maldives local tourism

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The Complete Guide To Visiting The Maldives Local Islands

Published: September 10, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Rhodie Moralez

• Beaches & Islands
• Budget Travel
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Welcome to the mesmerizing paradise of the Maldives! Nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, this tropical archipelago is renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. While many travelers flock to the luxurious private resorts, a hidden gem awaits those seeking an authentic local experience – the local islands of the Maldives.

Far from the exclusive resorts and lavish amenities, the local islands offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture, warm hospitality, and untouched beauty of the Maldivian way of life. With its picturesque landscapes and tranquil atmosphere, the local islands provide a glimpse into the true essence of this tropical paradise.

In this comprehensive guide, we will take you on a journey to discover the wonders of the Maldives local islands. From practical tips on how to get there and where to stay, to the top activities and cultural insights, we will equip you with all you need to know to make your visit truly unforgettable.

Whether you’re a budget-conscious traveler, an adventure seeker, or a culture enthusiast, the local islands of the Maldives offer a wide array of experiences to suit every taste. Get ready to explore the hidden gems, indulge in traditional Maldivian cuisine, and discover the enchanting marine life that awaits beneath the surface.

So, join us as we embark on an unforgettable journey to the Maldives local islands. Prepare to be captivated by the beauty, warmth, and serenity that this tropical paradise has to offer. Let’s dive in!

About the Maldives

The Maldives is an enchanting archipelago comprising 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands. Located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, it is a tropical paradise unlike any other. With its year-round warm weather, turquoise waters, and abundant marine life, it is no wonder that the Maldives is a dream destination for many.

Beyond its natural beauty, the Maldives is also known for its unique geographical features. The islands are formed by coral reefs that have grown atop submerged volcanic mountains. This geology creates a stunning underwater landscape, with vibrant coral gardens, dramatic drop-offs, and an incredible diversity of marine species.

The Maldives is also famous for its luxury resorts and overwater villas. These private island retreats offer unparalleled luxury, complete with pristine beaches, private pools, and world-class amenities. However, it is worth exploring the lesser-known side of the Maldives – the local islands.

As you venture beyond the resort islands, you’ll discover the authentic Maldivian way of life on the local islands. With vibrant communities, traditional fishing villages, and charming local markets, these islands provide a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Maldives.

The Maldivian culture is deeply rooted in Islam, and you’ll find mosques scattered throughout the islands. Local traditions such as Bodu Beru drumming, traditional dance performances, and traditional crafts are still celebrated and practiced by the friendly and welcoming Maldivian people.

While Dhivehi is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in the tourism industry. This makes it easy for visitors to communicate and navigate their way around the local islands.

When it comes to cuisine, the Maldives offers a delightful blend of flavors influenced by the diverse cultures of the Indian Ocean. Fresh seafood, coconut-based curries, and tropical fruits are staples of the Maldivian diet. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor the local delicacies during your visit.

Whether you’re basking in the sun on a pristine beach, exploring the underwater wonders, or immersing yourself in the local culture, the Maldives is a destination that will leave you spellbound. Get ready to experience the natural beauty, warm hospitality, and a sense of tranquility that can only be found in this tropical paradise.

Why visit local islands?

While the luxury resorts of the Maldives offer an unparalleled level of comfort and indulgence, there are several compelling reasons to explore the lesser-known local islands during your trip.

1. Authentic Cultural Experience: The local islands provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and traditions of the Maldives. Interact with friendly locals, visit the bustling fish markets, and witness traditional craftsmanship firsthand. Experience the warmth and hospitality of the Maldivian people as they share their customs and stories with you.

2. Budget-Friendly: Traveling to the Maldives doesn’t have to break the bank. Staying on local islands is a more affordable option compared to luxury resorts. Accommodations, dining, and activities on local islands are often more budget-friendly, allowing you to experience the beauty of the Maldives without compromising on the experience.

3. Undisturbed Natural Beauty: While the resort islands are stunning, the local islands offer a more untouched and tranquil experience. Wander along secluded beaches, witness breathtaking sunsets, and connect with nature in its purest form. You’ll find hidden gems and unspoiled spots that will make you feel like you’ve discovered your own private paradise.

4. Authentic Maldivian Cuisine: Food lovers will appreciate the local island dining establishments, where you can savor traditional Maldivian cuisine at its best. Indulge in fresh seafood delicacies, flavorful curries, and tropical fruits bursting with flavor. Venture beyond the resort restaurants and explore the local island street food stalls for an authentic gastronomic adventure.

5. Diverse Activities: The local islands offer a range of activities to suit all interests. From snorkeling and diving in vibrant coral reefs, to kayaking through crystal-clear lagoons, or embarking on a fishing trip with local fishermen – there is no shortage of thrilling experiences to enjoy. The local islands also provide a gateway to explore nearby uninhabited islands and experience the raw beauty of the Maldivian marine life.

Visiting the local islands of the Maldives allows you to go beyond the tourist hotspots and discover the true essence of this tropical paradise. It’s an opportunity to connect with the local community, embrace the authenticity of the Maldivian culture, and create lasting memories of an unforgettable journey. So, venture off the beaten path and experience the magic that awaits on the local islands of the Maldives.

How to get to the Maldives

Getting to the Maldives is relatively easy, with several international airlines offering direct flights to Velana International Airport (MLE), located in the capital city of Malé.

From major cities around the world, you can find direct flights to the Maldives with airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and more. Depending on your location, flight durations can range from a few hours to a long-haul journey.

Once you arrive at Velana International Airport, there are a few options to reach your chosen local island:

• Speedboat Transfer: Many local islands can be reached by speedboat transfer, which is a convenient and relatively fast option. Speedboats are operated by local guesthouses and resorts, and the duration of the transfer can range from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the distance.
• Public Ferry: Public ferries are available to some local islands from Malé. These ferries are more affordable but operate on a fixed schedule, so it’s important to plan your trip accordingly. The ferry journey may take longer, ranging from a few hours to several hours depending on the distance.
• Domestic Flights: In some cases, if you are heading to a more remote or distant local island, you may need to take a domestic flight from Velana International Airport to a regional airport in the vicinity of your destination. Domestic flights are operated by local airlines such as Maldivian and Flyme, and the flight duration can range from 20 minutes to an hour.

It’s important to coordinate your arrival and departure times with your chosen accommodation to ensure a smooth transfer process. Many guesthouses and resorts can assist with arranging the transportation for you, so be sure to communicate your travel plans in advance.

Additionally, please note that a tourist visa is granted upon arrival for visitors from most countries, allowing you to stay in the Maldives for up to 30 days. However, it’s always advisable to check the visa requirements for your specific nationality prior to your trip.

With proper planning and coordination, you’ll find that reaching the Maldives and your chosen local island is a straightforward process. Prepare for a breathtaking arrival, as you witness the atolls and turquoise waters from the airplane window and prepare to immerse yourself in the wonders of this tropical paradise.

Choosing the right local island for you

With over 200 inhabited local islands to choose from, selecting the right island for your Maldives adventure can be an exciting yet daunting task. Each island has its own unique charm, atmosphere, and range of activities, so it’s important to consider a few factors before making your decision.

1. Location: Determine the region of the Maldives you wish to explore. Some islands are closer to the capital city of Malé, while others are located in more remote parts of the archipelago. Consider whether you prefer easy accessibility or a more secluded and pristine environment.

2. Size and Atmosphere: Local islands come in various sizes, from tiny coral havens to larger bustling communities. Think about whether you prefer a quieter and more intimate experience or a livelier atmosphere with more amenities and activities.

3. Accommodation Options: Research the range of accommodations available on each island. From budget-friendly guesthouses to comfortable boutique hotels, there is a diverse range of options to cater to different preferences and budgets.

4. Beaches and Natural Beauty: If pristine beaches are high on your priority list, consider the quality of the beaches on each island. Some islands boast long stretches of white sand and clear turquoise waters, while others may have smaller, more secluded beaches.

5. Activities and Attractions: Think about the activities and attractions you are most interested in. Whether it’s snorkeling, diving, fishing, or cultural experiences, different islands offer various opportunities. Check if your chosen island has the facilities and services that align with your interests.

6. Local Culture and Traditions: For a truly immersive experience, consider the cultural aspects of each island. Learn about the local traditions, festivals, and events that take place, and whether there are any historical or cultural sites to explore.

7. Budget considerations: Take into account your budget for accommodation, dining, and activities. Local islands generally offer more affordable options compared to luxury resorts, but prices can still vary. Research the average costs and factor this into your decision-making process.

By considering these factors and doing thorough research, you can narrow down your options and choose the local island that best suits your preferences. Remember, each island has its own unique charm and will provide you with an authentic and memorable experience in the Maldives.

Accommodation options on local islands

When it comes to accommodation on the local islands of the Maldives, you’ll find a wide range of options to suit different budgets and preferences. From budget-friendly guesthouses to boutique hotels and beachfront resorts, there is something for everyone.

1. Guesthouses: The most common type of accommodation on local islands is guesthouses. These are small, family-run establishments that offer comfortable rooms with basic amenities. Guesthouses provide an excellent opportunity to connect with the local community and experience the authentic Maldivian way of life. They are often more affordable compared to resorts and offer a personalized touch.

2. Boutique Hotels: For those seeking a more luxurious experience on local islands, boutique hotels are a popular option. These establishments typically offer stylishly designed rooms, upscale amenities, and personalized services. Boutique hotels on local islands provide a blend of comfort, charm, and authenticity.

3. Beachfront Resorts: While most resorts in the Maldives are located on private islands, some local islands have their own beachfront resorts. These resorts offer a higher level of luxury and amenities compared to guesthouses and boutique hotels. With private beach access, spa facilities, and fine dining options, beachfront resorts provide a more indulgent experience.

4. Homestays: For a truly immersive experience, consider staying in a local family’s home. Homestays allow you to live with a Maldivian family, learn about their traditions, and enjoy homemade meals. This type of accommodation offers a unique insight into the local culture and is a great way to forge connections with the community.

5. Glamping and Eco-lodges: For eco-conscious travelers, there are glamping options and eco-lodges available on some local islands. These accommodations emphasize sustainability and provide a close-to-nature experience. Enjoy the comfort of a cozy tent or eco-friendly bungalow while minimizing your environmental impact.

Regardless of your choice of accommodation, it’s important to communicate with the property in advance to confirm availability and make reservations. Many accommodations on local islands can arrange airport transfers, excursions, and activities to enhance your stay.

With a variety of accommodation options on local islands, you can find the perfect place to suit your style, budget, and desired level of comfort. No matter where you choose to stay, the warm hospitality of the Maldivian people and the natural beauty of the surrounding islands will make your stay unforgettable.

What to pack for your trip to the Maldives

When preparing for your trip to the Maldives, packing the right essentials will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience in this tropical paradise. Here’s a list of items that you should consider including in your suitcase:

1. Lightweight Clothing: The Maldives has a warm and tropical climate year-round, so pack lightweight, breathable clothing such as cotton shirts, shorts, dresses, and swimwear. Don’t forget to pack a hat, sunglasses, and a sarong or cover-up for when you’re not in the water.

2. Sunscreen and Sun Protection: Protect your skin from the intense sun rays by packing a high SPF sunscreen lotion, lip balm with SPF, and a wide-brimmed hat. Consider bringing a rash guard or UV-protective clothing for snorkeling and water activities.

3. Reef-Safe Sunscreen: To help preserve the fragile marine ecosystems of the Maldives, consider using reef-safe sunscreen that does not contain harmful chemicals. Look for sunscreen labeled as “reef-friendly” or “biodegradable.”

4. Snorkeling Gear: While some guesthouses and resorts provide snorkeling equipment, it’s always a good idea to bring your own mask, snorkel, and fins for a more comfortable and personal experience. A dry bag or waterproof phone case is handy for protecting your belongings during water activities.

5. Insect Repellent: Although the Maldives is generally not known for mosquito problems, it’s advisable to bring insect repellent to protect against any potential mosquito bites, especially during the evenings and in rural areas.

6. Beach Essentials: Pack a beach towel, flip-flops or sandals, and a beach bag to carry your essentials to the beautiful sandy beaches. A small portable beach umbrella or a lightweight beach tent is also a useful addition to provide shade during sunny days.

7. Underwater Camera: Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the breathtaking underwater scenery of the Maldives. Consider bringing an underwater camera or investing in a waterproof phone case to capture those unforgettable moments while snorkeling or diving.

8. Medications and Essentials: If you have any prescribed medications or specific health needs, ensure you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip. It’s also a good idea to pack a basic first aid kit, including band-aids, antiseptic cream, and any necessary over-the-counter medications.

9. Travel Adaptors and Chargers: The Maldives uses UK-style electrical outlets, so bring adaptors if your electronic devices have a different plug type. Don’t forget to pack chargers for your phone, camera, and other electronic devices.

10. Travel Documents: Finally, ensure you have all necessary travel documents, including your passport, flight tickets, travel insurance, and any required visas. It’s also a good idea to have digital copies of these documents stored securely online.

Remember to pack light and be mindful of the weight restrictions for your flights. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring a sense of adventure and an open mind, as the Maldives promises to offer you an experience of a lifetime!

Activities and attractions on local islands

The local islands of the Maldives offer a wealth of activities and attractions that will keep you entertained throughout your stay. Here are some of the top experiences to enjoy on the local islands:

1. Snorkeling and Diving: Explore the vibrant underwater world surrounding the local islands. Snorkel in the shallow lagoons and witness an array of colorful coral reefs, tropical fish, and even sea turtles. If you’re a certified diver, take advantage of the opportunity to dive into the deeper waters and discover a whole new level of marine life and underwater landscapes.

2. Fishing Trips: Join local fishermen on a fishing excursion and experience the thrill of traditional Maldivian fishing. Whether it’s reef fishing, night fishing, or big game fishing, you’ll have the chance to catch your own dinner while soaking in the serene beauty of the surrounding waters.

3. Island Hopping: Explore the nearby uninhabited islands and experience the raw beauty of the Maldives. Take a day trip to secluded beaches, go snorkeling in untouched reefs, and enjoy a picnic lunch in paradise. Island hopping is an excellent way to discover hidden gems and soak up the unspoiled natural beauty of the Maldives.

4. Cultural Experiences: Immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting local markets, historical sites, and traditional villages. Explore the charming narrow streets, admire the intricate architecture of the mosques, and witness traditional dance performances or Bodu Beru drumming. Engage with the locals, learn about their customs, and gain a deeper appreciation for the Maldivian way of life.

5. Water Sports: Local islands offer a range of water sports activities for adventure enthusiasts. Kayak through the calm lagoons, ride the waves on a jet ski, or try your hand at windsurfing or paddleboarding. The warm turquoise waters provide the perfect playground for water sports enthusiasts of all levels.

6. Sunset and Dolphin Cruises: Relax and unwind on a sunset cruise, where you can witness the breathtaking beauty of the Maldivian sunset over the Indian Ocean. If you’re lucky, you may even have the opportunity to spot dolphins as they playfully swim alongside the boat, creating a magical experience that will leave you in awe.

7. Spa and Wellness: Indulge in some rejuvenation and wellness treatments while on the local islands. Many guesthouses and resorts offer spa services, including massages, yoga classes, and meditation sessions. Pamper yourself and embrace the tranquil surroundings for a truly blissful experience.

These are just a few of the activities and attractions that await you on the local islands of the Maldives. Each island offers its own unique experiences, so take the time to explore and discover the hidden treasures that make your visit to the Maldives truly unforgettable.

Exploring the underwater world: snorkeling and diving

The Maldives is renowned for its mesmerizing underwater world, inviting snorkelers and divers to immerse themselves in a paradise of vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced underwater explorer, snorkeling and diving in the Maldives is an unforgettable experience.

Snorkeling: Snorkeling is a popular and accessible activity for all ages and skill levels. From the local islands, you can easily access shallow lagoons and breathtaking house reefs teeming with colorful coral formations and tropical fish. Strap on your mask, put on your snorkel, and dive into the calm waters to discover a kaleidoscope of marine life, including butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and even sea turtles. Many guesthouses and resorts on local islands provide snorkeling gear, making it convenient to explore the underwater wonders.

Diving: The Maldives is a dream destination for divers, with its clear waters, warm temperatures, and incredible biodiversity. The local islands offer access to world-class dive sites suitable for divers of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there are dive centers that offer certifications, training, and guided dives. Explore dramatic walls, intricate coral gardens, and encounter an impressive range of marine species, including manta rays, reef sharks, whale sharks, and an abundance of colorful fish. The Maldives is also famous for its thrilling drift dives, where you can glide effortlessly along underwater channels, observing the marine life in their natural habitat.

When planning your snorkeling or diving adventures, it’s essential to prioritize safety and conservation. Always snorkel and dive with a buddy, follow the guidelines and instructions given by trained professionals, and respect the delicate ecosystem. Remember that touching or standing on the coral can cause irreversible damage. Practice responsible diving by avoiding excessive fin kicking and maintaining good buoyancy control to protect the fragile reefs.

Whether you choose to snorkel or dive, exploring the underwater world of the Maldives is a magical experience. It’s a chance to witness the vibrant colors, unique formations, and diverse marine life that make this destination a diver’s paradise. So, grab your snorkel or scuba gear, and get ready to discover the breathtaking beauty that lies beneath the surface of the Maldivian waters.

Getting around the local islands

Exploring the local islands of the Maldives is a delightful experience, and getting around is relatively easy. Here are various modes of transportation available to help you navigate and discover the beauty of the local islands:

Walking: The size of the local islands makes walking a convenient and enjoyable way to get around. Most local islands are small enough to explore on foot, allowing you to leisurely stroll through the narrow streets, interact with locals, and discover hidden gems along the way. Walking gives you the freedom to absorb the charm of each island at your own pace.

Bicycles: Many guesthouses and resorts on local islands offer bicycles for rent, providing a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation. Cycling allows you to cover more ground, venture to more distant areas of the island, and easily access beaches or attractions further away from your accommodation. It’s an enjoyable way to get a taste of the local island lifestyle while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Taxis: On some larger local islands, taxis are available for transport. These taxis are often small vehicles or motorcycles that can take you to your desired destination more quickly if you prefer not to walk or cycle. Taxis are a convenient and accessible option, especially if you have heavy luggage or if you want to explore the island efficiently.

Public Transportation: Some local islands have public buses or vans that operate on fixed routes. These are an affordable option if you want to travel a longer distance within or between islands. The schedules may be less frequent, so it’s advisable to check the timing in advance. Public transportation provides an opportunity to mingle with local commuters and experience the daily life of the island residents.

