Seaplanes leave from their own terminal beside Velana airport, flown by Trans Maldivian Airways, the largest seaplane operator in the world, in twin-engined Twin Otters. They fly low, so the atolls appear from the window as no photograph shows them, then land on the lagoon in front of your resort.

The flight to Baa takes 30 to 40 minutes; Raa and Shaviyani take longer. Seaplanes fly only in daylight, so we time your international flight for a same-day transfer, or book you a night near the airport.