Few itineraries let you chase reef sharks one day and Himalayan horizons the next. This 7-day plan balances the Maldives’ glassy lagoons with Kashmir’s cedar-scented air and Mughal gardens, designed for travelers who love both salt and snow.

For centuries, Maldivian seafarers traded coconuts and cowry shells across the Indian Ocean; today, the archipelago lures visitors with powder-white sandbanks, coral reefs, and easy speedboat hops between atolls. Up north, Srinagar—seat of the Kashmir Valley—has welcomed poets, traders, and emperors since the Mughal era, its wooden houses and willow-shaded lakes a postcard of mountain life.

Practical notes: dress modestly on Maldivian local islands (no alcohol is served there), and check current advisories and weather in Kashmir, where winter brings snow to Gulmarg (prime for gondola views and skiing) and summers bloom with alpine meadows. Carry Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) and Indian rupees (INR), and book flights early in peak season.

Maafushi (Maldives)

Maafushi, in Kaafu Atoll, is the Maldives you imagined—turquoise shallows, house reefs alive with turtles, and sandbanks that feel like private worlds. It’s a “local island,” which means better prices, authentic village life, and cafés serving grilled reef fish and fresh lime juice.

Top experiences include a full-day snorkeling and island-hopping boat, a sunrise swim with manta rays, and a sunset cruise with a chance to spot dolphins arcing through the cobalt channel. Between outings, wander Bikini Beach, watch dhonis bob in the harbor, and pick up handwoven mats or lacquerware.

• Eat & drink: Hot Bite (grilled tuna steak and curries), Rehendhi at Kaani Village (Maldivian thali and reef fish), Arena Sky Restaurant (rooftop seafood platters), Stingray Café (casual pastas and fresh juices).
• Where to stay: Kaani Palm Beach (sea-view rooms and a crowd-pleasing pool), Arena Beach Hotel (beachfront sunsets), Kaani Village & Spa (value with a spa). Browse more stays on Hotels.com or villas via VRBO.
• Getting there: Fly into Malé (MLE) using Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Then take a 30–45 minute shared speedboat to Maafushi (about $25–35 per person) — prebook with this transfer: Maafushi: Airport Transfer By Speedboat.

Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir, India)

Nestled in the Kashmir Valley and ringed by the Pir Panjal, Srinagar feels timeless: wooden lattice balconies over the Jhelum, saffron fields on the plateau, and Dal Lake’s shikaras gliding past lotus gardens. The city’s soul is a blend of Sufi shrines, Mughal symmetry, and bustling craft bazaars.

Spend your time cruising Dal and Nigeen Lakes, visiting Nishat and Shalimar Gardens, and browsing papier-mâché, pashmina, and walnut-wood carvings. Day trips reveal more: Gulmarg’s meadows and Gondola rides in summer, snow sports in winter.

• Eat & drink: Ahdoos (classic wazwan—try rogan josh and gushtaba), Mughal Darbar (kehwa with bakarkhani), Stream Restaurant (trout and kebabs), 14th Avenue Café (coffee and pastries near the Boulevard), Lhasa (homestyle Tibetan thukpa and momos).
• Where to stay: Lake-view elegance at Vivanta Dal View, Srinagar. For a Gulmarg splurge or if you add a night there, consider The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg. Also search Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Getting there: From Malé, connect via Delhi to Srinagar. Typical routing MLE–DEL (4–4.5 hours) + DEL–SXR (1.5 hours) with 2–4 hour layover; plan 8–11 hours total, ~$280–500 one-way depending on season. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrive in the Maldives, Speedboat to Maafushi

Morning: Fly into Malé (MLE). If your long-haul arrives before noon, change a small amount of cash to MVR for incidental spends.

Afternoon: Take a shared speedboat to Maafushi (30–45 minutes; prebook: Maafushi: Airport Transfer By Speedboat). Check in at Kaani Palm Beach or Arena Beach Hotel. Walk Bikini Beach and swim; the house reef is an easy warm-up snorkel.

Evening: Dinner at Rehendhi (order the reef fish curry and coconut sambol) or Arena Sky Restaurant (grilled catch of the day with a papaya salad). Stroll the jetty under a star-lathered sky—look for baby sharks in the shallows.

Day 2: Full-Day Snorkeling and Island Hopping

Morning: After a light breakfast at Hot Bite, head out on a full-day boat blending reef stops and beach time:

Maafushi: Full Day Snorkeling and Island Hopping Experience

Afternoon: Expect 2–3 snorkel sites (look for hawksbill turtles, eagle rays) and a sandbank picnic stop. Bring a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen; guides often provide fruit and water.