Private Boat Transfers: If you’re planning to visit nearby uninhabited islands or embark on excursions, private boat transfers can be arranged. This allows you to explore the surrounding islands, go snorkeling or diving in different locations, and discover secluded beaches or sandbanks. Private boat transfers are commonly offered by guesthouses and resorts and can be tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

Whichever mode of transportation you choose, keep in mind that the Maldives operates on island time, and things may not always run strictly on schedule. Embrace the laid-back atmosphere, go with the flow, and enjoy the journey as you move around the local islands.

With the various options available, you can easily navigate the local islands of the Maldives and discover the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality that this tropical paradise has to offer.

Local island etiquette and cultural considerations

When visiting the local islands of the Maldives, it’s essential to respect the local culture and adhere to certain etiquette practices. Here are some cultural considerations to keep in mind during your stay:

Dress Code: The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country, and it’s respectful to dress modestly, especially when exploring local communities. Avoid wearing revealing clothing such as short shorts, low-cut tops, or swimwear when outside of the beach or resort areas. While swimwear is acceptable on the beach, it’s advisable to cover up when walking through the local streets or visiting local establishments.

Respect for Religion: Islam is the official religion in the Maldives, and mosques hold a significant cultural and religious importance. Be mindful of your behavior when passing by or visiting mosques. Avoid entering mosque areas unless you are properly dressed and seeking permission. Refrain from taking photos or engaging in any disruptive behavior in religious areas.

Public Displays of Affection: Public displays of affection, including kissing and hugging, are not part of the local culture and are considered inappropriate in public places. It’s advisable to express affection towards your partner in a more private and discreet manner, as a sign of respect for the local customs.

Photography: Before taking photos of local people, make sure to ask for permission out of respect for their privacy. Some individuals may decline, and it’s important to respect their wishes. Additionally, avoid taking photos of religious sites, military installations, and government buildings, as they are sensitive areas.

Interaction with Locals: The people of the Maldives are known for their warm hospitality, so engaging with locals is highly encouraged. Greeting the locals with a smile and a friendly “hello” (known as “assalaamu alaikum”) is appreciated. If invited into someone’s home or invited to join a local gathering, it’s polite to accept the invitation as a gesture of respect and genuine interest in their culture.

Environmental Respect: The Maldives is blessed with pristine natural beauty, and it’s important to be mindful of preserving the environment. Avoid littering, especially in marine areas, and dispose of waste in designated bins. When snorkeling or diving, respect the fragile coral reefs by not touching or standing on them, as this can cause irreparable damage to the delicate ecosystem.

By observing these etiquette practices and showing respect for the local customs and traditions, you’ll foster positive interactions with the locals and contribute to a harmonious cultural exchange during your visit to the local islands of the Maldives.

Local island dining options

When it comes to dining on the local islands of the Maldives, you can expect a delightful culinary experience filled with flavors influenced by the local Maldivian culture and the surrounding Indian Ocean region. Here are some dining options to explore during your stay:

Local Cafés and Restaurants: Many local islands have small cafés and restaurants where you can savor traditional Maldivian dishes and international cuisine. These local establishments offer a casual and laid-back atmosphere, allowing you to sample authentic flavors while immersing yourself in the local island vibe. Try local favorites such as Mas Huni (a coconut-infused tuna salad), Garudhiya (a fish broth), or Rihaakuru (a fish-based savory paste).

Street Food Stalls: For a truly immersive culinary experience, explore the local island street food scene. You’ll find small stalls or “hotaa” selling an array of snacks and affordable meals. Indulge in delicious “hedhikaa” – a variety of savory pastries and fritters made from fish, vegetables, or lentils. Don’t miss the delectable “bajiya” (spiced fish or vegetable dumplings) or a refreshing “kurumba” (coconut water) to quench your thirst.

Island-Barbecues and Beach Dinners: Some guesthouses and resorts on local islands offer special dining experiences, such as island-barbecues or beach dinners. Indulge in a feast of grilled seafood or succulent meat dishes while enjoying the stunning backdrop of the beach. These dining experiences provide a magical ambiance and an opportunity to create lasting memories under the starlit Maldivian sky.

Food and Cooking Experiences: Delve deeper into the local culinary traditions through cooking classes and food experiences offered by local guesthouses. Learn to prepare traditional Maldivian dishes under the guidance of experienced chefs or host families. This hands-on experience allows you to gain insight into the local ingredients, spices, and cooking techniques that make Maldivian cuisine unique.

Resort Dining: While staying on a local island, you may also have the option to visit nearby resorts for dining experiences. Many resorts offer day passes or allow visitors to dine at their restaurants for a fee. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy the luxury resort ambiance and indulge in fine dining experiences while exploring the local islands.

Throughout your culinary journey on the local islands, don’t forget to try the local beverage specialties. From refreshing fruit juices to invigorating coconut water and the famous Maldivian “raihaakurun” (a traditional spiced black tea), you’ll find a variety of thirst-quenching options to complement your meals.

Embrace the local island dining options and savor the flavors of Maldivian cuisine. Treat your taste buds to a fusion of spices, fresh seafood, and tropical delights, all while enjoying the warm hospitality and charm of the local island communities.

Safety tips for visiting the Maldives

The Maldives is generally a safe destination for travelers, but it’s always important to take certain precautions to ensure a smooth and worry-free trip. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when visiting the Maldives:

1. Swim and Snorkel with Caution: While the waters of the Maldives are generally safe for swimming and snorkeling, it’s important to exercise caution, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer. Be mindful of strong currents, especially during changes in tides, and if you’re venturing further from the shore, ensure you’re accompanied by a certified guide or experienced snorkeler.

2. Respect Marine Life and Corals: The Maldives is home to delicate coral reefs and diverse marine life. It’s essential to respect the marine ecosystem by not touching the corals and marine creatures. Avoid standing or walking on the corals as it can cause irreparable damage. Additionally, be cautious of any potentially harmful marine life, such as jellyfish or sea urchins, and seek assistance if you encounter any issues.

3. Protect Yourself from the Sun: The Maldives’ tropical climate means that the sun can be intense. Protect yourself from sunburn and heatstroke by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF, using a hat and sunglasses, and seeking shade during the peak hours of the sun. Stay well-hydrated and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

4. Secure Valuables and Travel Documents: Keep your valuables, including passports, cash, and electronics, secure and locked in your accommodation. Use hotel safes if available, and carry only necessary identification when exploring the local islands. It’s advisable to have digital copies of important documents stored securely online as a backup.

5. Follow Local Customs and Laws: Respect local customs and traditions, including dress codes and cultural norms. Observe and follow any regulations or instructions provided by local authorities, especially when visiting sensitive areas, religious sites, or protected areas. Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations to ensure you have a trouble-free experience.

6. Stay Hydrated and Consume Safe Food and Water: Drink bottled water or water from trusted sources to stay hydrated and prevent any potential waterborne illnesses. Be cautious of consuming street food from unknown vendors and ensure that any cooked food is served hot and fresh.

7. Stay Informed about Weather and Travel Advisories: Before traveling to the Maldives, stay informed about weather conditions, travel advisories, and any potential risks or safety concerns. Consider purchasing travel insurance to provide coverage for any unforeseen events or emergencies.

By following these safety tips and using common sense, you can enjoy a safe and enjoyable trip to the Maldives. Remember to stay aware of your surroundings, respect the local culture, and take necessary precautions to ensure a memorable and worry-free vacation.

Sustainable tourism in the Maldives

The Maldives is not only a stunning destination but also a pioneer in sustainable tourism. With a commitment to environmental preservation, the Maldives has implemented various initiatives to protect its fragile ecosystems while providing travelers with unforgettable experiences. Here are some examples of sustainable tourism practices in the Maldives:

1. Marine Conservation and Reef Protection: The Maldives places high importance on protecting its marine life and coral reefs. Numerous marine protected areas have been established to create safe havens for marine species and to promote the regrowth of damaged coral. Diving and snorkeling guidelines are enforced to prevent damage to sensitive ecosystems, and visitors are encouraged to practice responsible snorkeling and diving by not touching or standing on corals and by using reef-safe sunscreen.

2. Renewable Energy Initiatives: The Maldives is actively working towards becoming a carbon-neutral destination. Many resorts and guesthouses have implemented renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels, to reduce their carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. These initiatives contribute to the prevention of air and water pollution, and the conservation of natural resources.

3. Waste Management and Recycling: Waste management is a top priority in the Maldives. Local islands have adapted mechanisms to properly dispose of waste and recycle where possible. Resorts and guesthouses often have recycling programs in place, and efforts are made to minimize the use of single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly alternatives.

4. Community-Based Tourism and Local Empowerment: Community-based tourism initiatives have been established to ensure that the local communities of the Maldives benefit economically from tourism. Local guesthouses and resorts provide employment opportunities for local residents, and visitors are encouraged to support local businesses and engage in cultural activities offered by the communities. This approach allows travelers to experience the authentic Maldivian way of life while contributing to the well-being of the local communities.

5. Research and Conservation Efforts: The Maldives is home to diverse and unique marine life, making it an ideal location for research and conservation projects. Many organizations and resorts collaborate in marine research, such as monitoring coral bleaching and studying the impacts of climate change. These initiatives provide valuable data to scientists and aid in the development of conservation strategies.

Through these sustainable tourism practices, the Maldives is striving to ensure that its natural beauty and unique ecosystems are preserved for future generations. Travelers are encouraged to support and respect these initiatives by choosing accommodations and services that align with sustainable practices, minimizing their environmental impact, and embracing the local culture and traditions. By practicing responsible and sustainable tourism, visitors can play a vital role in the preservation of the Maldives’ natural wonders.

The Maldives local islands hold the key to a truly authentic and unforgettable travel experience. From the stunning beaches and vibrant coral reefs to the warm hospitality of the local communities, the Maldivian way of life offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.

By venturing beyond the exclusive resorts and embracing the local islands, you can immerse yourself in the true essence of the Maldives. Explore the underwater wonders while snorkeling or diving in the crystal-clear waters, indulge in the flavors of Maldivian cuisine, and engage with the friendly locals who will welcome you with open arms.

As you plan your visit, keep in mind the importance of sustainable and responsible tourism. The Maldives takes great strides in protecting its fragile ecosystems, and by following guidelines, you can contribute to the preservation of its pristine beauty for future generations.

Whether you choose to relax on the beaches, dive into the colorful reefs, or embrace the rich cultural heritage, the local islands of the Maldives offer a wealth of experiences to suit every traveler. Allow yourself to be captivated by the natural wonders, enchanted by the local traditions, and rejuvenated by the tranquility of this tropical paradise.

So, embark on this journey to the Maldives local islands and create memories that will last a lifetime. Let the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches awaken your sense of adventure, and the warm smiles of the locals leave an indelible mark on your heart. The Maldives awaits – a true paradise on Earth.

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Maldives Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide to Local Islands and Resort Islands

Maldives itinerary.

Close your eyes and imagine a tropical paradise. What do you see? White sand beaches, crystal clear waters and swaying palm trees? Well we found Paradise – Maldives! I had the impression that it’s an overhyped and overpriced destination but I was wrong. The hype is totally worth it. We’ve island hopped in the Mediterranean, Indonesia and Thailand but Maldives has hands down the clearest waters we’ve seen. The marine life in particular is unbelievable. With over 200 islands to choose from, narrowing down on a few islands was a struggle. Even more since we wanted to combine both local islands and a resort island. Are you planning to visit Maldives and not sure which island to visit? Don’t worry, we’ve been there. We hope this Maldives itinerary helps you plan an ultimate trip to the Maldives whether it’s locals islands, a resort island or a combination of both.

Table of Contents

Our 10 day Maldives Itinerary

Maldives itinerary day 1 – hulhumale.

Although we could have taken a speedboat to a far away local island, we decided to spend the night in Hulhumalé after landing in Male airport.

We purchased a local sim card and some local currency (Maldivian Rufiyaa) from Velana International Airport. The Dhiraagu Traveller Plus sim card cost USD 35. It gave 150 mins local calls and SMS and 17 GB data, valid for 30 days. Basically this was the cheapest option and as all the guest houses and resorts have wifi, this was sufficient. By and large, Maldives is an expensive country so do bear that in mind.

Hulhumale is an artificial island located near Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. It’s worth visiting if you’re interested in seeing another side of the country, as it offers a unique blend of modern city life and traditional Maldivian culture.

We pretty much walked around the city the whole day, explored the sights, and got a feel of the local Maldivian life. This is something we enjoy doing and even more so on the first day. After all, it’s an excellent way to get an immersive experience of a new city.

How to reach Hulhumale?

We booked an airport pick up via our hotel as we wanted the first bit of our trip to be seamless. Though this tends to be pricey, we always opt for this option on our first day in a country we aren’t familiar with. We started doing this after a few unpleasant experiences in South East Asia. It cost us USD 20 from Male airport to our hotel in Hulhumale. However if you take a taxi from outside the airport it will cost you around USD 10.

Things to do in Hulhumale

• Hulhumale Beach: Hulhumale has a picturesque beach. Surprisingly the water was clear despite it being a city beach.
• Explore the Hulhumale Mosque: The Hulhumale Mosque is a beautiful and historic mosque located in the heart of the island. Also, it is one of the largest mosques in the Maldives and is known for its beautiful architecture and design.
• Central Park: Hulhumale’s Central Park is a lush green space in the centre of the island, offering a perfect spot for picnics and relaxation. Additionally it has the largest musical fountain ever built in the Maldives. Visit it during sunset for a leisurely stroll like the locals. Children especially will have a gala time.
• Cafe / Restaurant hopping: Hulhumale has several restaurants offering a variety of local and international cuisine. We had dinner at the Amber Beach Hotel . The food was average but the rooftop restaurant had splendid sea views.
• Water sports: Finally water activities. There are several operators offering snorkelling, diving, island visits and so on. We wouldn’t recommend you to do these in Hulhumale as the local islands are way more scenic.

Where to stay in Hulhumale?

Choose any hotel on the beach road. It was just a night stay for us therefore we chose a budget option at Chen Beach Hotel . It amounted to USD 75 with breakfast. Overall we were happy with the room, service and breakfast. Furthermore the airport pick up was smooth and they arranged for a local taxi back to Male. The other hotels that we were considering were Season Holidays and H78 Maldives .

Average price per night: USD 75 – USD 150

Is it worth going to Hulhumale?

Summing up, we enjoyed our time in Hulhumale. It’s not the classic Maldives that you think of, so if you have limited time, don’t include it in your Maldives itinerary. All in all, it’s good for a wee stop-over near the airport to get an insight about the local life in Maldives.

Maldives Itinerary Day 2 to Day 4 – Ukulhas

Our final Maldives itinerary took months of research to finalise. Chiefly because we wanted to explore 2 local islands, 1 resort island along with Hulhumale and Male. As for the local islands, our main criteria was – it should be scenic, quiet and have an excellent beach. Additionally, it shouldn’t be too far from Male. Given these points and after reading 100’s of blogs and watching several youtube videos, we chose Ukulhas.

Why choose Ukulhas?

• Beautiful beach – It has one of the largest and undeniably the most beautiful bikini beaches on a local island in Maldives. The beach is over 1 km long and there are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas. Moreover the beach is regularly cleaned and didn’t feel crowded even in peak season. In fact lot of secluded spots that will make it feel like your own private beach.
• Excellent house reef – Meanwhile the house reef is excellent for snorkelling. We saw huge schools of a wide variety of fish.
• Quiet island – By and large it had the typical laidback, quiet island feeling.
• Sustainable tourism – It is one of the most environmental friendly islands in the Maldives. For instance single use plastic is banned so you won’t find any plastic waste on the island.
• Hotels with beach access – Several hotels have direct access to the beach but only a few have sea view. Given that, a direct beach access from our guest house was fantastic.
• Local culture – Ukulhas is not as developed as some of the other more touristy islands in the Maldives so still pretty much a hidden paradise.
• Great island for families – All in all this island is a perfect place for young families as the distance from the beach to hotels is a maximum of 100 m and the waters are shallow.
• Clean island – We walked all around the island and didn’t see any garbage. Certainly one of the cleanest local islands in the Maldives.

How to reach Ukulhas?

We took a speedboat from Male airport to Ukulhas. It costs USD 50 per head and takes around 2 hours. They run everyday.

There timing are as follows:

• Velana International Airport to Ukulhas : 10:30 ​
• Velana International Airport to Ukulhas : 16:30 
• Ukulhas / Rasdhoo / Airport : 07:00 
• Ukulhas / Rasdhoo / Airport : 13:00

Your guesthouse / hotel will arrange your speedboat transfer if you inform them about your arrival time at least a few days before your trip. You need to pay the speedboat captain directly.

There are public ferries operating as well, although they run only twice every week. It takes 4 hours instead of 2.

Male to Ukulhas – Every Monday and Thursday – at 9:00 am from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal in Male. Tickets can be purchased for 5 USD from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal.

Ukulhas to Male – Every Sunday and Wednesday – 9:45 am from Ukulhas Jetty. Tickets can be purchased inside the Ferry. No pre-reservation is required.

Additionally, you can check out the Atoll Transfer website to check and book ferries and speedboats to chalk your Maldives itinerary.

Where to stay in Ukulhas?

• SeaLaVie Inn – We stayed at SeaLaVie, a small 5 bedroom guest house in the quiet part of Ukulhas. The room was spacious and sparkling clean. Best part of course was the location, just a minute walk to the bikini beach. We took the half board package which overall was a good deal. Breakfast was served at SeaLaVie and dinner was at Fisherman’s boat restaurant. We loved the traditional Maldivian breakfast as well as the buffet dinner. You can book your stay here – Book SeaLavie Price: USD 320 for a couple for 3 nights including breakfast and dinner.
• Ranthari Hotel and Spa – If you are looking for a luxury hotel with a pool then consider Ranthari. This is especially amazing if you want to get a slice of luxury on a local island. Since we had a resort island booked we preferred a more local guest house experience. You can book your stay here – Book Ranthari

Ukulhas is surely not the cheapest local island. You’d find hotels and activities at a fraction of this cost in islands like Maafushi but after reading about over tourism there, we thought its best to avoid them.

Where to eat in Ukulhas?

• Fisherman’s Boat – We had all our dinners here as it was part of our half board plan. The buffet spread was great with cut fruits, breads, meat, veg and desserts. Moreover there was a decent vegetarian spread as well.
• Sapore Restaurant & Pizzeria – Another wonderful option in case you are bored of rice and noodles everyday.

To sum up we loved Ukulhas and it is undoubtedly our favourite local island. We highly recommend you to add this to your Maldives itinerary.

Maldives Itinerary Day 5 and 6 – Rasdhoo

We hopped on a 15 minute speed boat from Ukulhas to Rasdhoo. We chose Rasdhoo as it was on the same atoll and easy to get to from Ukulhas.

Why choose Rasdhoo?

