any package. Departure City Return Airfare per Person INR (Shoulder Season) 5-Night Resort + Speedboat Transfer INR per Couple (4-Star Water Villa) Total Estimated Package INR per Couple Direct Flight to Malé Mumbai (BOM) INR 18,000 – INR 32,000 INR 80,000 – INR 1,10,000 INR 1,16,000 – INR 1,74,000 Yes Bangalore (BLR) INR 17,000 – INR 31,000 INR 80,000 – INR 1,10,000 INR 1,14,000 – INR 1,72,000 Yes Delhi (DEL) INR 23,000 – INR 42,000 INR 80,000 – INR 1,10,000 INR 1,26,000 – INR 1,94,000 No Hyderabad (HYD) INR 21,000 – INR 38,000 INR 80,000 – INR 1,10,000 INR 1,22,000 – INR 1,86,000 No Mumbai and Bangalore sit very close in total cost. Bangalore fares are marginally lower on average because IndiGo prices the BLR–MLE route competitively. The resort and transfer cost is identical regardless of departure city, so the airfare differential is the only variable that separates the four cities. Delhi carries a connection surcharge of INR 5,000 to INR 12,000 per person over direct-city fares. Hyderabad sits between Delhi and the direct-city pair. Both HYD and DEL travellers connect via Mumbai or Bangalore, which adds layover time and increases the risk of missed connections on separate PNRs. Speedboat transfers from MLE cost USD 20 to USD 60 per person one-way. For a couple on a 5-night trip, total speedboat cost is roughly USD 80 to USD 240 return. Resorts within 30 to 45 minutes of MLE by speedboat are the most cost-efficient choice for couples watching the total budget. What happens to these costs during peak season in December and January? Peak season runs from December to April. Airfares from all four cities rise by 30 to 50 percent during this window. Resort rates for water villas increase by a similar margin. A couple booking from Mumbai in December should budget INR 1,70,000 to INR 2,60,000 for the same 5-night 4-star package that costs INR 1,16,000 to INR 1,74,000 in shoulder season. Mumbai (BOM) peak season total: INR 1,70,000 – INR 2,60,000 per couple Bangalore (BLR) peak season total: INR 1,65,000 – INR 2,55,000 per couple Delhi (DEL) peak season total: INR 1,85,000 – INR 2,80,000 per couple Hyderabad (HYD) peak season total: INR 1,78,000 – INR 2,70,000 per couple Does resort category change which city gives better value? At the budget end, a 3-star resort with a beach villa costs INR 50,000 to INR 70,000 per couple for 5 nights. At that price point, the INR 5,000 to INR 12,000 airfare premium from Delhi or Hyderabad represents a larger share of the total package. Budget travellers from Delhi effectively pay 10 to 15 percent more than those flying from Bangalore for the same resort. At the luxury end, a 5-star water villa resort costs INR 2,50,000 to INR 5,00,000 per couple for 5 nights. At that level, the airfare premium from Delhi is under 5 percent of the total. City of departure matters far less when the resort cost dominates the package. Related: How Much Does a Maldives Trip Cost from India? A Honest Budget Breakdown When is the best time to book a Maldives trip from India to get the lowest price? The shoulder season booking window — May, October, and November — gives Indian travellers the lowest combined airfare and resort rates. Booking 60 to 90 days in advance during these months saves INR 25,000 to INR 40,000 per couple compared to December peak pricing. May is the single cheapest month for Maldives from India. Flights drop to INR 14,000 to INR 20,000 return per person. Resorts cut rack rates by 25 to 35 percent. Some rain is possible, but most days remain clear until afternoon. October and November offer a similar price band with slightly more stable weather than May. Airlines run sale fares in these months. Booking on IndiGo or Air India during an airline sale can bring return fares below INR 15,000 per person from Mumbai or Bangalore. December and January are the most expensive months. Return airfares from Mumbai climb to INR 28,000 to INR 42,000 per person. Resort prices rise 30 to 50 percent above shoulder season levels. Couples booking peak season should lock in flights at least 90 days ahead to avoid last-minute surcharges. Month Weather Condition Average Return Airfare from India (INR per person) Resort