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✈️ Cheap flights from Chicago to The Maldives
Compare Chicago – The Maldives fares from hundreds of airlines and travel sites. The trip is about 14,548 km and takes around 18 h 10 min nonstop (most flights stop once).
📏 Distance14,548 km (9,040 miles)
⏱️ Flight timeabout 18 h 10 min nonstop – most trips need one stop
🕒 Time differenceThe Maldives is 10 hours ahead of Chicago
🛫 AirportsORD, MDW → MLE
💸 Cheapest monthOct 2026 – from $1,110
📅 Cheapest months to fly Chicago → The Maldives
- $1,110Oct 26
- $1,614Dec 26
- $1,316Feb 27
- $1,112Mar 27
Lowest fares our Fare agent saw for each month. Prices change daily.
🌞 Best time to visit Maldives
Best: December–April: the dry northeast monsoon brings sunshine, calm seas and excellent visibility for snorkelling and diving.
Shoulder season: November and late April: mostly good weather with lower prices and fewer visitors.
Weather by month in Malé
- 30°Jan⛅
- 31°Feb☀️
- 31°Mar⛅
- 32°Apr⛅
- 31°May🌧
- 31°Jun🌧
- 30°Jul🌧
- 30°Aug🌧
- 30°Sep🌧
- 30°Oct🌧
- 30°Nov🌧
- 30°Dec🌧
Average daytime highs (°C) and how rainy each month is.
📍 Things to do when you land
- Snorkel a house reef – Slip off the beach into warm, clear water filled with reef fish, turtles and baby sharks.
- Swim with whale sharks – Join a boat trip in South Ari Atoll to snorkel beside the world's biggest fish.
- See mantas at Hanifaru Bay – Watch dozens of manta rays feeding in Baa Atoll's protected bay during the plankton season.
- Stay on a local island – Sleep in a guesthouse on an inhabited island to experience Maldivian village life on a budget.
💡 Tips for a cheaper ticket
Flights hackSearch one-way tickets on two airlines
Two one-way fares on different airlines are often cheaper than one return – and give you more freedom to change plans.
Flights hackBring an empty bottle
Pass security with an empty water bottle and fill it at the airport fountains instead of buying overpriced water.
Chicago to The Maldives flights: questions
How long is the flight from Chicago to The Maldives?
A nonstop flight from Chicago to The Maldives takes about 18 h 10 min for the 14,548 km (9,040 miles) trip. Few airlines fly this distance nonstop, so most itineraries include one stop and take several hours longer.
How far is The Maldives from Chicago?
The Maldives is about 14,548 km (9,040 miles) from Chicago as the plane flies.
What is the time difference between Chicago and The Maldives?
Right now The Maldives is 10 hours ahead of Chicago. Daylight saving changes can shift this by an hour during the year.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to The Maldives?
Recently the lowest fares were in Oct 2026, from about $1,110. Prices change daily.
Which airports serve Chicago and The Maldives?
From Chicago: Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD), Chicago Midway Intl (MDW). In The Maldives: Velana Intl (MLE).
Do I need a visa for Maldives?
It depends on your passport – see our Maldives visa & entry guide.
More flights from Chicago
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