• Accessibility – Situated in North Ari Atoll, 60 km west of Male, it’s just an hour and half speedboat ride away which in particular makes it convenient travel wise.
• Good budget option – In general we found the accommodation and food options to be cheaper than Ukulhas.
• Snorkeling – Rasdhoo is excellent for snorkelling around the house reef even though we preferred the bikini beach at Ukulhas.
• Sandbank and uninhabited islands nearby – A 5 minute boat ride from Rasdhoo island, lies silky white sandbank surrounded by turquoise waters at Madivaru Finolhu. In essence this is the main draw of Rashdoo and can be a unique experience.
• Dolphin safari – Between Rasdhoo and Thoddoo there is a place where a group of dolphins gather in the evenings. Certainly worth doing this as well.

How to reach Rasdhoo?

We took a 10 min speedboat from Ukulhas to Rasdhoo at 7:00 am. Price is USD 10 per head.

The speedboat timings are as follows. They run everyday.

• Velana International Airport to Rasdhoo : 10:30 ​
• Velana International Airport to Rasdhoo : 16:00
• Rasdhoo / Airport : 07:30 
• Rasdhoo / Airport : 13:30

Male to Rasdhoo – Every Monday and Thursday – at 9:00 am from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal in Male. Tickets can be purchased for 3.50 USD from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal.

Rasdhoo to Male – Every Sunday and Wednesday – 9:45 am from Ukulhas Jetty. Tickets can be purchased inside the Ferry. No pre-reservation is required.

Your guest house / hotel will arrange your transfer.

Where to stay in Rasdhoo?

• Acqua Blu Rasdhoo – Clean budget guesthouse with friendly staff. Great location and they offer several activities as well.
• Holiday Garden Rasdhoo – Another hotel with good reviews that you could consider.

Where to eat in Rasdhoo?

• Lemon Drop – Quiet restaurant with a lovely vibe. We had pizzas and some refreshments.
• Alimente – Cool spot for coffee and cakes

To summarise, Rasdhoo ticks all the boxes for a budget Maldivian getaway with superb excursions and activities. A fab option for your Maldives itinerary.

Maldives Itinerary Day 7 to 10 – Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa

A 5 star resort island, an overwater villa, endless views of crystal clear turquoise waters, high quality food and a taste of ultimate luxury – this is the quintessential Maldivian holiday of dreams. Our Maldives itinerary felt truly complete with this experience. To clarify we are not luxury travellers but decided to splurge for this experience. Was it worth it?

Read our detailed blog post about resort islands here – Coming soon! Watch this space.

Best resort islands in the Maldives

Check out all the details here – Coming soon!

Maldives Itinerary Day 11 – Male

We spent our final day in Male before flying back home the next afternoon. Male is the capital and the biggest city of Maldives. It’s a wonderful way to understand how real life in Maldives looks like.

Things to do in Male

• Visit the mosques – Visit the Hukuru Miskiy and King Salman mosques to get a glimpse of Maldivian architecture.
• Tsunami Monument – The memorial was built to pay homage to the victims of a tsunami that hit Maldives in 2004. It was peaceful during sunset.
• National Museum – This museum has a collection of artefacts dating back to the pre-Islamic period of the Maldives.
• Local Market – Walk around the bustling local markets to experience the local culture.
• Try local cuisine – Try the delicious seafood, coconut-based dishes, and traditional curries.
• Relax on the beach – Go for a leisurely walk on the 2 artificial beaches in Male. It’s definitely not as pretty as the ones in faraway islands but worth visiting nonetheless.

Is it worth visiting Male?

You could definitely spend a day to understand the local culture if you have the time. If you are visiting for less than a week, then skip it from your Maldives itinerary. It’s good for an overnight pit-stop before or after your trip to the local / resort islands.

Where to stay in Male?

Since we just had a night we chose a budget hotel The Grand View . Small, basic clean room, no complaints. Other hotels that we considered were Manhattan Business Hotel and The Somerset Hotel .

Hope you find our Maldives itinerary helpful to plan your holiday. Read along for more tips for Maldives.

Maldives FAQ’s

Best local islands in the maldives.

If you have around 10-12 days in the Maldives, you can include 2-3 islands in your Maldives itinerary. Our top picks for local islands are Ukulhas, Rasdhoo, Fulidhoo, Dhigurah, Hanimaadhoo and Vaadhoo. Then again, Dhigurah, Vaadhoo and Hanimaadhoo are very far from Male so choose wisely. The following tips will help you select the islands of your choice.

How to choose a local island in Maldives?

Choosing a local island can be a unique way to experience the Maldives. But with over a 100 local islands to choose from, narrowing down to 2 was not easy. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a local island:

• Distance from Male: Consider the location of the island in relation to the capital city of Male and other islands you may want to visit. Distances can be large so this will affect the travel time as well as budget.
• Accommodation options: Choose an island based on the accommodation options available to suit your budget and preferences. Some local islands may have guesthouses, hotels, or resorts, while others may only have a few basic options. Some islands are more expensive than others so compare before booking.
• Activities: Consider the activities available on the island and nearby areas. Some local islands are famous for snorkelling, diving, surfing, or other water sports, while others may have more cultural or historical attractions to explore.
• Accessibility: Check the transportation options to the island, including ferries, speedboats, and domestic flights. Some islands may be more difficult to access than others.
• Budget: Finally, consider your budget as it has to cover the costs for island transfer, accommodation, food and activities. Local islands are more affordable than staying at a resorts, but the costs are not uniform across islands.

We enjoyed Ukulhas and Rasdhoo and strongly suggest to include at least 1 local island in your Maldives itinerary.

How to do Maldives on a budget?

The first image that comes to mind while thinking of Maldives is that of ultimate luxury – sipping champagne in an infinity pool from an over water villa. Of course this experience is unique and wonderful but it’s not the only way to explore Maldives. Most important, luxury resorts are insanely expensive. Since we stayed in both local and resort islands, we can vouch that both were equally special. But if budget is the constraint, then the following tips will help to plan a trip to the Maldives without breaking the bank.

1) Choose local island / islands

The local islands in the Maldives officially opened for tourism in 2009, when the Maldivian government introduced a guesthouse program to promote tourism outside of the resort islands. Stay in a guesthouses on local islands instead of expensive resort islands.

2) Travel cheaper

Opt for local transport: Instead of taking seaplanes or speedboats to get around, consider taking the public ferry. While they may be slower, they are much more affordable than private transfers. For example: A speedboat cost USD 10 from Ukulhas to Rasdhoo whereas the local ferry cost just USD 1. Although keep in mind that public ferries do not run everyday so plan your trip accordingly.

3) Eat local

Eat at local restaurants: Instead of dining at fancy restaurants, try local cafes and restaurants, which offer delicious food at affordable prices.

4) Research activities and compare prices

Book excursions and activities directly with local providers: Scout for local providers for activities. Booking through hotels can be more expensive. If your main reason for traveling to Maldives is diving then hunt around for the best diving package deal in advance of your trip. Many guesthouses offer deals for stay and dive packages.

5) Choose your island wisely

The Maldives is made up of 26 natural atolls and each atoll has several islands. Some atolls are very far from Male so a speedboat transfer will be more expensive. Local ferry can take over 5-6 hrs and if you choose local islands in different atolls, you will have to come back to Male and take another speedboat / ferry. There are no direct transfers. From what we researched, the activities in the faraway islands like Dhigurah were more expensive than the others so factor this in as well. Lastly some islands like Maafushi, Fulidhoo have a better tourism infrastructure so tend to be cheaper.

6) Bring your own snorkelling gear

Most resorts and guesthouses offer masks, snorkels, fins and other motorised water-sports equipment to guests free of cost but for hygiene reasons it’s best to take your own snorkeling masks. We highly recommend getting the Easybreath Dive mask from Decathlon . This was one of our best purchases for sure.

7) Visit in low season

Some people suggest visiting Maldives in the off-season. This would certainly cut down your budget like anything. The resort island offer wonderful deals and are almost half price. But we read some awful experiences of storms and rains for the entire duration if the trip so it’s definitely a risk.

When is the best time to visit Maldives?

November to April tends to be the best time for Maldives.

We visited in February and it was perfect – February and March are the driest months, with warm temperatures, low humidity and great visibility for diving and snorkelling. However this is peak season so the priciest months too. Book in advance to get a fair deal.

What is the cheapest month to visit Maldives?

May to September is the rainy season so high chances of cloudy days and storms but the cheapest time to visit Maldives. Resorts have amazing deals during this period and you can save a lot of money but bear in mind that the weather can be terrible and ruin your idea of a sunny beach vacay.

Do you need a visa to visit the Maldives?

Tourist visa is granted for all nationalities on arrival to the Maldives including Indian citizens. All you need is your passport, hotel reservations and a copy of traveller declaration on IMUGA .

Is vegetarian food available in the Maldives?

Plant based cuisine may sound like an anomaly in an island know for fresh sea food but certainly things are better now. If you decide to book a vegan luxury escape to the Maldives it’s best to contact your resort in advance to tell them you are vegan. Most local islands have vegetarian options as well.

Which island in Maldives has Bioluminescence?

After sunset the turquoise waters of Maldives transformed into glittering sea of stars. It was a surreal display of light and motion with the whole ocean dancing and sparkling. This magical effect is caused by bioluminescent plankton that often appear in warm coastal waters. We were extremely lucky to witness this phenomenon in February in Ukulhas island.

They are notoriously difficult to predict, and mainly occur most often far out in the ocean so seeing them on the beach was other worldly. They say the best time to see bioluminescence is in between June and November but it’s difficult to plan a Maldives itinerary around this.

Top 10 things to do in the Maldives

1) free activities like snorkelling, swimming, walking along the wonderful beaches.

Maldives is one of the most amazing places for snorkelling with some of the best reefs in the world. Best part is that you don’t need to go deep to see the marine life which is especially fantastic for non-swimmers.

The Maldives has an abundance of marine life and the crystal clear waters offer incredible visibility. It’s one of the top scuba diving destinations with many affordable PADI dive centers where you can take a discovery dive if you are not certified. Scuba Diving cost in Maldives (approx): $70 to $150 per dive. Some of you probably would want to plan your whole Maldives itinerary around diving so best to check islands and operators offering good deals.

3) Sandbank visit

Most guesthouses and resorts offer sandbank excursions, which can include a picnic lunch, snorkelling gear, and a guide. It costs around $60-$120 depending on the group size and island you do it from.

4) Dolphin tours / sunset tours

You can go on a dolphin watching tour to see friendly dolphins. Cost around $100 per head. Even if you don’t go on a tour, do not miss the sunset. The sunsets are to die for.

5) Island hopping

You can hop around different islands as part of your Maldives itinerary especially if it’s a longer trip.

When you think of the Maldives, it’s probably the white sand beaches, turquoise waters and a relaxing holiday. You’ll find a spa in almost every island even the local ones. All resort islands have wellness centres with stunning views of the ocean. We did it in Male as the prices were affordable.

7) Over Water bungalow

As the name suggests, overwater bungalows are standalone bungalows positioned over the water. This is what the most people dream of when they think of a dream vacation. It’s insanely expensive but surely worth splurging for the once-in -a-lifetime kind of experience. Most packages are for a 3 nights stay so if you can afford it, add it to your Maldives itinerary.

Maldives is known to have some of the best beaches in the world. It’s the perfect tropical getaway.

9) Cultural Experiences

Resorts often organise tours to the local islands for experiencing local culture, food and the Maldivian way of life. However, you don’t need this if you stay in a local island.

10) Water sports

Lastly, Maldives is an incredible destination for indulging in some fun water activities. After all it has the most inviting waters and there is something for everyone – from peaceful kayaking to the adrenalin pumping flyboarding.

What to pack for the Maldives?

Maldives is a Muslim country and the local islands (including Male) have a dress code therefore it’s offensive to reveal your shoulders and knees for both men and women. Men and Women can wear knee length shorts and t-shirts. You can wear swimwear and bikinis only in the designated bikini beaches in the local islands. Resort islands have no dress code so you can wear anything.

We went to a couple of local stores in Male and the islands. The swimwear and snorkelling gear were very expensive. With this in mind, do get clothes and swimwear before getting here.

• Summer Dresses
• Beach cover-ups
• Shorts and T-shirts
• Resort wear
• Snorkeling gear
• Scarf to cover up for the conservative local islands
• Motion sickness tablets (speedboats can get very bumpy)
• Flip flops and Dive shoes

What not to take in the Maldives?

Alcohol – Sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in local islands and it is strictly forbidden to bring alcohol into the Maldives. All bags are scanned at the airport so do not purchase from duty free when flying into Maldives. Alcoholic drinks are only available on resort islands.

Our Maldives trip budget breakdown

• Do note that we didn’t dive or do any motorised activities. This will considerably increase the budget.

In conclusion, we hope you enjoyed reading our Maldives itinerary and guide. We’d love to hear from you so if you have any questions, leave us a comment below. Do share our guide with family and friends 🙂

Looking for a beach destination in India, check out our blog post from Goa . Do follow our travels on instagram too 🙂

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The best local islands in the Maldives – 30 affordable alternatives to resorts

Are you longing for a tropical vacation to the Maldives, but don’t want to spend a fortune on resort islands? Well, look no further! These are some of the best local islands in the Maldives that can provide an amazing and affordable holiday experience. Read on to learn more about some of the affordable alternatives to resorts that offer a great level of service for some great value for money. As I have personally gone to three types of islands (resort, small local island, and big local island), I can easily give you the scoop on what to choose for your upcoming trip.

Yes, it’s true guys, there might be affiliate links in this awesome, free post. This means that if you decide to buy something that you find here, and you use one of my links to do so, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I plan to use this money on ice cream, chocolate, and to travel more so I can write these useful guides for you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

The basics about local islands in the maldives.

As the local islands in the Maldives have been only lately opened to the general public, there’s not that much information available yet. This is both cool and uncool at the same time, as this means there are not that many tourists choosing them, thus allowing you a pretty cool experience, but also you might have a hard time finding the information you need. I hope this detailed post will give you all you need though. If not, reach out to me by commenting on this post, on social media, or by mail, and I can try to find what you need.

When it comes to the visa situation in the Maldives, you don’t have to worry. This is a country where almost anyone gets a visa on arrival valid for 30 days, no matter on which island you intend to stay. It is advisable though to be able to prove your return with a valid ticket and that you have a place to stay while you’re there.

Maybe the best thing about staying on a local island in the Maldives is that the coral can actually be better here as it’s not yet affected by over-tourism, like the ones from the resort islands. The government has just recently opened the inhabited islands for tourists so they’re not yet extremely crowded and damaged.

On the other hand, on some islands, you might see intensive construction work being done. Even your hotel might have an entire new wing being built while you’re there. This might make the island or hotel less dreamy than you thought, so check out reviews for specific islands before you decide, or go to at least two of them to increase your chances of getting a dreamy vacation as well.

How to plan a trip to the Maldives – Maldives Travel Planning

14 Unique Reasons to Visit the Maldives Beyond the Picture-Perfect Beaches

Worst Time to Visit The Maldives: A Traveler’s Guide

A pro tip if you want the best of all worlds is to go as far as possible from the airport. The trip there might cost you more in terms of money or time, but you’ll get the nicest islands and the best marine life if you go further away from the major pollution hub of the area.

From inhabited islands in the Maldives, you can do a multitude of activities. The bigger islands have tour companies that can offer you almost all tours available on resort islands as well, and on the smaller ones, you can definitely arrange something with your host. Even going on a resort island is possible with a day pass, so ask your host if you’re interested in some of these activities.

A small, but powerful piece of information you need to know is that, as in the rest of South-East Asia, the plumbing system here is not the best. What does this mean for you? Well, you’ll have to throw your toilet paper (and as usual, all other sanitary products) in the bin, and not in the toilet. It is what it is, don’t worry too much about it.

The people in the Maldives are some of the nicest that I have ever met, and you’ll say the same when you get there. They have a culture of hospitality that goes beyond the resorts so be prepared to be pampered by these amazing people, no matter where you go. Most of them also work or have ever worked on the resort islands, so be sure they know how to make their tourists return every year.

But truth be told, a local island in the Maldives will never be like a resort island, no matter how much you desperately wish for it. It won’t be better or worse, or maybe it will be both for different criteria, but it will never be the same. In the end, you’re going to a local island to see something different so, be prepared for different, I say.

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Getting on local islands in the Maldives

While there is a myriad of ways to get to local islands in the Maldives, I can tell you in short that you can either use a local ferry, which is like $1-$3 per person per way and can take a long time to get to the destination, or you can use a scheduled ferry for around $30 per way, and get there faster. Various other speedboat options are available if you think you’d want one. Check out this schedule and see if you can pull this off easily by yourself.

While I go into more detail in this post about going between islands in the Maldives , be sure to check with your host. They are the ones that can help you the most, as they know the ins and outs of transportation in the area. They can arrange almost anything for you once you are their guest, so don’t hesitate to contact them if needed.

Top Things to Do in The Maldives: 40+ must do Activities to Try

Best Currency to Bring in the Maldives: A Complete Traveler’s Guide

What to Wear in the Maldives: Essential Packing Guide

Rules you have to follow while staying on Maldives’ local islands

As the Maldives is a mostly Muslim country, you have to abide by a few rules (and avoid some mistakes ) while you’re there. You can check out my detailed post about the dos and don’ts when traveling to the Maldives , but here are a few things to consider anyway.

If you would like to wear a two-piece swimsuit, you should use the bikini beach, as these bathing suits are not allowed on public beaches. Sunbathing topless is prohibited on ALL islands though so please be aware of these rules when enjoying the beach. This is probably why most tourists only use the bikini beach, but you are welcome to use the local beach if you wear the appropriate clothes.

While you are allowed to wear almost anything on a beach, you should dress modestly whenever you’re not sunbathing. Going to the restaurant in your biking or wandering around the island in your short shorts is an absolute no-no and should be avoided. Wear something that covers your knees and shoulders, no matter your gender, and you’ll be well-received by the locals.

I know you might be on your honeymoon and have a hard time keeping your hands off each other, but a public display of affection is frowned upon in the Maldives. Most probably no one will tell you anything unless you’re being really rude, but you’ll get stared at for sure and I don’t think you want this kind of attention.

And the last of the most obvious rules, you should not even try to bring alcohol into the country, as well as pork products, Bibles, pornography, and other similar materials. If you’re very fond of your bottle of liquor or your Bible, you can leave them at the airport customs and get them back before you leave.

Some of these things might be considered bad things about the Maldives , but to be honest, we have to be respectful of all cultures. So, in very short, if you don’t like it, that’s your problem, and you should look at the whole pictures before (aka, have you seen those beaches? OMG I would give up alcohol in a heartbeat to be able to go there more often!).

Alcohol on local islands

What is more to say about alcohol on local islands in the Maldives , you ask? You thought we covered it already huh? Well, sit down and take notes, because there are wormholes you can use to get that cocktail you’re dreaming of.