Evening: Return for sunset on Bikini Beach. Casual dinner at Stingray Café—try the tuna steak or pesto pasta; finish with a lime soda or banana milkshake.

Day 3: Manta Rays at Sunrise, Sandbank Sunset

Morning: Join a focused wildlife outing to meet gentle giants:

Snorkeling with Manta Rays from Maafushi

Prime months vary by plankton blooms; your crew knows where to find them. Keep distance and let mantas approach.

Afternoon: Rest back at the hotel pool or grab a fruit plate at Rehendhi. Browse local shops for handwoven “kunaa” mats.

Evening: Cap the day with sandbank time and a golden-hour cruise:

Malé Serenity Sandbank Snorkeling and Sundown Views

(If this specific departure runs from Malé/Hulhumalé on your dates, your hotel can arrange an equivalent Maafushi-based sandbank/sunset combo.) Dinner at Arena Beach—seafood platter for two.

Day 4: Fly Maldives to Kashmir (Travel Day)

Morning: Shared speedboat back to the airport. Fly MLE–DEL–SXR; compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Total travel time ~8–11 hours.

Afternoon: Land in Srinagar. Check in at Vivanta Dal View, Srinagar (panoramic terrace) or browse Hotels.com for a heritage houseboat on Dal or Nigeen Lake.

Evening: Easy shikara ride at sunset from Ghat 12–14 (classic views of the Zabarwan Range). Dinner at Ahdoos—order rogan josh, haak saag, and phirni with a cup of saffron kehwa.

Day 5: Srinagar City—Gardens, Old Town, Craft Heritage

Morning: Join a guided overview to orient and dive into history:

Srinagar Splendors: A Private City Tour

Expect Shankaracharya Temple views, Shah-e-Hamdan shrine’s papier-mâché interiors, and a walk through spice-laden bazaars.

Afternoon: Explore Mughal gardens: Nishat Bagh (“Garden of Joy”) and Shalimar Bagh, both terraced up the Zabarwan foothills with Chinar shade and canal vistas. Lunch at Stream Restaurant (trout almondine or mutton kebabs).

Evening: Shop for hand-embroidered pashmina and walnut-wood boxes in Residency Road shops; always ask for pure-pashmina certification. Coffee and cake at 14th Avenue Café; light dinner at Lhasa (momos, thukpa) if you prefer something mellow.

Day 6: Day Trip to Gulmarg—Meadows or Snow

Morning: Scenic 1.5–2 hour drive to Gulmarg through willow groves and village hamlets.

Afternoon: Take the famed Gulmarg Gondola (weather permitting) for sweeping Pir Panjal views; late spring–autumn offers alpine walks, while winter means skiing/snow play. Warm up with kahwa and wazwan-inspired lunch at The Khyber’s Cloves restaurant (try tabakh maaz if available). Book the excursion with:

Gulmarg Adventure: A Thrilling Day Trip from Srinagar

Evening: Return to Srinagar. Feast at Mughal Darbar—order a mini-wazwan (seekh kebab, rista, rogan josh, gushtaba) and finish with sheer chai if you like salty pink tea.

Day 7: Morning on the Lake, Departure

Morning: Rise early for a flower-market shikara glide if in season, or stroll the Boulevard and pick up last-minute saffron, almond bark, and dry morels. Quick stop at Chashme Shahi for spring-fed fountains and compact Mughal geometry.

Afternoon: Transfer to Srinagar Airport (SXR) 2.5–3 hours before flight. If you’re continuing elsewhere in India, compare fares on Trip.com.

Evening: In transit—save your favorite photos and notes; you just crossed oceans and mountains in a week.

Extras, Tips, and Alternatives

• Maldives add-ons: If staying a night around Malé, consider a city walk such as 4 Hour Highlights of Malé Walking Tour

  

  and an overnight at Kurumba Maldives or city-friendly Hotel Octave Maldives.
• Kashmir seasons: Winter (Dec–Feb) brings snow to Gulmarg; spring (Mar–Apr) sees almond blossoms; summer (May–Aug) is lush; autumn (Sep–Oct) turns the Chinars copper. Check weather and local advisories before mountain excursions.
• Dress & customs: On Maldivian local islands, wear swimsuits only on Bikini Beach; elsewhere, modest attire. No alcohol on local islands (it’s available only at resort islands and liveaboards).

How to book your transport smartly: Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to compare Malé and Srinagar flights and mix airlines; look for morning departures to maximize daylight at your next stop.

In one week you’ve snorkeled with manta rays, walked Mughal gardens, and drifted by cedar hills on a shikara. This balanced Maldives-and-Kashmir itinerary pairs island-hopping ease with Himalayan quiet—memories in two palettes: aquamarine and alpine gold.