Maldives or Thailand: which to choose for a holiday

The Maldives and Thailand both offer sea holidays, but one is a small-island country in the Indian Ocean and the other a large mainland country with cities, mountains and coasts on two seas. A comparison by facts you can verify.

Geography and nature

• The Maldives has 26 atolls and about 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The dry northeast monsoon runs from January to March and the wetter southwest monsoon from mid-May to November; December and April are transitional, and it can rain in any month. Best season
• Thailand is a large country with beaches on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as cities, mountains and national parks.

Seasons

• Most sources describe three Thai seasons: cool from about mid-November to February, hot from March to May and rainy from about June to October; on the Andaman coast the rains are given as roughly April to October and on the Gulf coast September to December.
• The Maldives dry months (January to March) fall in Thailand’s cool season, so a winter trip works for both.

Rules and how to choose

• Russians can enter the Maldives without a visa for up to 90 days as tourists; rules for other countries change, so check each official source before booking. Visa for Russians Documents
• The Maldives is a Muslim country: dress modestly outside resorts, and alcohol is not sold on local islands. What to wear Alcohol rules
• If your priority is a quiet beach, reef and a short island stay, the Maldives suits it, and Thoddoo is a budget option on a local island. Which atoll to choose Thoddoo or nearby islands Cost of a trip

Sources

• Tourism Authority of Thailand: seasons of Thailand
• The Longest Way Home: best time to visit Thailand

Reviewed by the Relax Residence team in October 2026.