While it is forbidden to sell or buy alcohol in the Maldives, some local islands have an interesting approach to this and there’s a boat bar in the middle of the ocean that you can get to by boat from Maafushi. It will be extremely expensive in both time and money to get there, but hey, you’re getting your fix so enjoy the opportunity.

Another way to have a pina colada next to the pool is to get a day pass for a resort island. Some local islands offer this as an activity and for a fixed price in the area of $150, you can enjoy a nearby resort island and its amenities for a day. This includes all beaches, pools, food, and drinks so it’ll be almost like you’re there for good.

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Prices on local islands.

When it comes to handling money on Maldivian local islands, be aware that while the national currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, you can most probably pay for everything in USD, no matter where you go. The thing is, you might get the change in Rufiyaa anyway, as there’s a limit on how many USD bills they have so you might be stuck with it.

There are not that many ATMs on local islands, but you can usually find one on the biggest island of the atoll. The best plan you can have is to get money from the airport ATM and keep the receipt if you’re getting Rufiyaa, as you’ll need it if you want to exchange it back for USD. In case you got the Rufiyaa as a change for your expenses, you’re kind of in a pickle here, as you don’t have this receipt.

So, to be sure you don’t get any leftover currency with you (The Maldivian Rufiyaa cannot be exchanged outside of the country), try to either use your card as much as possible ( Revolut works in the Maldives for sure, we tested it) and combine this with having small USD bills with you. In case you’ll get Rufiyaa change, you’ll just have a few bucks, and you can easily spend it before you leave.

In any case, most guesthouses and restaurants have card readers so you can most probably rely on Revolut for your entire trip, but having some cash is never a bad idea. Just be sure to have some crisp bills as the older ones might not be accepted by anyone in the country. Oh, and keep them safe from water. You’ll see that their currency is made of plastic, and it’s the best thing for the country.

While prices can vary wildly based on the island you’ll go to and the amenities you’ll choose, here is a rough estimation of how much you can spend on the top four budget consumers.

• accommodation – between $50 and $150 per night
• transportation – between $3 for public ferry and $65 for scheduled speed boat per way
• food – $5-$8 for a main course of chicken or fish with rice
• activities – $50-$130 on activities from Maafushi, for example

If you are very budget conscious when planning your trip, check out my detailed post on tips to spend less in the Maldives and see if you can find something that might help you. Spoiler alert, you will!

Local island vs. resort island

You might be thinking that all of this is really overwhelming. So many options, and so many factors to keep track of. But don’t worry, I have a short and sweet outline for you, so you can decide for yourself which option is the best for your needs.

So, let’s start with the price, as this is most probably the biggest concern you have. On average, prices are 4 times smaller on local islands compared to resort islands. This applies to almost anything, from accommodation to prices for activities to transportation. The only thing where it’s hard to compare prices is the food, as on a resort island you’ll have a package meal plan, and on a local island you’ll go to restaurants.

But the experience is never exactly the same. A 4-star hotel on a local island will never give you the same feeling as a 4-star resort, no matter how much they try. You will get amazing service anywhere you go, but the amenities cannot be the same, especially when it comes to everything outside of the hotel’s doors. Everyone has an interest in keeping you happy though so rest assured they’ll try to.

On resort islands, you will have amazing food options, no matter where you go. The decadence I’ve seen there is out of this world, especially when you think of this country not being able to produce most of what you see there. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t starve on local islands either, but the luxurious meals you’ll see on resort islands are out of this world.

The local islands come with a set of rules you need to follow, but also with a chance to see the culture of this island nation. The locals are amazingly friendly and you can get a scoop on how they actually live, outside of the holiday magazines and wallpaper views. This comes with good and bad views, but hey, no place is perfect, we better get used to it.

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The secret third option.

While you may have thought your choice is a matter of local versus resort island, there’s a third secret option most people don’t talk about: the small local island. There are islands in the Maldives where only a few hundred people live, there are no roads or crowds, and you can only find a few accommodation options, a maximum of three or four.

As there aren’t that many tourists or even locals on these islands, you’ll feel almost like on a resort island. You don’t get the crowds, the dirt, or the noise of a big island, and you avoid the big price tag of the resort island. Still, all the other rules for local islands apply, and you’ll be limited in the options you’ll have for restaurants, tours, and so on. As always, discuss these things with your host so you can decide what’s best for you.

The sad option

As we have a secret third option, there’s also the not-so-secret sad option. The islands of Malé and Hulhumalé are the ones where you’ll find the best prices for accommodation, but there’s obviously a reason for that. These islands are not in any way intended to be used by tourists. They are extremely crowded and don’t resemble any of the beautiful islands you are imagining when thinking of the Maldives.

If you arrive late or leave early in the morning, you should of course stay here for a night, in which case the convenience is worth the disappointment. These islands are also great to get to know the local culture, and you can join a number of tours from here. Otherwise, from the point of view of a tourist coming to relax on a beach, these two islands are not the dreamy ones you’re looking for.

In my opinion, and I’m sure most people would agree, if you’ve spent so much money to fly so far from home, it would be a shame to leave this place sad and disappointed, thinking that it was a waste of time and money. You’re better off going to literally any other island, local, or resort, and you’ll have a far superior experience.

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How to choose your local island in the maldives.

With these many options, how do you choose? Well, first think of what you want from this vacation. Do you want to relax on the beach and just hear the waves? Do you want to have a good house reef for off-the-beach snorkeling, but nothing more? Are you a big eater and heavy alcohol drinker? Do you prefer adventure traveling and would rather spend every day doing something else? And, more importantly, what’s your budget?

When you decide on these things, you are basically deciding the island you’re going to choose as well. Most resort islands will offer you all of the above but will have a big minus in the area of the budget, as the price will be hefty. If you cannot afford a resort island, or at least not for your full trip, check out my proposals below with island options for each category. Check them out and decide on your accommodation on the island by filtering based on amenities and price.

Cheapest local islands in the Maldives

The most affordable local islands in the Maldives are, of course, the most crowded. But if you’re aiming for something better, look no further than the small islands of Kudahuvadhoo, Midu, or Thulusdhoo. While small and intimate, these islands also offer you options to enjoy a few activities when you’re not just laying on the beach. Check out a few accommodation options below!

Kudahuvadhoo – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Midu – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Thulusdhoo – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda!

And if you’re choosing Thulusdhoo for your trip, check out this post about the top things to do in Thulusdhoo , written by a fellow blogger!

The most beautiful local island in the Maldives

Damn, this is hard to tell, as all of them have a unique beauty that you cannot really find anywhere else in the world. The island that’s said to have the most beautiful beach with turquoise waters is Kelaa Island, and it’s quite nice that it only has two accommodation options.

Another smaller island I can personally recommend is Bodufolhudhoo. This is the one I visited a few years ago and the coral is amazing, better than on the resort island I was after. It used to only have two accommodation options, but now it has five and even a diving center.

Kelaa accommodation – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Bodufolhudhoo – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda!

Best local island in the Maldives for activities

If you’re here for the activities, then look no further than Maafushi. This island is becoming the tourist hotspot in the area, and there’s a company called iCom Tours that offers a wide range of activities. There are of course other options as well, so shop around before you decide, and ask your host for recommendations as well.

The island is basically under construction as there are so many hotels opening everywhere, it’ll be hard to see a place without a crane on it. But the atmosphere is relaxed, you have plenty of options for restaurants and activities, and you can even go on the drinking boat and enjoy some wine if you crave it.

Maafushi accommodation options for you: Value for money: Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Great spa: Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Deluxe: Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda!

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If your plan is to mostly float in the water and watch the cool wildlife or dive as much as your body will allow, check out one of the following two islands. Fuvahmulah is known for the great marine life in the area as it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it’s a big enough island to offer you some nice opportunities to choose the best service provider for diving gear and trips.

The other great option you have is Dharavandhoo, located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO marine biosphere reserve . The marine life, as you can imagine, is amazing in the area, as the coral is in a great state, so around 1.200 types of fish call this place home.

The third UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Maldives is located in the Addu Atoll , which is closer to the Gan Airport. Check out all three options before you decide, but I’m sure all of them will make any diver extremely happy.

Fuvahmulah – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Dharavandhoo – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Gan, Addu Atoll – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda!

Best local island tours in the Maldives

As I said before, most tours and activities are happening in Malé and Maafaushi, as these are the two main hubs for the tour companies. There are plenty of options for everyone, from submarine tours to snorkeling to fishing and photo sessions, you can find plenty of things to do in the Maldives. Check out a few options below!

• Submarine tour from Malé
• Snorkeling safari from Malé
• Beach photo session from Hulhumalé
• Highlights of Malé walking tour
• Adaaran Prestige Vadoo resort day trip from Maafushi
• Gulhi Island Full-Day Tour from Maafushi
• Maldivian cooking class and lunch

Best local island in the Maldives for couples

When you go on your honeymoon, you usually want some special things for your amazing trip. Some of these amenities include quietness, luxurious accommodation options, and a spa, but you might also want the option to enjoy your desired activities if you’re a more active couple. Of course, if you’re more into activities, check out the options available on more crowded islands, or split your trip into two parts, so you can enjoy both sides of the Maldives.

If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, check out the island of Dhigurah, as it has a particularity: a sandbank that connects it to a resort island, so you can actually go to a resort island for a day with minimal effort. Another small island you can look into is Fulhadhoo, but the prices are a bit bigger on this one. The hotels are very chic though so it might be worth the price for your honeymoon trip.

Dhigurah – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda! Fulhadhoo – Check prices on Booking! Check prices on Agoda!

The best local islands in the Maldives

As you can see, the best local island depends greatly on your desires and expectations. As we are all different, we cannot expect to have the same taste and expectations, so I have gathered a small list of islands you should look into, based on the criteria I mentioned above. I hope that by now you basically know if you’re looking for a very small and quiet island or a more crowded and touristic one. Check out the options below and choose your favorites.

Small local islands

Medium local islands.

• Bodufolhudhoo
• Hangnaameedhoo
• Hanimaadhoo

Big local islands

• Dharavandhoo

FAQ about local islands in the Maldives

How many local islands are in the maldives.

Out of the almost 1.200 islands that form this amazing country, only about 200 are inhabited. All the others are either resort islands or uninhabited altogether.

Can I stay on a local island in the Maldives?

Sure, if they have accommodation options available and you abide by the local rules. This is actually a great way to spend less while enjoying the gorgeous beaches and the colorful culture of the place.

Which is the best local island in the Baa Atoll in the Maldives?

There are plenty of local islands located on this atoll, and you’ll have to decide for yourself based on what you want. A great island is Finolhus as it’s small and with a rich house reef, or Kudarikilu for the very beautiful beach. Check out all the options though as there are plenty of opportunities here waiting to be discovered.

What’s the cheapest local island in the Maldives?

The cheapest local islands in the Maldives are the most crowded ones, as these are really not intended for tourists. While you can still use them, you won’t see that much of what this beautiful country has to offer, so you should better look for an island further away from these. To name a few, the Capital city island of Malé and the airport island of Hulhumalé are the cheapest ones to stay on.

What currency can you use on local islands?

While everything is displayed in both USD and Rufiyaa and you can use both everywhere, you might get the change only in Rufiyaa, which will almost force you to spend the rest of your money since you cannot exchange Rufiyaa in the Maldives if you don’t have the receipt from the original exchange. To mitigate this issue, carry smaller USD bills and only exchange small amounts when needed.

Are the Maldivian local islands safe?

Yes definitely, they depend on tourism so would never do anything to harm this income stream. Plus, they’re amazing people, very welcoming and careful with their guests, as you’ll be able to see no matter where you’ll stay. Still, be mindful as a solo feMalé traveler if staying on more crowded islands like Malé, as there’s a curfew in place. Please also be aware of the local customs regarding modest dressing so you won’t offend the locals.

Do you have an internet connection on local islands in the Maldives?

While most guesthouses offer free wifi, you might also want your own stream. For this purpose, you can get a SIM at the airport or use an eSIM service. If you need help extending your plans, you can ask the very nice people at the counter or your host to help you with the data plan updates.

What to wear on local islands in the Maldives?

While in public, everyone should wear clothes that cover at least knees and shoulders, and you should wear even more covering clothes if visiting a mosque (not all mosques can be visited by non-muslims so ask before you try to get in).

The best local islands in the Maldives – The takeaway

The Maldives is a beautiful and idyllic archipelago in the Indian Ocean. With so many islands to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one to visit. However, if you’re looking for an affordable vacation that still offers a taste of paradise, then the local islands are definitely worth considering. From stunning beaches and lush vegetation to vibrant culture and delicious food, the best local islands in the Maldives offer everything you need for a perfect getaway – at a fraction of the price. So why not give them a try? You won’t regret it!

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Woah! I didn’t realize the Maldives had so many islands and some affordable ones! I would love to visit one day, and I guess I will have a lot to explore.

I have already had an experience visiting a resort island. I now wish to experience life on the local islands of Maldives. But, it is the ferry duration to these islands that stops me every time.

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The complete guide to visiting the Maldives local islands

Pristine beaches fringed with swaying palm trees, a tropical climate and luxurious overwater villas perched over the turquoise sea make the Maldives the ultimate getaway. Located in the Indian Ocean near India and Sri Lanka, the country is made up of nearly 1,200 islands—though only 200 are inhabited while another hundred have been taken over by resorts.

Seamlessly blending the best of east and west, this tiny nation wows visitors with timeless Asian traditions like bustling local markets, grand mosques and creative cuisine, alongside fantasy-like experiences including private yachts and seaplane rides, underwater restaurants and personal butlers.

From the best beaches and resorts to unforgettable excursions, here’s a complete guide to visiting the Maldives local islands.

Getting to the Maldives

When you touch down at the airport in the capital of Male , the first thing you’ll notice is how incredibly clear the water is…and how close the waves lapping at the shore are. The low-lying city is less than three metres above sea level, and with water levels rising there is serious concern the idyllic islands could someday be gone for good.

An army of representatives from resorts and tour companies wait outside the arrival gates, ready to whisk you off to your piece of paradise. Many hotels are accessible by speedboat which is convenient after a long flight, while everyone else heads to a departure area to board a sea plane operated by Maldavian Air Taxi or Trans Maldavian. Their float planes fit up to 19 passengers, and guests enjoy stunning, aerials view of the sparkling ocean dotted with white-sand atolls en route to their destination.

It’s well-worth booking a seaplane experience at some point during your stay in the Maldives, as it’s the only way to see the incredible islands from above.

Those planning to explore the Maldives on a budget will want to stick to hopping around the Maldives local islands, which means getting there by public ferry or speedboat. The ferry is inexpensive (about $2-$20 per person depending on distance) but they are slow, can be cancelled due to weather, and may not run daily. Speedboats cost an average of $10-$80 per person, and are much faster and reliable.

Planning your Maldives itinerary

The biggest factor when planning your trip is budget, since there are drastic differences between spending thousands of dollars on the Maldives vacation packages that whisk you off to a five-star resort, or exploring independently by hopping around the Maldives local islands like Maafushi, Guraidhoo and Fulhadhoo which will only set you back as little as $50 per day. Wild Maldives has this great rundown of the differences between the inhabited islands, which can help you pick which one best fits your trip needs (i.e. beautiful beaches versus great surfing spots). 

It’s virtually impossible to pick the best island to visit in Maldives; instead, choose to explore a few local ones which will give you more variety ( here’s a great guide ), or simply pick a destination based on the resort.

Both Airbnb and Booking.com have plenty of options listed for local guesthouses, which cost around $50-100 per night and often include breakfast. On busier Maldives local islands like Maafushi there are about a dozen restaurants to choose from which will set you back about $5-10 per plate–a steal of a deal compared to the $40 burgers on menus at neighbouring five star resorts! Click to book

Best beaches in the Maldives

The options are endless when it comes to the best beaches in the Maldives, and as long as you’re booked in at a mid-range or higher-end resort you can expect to enjoy pristine, white sand beaches surrounded by vibrant coral reefs. Make the most of it with a sunrise yoga session, a romantic candlelit dinner, or booking a private getaway to a secluded sandbar.

The Maldives beaches cater to different types of groups, with some focused more on conservation and activities while others are a better fit for family-fun or quiet couple time.

• For families- The Kurumba resorts have plenty of activities and kids clubs, so mom and dad can get some much-needed R&R. Kanuhura Maldives  has its own ‘Treasure Island’ featuring pirate-themed games, and there’s a marine biologist on staff at Kuramanthi Island Resort to teach young ones about the fish and coral surrounding the island.
• For couples- VIPs love escaping the spotlight at the swanky One & Only Reethi Rah , which has been frequented by the likes of Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, singer Danni Minougue and the whole Beckham clan. The Anantara Kihavah Villas are also a popular pick for the rich and famous, and have hosted tennis star Roger Federer. Soneva Fushi cleverly built its villas so they’re completely private, meaning guests can enjoy the luxury resort without feeling like they’re sharing their holiday with everyone else.
• For active types- Since most of the Maldives islands are tiny, it doesn’t take long to get around them. Those who enjoy long walks on the beach should consider LUX Maldives , which has one of the largest land masses in the country with four kilometers of beaches. The Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru hosts a staggering 44 acres of wilderness, has been designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and the stunning coral reef surrounding the property is the site of numerous conservation projects.

Luxury Maldives resorts

There are hundreds of places to stay in the islands, ranging from homestays and affordable Maldives resorts to gorgeous beach bungalows, lagoon villas and those picturesque overwater villas. Depending where you book, the services of a private butler may be included, who will do things like pack and unpack for you, arrange excursions, and bring you breakfast in bed or a cocktail at happy hour.

To really up the experience, book into one of these unique spots:

• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island : This hideaway is home to one of the world’s most unique hotel rooms, thanks to the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant which which converts into a luxury suite that can be rented out each night by one lucky couple. Built 16 feet below the surface and completely surrounded by glass, guests enjoy views of the coral gardens and underwater life swimming past. Its high price tag includes a private champagne dinner and breakfast in bed. Click for prices
• W Maldives : Every single room at this hip hotel has its own private plunge pool, which is perfect for those who want to cool off without jumping into the ocean. Click for prices
• Huvafen Fushi : Since it’s hard to build on low-lying islands, this resort chose to build underwater instead. The ingenuity resulted in both a spa and wine cellar located 26 feet below called Vinum, which holds 6,000 bottles of wine. Click for prices

Maldives excursions

Since the only way to get around the Maldives is by sea plane or boat, you’ll likely stick close to whichever island you choose. Most resorts offer a number of excursions including beach hopping and boat tours, sun-soaked days spent on a yacht or submerged in a submarine and sunset cruises. The Maldives diving sites are also incredible.

