Packing for the Maldives is less about volume and more about a handful of specifics that are genuinely easy to forget until you're on an island with no shops beyond a small resort boutique.
Reef-safe sunscreen, non-negotiable
Chemical sunscreen ingredients (oxybenzone and octinoxate in particular) are linked to coral bleaching, and a number of resorts and protected areas either request or require mineral, reef-safe sunscreen instead. Bring it from home — the resort boutique version, if available at all, is usually a premium price.
A modest layer, even on a resort trip
If your itinerary includes any local-island time — a day trip, a guesthouse stay, or just a stopover in Malé — pack something that covers shoulders and knees. See our religion & etiquette guide for why this matters off-resort, even though it's a non-issue on a private resort island itself.
Power and electronics
Type G (UK three-pin) sockets are the most common, running 230V — bring an adaptor if you're travelling from a country using a different plug standard. Waterproof phone pouches are genuinely useful given how much time is spent on boats and near water.
Cash, in small denominations
Resorts run almost entirely on card or room-charge accounts, but small US dollar notes are useful for tipping boat crews and dive guides, and for anything bought directly on a local island where card machines are less reliable.
The rest of the list
- A rash guard or light wetsuit top for repeated snorkelling — sun protection as much as warmth.
- Reef-appropriate footwear (water shoes) for wading over shallow house reefs at low tide.
- A dry bag for boat transfers, especially in the wet season.
- Any prescription medication in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription.