Istanbul is only four hours from London, and Turkish Airlines flies on from there to the Maldives, so you can combine 1,500 years of Byzantine and Ottoman history with five nights of island calm. Spend three nights looking out over the Bosphorus, with time for Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, and an evening ferry across to the Asian side.
Then fly on to Malé and take a 20-minute seaplane to North Ari Atoll, where your resort opened in 2025 across two islands joined by a walkway. Five nights is enough to slow right down, with time for snorkelling, the spa and long lunches by the water. Seven nights can be arranged if you would like longer.
2 stops · 8 nights · flying Turkish Airlines
Mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus
New resort in North Ari Atoll
Priced with these hotels or similar. Want a different hotel? Your Travel Designer will re-price it for you.
Istanbul spans Europe and Asia, with Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks crowded into the old city of Sultanahmet. Staying near Taksim gives you Bosphorus views and easy access to the tram, funicular and ferries.
North Ari Atoll lies west of Malé and is known for clear water and rich marine life, including manta rays and, further south, whale sharks. Your resort is set across two islands joined by an overwater walkway.
Guide prices per person, two sharing, with flights from London.
Prices checked October 2026. Prices change daily; your Travel Designer confirms today's live price before you book. Business class and regional airports on request.
Best time to go: April and October to November are good for both: Istanbul is mild and the Maldives is mostly dry. Summer brings crowds and heat to Istanbul and more showers in the Maldives, while Istanbul can be cold and wet from December to February.
A suggested plan. Change anything.
Fly from London to Istanbul, about four hours, and transfer to your hotel near Taksim.
Visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, then take a ferry along the Bosphorus or across to Kadıköy for dinner.
Fly about eight hours from Istanbul to Malé, then a 20-minute seaplane to North Ari Atoll.
Snorkel the reef, look for mantas on a boat trip, visit the spa or simply enjoy the lagoon.
Seaplane back to Malé for your flight home via Istanbul.
Same idea, different mix.
Live prices for a week with flights, updated daily. Pick one and we'll add the other stops.
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Quiet, green island with an excellent house reef. Suits couples who want to snorkel from the beach.
The sister resort of the revered Bandos Island Resort & Spa, Malahini Kuda Bandos bathes in the aquamarine lagoon of North Male Atoll and offers guests Indian Ocean rejuvenation via…
The Maldives' first resort, ten minutes from the airport, with nine restaurants.
Three-kilometre island with the longest pool in the Maldives and ten restaurants.
Nestled in the North Male Atoll, just a short 45-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, lies Summer Island Maldives.
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Life under the palms at the Villa Park, Sun Island moves at a different pace. Here, the important things are the sea and the sand, the food, the company and the relaxation.
No hotels match. Airport, month and budget only apply to hotels with a price today, so try clearing those.
Yes. Turkish Airlines flies direct from Istanbul to Malé, taking about eight hours.
UK passport holders do not currently need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Check the latest rules before travel.
Turkish Airlines also flies to Istanbul from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, among other UK airports.
Yes. Seven nights in the Maldives is a popular change, making the trip ten nights in total.
Change the hotels, the nights or the order, or add a third stop. A Travel Designer replies within a few hours.
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