A popular option for couples celebrating a special occasion (which is basically everyone) is to book a day on a secluded private island. A dhoni (Maldavian boat) picks the lovers up in the morning, drops them off at a private island with a picnic basket, umbrella and chairs, then leaves them be for a few hours. There’s nothing quite like walking on an untouched sandbank in the warm, blue waters, which makes it easy to see why these are the top Maldives attractions.

Many resorts also boast fantastic reefs, which are phenomenal for snorkeling. You can expect to see more tropical fish than you could ever name, turtles, sting rays, water snakes, manta rays and even sharks! The reef and nurse sharks are harmless—though the faint of heart still probably wouldn’t want to come face-to-face with one. A bonus for anyone who goes on a boat tour is the opportunity to see a pod of dolphins in their natural habitat—a truly special moment for anyone lucky enough to come across them.

• Island hopping Maldives- Visiting the Maldives local islands is a best way to get a true taste of what life is like here, away from the five-star resorts. Most resorts offer boat tours that zip guests over to neighbouring islands, where the can see things like how the traditional handicrafts are made, and watch fishermen bring in the daily catch.
• Bodu Beru- Meaning ‘big drums’ in Dhivehi, this traditional Maldavian dance sees about a dozen men clad in sarongs sing and move to the beat of loud drums under the moonlight. Starting slowly with just one drummer keeping time and eventually ramping up to a frenetic pace that vibrates around the island, it’s an experience not to be missed. Most resorts bring in performers once a week, and occasionally offer bodu beru classes for guests.
• Fishing- The abundant underwater world surrounding the Maldives means the big game fishing here is incredible, with the likes of Grouper and Red Snapper easy to snag. Head out on a half or full day fishing trip, or stick close to shore by heading out around sunset for a few hours of bottom fishing.

End a Maldives vacation in Male

To make the most of every minute of your Maldives vacation, head into the capital Male if you have a bit of extra time before your flight home. Luggage storage is available at the airport, and there’s a five-minute ferry that whisks visitors over to Male for some sightseeing.

The city is very small and easily walkable, with the main highlight being the Grand Friday Mosque. Featuring whitewashed walls, a sweeping staircase and glittering golden dome, the mosque is able to accommodate about 5,000 worshipers. The nearby Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiyy) was Male’s main place of prayer before the new one was built, and has coral walls and large beams covered with Arabic writing. Muslims are the only people allowed inside the mosques.

Another one of the best things to see in Male is the markets, specifically the rather-pungent fish market which is packed full of fresh seafood just-plucked from the ocean. Head there in the afternoon to see the fish cutters go to work with their sharp knives, as chefs wander through examining the catch for the night’s menu.

Globe Guide tip: It only takes an hour or two to see Male, so if you’ve got more time that that to kill before your flight it may be worth booking a hotel in town, which will be much more comfortable than hanging around the airport. The Hotel Jen Male by Shangri-La is incredibly luxurious, and has a beautiful rooftop pool.

Quick tips for a trip to the Maldives

• Currency: The country uses the rufiyaa, though US dollars and euros are commonly accepted.
• Best time to travel to Maldives: The temperate, tropical weather is what makes these islands a great place to visit year round, though most people book their Maldives trip for the dry season which runs from December to March.
• Language: The native language is Dhivehi, and most locals also speak English.
• Do you need a visa to go to the Maldives: No pre-approval is required for a Maldives visa , which is granted to all nationalities upon arrival.

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Tamara Elliott

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I’ve been really wanting to go to the Maldives too, for a long time. I think my husband and I will go there next year for our 5-year anniversary. Great post! I’m off to read the one on saving money on the trip now!

Hooray, that’s the perfect place to go for an anniversary! I can’t recommend the Maldives enough, I hope you end up going 🙂 Let me know if you have any questions!

Love the Maidives, we only spent one week sailing and wished we booked two weeks! It’s worth checking out a liveaboard instead staying on a resort. A liveaboard goes from sandbar to remote islands. It’s pretty cool laying on a island were your the only person.

WOW so amazing David! That sounds incredible! Glad you had a great time, and I’ll definitely need to add that one onto the bucket list 🙂

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Where or how is the best place to book a Maldive’s trip? Seeing that it cost thousands of dollars, I’m very nervous to book something like that online in hopes that it’s legit.

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So as I can see there is no any information about how to travel to local islands, where locals are living, not luxury resort.

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• Maldives Local Islands: What to Expect + Which to Visit

This is post 1 of 6 in the series “Maldives”

Maldives is long thought of as an expensive destination, but only if you stay on those overwater bungalow. Since they open the local islands, there are so much to see and learn about this low lying island nation:

• Glimpsing authentic Maldives – a photo diary of Gaafaru
• Cheap Holidays in Maldives: 8 days with Mirian Sky Hotel
• Maafushi Maldives: an ultimate guide
• Villa Park Resort Maldives review: when lush jungle meets the sea
• Royal Island Resort and Spa: a quiet escape in the Maldives

Maldives’ local islands are popping up on visitors’ radars, although it’s safe to say that the quintessential Maldives resort experience is still a bucket list holiday.

There are hundreds and hundreds of islands in Maldives and the Maldives local islands are where the locals actually live. They opened up to tourism in 2009 and are still home to stunning sea life, white sandy beaches, and also a much more friendly price tag.

After my first visit to the Maldives in 2017 in Gaafaru and talking to some other travellers, I have a better glimpse of Maldives’ logistics. I returned and visited Maafushi in 2023 and see that things are slowly shaping into catering for tourists, but there are many aspects of travelling in Maldives that are different from the other countries. But fret not, because I’m here to tell you all the things that I learned as a first-time visitor in Maldives. This guide is geared towards those who want to stay on a local island.

Table of Contents

Maldives local islands faq.

What are the Local Islands in the Maldives?

The Maldive’s local islands are islands that are actually inhabited by Maldivians in the Maldives. They were not open to visitors before 2009 and many of them are still developing infrastructure for tourists.

How many local islands are there in the Maldives?

There are over 1000 islands in the country but only 187 are inhabited!

Can I stay on a local island in the Maldives?

Yes, you can since 2009. There are many hotels and guest houses on local islands, although some of them would be lacking in restaurants and shops depending on sizes and popularity.

Which local island is close to Male in Maldives?

There are several local islands that are closest to Male and here are them listed in order of popularity:

• Maafushi – it is the most visited Maldives local island and a 35 minutes speedboat from the airport
• Hulhule Male – this is the island that the airport is on. But it’s only worth staying if you cannot make your resort transfer or missed the ferry.
• Villingili – it’s a tiny island west of Male with frequent ferries from the main pier.

Essential Travel Information for Maldives Local Island

Have an outbound flight from maldives.

Proof of onward travel is required for you to enter the country. You would be asked by the airline staff to show your outbound ticket confirmation before you are allowed to check in and board. Email on the phone would do, though I had mine printed. For those of you who are nomadic and don’t plan your travels, it’s important to plan when you get out of this one.

IMUGA form (2023) for Arrivals and Departures

For entering and exiting Maldives (current of May 2023), you would need to fill in the IMUGA form . It’s an easy form to fill in regarding your arrival and departure details. You would need your passport on hand to fill it in.

Most passports have 30 days Free Visit

It’s free to visit the Maldives, but if you want to work there, you would have to apply for a work visa. A form would be given to you on the flight in and they do require more information than your average landing form. They ask if you have over a certain amount of money on you, as well as custom questions on electronics, etc.

The leaving form would be given, too, and it would save you time to fill it in and keep it for a quick emigration process.

If this is not reason enough for you to visit Maldives, here are some more !

Accommodation confirmation (even if it’s just for one night)

You will be asked to provide your accommodation confirmation on arrival, but as long as you have the first night booked, you are good to go.

Alcohol, pornography, and other religious items are banned

Maldives is a Muslim country and consequently, a lot of things are banned. It should be known that alcohol is not allowed on local islands at all. In addition, any none-Muslim religious items are banned and preaching of any kind is a criminal offense. The same goes for pornography.

Bring your modest wardrobe

While the dress code is more relaxed for foreigners, modesty is highly appreciated when you are walking around the local islands. While it’s not a requirement to keep your shoulders and knees covered, you should at least keep your midriff and cleavage under wrap when on a local island.

Because of the hot weather and the deficiency of my wardrobe, I wasn’t able to cover my knees and shoulders at all time (though I did in the capital). However, I tried to do cover at least one.

Get a local sim card

I had only stayed on Male and the island of Gaafaru, so I can’t say for sure of all the islands, but the internet isn’t amazing. So if you can, get a sim card. There is a telecom company store in the airport, however, the queue was so long that I didn’t get one in 2017.

On visiting again in 2023, there are vending machines for sim card now that accepts credit card. If you’re planning to island hop, it’s worth it to get one. I believe the price was around 35 USD for a longer package.

If you’d be staying in resorts, they generally have good WiFi so there is no need to get a sim card.

Money in the Maldives

The Maldives have their own currency: the Maldivian Rufiyaa. The exchange rate is generally 1 USD = MVR 12 ~ 2 HKD.

If you are travelling to local islands, it’s best to change some Rufiyaa. You can usually pay USD for excursions and most hotels etc accept credit cards.

The Best Time to Visit Maldives

Maldives is a tropical country, so you are guaranteed warm weather year-round. However, to avoid the rainy monsoon season, it’s best to visit between November to April.

Having said that, if you want to see Mantas, I was told that it’s best to come during the stormier time because that’s when they are active. If you are keen on scuba diving, which can happen in the rain, you wouldn’t need to worry about the weather, either.

Maldivian Time

One of the things you need to get used to is the Maldivian time. The Maldivians do things slowly with no hurry. While they’re warm and friendly, rushing and being service-minded isn’t really a concept. For example, we waited for 45 minutes for a tour to start, and we called our hotel for extra toilet paper and never got any on Maafushi.

Getting Around in Maldives

Maldives consists of islands, so flying or ferries are the two main ways to get around. I’ll start with the airport and move onto transport around Maldives.

Airport Transportation in Maldives

The airport, though said to be on Male, is actually located on the man-made island of Hulhumale. Most people would have to stay around there for transit, but there is no shortage of hotels.

Male Airport to Male

If you are taking a seaplane, it’s best to stay on Hulhumale. If you are taking the local ferry, then you should stay in Male. You can get a taxi to your hotel in Hulhumale, but for Male, you’d need to take the ferry.

You exit the arrival halls to the right and follow the walkway until you reach the banks. Then you cross the road and should find the ticketing booth for the ferry to Male. It costs MVP10 for the trip and they depart every 10 to 15 minutes. The ride is about the same amount of time.

The airport ferry port is on the northern side of the island, while the main ferry terminal is on the southwest side. I recommend staying near either one for an easy walk to either on your onward journey.

Taxi in Male

Male is a small island and the taxis all charge a flat rate.

• 6:00 – 0:00 MVP 25
• 0:00 – 6:00 MVP 30
• 1 luggage MVP5, MVP 10 for extra

Hiring per hour MVP 110 (I have no idea why this would be needed)

Unless you have sizable luggage, you can easily walk around Male, though the traffic, especially around the coastline, can be chaotic. Male is generally a safe place to walk around, however, if you have valuables then taking a taxi to your hotel would be a good course of action.

You can usually pay in USD, it should be around 2 to 3 dollars.

Maldives Local Ferry

The local ferry terminal is located on the southwest side of the island. It’s right next to the Tsunami Memorial. It’s safe to say that the ferry prices are cheaper than speed boat or seaplanes, but it requires more time. They also often don’t run on Friday so make sure you plan your trip accordingly.

It took me 3.5 hours to get to Gaafaru as opposed to an hour by speedboat. But it only cost 5 USD as opposed to 200 USD per boat.

Maldives Shared Speedboat

Some islands have shared speed boat transfer due to their distance from Male. They will be pricier than the local ferries and make some further islands an easier and cheaper place to reach.

You can usually reach out to your hotel or accommodation to help you with your transfer.

Maldives Private Speedboat

Your accommodation should be able to arrange speedboat or seaplane services for you, depending on how far you would have to go. Since I hadn’t tried either before, I don’t have much to say outside of the fact that it’s good to ask around before committing. But my friend Evie at Mumpacks Travel has gone on a seaplane in the Maldives and here is her experience .

I have heard that they tend to jack up the prices for tourists, so be careful.

What to Expect on Maldives Local Islands

Bikini beach maldives.

Since Maldives is a Muslim country, you are not allowed to wear a bikini outside of a designated beach on a local island. Such beaches are the so-called “Bikini Beach).

It’s found on all local islands and is not the actual name of the beach. However, it’s definitely easy to remember and find. So if you are looking to walk around in your bikini, then resort islands are a better choice.

Mosque time

There will be 5 prayer times a day at the mosques, complete with loudspeakers broadcast. It can be a shock for people who had never experienced it before, but aside from the potential 5 am wake-up call, it wasn’t hard to get used to. If you are a light sleeper, then it’s wise to look for accommodation away from the mosques in town.

Friday and Saturday are their weekends

Maldives weekends are on Friday and Saturday, and this will be reflected in their shop times. While I wasn’t affected by this, it would be worth noting that perhaps ferry schedules might be different.

Top Maldives Local Islands to Visit

Now that you know what to expect and how to behave on local islands, let’s talk about which Maldives local islands to visit. The islands are generally grouped by which atolls they are on. There are 20 natural atolls in the Maldives and the most frequently visited ones are North and South Male Atoll and Ari Atoll.

There are still so many to choose from and frankly, ease of travelling plays a huge factor. Here are some of my top choices:

Maafushi is the most popular island for visitors since it’s located on the South Male Atoll and is a 35 minutes speed boat ride from the international airport with direct transfer.

There are good day trip options, a nice bikini beach, and plenty of eateries. The hotels are also more modern and you can also get a local ferry there and out.

How to get there: shared speedboat for 25 USD one way from Male International Airport (or Male).

Gaafaru is in the North Male Atoll about 3 hour slow ferry (1.5 hours speed boat) from Male. I like that it has more of a local charm compared to Male and the Bikini Beach faces west with a gorgeous sunset. If you want a more laid-back and chill vibe, this is a good choice.

How to get there: 3 hours slow ferry from Male or shared speedboat 

Thoddo is in the North Ari Atoll and is one of the few agricultural islands in the Maldives. It’s famous for watermelon and tropical sceneries, and you can cycle around the island on top of all the water activities.

How to get there: shared speed boat 1 hour 20 minutes twice daily, 35 USD per person one way

Dhigurah is most famous for its long sandbank and is a long thin island itself. It is also close to whale shark habitat making it a good place to venture to if you want to see it all in one island.

How to get there: 20 minutes domestic flight or 1.5 our speed boat

Fulidhoo is on the Vaavu Atoll with a chance to see sting rays right on the beach. It also has two bikini beaches, one of them facing the sunset!

How to get there: 1 hour 10 minutes by shared speedboat 40 USD per person one way

Hi, my name is Nam. I am 24 and spent half my life in Hong Kong and the other half in UK. I believe there's endless experience and beauty in the world and this is me chronicling how to experience the best at the best price.

19 thoughts on “ Maldives Local Islands: What to Expect + Which to Visit ”

Thanks for the guide. Your photos are awesome. Btw, when is the best time to visit Maldives?

It really depends on what you want to see. The dry season (to avoid rain) is November to April! However, you are more likely to see Mantas during the stormy monsoon season.

This is a great guide! My first time to the Maldives last year was on a volunteering package in Dhigurah – a local island. To the south, in the South Ari Atoll region, you can also see whale sharks. Whale shark conservation was what the volunteering program I joined is about. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise – but I quite liked being with the islanders anyway. I even came back in March this year.

Whale shark! They look like such lovely creature, what an amazing place to volunteer 🙂 I’ll definitely look it up!

Thanks for the really helpful tips! I didn’t know most of what you explained, and Maldives are high on my bucket list, so I’m so thankful you went into so much detail. Great post, and I’m certain it’s going to help a lot of people! 🙂 Beautiful photos, by the way 😀

I’m glad you find it helpful! Most of that information aren’t known to me until I did a little digging and arrived 😀

This is so incredibly helpful! November to April it is 🙂 hope to get out there soon

Thanks Natalie 🙂 I was there near April and the rain there was torrential (though it did end quickly too!)

This is so interesting, I had no idea such idyllic islands had such strict requirements! Good thing u gave us the heads up!

It wasn’t a problem for me to cover up (though I did have to pack differently), but it can be troublesome to others!

Thank you for sharing this fantastic guide! I found it very useful as I am planning a trip to the Maldives.

i hope you have fun on your trip – my regret is that I didn’t visit the other islands!

Gorgeous photos and very useful tips 🙂 . The Maldives conjure up images of pristine beaches, reef-ringed atolls, and luxurious bungalows on the water, where lucky guests can observe fish through glass floors and jump into the sea from their deck ! This island nation has always been on my “bucket list” !

The Maldives I saw still have plenty of sea life, reefs and pristine water – but staying on the local island also showed me the kind people, village life so it’s worth it (plus it’s cheaper ;D )

Ni Nam, This really reminds me of Fiji. The mainland is so different from the paradisiac islands. Did you explore some of the islands too? Which one was your favourite? To visit the different islands, which is the more budget friendly by boat or plane?

Telma @ Blank Canvas Voyage

I only visited the capital Male and Gaafaru. Gaafaru is my favourite of the two because of the island vibe and the kind people! It’s most budget friendly to use the local ferry, but it does take A LOT longer

Hoping to go to the Maldives at some point soon, and this is perfect and exactly what I have been looking for. What a great guide and so nice to see a more local experience than the flashy fancy stuff I have seen before.

This is by far the most thorough guide of the Maldives I’ve ever read!! I feel like way too often, bloggers just glamourize the place with pretty photos of their bungalows and beaches and don’t mention anything else at all… For instance, I had no idea that alcohol was banned or that modest dress was required. Super good to know haha. Saving this for the future!!

Thanks Christina 🙂 most people visit the resort island, where alcohol is allowed and no dress code is enforced! But I feel like you should visit at least one local island when you are there!

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THE BEST MALDIVES LOCAL ISLANDS

28 Apr 2023   ||    MALDIVES

The Maldives may be synonymous with private resorts and luxurious overwater villas, but since 2009, it has been possible to visit on a budget and stay on the local, inhabited islands. This allows for a fantastic opportunity to experience a country that has, until recently, been off-limits to the world. It also provides the appealing benefit of saving some money while experiencing this paradisiac island nation.

We recently hopped between six Maldives local islands, including Hulhumalé, across four different atolls. Below, in the same order as our trip, we write about what we loved about each (and everything we didn’t!), which islands would be best to pick and why. We also mention some other local islands that were recommended to us for specific reasons while out in the Maldives. The diversity between the islands was huge – it is worth doing your research!

IN THIS GUIDE //

Maldives Local Islands

Maldives local island map.

