Most of us were a little nervous before planning our first trip entirely on our own.

When you travel with a tour operator, everything is simple. You buy a package, pack your suitcase and go explore a new country.

If the thought of organising an entire trip yourself makes you slightly nervous, but you also like the freedom of travelling independently and perhaps seeing something beyond the usual tourist trail, you’re in the right place.

Keep reading.

I know how many questions can suddenly appear when you start planning a trip like this.

Where do I even buy the flight? How do I know which airline to choose? Will I find my way around the airport? What happens when I land? How will I know where to go? How do I choose an island? And how on earth do I get from the airport to a tiny island somewhere in the Indian Ocean?

The good news is that the whole thing sounds much more complicated than it actually is. Let’s go step by step.

Booking your international flight

The first step is booking your flight and deciding where you want to fly from.

Your nearest airport may be the most convenient option, but it isn’t always the cheapest. If you have several airports within reasonable travelling distance, compare them. The difference in price can sometimes be surprisingly big. It makes sense to start watching flight prices around six months before your trip. Much earlier than that usually isn’t necessary, as airlines adjust their schedules, connections and prices according to the season.

The easiest way to keep an eye on fares is through a flight search engine such as Skyscanner or Google Flights. Choose your departure airport and approximate dates, and you can also set up alerts to let you know when prices change. Being a little flexible with your dates can make a big difference.

Once you find a flight that works for you, I recommend booking the ticket directly with the airline rather than through a third-party booking website. Depending on where you’re travelling from, you’ll usually find connections to the Maldives with airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia and others.

If you’re continuing your journey to Vashafaru, pay particular attention to your arrival time in the Maldives. Ideally, choose a flight that lands in Malé by around 9 am. Our domestic flight north is usually around 11:30 am. There are normally one or two more connections during the day, often one in the afternoon and another later in the evening.

For your journey home, an evening international departure is usually the most comfortable option. Morning departures are possible too, but avoid very early flights. You still need to get from Vashafaru to Malé and allow enough time to connect to your international flight.

What about connecting flights?

Most flights to the Maldives involve one connection at a larger airport, such as Istanbul, Dubai or Doha. There are also direct flights from some European airports.

If you’ve never changed planes before, don’t panic.

When you arrive at the airport, you’ll see large screens showing departures and arrivals. The important things to know are your flight number, for example TK740, and the airport code for your destination. The code for Malé is MLE. Find your flight on the departures screen. Next to the flight number and destination, you’ll eventually see your gate, which is where you need to go to board your next flight.

At some very large airports, your gate can be more than a 20-minute walk away. Keep that in mind when choosing your connection. Personally, I prefer having at least two hours between flights. There is really no need to start your holiday by setting a personal sprinting record through an airport. Make sure you arrive at the gate on time too. Boarding closes before the scheduled departure, and once the gate is closed, you generally won’t be allowed onto the plane.

If all of this still feels like too much, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking a travel agent to book the international flights for you. And if you’re coming to stay with us, you can always send us the flights you’re considering before you book. We’ll happily check whether the arrival and departure times work well with the domestic connection.

One more tip: if you can, get a window seat for the final part of your journey. The views as you approach the Maldives are unforgettable.

Arriving in the Maldives

So, you’ve landed at Velana International Airport. The airport is modern and well signposted, so finding your way around is fairly straightforward. First, you’ll go through immigration. Before travelling, check the current entry requirements for the Maldives and complete the required IMUGA traveller declaration. Keep your passport and details of your return flight and accommodation handy.

After immigration, collect your luggage and complete the necessary customs procedures. One important thing to remember: alcohol cannot be brought into the Maldives, including bottles bought at duty-free shops.

And that’s it. You’re officially in the Maldives.

If you’re continuing your journey to Vashafaru, follow the signs for the Domestic Terminal. It’s about a ten-minute walk from the international terminal.

When check-in opens for your domestic flight, find the Maldivian airline counter and look for the flight to Hanimaadhoo. Check in, drop off your luggage, and you’re ready for the next part of the journey. And this is where the holiday slowly starts to feel real.

You may be tired after the long international flight, but the view from the plane makes up for it. Tiny islands, reefs and turquoise lagoons appear below you, scattered across the Indian Ocean. The 40-minute domestic flight usually passes very quickly. When you land in Hanimaadhoo, a member of our team will be waiting for you.

You don’t need to find a taxi, negotiate with anyone or stand around wondering which boat you’re supposed to get on. There’s just one last part of the journey: around 20 minutes by speedboat, with the wind in your hair and your first close-up view of those turquoise lagoons.

What if my international flight is delayed?

International flight delays aren’t an everyday occurrence, but they do happen. If your flight is delayed, let us know as soon as you can. Most airports offer free Wi-Fi, so simply send us a message. If the delay is small, you may still make your planned domestic flight. If you don’t, we’ll book you onto the next available one.

You won’t need to sort that out yourself.

If the next available domestic flight isn’t until the following day, we’ll also help you arrange a night in Malé and transfers from the airport and back again.

So, what do I actually need to organise myself?

Basically, one thing:

Your international flight to Velana International Airport in Malé (MLE).

That’s it. From Malé onwards, we’ll take care of the rest.

And once you’re here?

Your time is your own.

You can choose your excursions once you’re here. There is absolutely no need to prepare an Excel spreadsheet at home with an activity scheduled for every day. Unless Excel makes you happy, of course. In that case, by all means, bring it.

Some guests want to experience something new every day. Others are happiest with a good book and a view of the sea. Both are perfectly good ways to spend a holiday here. It’s also completely fine to spend an entire day in a hammock listening to the sea.

One final piece of advice: pack fewer clothes than you think you’ll need, and more sunscreen.

If you have questions while planning your trip, you can always email us, call us or send us a message on WhatsApp or Viber. Our FAQ page might help too. You’ll find information there about the weather, local island rules, payments, transfers and even what to pack.

The journey to a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean may look rather long on a map. In reality, it’s much easier than it seems when you first start planning it.