Price Level January Dry, clear skies 28,000 – 42,000 Peak (high) February – March Dry, best visibility 22,000 – 35,000 High April Dry to transitional 18,000 – 28,000 Moderate-high May – June Wet season begins 14,000 – 22,000 Low July – September Wet, occasional storms 14,000 – 20,000 Low October – November Transitional, improving 15,000 – 24,000 Low to moderate December Dry season starts 30,000 – 45,000 Peak (highest) City of departure affects how much shoulder season savings matter. For Delhi and Hyderabad travellers, the connection surcharge is fixed regardless of season. Shoulder season savings on the resort cost still apply fully. The net saving for a Delhi couple booking in October versus December remains INR 20,000 to INR 35,000 per couple on resort costs alone. How does the booking lead time change the price you actually pay? Lead time is the number of days between booking date and travel date. Resorts in the Maldives use dynamic pricing, so the same room can cost 20 to 40 percent more when booked two weeks out versus 90 days out. For shoulder season travel, the 60-to-90-day window is the sweet spot. Resorts still have inventory and have not yet filled rooms with last-minute demand. Airlines also price lowest in this window for May and October departures. For peak season — December 20 to January 5 — the rule changes. Book 120 days or more in advance. Rooms at water villa resorts in North Male Atoll sell out by September for the Christmas week. Waiting until October for a December trip means paying 15 to 25 percent more, if rooms remain at all. Flash sales are a separate opportunity. IndiGo and Air India both run 48-to-72-hour sale windows, usually in August and September for winter travel. Signing up for airline fare alerts is the most reliable way to catch these. A flash sale fare from Bangalore to Male can drop to INR 11,000 to INR 13,000 return, which is INR 3,000 to INR 5,000 below the normal shoulder season rate. Does the type of resort — guesthouse versus water villa — change the best booking month? Guesthouses on local islands such as Maafushi or Dhigurah have lower base rates and less aggressive dynamic pricing. The price difference between peak and shoulder season at a guesthouse is typically INR 3,000 to INR 6,000 per night. At a water villa resort, that same difference can be INR 12,000 to INR 25,000 per night. This means shoulder season savings are proportionally larger for couples choosing water villa resorts. A couple spending five nights in a water villa saves more in absolute rupees by booking in October than a couple staying at a guesthouse for the same five nights. Guesthouse travellers have more flexibility on timing because the price gap is smaller. They can consider February or March for better weather without paying a steep premium. Water villa travellers should prioritise May or October to keep total trip cost reasonable. Accommodation Type Peak Season Nightly Rate (INR per room) Shoulder Season Nightly Rate (INR per room) Saving per Night (INR) Local island guesthouse 8,000 – 14,000 5,000 – 9,000 3,000 – 6,000 3-star resort, house reef 18,000 – 28,000 11,000 – 18,000 7,000 – 12,000 4-star overwater villa 35,000 – 55,000 20,000 – 35,000 12,000 – 22,000 5-star luxury water villa 70,000 – 1,20,000 40,000 – 75,000 25,000 – 50,000 The Maldives charges a Green Tax of USD 6 per person per night at guesthouses and USD 12 per person per night at resorts. This tax applies year-round and does not change with season. Factor it into your per-night cost calculation regardless of when you travel. "The Maldives received 1.87 million tourist arrivals in 2023, with Indian travellers forming the single largest source market at approximately 11 percent of total arrivals." — Maldives Tourism Ministry, 2023 Annual Report Indian demand peaks sharply in December and again in April around school holidays. Resorts know this and price accordingly. Travelling outside these two windows — particularly in October and early November — puts Indian travellers in a lower-demand period where negotiation on meal plans and room upgrades is more realistic. Related: How Much Does a Maldives Trip Cost from India? A Honest Budget Breakdown