WHAT IS A MALDIVES LOCAL ISLAND

MALDIVES LOCAL ISLAND VS PRIVATE RESORT

– HULHUMALÉ

– FULIDHOO

– MAAFUSHI

– THULUSDHOO

– UKULHAS

– THODDOO

OTHER MALDIVES LOCAL ISLAND RECOMMENDATIONS

Final Thoughts – MALDIVES LOCAL ISLANDS

Below is a map showing all the islands that we mention in this post. The purple markers are islands we visited, the orange are ones we were recommended.

Using your map on satellite view shows clearly the individual atolls that the islands are on. Use these atolls to plan your route – ferries and speedboats tend to move along strings of islands.

WHAT IS A MALDIVES LOCAL ISLAND?

The Maldives is made up of nearly 1200 islands, around 200 of which have people inhabiting them. 

Since the 1970s, many of the uninhabited Maldivian islands have been gradually developed as tourist resorts, mostly by international companies. These are called the private islands and are what you’ll see on the front of most magazines.

For far longer though, native Maldivians have resided on this land, with small villages dotted across the archipelago nation, relying primarily on fishing for a living.

Until a government initiative in 2009, there was no easy way to stay on these local islands as a tourist – it was prohibited to do so. The new regulations encourage local island tourism as a way of improving resident quality of life through increased employment. This means that it is now possible to stay amongst the communities of people living across the Maldives, rather than in a private island resort. 

the difference between a Maldives local island and a private resort

There are startlingly substantial differences between the Maldives local islands and the private resorts, considering they all exist within one country.

Firstly, the laws are completely different. On all Maldives local islands, alcohol is prohibited and there are strict, conservative dress codes (apart from a few designated areas called ‘ bikini beaches ’). Many rules on private resorts are far less stringent or even non-existent – most things are permitted, apart from nudity and dogs!

The resort islands are exactly what they sound like – resorts. These have no actual residences on the islands and each one is managed by an individual hotel company. They have complete control over the island and as such, the islands are often perfectly groomed and completely designed with the tourist in mind.

In contrast, a local Maldives island is a village or small town, situated on a little sandy strip in the ocean. They still have beautiful beaches, restaurants and guesthouses for visitors to stay in, but with the added benefit of a community. There are the same excursions and diving opportunities but offered at a fraction of the cost . Each local island is inhabited by up to a few thousand people, so (obviously) have schools, mosques, football pitches, healthcare centres and waste disposal. 

This highlights one of the biggest distinctions – budget. Resorts can be thousands of dollars a night which would pay for more than a week on a local island. The local islands have more affordable accommodation, food and even transport (the public ferry routes do not service private islands, so for more distant ones, you’re stuck paying for an expensive seaplane!).

Maldives Local Island - Hulhumalé

Hulhumalé is the best island to stay on after landing at Velana International Airport  if you can’t get a local ferry immediately after landing. The island is connected to the airport (and Malé) by road and is completely artificial. Construction started in 1997 using sand pumped from the seabed and further expansion projects are ongoing. It is fascinating to see how big it is and how difficult it is to notice that it is man-made. It’s huge compared with other Maldives local islands!

Distance from Malé: 7.5 kilometres

Size: 4 km²

Population: 53,000

Best for: Airport transits, restaurant options, people

Bikini Beach: No

Atoll: North Malé Atoll

⋅ Our Experience ⋅

We really liked Hulhumalé, after reading some less than positive reviews. It has a lovely little swimmable beach with gleaming azure waters along the eastern edge, some nice restaurants, cafes, parks, a cinema, plus really welcoming residents. We only spent one day roaming around but gathered so much useful information just from talking to people. There is a plethora of food options here too, which is conspicuous in its absence on other islands. We had a pizza from Pizza Buono which was surprisingly good – would thoroughly recommend.

It’s not really your idyllic Maldives local island getaway though, so is best used as a hub after arriving or departing the airport. There is no bikini beach and it’s just a normal community, which we preferred – it feels a little less artificial (the irony of that on a reclaimed island is not lost on me!). First thing in the morning, you’ll see residents exercising on the beach and fixing bikes by the side of the road.

Tip: If you arrive at night, stay on the seafront on the east and get up for sunrise. It’s the best way to see the Maldives for the first time!

Maldives Local Island - FULIDHOO

This was the smallest and most isolated of the Maldives local islands on our itinerary. Despite Fulidhoo’s relative isolation and tiny size (around 700 metres long), a lot of people seemed to have heard of it! When we spoke to people at the port in  Malé , many had either been or were intending to visit there. Despite this, when we stayed, it seemed empty. I mean, completely, eerily empty; almost desolate.

The island has two bikini beaches . The western bikini beach is prettier, emptier and lined with swaying palms, perfect for sunset. On the eastern end, the sugar-white bikini beach seemed larger, good for snorkelling, with a few more people (there are more guesthouses along the east and northeast).

There are very few restaurants, no proper beach bars and several shops. The island has around fifteen-ish guesthouses, a magistrate, a football pitch (there’s at least one on every island!), a little main street with shops and a pretty green mosque. The one actual road that exists on the island is just sand. At the western end, there is a small power plant and a phone pylon.

Distance from Malé: 56 kilometres

Size: 700 by 200 metres

Population: 504

Best for: absolute silence, spotting rays from the shore, isolation, silky white sand

Bikini Beach: two

Atoll: Vaavu Atoll

For some people, I’m guessing this would be pure paradise. I mean, an empty tropical island all to yourself, surely that’s a utopia? However, for us, it was our least favourite island purely due to this. It’s absolute bliss for people who want to do nothing; the problem is, we hate doing nothing.

The island lacked a sense of community buzz (although there does exist a population of more than 500 people). It is not, in fact, empty at all, it just *feels* empty. We did see a group of local women exercising at the football pitch, a man cleaning the mosque and a few fishermen. So, if you are looking for the perfect Maldives local island to chill out on and read a book for a few days, it may be ideal for you. If eating at your guesthouse most nights doesn’t bother you, check it out! The island was also the only one that doesn’t have any diet coke (my vice).

I definitely don’t want to imply that there was anything bad about the island or the people there, we were just bored, I think. It’s tricky to review something when you know deep-down it just doesn’t suit you.

We did enjoy seeing the rays right off the peer, however the ethics of the fishermen feeding them to tempt them inland is sketchy. I asked our host about it, and he said that usually the rays would live further out but only come in because they were fed.

Maldives local ISLANDS - some reality

Some Maldives local islands are in the midst of a serious construction boom. Since tourism is a relatively recent thing, this is unsurprising, but well-worth noting when setting your expectations. Some islands have half-built buildings on every street, with construction noise and materials everywhere. Upgrading and expanding infrastructure is necessary for the residents of the Maldives, but not exactly idyllic, and I like to keep shit real on this blog.

From our experience, Fulidhoo and Maafushi were the worst for this. They had so much in the way of construction that it never felt very peaceful to me. The best islands were Thulusdhoo and Ukulhas , where I can remember very little comparably.

It can be considered sad from a touristic point of view that development is overtaking the islands, however it can be argued that expansion and modernisation is very much in the interest of the citizens of the Maldives. We shouldn’t begrudge any culture from modernising if that is what they choose. Having said that, get to the Maldives local islands soon because islands like Fulidhoo may not remain as sleepy as they are right now!

Maldives Local Island - Maafushi

If you have only come across one Maldives local island during your research, it is almost certain to be Maafushi. This sizable island is very close to Malé and was one of first to develop as a leisure hub for non-resort tourists. It has more than 70 guesthouses and hotels, some of which are proper high rise, six or more storey buildings. The vast majority of residents have switched from working in the fishing industry to the tourism industry and the island has water sports galore, high-end restaurants and even offshore ‘booze boats’.

Despite the emphasis on tourism, the island is a real, working town. This means it has all the usual facilities, including one of two prisons on the Maldives, a cemetery, post office, football pitch, mosques, a bank and a bunch of convenient stores. 

If you want to have a look at more photos and get a bit more information, take a peek at our Maafushi photo guide .

Distance from Malé: 26 kilometres

Size: 1.3 by 0.3 kilometres

Population: 2700

Best for: proximity to Malé, water sports, bustle, booze boats, local activity

Bikini Beach: one

Atoll: South Malé Atoll

We stayed near the north end (loved our little hotel), where the beaches and most tourist facilities are, including one bikini beach . Getting off the ferry at the port, we immediately noticed commotion, music and building sites. You know the incessant hum of drilling? That, from all sides. The island appears to be in a constant state of development, from all directions. (The drilling is not so prevalent in the tourist areas further to the north).

However, despite this, I think we are in the minority of people who preferred Maafushi to Fulidhoo, because at least it felt alive and busy with residents. It was nice to see life in the Maldives, which is the one thing we were looking for when booking our trip (we are not super beachy). 

It is pleasant to walk all the way down to the southern end, where the prison is (we saw sharks along the shore). Here, you’ll see a whole bunch of ordinary infrastructure and life. So, if you want to experience a bit of the Maldives community, it’s a decent destination for a few days. We watched people windsurf, played around in the outdoor gym, wandered the long dusty streets and checked out the small stores.

We think Maafushi would be a good local island if you require a lot of tourist infrastructure. Hiring a jet ski or visit a ‘booze boat’ in not really our cup of tea, but this is the kind of place that offers these services. Maafushi is also great for shorter stays due to its proximity to Malé. 

The beaches on Maafushi were below average, in our opinion, compared to the other islands we visited. Although the water is an unconscionable blue and the sand is soft, it is small and busy.

The food options were decent on Maafushi too, not as overpriced as expected, considering how touristy the island is.

Tip:  we were advised by a resident in Malé to avoid doing any diving excursions from Maafushi, as it is considerably more expensive than other islands (apparently more than double, typically).

Maldives Local Island - THULUSDHOO

Thulusdhoo is an intermediate-sized Maldives local island, northwest of Malé, with a reputation as a bit of a surfer’s paradise. It’s nearby two of the best surf breaks in the Maldives, Cokes and Chickens. 

Although it is a larger island, a bit like Maafushi, it has far more space and less people (at least it feels that way). The ferry port is at the far end of the island, so you are collected by your guesthouse in a golf cart which winds its way through rough dirt tracks surrounded by wild-looking plains. 

There are lots of high-quality accommodation on the island; some with the most incredible sea views despite rarely going over two stories high. Small restaurants line the shore, with epic beachfront locations and great food (still with the same super-slow island-time service though!).

There is one pristine bikini beach at the eastern end of the island with swings in the sea and idyllic swooping palms. Most of the guesthouses bunch up around that end of the island.

Check out our mini photo-guide for Thulusdhoo if you’re interested in reading more!

Distance from Malé: 27 kilometres

Size: 1.58 by 0.68 kilometres

Population: 1483

Best for: surfing, vibes, food, picturesque beach, swimming

Atoll: North Malé Atoll

We really enjoyed snorkelling the house reef on this local island. There was great visibility and the water was really calm – it seemed well-suited to anyone who is a weaker swimmer. 

The food on Thulusdhoo was generally outstanding, and we even found real-life vegan food (although it was the most expensive meal of our trip!).

The beach was close to almost every hotel and guesthouse. This was lovely since it meant that the restaurants and facilities bunched up together, creating pretty streets and community vibes, all covered in beautiful flowers and art. We stayed just a few metres from the beach on the south eastern tip. The island was also big enough that we could wander far from the ‘tourist zone’ with ease. It’s not a particularly jungly island though, if that is what you are after.

Thulusdhoo was not what I expected at all. There was a bustle of people; walking, riding bicycles or motorbikes and the vibe just felt energetic (although still sleepy by the standards of almost anywhere else in the world).

This was probably our second favourite island and definitely our favourite accommodation; we loved it here.

QUICK TIPS FOR CHOoSING YOUR MALDIVES LOCAL ISLAND

1 – Always have a look at your islands of choice on Google Satellite to get a feel for where and how large the beaches are.

2 – Be aware that seasonal differences will affect the tides, which change the width/access to the beaches and the potential debris left on them. We travelled in January.

3 – Stick to one atoll ferry route  for your itinerary if you are low on time, stopping at several adjacent local islands in a row.

Maldives Local Island - UKULHAS

Ukulhas is definitely a Maldives local island that has tuned in with its tourism potential – it seems to know exactly what it’s doing. Not only that, but it’s one of the first islands in the Maldives to be environmentally friendly, utilising a proper waste management system. The island is well-known for being spotless, with regular beach clean-ups. The one-kilometre beach, as well as being immaculate, is world class, with little bars dotted along the huge bikini beach. The island has quality accommodation and food options along with all the usual facilities you’d expect.

This perfect little island is an ideal tourist getaway. If you want to read more, check out our Ukulhas photo guide .

Distance from Malé: 72 kilometres

Size: 1 by 0.2 kilometres

Population: 1065

Best for: world-class beaches, tourist services, eco-friendly, small, best house reef

Atoll: Northern Ari Atoll

The infrastructure surprised us when we arrived – there are colourful, friendly beach bars selling cocktails (non-alcoholic) with rustic beach chairs, hammocks, umbrellas and loungers. It felt closer to a place like Thailand 20 years ago than anywhere else we had been (whether that is good or bad is up to you!).

As expected, cleanliness was top-notch. The shorelines were flawless, and we didn’t see much in the way of trash around the island apart from one end where it was being collected (towards the north eastern end). Something we absolutely loved was that the white, sandy beach was surrounded by massive fruit trees, jungle and tiny white picket fences. In my opinion, it was an absolute stereotype of perfection (and I’m pretty difficult to please).

These additional facilities and benefits cost though – this was by far our most expensive Maldives local island . Accommodation and meals here were pricey and you largely get a lower standard for your money (there is high quality stuff available, we just didn’t pay for it).

There are a remarkable number of motorbikes on Ukulhas. Even though the island is around a kilometre long, people still motorbike everywhere. We’d see people picking their kids up from school and motoring 300 metres home!

We arrived on the ferry and there had been a *torrential* thunderstorm. This left the island completely flooded – I can’t confirm if other local islands also flood like this but be aware that it brings out the mosquitos (for some reason they didn’t bite us). It also makes traversing certain streets difficult. The island did not lose power or struggle in any way to provide services though.

The house reef snorkelling on Ukulhas was the best we found on our trip. The water was so still and clear, you didn’t even have to put your head underwater to see all the fish!

Weirdly, most tourists on the island were Italian. This isn’t a bad thing, just something we noticed (would only be a bad thing if there were cars – which luckily there isn’t!*).

Ukulhas felt like the most fashionable, vibrant Maldives local island of our trip. I wouldn’t say that any of the islands are particularly ‘trendy’, but it was the closest to cosmopolitan that I think you’ll get!

* Italian drivers are the worst!

Maldives Local Island - THODDOO

Thoddoo is the only Maldives local island on this list that is not part of an atoll, or ring of islands. It’s a large, nearly circular disk, just floating on its own in the middle of some crazy blue ocean. The place seemed pretty unique, which is why we decided to check it out.

Known as the ‘Island of Watermelons’, Thoddoo is famous for agriculture, specifically watermelons and papayas. It feels spread out, with most of the dwellings in the centre of the island, surrounded by fruit fields that eventually lead to beaches. About a third of the island is apparently farmland, which is in huge contrast to anywhere else that we went in the Maldives. Although it’s all about fruit here, there are two tourist bikini beaches on opposite ends of the island (the area of the two together is less than the single one on Ukulhas).

The island itself was an agricultural community far before tourism came around, so the community has all the usual facilities, including several football pitches and mosques, a hospital, kindergarten, gym, restaurants and more.

For extra photos and information, have a peek at our Thoddoo photo guide .

Distance from Malé: 67 kilometres

Size: 2 by 1 kilometres

Population: 2058

Atoll: Considered part of the northern Ari Atoll

We loved Thoddoo. It was by far our favourite of the Maldives local islands. 

We enjoyed being able to walk for miles through the plantations and not run out of space; we also loved the fruit trees with giant fruit bats swooping between them. It is large enough that hiring a bike is a sensible option, and most hotels will offer them for free. We were given a little golf-buggy tour of the island by our host who answered all my probing questions about the agriculture, resort and local tourism industries on the island!

The beaches were as beautiful and spotless as on Ukulhas in our experience, stretching for as far as the eye can see. If you are exclusively looking for a bikini beach though, the ones on Thoddoo can get crowded, so it depends on what you want to wear when you hang out.

This was the one island that actually served dinner within a reasonable time frame (so less than an hour!). We loved the food and were even given free coconuts with paper straws.

Unlike Ukulhas, this island was jammed full of Russian tourists. Our hotel host even mentioned that it was rare to see other nationalities. The tourists were rude and were the worst for obeying the dress code laws , our host even mentioned that it was sad. Despite this, we found the residents to be, by a mile, the most welcoming and friendly (despite the Russians).

It’s interesting. According to our host, this island never really sent many family members away to work on the resort islands as it is primarily agricultural. This means that less people would have encountered tourists before 2009. Maybe this is why people are so wonderfully welcoming on this island?

Other Maldives local Islands Recommendations

While chatting with tourists and residents across the Maldives, we tried to gather as much information and recommendations as possible for other Maldives local islands that might have something extra special for our next trip itinerary . Here are some of the ones that stood out to us!

Feridhoo – remote with amazing beaches, loads of nature and only a few guesthouses. Really off the beaten path and quiet. Unspoilt was another word used to describe this island.

Rasdhoo – beautiful nearby sand bank, reasonably near Malé (good for combining with Ukulhas and Thoddoo). Great value diving excursions. 

Omadhoo – fantastic (apparently the best) snorkelling on the house reefs, stingrays and sharks by the beach. Small, remote and apparently has a sand bank.

Himmafushi -best for surfing (I was told it is better than Thulusdhoo), laid back surfer vibes, very close to Malé.

Kaashidhoo – super remote, jungle hiking, larger population, agricultural, off-the-beaten-track.

Dhangethi – great value for diving excursions, fantastic house reef and beach, good tourist infrastructure.

Guraidhoo – close to Malé, friendly, great quiet alternative to Maafushi.

FLIGHTS TO THE MALDIVES

We exclusively book our flights through Skyscanner . It’s the cheapest way to book flights from anywhere in the world.

If you book your flights to the Maldives through our link below, we make a tiny commission that helps to keep this site running, at zero cost to you. Thank you!

FINAL THOUGHTS - MALDIVES LOCAL ISLANDS

There are nearly 1,200 islands in the Maldives, 200 of which are inhabited. Visiting these Maldives local islands is a fantastic window into a country that has previously been difficult to access. 

We have only visited six islands so far, however the variety across them was startling. Your itinerary will really make a difference to the type of beach/diving/cultural holiday you’ll experience.

Our travels through the Maldives local islands were astonishing; it was one of the most unique and beautiful places we have ever travelled. We hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did!

4 thoughts on “The Best Maldives Local Islands”

Thank you for letting us know about this blog post about Reethi far. We also work for the deluxe beach villa in maldives you should visit reethi faru

Hello, great post. I was wondering how you were travelling between islands ? Local Ferry or fast boats ?

have a great day

Hi Francois, we travelled almost completely by public ferry between the Maldives islands. We only got a speedboat when we messed up the schedule timings! We’ve written more about the ferries routes on our Maldives itinerary page here and about catching public transport in the Maldives here .

Let me know if I can be of more help 🙂

Hola, tengo 4 días para disfrutar. He pensado en maafushi por tema tours. Esta bien o recomienda otras isla? Gracias

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• Sep 8, 2022

Top 10 Local Islands You Must Visit in The Maldives

With over 1000 islands in the maldives, it is hard to know which local islands are a must visit. don't worry - this blog post will go over the essential islands you should explore on your visit to this stunning country..

The low-lying coral islands of Maldives consist of both inhabited and uninhabited islands . Visiting a local island on your Maldives getaway is probably one of the best decisions you will make. It is affordable and you will have so much to discover. The beautiful island nation is rich with exquisite natural beauty, robust culture and the friendliest of locals you would ever meet!

Of course, the next question would be, “Which Island should I choose?” The answer is indeed very hard but read on as we make it easy for you with our picks on the 10 best local islands to visit.

1. ADh. Dhigurah

The name Dhigurah literally translates to “Long Island” , and it is obvious as to why. It is one of the longest islands in the Maldives which ends with a far stretched sand bank. The length is about 4km, while the width is just about 300m.

Dhigurah is known for its pristine beach and was among The World’s 50 Best Beaches by FlightNetwork, but this is not the only reason to visit this island. The surrounding waters of Dhigurah is home to whale sharks and manta rays . You can go diving in the famous Kudarah Thila, just 10 minutes away from Dhigurah and explore the rich underworld and swim with sharks and manta rays. The sandbank in Dhigurah is an Eden of pristine natural beauty and the best place to watch a sunset. The best way to watch the sunset here is by being at the narrowest point of the sandbank!

2. AA. Thoddoo

Thoddoo is the watermelon hub of Maldives. You can ask any local where you can get the best watermelon in Maldives, and they will tell you that it is Thoddoo. No doubt about that. This is one of the biggest islands in the Maldives and due to this, a vast land is dedicated to the agricultural industry .

When in Thoddoo, it is best to hire a bicycle to get around the island. The rides are spectacular with views of the green landscapes of farmland and palm trees. Thoddoo Ruhgandu provides frame to one of the most tropical photos you could ever take! It is a pathway with palm trees and rich greens on both sides.

3. GA. Kondey

Unknown to many but the beauty of this island speaks for itself. Kondey is situated in the Northern Huvadhu Atoll of Maldives, far away from the central Male’ region. This quiet island has a lot to offer than just the beautiful white sandy beach. It has historic ruins and a vast mangrove which is situated in the thick green forest that surrounds the island. The natural beauty of this island has been preserved very well, thanks to the comparatively few locals that still live on this island.

4. HDh. Nolhivaram

Situated in Thiladhunmathi Atoll, this island is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The island’s natural beauty remains untouched , and this is visible from the island itself. As you walk around the island, you can see the island is not densely populated and there is ample space in the houses and roads to roam around.

The beach in Nolhivaram is gently secluded from the rest of the island by trees, so you can expect to have a private beach all to yourself if you are visiting here . This island is also home to 2 mangroves located on opposite sides of the island.

5. V. Thinadhoo

V. Thinadhoo is a relatively small, but a beautiful island located in Felidhu atoll, featuring o ne of the best and cleanest of beaches in Maldives. The white sandy beach is almost spotless with crystal clear water splashing against the shore.

You can enjoy snorkeling in the reef which is easily accessible from the beach. Despite the size of the island, it is particularly famous among tourists as Thinadhoo features some of the best hotels and guesthouses among local islands. You can visit multiple uninhabited islands near Thinadhoo that are just a boat ride away.

Just 30-minutes away from the Velana International Airport , lies this tiny yet mesmerizing island with a beautiful beach. With several guest houses and home stays, this island is popular among tourists and locals .

Locals say that tourism in Gulhi started a long time ago, even before local tourism was officially introduced in Maldives. A mini market is situated few minutes away from the beach, where local women sell different types of souvenirs and garments. You can lounge under the tree shade or get tanned in the sun at this vast beach.

7. AA.Rasdhoo

Rasdhoo is a well-known island for diving and snorkeling among locals and tourists as there are several dive points nearby. An uninhabited island and a sandbank named Madivaru and Madivaru Finolhu, is just a short boat ride away from Rasdhoo making this the best island for an adventure seeker. Excursions can be easily arranged from the island to any of the dive points, sandbanks, or uninhabited islands.

8. ADh. Omadhoo

Among the pristine waters of South Ari Atoll, lies Omadhoo, a quaint island with a beautiful beach and a lot of breadfruit trees, perfect for the ultimate island getaway. There are two islands with this name in Maldives, one being an island located in Thaa Atoll and the other being in Southern Ari Atoll.

It can easily be confusing as both the islands are unique and beautiful on their own. Lounging by the beach in Adh Omadhoo is great on its own but snorkeling in the house reef is something you would not want to miss. Uninhabited islands and sandbanks are also nearby if you are feeling adventurous!

9. K.Thulusdhoo

Thulusdhoo is the capital of Kaafu Atoll . Offering some of the nicest stays among the local tourism industry, Thulusdhoo is known to be a hub for surfing, excursions and affordable water sports . It is also home to the Coca Cola Factory of Maldives. Among the several beaches in the island, the sunset beach in Thulusdhoo is the best, giving us the spectacular view of the Maldivian sunset, this beach is the perfect place to end your day with.

10. K. Maafushi

If you have googled what local island to visit in the Maldives, Maafushi would be among the top for sure. Maafushi is not known to have the best of beaches in the Maldives but it sure is a famous local island among tourists and locals.

The island offers a variety of activities, guesthouses, cafes, and restaurants to choose from and at night, it is lively unlike other local islands. Maafushi is easily accessible as transfer options are endless with speedboats operating frequently from Velana International Airport and Male’.

We hope you found this useful! Feel free to contact us for any more information.

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Maldives Local Islands: ULTIMATE Money-Saving Travel Guide (2024)

By: Author Mitch Glass

Posted on Last updated: December 31, 2023

Looking for how to travel the Maldives local islands cheap AF while still having a blast?

Hold on to your pants, because the Maldives budget travel tips I’m about to share will show you how to visit these magnificent islands for less than you ever thought possible.

We spent a whopping 30 DAYS traveling the Maldives, including epic excursions, insanely beautiful beach days, and eating out for every single meal. 

How much do you think we spent?

I bet it’s WAY less than you think.

Pulling this off requires careful planning. And making small mistakes can potentially balloon your expenses, so grab your notebook.

To see exactly how much we spent in each budget category (and get a better idea of what our experience was like), check out this video:

Table of Contents

• Maldives local islands: Important things to know

Maldives transportation tips

How to save money on maldives tours and excursions, budget tips for maldives food, internet on the local islands of the maldives, the cheapest time to travel to the maldives, how to find cheap flights to the maldives, should you splurge on a resort, maldives local islands : important things to know.

Ok, so there are 1,192 islands in the Maldives. Many of these are private resort islands, many are uninhabited, and about 200 are inhabited by locals.

The thing is, up until around 15 years ago, tourists were only allowed to stay in resorts, which meant they could basically charge whatever they wanted.

Local islands weren’t allowed to host tourists because the government didn’t want tourists to bring their vices into the isolated Muslim communities. 

Nowadays, tourists are finally allowed on local islands, and guesthouses are still spouting up all over the place (expect a lot of construction).

Not only are many of these guesthouses cheaper than any hotel you could ever find in the US, but many also have REALLY impressive service. 

That’s because lots of the people running the guesthouses were originally trained in 5-star resorts. 

I’ll link to all places we stayed below in case you wanna follow in our footsteps.

Hotels we stayed at on each Maldives local island we visited: ⭐️ Gulhi Highly recommended. ⭐️ Maafushi . Highly recommended (although the ocean view was blocked by construction when we visited). ⭐️ Fulidhoo . Very nice room and location, but service not as impressive as other guesthouses we visited. Still recommended because of the location and room. ⭐️ Omadhoo . Highly recommended. ⭐️ Dhigurah . Cheap option, but basic and far from bikini beach. If we went back, we’d try this one ( TME Retreats Dhigurah ) instead. ⭐️ Malé: Acceptable for one night, but if we went back, we’d stay in this one in Hulhumalé. They also have a delicious restaurant.

So, the first piece of the budget puzzle is to stick to these local guesthouses for most or all of your trip. 

I say MOST because you’re traveling a looong way to get here. And if your budget allows, you may want to splurge on a resorts, even if it’s just for a night or two. I’ll show you how resorts differ from local islands and how to save some money on them in a bit.

If you decide to use different guesthouses than the ones listed above, here’s a quick tip…

If you’re using Booking.com like we do, don’t trust the hotel’s location on the Booking.com map. Instead, pull up Google Maps to see where the hotel is located.

We found several occasions where the Booking map showed a hotel was right on the beachfront, but in Google Maps it was in the center of the island (and vice versa).

Most of these islands are pretty tiny and you’re never more than a 2-minute walk from the water. But it’s still nice to know if the beach is on your doorstep or not.

Out of the islands we visited, the only one where I’d pay super close attention to location is Dhigurah. I recommend choosing a hotel close to bikini beach (you can see it on Google Maps). The guest houses at the northern tip of the island will take about 15 minutes to walk to the beach.

Working out cheap transportation from island to island might be the trickiest piece of the puzzle. 

The modes of transportation are:

• Expensive option: private speedboats and seaplanes which can cost several hundred dollars per person. 
• Medium option: shared speedboats, which for our destinations were $30 to $50 per person.
• Budget option: public ferries that run between the local islands, which usually cost us $1 to $3 depending on the distance. 

The problem is that the ferries are tricky to plan because of the schedules. 

Not every ferry travels between every island every day, and the official timetable is kinda confusing.

I mixed up the days of departure and days of arrival for one of our ferries, which forced us to take a shared speedboat. So our $5 ride ended up being a $100 ride. 

To avoid these mix-ups, I recommend simply reaching out to your hotels before you book and asking them about the ferry timetables. That way you know you’ll have an affordable ride BEFORE you lock in your accommodation dates. 

If no public ferries are available on the day you need them, your next best option is the shared speedboat. 

But before you go with the shared speedboat, first check to see if there are any tours that stop on the island you want to go to. 

You might find that taking a tour costs about the same as a shared speedboat, but the tour gives you the opportunity to see some awesome stuff along the way. 

For example, if you want to go to the island of Fulidhoo (one of the islands we stayed at), you could take a tour to swim with nurse sharks and turtles that stops for lunch on Fulidhoo, then just leave the tour there. 

Lastly, if you’re short on time, the shared speedboats are much faster than the public ferries. So they may be worth it in some cases.

If you only have a day or two on each island, it wouldn’t make sense to waste all your precious beach time sitting on a ferry.

The next way to cut costs is to plan your excursions strategically.

If you’re going to multiple islands, you’ll realize that you can do many of the same tours from different islands. 

But the prices are not the same. 

For example, you can do that nurse shark, turtle, and snorkeling tour from Maafushi, the most touristic island – and it’ll be a full-day tour that costs roughly $70 per person.

Or you can do the exact same tour from Fulidhoo with WAY less people (or even by yourself) and it’ll be a half-day tour that costs around $45, depending on where you book.

The reason is that the nurse shark spot is way closer to Fulidhoo than it is to Maafushi. 

So the people from Maafushi not only pay more, but they also waste more of their day in the boat going to and from the place. (Unless you’re using the tour as your mode of transport from Maafushi to Fulidhoo, like I explained above).

If you’re on a short trip and have no other options, this is perfectly fine. 

But if you plan on hopping to different islands, it’s worth planning out which of the islands you want to go to are closest to the tours you want to do. 

Also, some islands price the tours based on how many people go. For example, groups of 6+ are the cheapest, groups of 2-4 are a little more expensive, and groups of 2 are the most expensive.

If you’re traveling in low season, which we’ll talk about in a sec, it may be worth trying to find friends to join you or asking your guesthouse to help you form a group with other hotels. 

This assumes that you actually want other people in your group.

You might prefer to pay a little extra to go alone. Our private trip alone to sharks, turtles, and sandbank ended up pretty epic. 

Saving on food is simple. 

If you eat local dishes at local restaurants on local islands, you can pay as little as $3 to $4 per meal. 

For Western dishes like pizza, subs, and spaghetti, you’ll pay double.

You’ll also find more touristic restaurants that run $6 to $12 for most dishes. 

Many guesthouses have their own restaurants as well. Some charge similar to local prices, others charge closer to tourist prices.

The tricky part is that a lot of these guesthouse restaurants don’t show up on Google Maps and don’t really advertise to the public. So you might have to do some asking around.

Restaurant prices can also vary based on whether the 18% tax and 10% service charge is included in the menu price, or if they’re added afterward. 

If your budget is EXTRA tight, you could buy groceries in Malé and find guesthouses with a kitchen to cook your own meals.

But seeing as though you can get a local dish at a local restaurant for as little as $3 to $4, the couple bucks you save might not be worth the extra hassle. 

You could also do careful research and choose guesthouses that offer buffet breakfasts, eat a big breakfast, then skip lunch.

We didn’t do this because food didn’t seem too expensive to begin with (and I get grouchy if I miss meals).

Next, if you want to stay connected to the internet for some reason — whether that be for work, social media, or whatever — I highly recommend getting a data plan on your phone. 

Wifi was intermittent in every place we stayed during our 30 days. Sometimes it’d work, other times…nothing.

These days I normally always use travel eSIMs, but I tried using Airalo while in the Maldives and they let me down. I bought two 30GB plans and both of them stopped working after 20GB.

That said, they did refund me for the missing 10GB. So if you’re ok with 20GB and messaging their customer service when it eventually stops working, this isn’t a bad option. The data worked well for us.

My other go-to recommendation is Holafly , but in the Maldives, their plans were pricier.

Side note: I’ve tested the crap out of different eSIMs (like, for over a year in 15+ countries). So if you’re wondering which to choose for your next trip, check out my full Holafly review and Airalo review .

Lastly, you could always just pick up a SIM at the airport when you arrive.

I didn’t test this, but this will definitely be your best value option. I’m not sure if they have options for less than 30 days though.

All the plans I found seem to be larger data plans for longer periods of time, like 14 to 30 days. So if you’re just on a short vacation, these aren’t as cheap as many other countries (but certainly cheaper than roaming on your home plan).

If you want to save money, you can rely on the internet in your guesthouse and accommodation, but just know there will be times it’s not working.

That might not be a bad thing if your goal is to disconnect!

The time of year that you visit will have a huge impact on the price of your trip. 

One guesthouse owner said that prices in high season are often double the prices during low season.

We visited in September. And during my research, this seemed like the perfect time to visit. 

I read blog posts of other travelers who visited in September and had all sunny days. And since high season doesn’t start until October, prices are still low. 

Well, we had a different experience.

Lots and lots of rain. 

We did have amazing days, but I’d say half were rainy or cloudy. 

Some of the locals explained that they have always been able to predict the weather fairly accurately. June and July always rained. And after that, it was nice again.

But in the past couple years, climate change has caused the weather to go haywire, and now it’s much harder to predict.

So if you’re doing research about the weather and reading info that’s a few years old, things are different now.

If you’re working remotely and traveling slowly like we were, this isn’t a huge deal.

The bad weather days gave us an excuse to get ahead with work so we could enjoy the good weather days more. 

Depending on where you’re coming from, flights to the Maldives can be pricey. 

We paid $180 each for our one-way flight to the Maldives. But that’s because we were already traveling in Sri Lanka, and we decided to tack on the Maldives to our trip at the last second. 

If you’re from the US, I recommend doing some travel hacking (using points/miles) to get over to a country that has direct flights to Male, like these places:

Then from there, buy a flight to Male. 

If you want a better explanation of how points/miles work, check out this video that shows how I flew from the US to Europe for $5.

Staying safe in the Maldives

We felt extremely safe on all the islands we visited.

If you wear inappropriate clothing, you may get some unfriendly stares (so don’t wear inappropriate clothing!). But other than that, it is a safe and friendly environment.

I suspect this has to do with the conservative culture. With strong faith, no alcohol, and conservative dress, there seems to be very few vices on the islands.

That said, as with any type of travel, there are still plenty of risks.

You could eat bad food, get injured during a snorkeling tour, cut your feet on sharp coral, or even have a run-in with a shark.

The remoteness of these islands means if something serious happens, you’ll have to be emergency transferred to an island with an appropriate hospital, which probably won’t be cheap.

Long story short, it’s a good idea to have travel insurance coverage.

Here is the insurance I use (which has paid for two of my surgeries abroad).

You can sign up for your trip dates below in like two minutes.

We loved getting our fill of local life, especially playing with the kids.

But there are some restrictions on the local islands that you don’t have at the resorts.

Some cons to traveling the local islands in the Maldives include:

• No alcohol allowed.
• Need to keep shoulders and knees covered unless on a designated bikini beach.
• Pesky mosquitoes.
• Lots of trash, construction, and rubble.

We were curious how resort life compared to local life, and NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi graciously invited us to come check out their private island.

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide if you want to splurge on an overwater bungalow for a couple nights so you can check it off your bucket list. 

Unlike the local islands, at resorts like NOOE you’re allowed to drink alcohol, wear whatever you want, and you’d have a hard time finding a piece of trash or even a misplaced leaf on the entire island.

It’s as close to perfect as you can imagine.

There is also somehow zero mosquitoes, which I was actually really grateful for after getting attacked on the islands.

Another thing I found ironic was it was actually easier to learn about the local culture talking with staff at NOOE than it was traveling on the local islands themselves.

On the local islands, you can SEE the local culture, but it was harder to find people to chat with and dig deeper. 

At NOOE everyone felt like a friend and one guy explained the entire history of how the Maldives became an Islamic nation. It’s an interesting story – look it up!

Apart from that, you obviously have epic accommodations that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. 

And here’s a budget tip for visiting these types of resorts. 

I can’t guarantee it’ll work for every resort, but it’s worth investigating. 

So, public ferries do not go to resort islands. That means getting from the Malé airport to a resort usually requires a speedboat or seaplane, which can run you several hundred dollars per person. 

One trick is to take the public ferry to the local island that is closest to the resort, which should cost a few bucks.

You can explore the island for a couple days if you want, then find a way from the local island to the resort. 

This could end up saving you $500+.

Again, your success may vary with this trick. I’d recommend sending a message to all the guesthouses on the local island to ask them if it’s possible and how much it’d cost. 

If you have room in your budget, splurging for a couple nights in an overwater bungalow is definitely an unforgettable bucket list experience.

If you wanna check out NOOE, you can get a 10% room discount by booking through [email protected] and including the code UNTETHERED in your email.

Lastly, if you want to see exactly what our 30-day vacation looked like and how much we spent, check out our Maldives budget travel tips video at the top of this article.

Hope you found this helpful! Happy island hopping!

Mitch is your typical nomadic backpacker. Or at least, he was . But after stopping in Colombia to take “one week” of salsa lessons, his life took a sharp left turn. He met a cute Colombian girl in dance class, fell in love, and got married. Over half a decade has passed since he left his career to travel the world as a digital nomad, and he’s never looked back.

Nowadays, he’s the blogger behind Project Untethered — where he runs an awesome email newsletter and Youtube channel teaching adventure-craved wanderlusters how to escape the rat race, earn money from anywhere, and build an “untethered life”.

His advice has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, Reader’s Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.

Mitch's Travel Recommendations: Travel Planning Resources - Everything you need to plan your trip on one convenient page. Going Cheap Flights Newsletter - Get flight deals from your airport up to 90% off sent straight to your inbox. Safetywing Insurance - This cheap travel insurance has saved me over $15,000 in medical bills. Booking.com - Book accommodation without adding your credit card (in case you need to cancel). Trusted House Sitters - Take care of pets in exchange for free (sometimes luxury) accommodation. Flexjobs - Find remote jobs without having to sift through crappy ones. Skillshare - Free trial to take unlimited classes that teach digital nomad skills. Wise - Send and receive money abroad cheaply (great for freelancers).

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Local Islands in the Maldives: A Paradise Beyond Resorts

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• Consider booking a stay on one of the local islands based on your preferences. Note that island hopping isn't as straightforward in the Maldives; you might need to return to Male to switch islands, especially if you're moving to a different atoll.
• Public ferries are available and offer a more budget-friendly option compared to speedboats. However, they take longer to reach their destinations. You can also check if local flights connect the island.
• It's advisable to keep some local currency (Maldivian Rufiyaa - MVR) on hand, although US dollars are generally accepted in popular local islands.
• If possible, ask your homestay to assist in arranging ferry tickets for you, as direct booking portals might not be readily available.
• Each island typically has a designated bikini beach where swimwear is allowed. However, remember to adhere to a modest dress code when moving around the rest of the island.

Here is the list of 21 Local Islands in the Maldives: A Paradise Beyond Resorts

1. dhigurah.

One of the least populated islands in the Maldives, Dhigurah Island is located on the Alif Dhaal Atoll. Situated 96 km away from Male. Dhigurah Island is popular for whale shark tours (which can be spotted at any time of the year) and snorkeling trips. It has multiple diving spots and dive centers. It also has the longest beach in the Maldives. Best Time to Visit : June to September

2. Fulhidoo

Located in Vaavu Atoll, Fulhidoo is known for its picturesque beaches and tranquil atmosphere. The island offers a glimpse into Maldivian village life, with traditional houses and friendly locals. Snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters surrounding Fulhidoo is a must, as  it is known for its Tawny Nurse Shark spotting and table coral gardens.

Famous for its bioluminescent beach, Vadhoo Island in Raa Atoll offers a magical experience after dark. Witness the mesmerizing glow created by the bioluminescent phytoplankton, turning the shoreline into a celestial spectacle. Stroll along the beach, and every step will leave a trail of shimmering blue light.

4. Dharavandhoo

Home to the renowned Hanifaru Bay, Dharavandhoo in Baa Atoll is a must-visit for nature lovers. Hanifaru Bay is a marine protected area known for its seasonal gatherings of manta rays and whale sharks. Snorkeling alongside these gentle giants is an awe-inspiring experience. Dharavandhoo also boasts a beautiful beach and the Dharavandhoo Eco Centre, where you can learn about the local marine conservation efforts.

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As one of the most developed local islands in the Maldives, Maafushi in Kaafu Atoll is easily accessible from Malé and offers a range of accommodation options. Relax on the pristine beaches, indulge in water sports activities, and immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture. Don't miss a visit to the nearby sandbank for a secluded paradise experience.

Famous for its thriving agricultural industry, Thoddoo in Alif Alif Atoll is often referred to as the "Watermelon Island." Explore the lush watermelon fields, learn about the island's farming practices, and taste the sweetest watermelons you'll ever find. Thoddoo also boasts stunning beaches, perfect for sunbathing and snorkeling.

Situated in Baa Atoll, Goidhoo is a paradise for marine enthusiasts. With a rich underwater ecosystem, it's a haven for snorkeling and diving, where you can encounter vibrant coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the famous Goidhoo Thila, a renowned dive spot teeming with marine biodiversity.

A uniquely featured, environmentally friendly and sparsely populated island, Ukulhas finds itself on the Alif Alif Atoll of the Maldives. Like a pearl surrounded by coral reefs and blue lagoons, it is located 70 km east from Male. One of the best islands, when one talks about natural beauty, Ukulhas Island is the very first eco-friendly isle of the island nation. It houses one of the best bikini beaches among the local islands.

9. Dhangethi

Dhagethi is a beautiful island located in the Alif Dhaal Atoll. The island has stunning beaches with clear blue waters, making it a perfect tropical getaway. What makes Dhagethi special is its local charm and authentic Maldivian culture. Dhangethi is famous for its long, widely stretched lagoon, & all year all around, whale shark and Manta sightings. From exploring lush landscapes to snorkeling in colorful coral reefs, there are plenty of exciting activities for nature lovers.

10. Thulusdhoo

28 kilometres north of the coast of Male, Thulusdhoo Island lies in the Kaafu Atoll and is the capital of the same. The island's location makes it ones of the best surf spots in the Indian Ocean, so much so that it is often known as the 'surf island'. The waves that break at Thulusdhoo due to the coral reef which almost surrounds the island is the reason why so many people are attracted to this place and travel here from all over the world. Thulusdhoo's surfing, as well as the snorkelling and diving opportunities, is what makes the island a delightful spot through which to enjoy Maldives and all it offers.

11. Eydhafushi

Eydhafushi, located in Baa Atoll, offers a glimpse into the daily life of Maldivians. Explore the island's narrow streets, interact with the welcoming locals, and visit the colorful fish market. Eydhafushi is also an ideal base for diving excursions to nearby dive sites, where you can witness the incredible marine biodiversity.

12. Rasdhoo

Rasdhoo, located in Alif Alif Atoll, is a diver's paradise. The island is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, including the famous Rasdhoo Madivaru dive site. Dive into crystal-clear waters to encounter majestic marine creatures, including sharks, rays, and turtles. Rasdhoo also offers beautiful beaches, local shops, and charming guesthouses.

13. Fulhadhoo

The small island of Fulhadhoo located in the southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll and two hours away from the capital city of Male is fairly uninhabited and is one of the most stunning islands in the Indian Ocean. The island is everything you would hope to see and experience when booking a trip to the Maldives. With less than 250 people residing in a small village on the west side of this island, the place is basically uninhabited and nothing short of a paradise.

14. Hulhumale

Hulhumale is an artificial island in Maldives located south of the North Male Atoll and connected to the airport by a causeway. It spreads across 188 hectares and is a perfect fusion of urban life with the delights of island life. It houses the popular Hulhumale Beach located on the sunrise side of the island. The beachfront road is ideal for a walk and houses some resorts and cafes. Other attractions here are Central Park, Fruit & Vegetable Market, and some mosques.

15. Fuvahmulah

Situated at the southernmost tip of the Maldivian archipelago is the largest island of the nation, Fuvahmulah. The scenic, natural beauty of this place is bound to take your breath away. With lush green mingling with the yellow of the dried leaves and the brown of the barks blending with the golden sand, Fuvamulah appears to be a place out of a picture that one painted in their imagination.

16. Feridhoo

Feridhoo, located in Alif Alif Atoll, is a serene island blessed with natural beauty. Enjoy the unspoiled beaches, swim in the crystal-clear waters, and embark on snorkeling adventures to explore the captivating marine life. Engage with the friendly locals and savor authentic Maldivian cuisine.

17. Mathiveri

Mathiveri Island is one of the eight inhabited islands in Alif Alif Atoll in the western Maldives. It is popular for its three beaches and water sports opportunities like wakeboarding, diving, snorkelling, and dolphin and manta ray watching. It has a gorgeous reef that’s ideal for fishing as well. Just 84 kilometres from Male, it is connected via ferry, speedboat, and even seaplane.

18. Huraa Island

Just 35 minutes away from Male, Huraa Island is located on the Kaafu Atoll of the Maldives. With a population of around 600 people, this island is perfect for those looking for an authentic Maldivian beach holiday. Not as heavily populated with beach resorts and private beaches as other Maldivian islands, Huraa Island gives visitors the chance to mingle with locals and get a taste for traditional Maldivian culture. Bikini Beach, one of the Maldives' most popular attractions, where tourists are allowed to wear bikinis and more revealing swimwear, is also found on Huraa Island.

19. Hangnaameedhoo

Hangnaameedhoo is a small island paradise in the Maldives that offers a glimpse into the local Maldivian way of life. Its pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and abundant marine life make it a haven for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The island is known for its warm and welcoming locals who embrace sustainable tourism practices, making it an ideal destination for eco-conscious travelers. Visitors can explore the lush vegetation, interact with friendly dolphins, and enjoy stunning sunsets.

Nestled in the northernmost atoll of the Maldives, Kelaa is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This unspoiled island boasts breathtaking natural beauty and a tranquil atmosphere that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Kelaa offers a perfect blend of pristine beaches, lush greenery, and stunning coral reefs, making it a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Visitors can embark on snorkeling or diving expeditions to witness the vibrant underwater world, explore the island's scenic landscapes, or simply unwind on the secluded beaches. With its warm hospitality and untouched charm, Kelaa is an idyllic destination for an unforgettable Maldivian experience.

21. Bodufolhudhoo

Located in the heart of Alif Atol in the north. The eccentric location of the island paves the way for a beautiful marine life for the tourists. The island is perfect to explore the coral reefs and the equatorial fishes. The place is far from the capital Male and hence still holds the rustic Maldivian touch for tourists to experience.

Most local islands in the Maldives are easily accessible by speedboat or domestic flights from Malé International Airport. Resorts and guesthouses on these islands provide transfer arrangements for their guests, ensuring a smooth journey to and from the local islands.

This post was published by Surbhi Parashar

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Top 10 Local Islands to Visit in Maldives

Maldives is a dream destination for many people. The cruise, the exotic resorts, and the splendid natural beauty tend to attract tourists from all over the world. In addition to these luxurious facilities, the Maldives also has numerous local islands. For the first time traveler, it isn’t easy to short-list some of the best islands among so many of them.

To make this task easy, we bring you a list of Top 10 local islands in the Maldives. Have a look at them, and make your vacation planning a bit easier.

1. Maafushi

It is one of the most famous local islands which have become a popular tourist attraction. This island is quite budget-friendly. You can find a large number of shops and eateries and very affordable guesthouses . However, this leads to a lack of privacy. You will find a greater number of tourists even during off-seasons. You will not feel the peace that the Maldives is supposed to serve you on this island.

Ukulhas is a local island of the North Ari atoll that offers budget tourism with various choices of guest houses and mini-hotels. It is known for good ecology, cleanliness and high marine biodiversity. Ukulhas inexpensive package is one of the best ways to discover the sun, sand and sea of the Maldives without spending a lot of money! Guests are allowed to dive into the local fishing community and get experience of authentic Maldives.

If you are a fan of exploring the aquatic life, then you must visit this island. It has a large variety of house reefs. You can even spot sharks and school of fishes to which will give you a spellbound view. If you are a fan of adventures, then again, you should visit this place. You will find some good diving points on this island to enjoy your day.

4. Hangnaameedhoo

This island is the best choice for budget friendly holiday in the Maldives. It offers a lot of activities for its tourists. From numerous water sports to relaxation on clear beach, everything is available. This place is most suitable for the one who wishes to explore the ‘real’ Maldives along with its culture and charm.

This island is close to the capital of the Maldives, i.e., Male. It consists of a gigantic green farm and two beaches. However, the house reef is quite far from the beaches. This island is a satisfactory place for a family vacation.

6. Dhigurah

It is one of the longest local islands of the Maldives. It consists of long beaches and numerous corals. The beach’s resorts are quite affordable. Diving is also comparatively cheaper than on the other luxury resorts in Maldives. However, the restaurant’s quality might not satisfy you.

7. Mathiveri

It is a small island which consists of three beaches. There is a point on the island from where its all the four sides are visible. This point provides a very different view to the tourists.

You might find it challenging to find a good restaurant here. Some might be over expensive too. However, the resorts will always come to your rescue.

8. Dhangethi

The beach on this island is tiny but suitable for you if you are a fan of water sports. There are many options for diving activities available on this island. You can also find many eateries and local shops. These locations of the shops are in close vicinity from the point where you can spot the sharks and whales.

Known for having the most beautiful beaches, Kelaa Island is an inhabited island in the HaaAlifu atoll in the Maldives. When it opened its budget tourism in 2015, Kelaa has a handful of guest houses on the island, white beaches, a beautiful lagoon and an impressive sea life. Be it a solo trip, a honeymoon or a family vacation, everyone can find their own piece of paradise. The locals are very sympathetic and hospitable, and they will do everything for the unforgettable experience of their guests on Kelaa.  Guests who have visited Kelaa plan to return to the island again.

10. Fulhadhoo

Fulhadhoo is one of the local islands of Baa atoll in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Maldives. Fulhadhoo together with the two other local islands: Goidhoo and Fehendhoo, as well as several uninhabited islets, they form the Goidhoo atoll. Known for its crystal clear waters and beautiful sandy beaches, good snorkeling, comfortable budget accommodation and warm hospitality of local residents, Fulhadhoo is an excellent option for an inexpensive holiday. Travel is only 2 hours by speedboat from Malé International Airport (VIA).

It is a tough task to pick one island while traveling to the Maldives. However, choose the one which suits your hobby. Some islands are suitable for family vacations, while some are good for water sports.  Each island has its pros and cons. So, choose the one that suits your purpose.

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10 Most Exciting Ways To Explore The Underwater Life Of Maldives

Top 10 Things to Know about Male’ City Life

News Uncategorized May 30, 2020

Top 20 Local Islands To Visit In Maldives

Maldives tourism industry has been dominated by high-end resorts for decades. However, in 2009 with the permission to operate guesthouses in the local islands, it brought a revolution to the tourism industry of Maldives. Since then local island tourism sector has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in Maldives tourism industry.

Here are the top 20 local island tourism destinations in Maldives to visit post pandemic.

1- V.Keyodhoo

PHOTO : Dynamyst

Located in Vaavu atoll , the island is popular for those looking to spend their holidays on fishing excursions out in the open sea. So expect to find several guesthouses that cater specifically to this group of tourists. However, the island also offers the usual water sports and other excursions you’d expect from a Maldivian island. Professional divers will also find a lot to like about this island as there are several fully equipped dive centers located in Keyodhoo.

2- V.Fulidhoo

The guesthouses in Fulidhoo offers everything that the resorts of the Maldives is famous for but at a much more affordable price. The island is surrounded by a large white sandy beach and the diversity of marine life you’ll meet even during a short snorkeling excursion in the surrounding turquoise lagoon is mind-bending!

3- K.Maafushi

PHOTO: Arena Beach hotel

The birthplace of the guesthouse industry in the Maldives, Kaafu Atoll Maafushi is about 45 minutes away from Male’ via speedboat and now boasts over a dozen beautiful guesthouses and offers guests an assortment of activities and facilities that would rival any Maldivian resort.

4- Aa.Ukulhas

PHOTO : Siaréz Photography

Located in Alif Alif Atoll close to the most northern boundary, Ukulhas is an oval-shaped island famed for its cleanliness and well -maintained waste management system. The island was awarded the ‘Green Leaf Award’ in the year 2014 and has been recognized as an environmental role-model island in Maldives.

5-Aa. Rasdhoo

PHOTO: Rasdhoo Dive Lodge

Located in Alif Alif Atoll, Rasdhoo is the capital island of the administrative division and has many guesthouses with varying degrees of comfort and amenities available. The island is very popular with divers due to its close proximity to several famous dive sites. Honeymooners and couples will also love the picnic island and sandbank excursions.

6. Laamu Gan

Gan is the longest island of the Maldives. It is divided in wards, the northernmost of which is called Thundi in middle Mathimadhu and at the end Mukurimagu. The four islands Gan, Maandhoo, Kadhdhoo and Fonadhoo which are linked with causeways stretches up to about 18 kilometers in length making up the longest lengthen of dry land in the Maldives.

7-  V.Thinadhoo

PHOTO: Visit Maldives

Thinadhoo in Vaavu atoll is a beautiful island surrounded by sandy beaches and a lush house reef. Referred to as “Mas Thinadhoo” (Fish Thinadhoo) in ancient times due to the fantastic amount of marine life that call the island’s lagoon home, Thinadhoo is now a favorite spot for recreational fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving.

8- Fuvahmulah

PHOTO: Visit Fuvahmulah

One of the most famous islands in Maldives for its beauty and historical importance, Fuvahmulah is the second nearest atoll to the Equator and the first atoll in the Southern Hemisphere. Being a one-island atoll itself , Fuvahmulah has many distinctive features which make the island unique.

9- Addu City. Hithadhoo

Addu city is the second-largest urban area in Maldives in terms of population and Hithadhoo is largest island among the several connected islands . Addu City has several guesthouses that offer a variety of services and unique attractions to visit . Addu nature part is must place to visit in Addu city .

10- Adh.Dhigurah

Dhigurah, (meaning long island) is in Alifu Dhaal atoll, about 20 minutes by plane from the capital, Male’. The island is narrow but 3 km in length which is considered to be a reasonably long island in the Maldives. With more than 3 km of natural white sandy beach, it is also considered to be a beautiful inhabited island.

11- K.Thulusdhoo

PHOTO: Trip Advisor

Thulusdhoo is the capital of Kaafu Atoll, located just 28 km north of Male. The island is popular for among wave surfers. Famous surf points Chickens & Cokes are two world-class surf spots near the island. There several guesthouses and water sports centers available in the island.

13- B.Fehendhoo

PHOTO: White Lagoon Fehendhoo

Fehendhoo is one of the least populated islands in Baa Atoll of Maldives. This makes it perfect for travellers looking for quiet comfort while enjoying the beauty of Maldives.  The island is famous for its huge stretch of beach, the house reef and a small picnic island about fifty meters away from the pier that is perfect for romantic getaways.

14- B.Maalhos

PHOTO : Baa Maalhos l Facebook

Located in Baa atoll, a protected biosphere reserve, the island is most notable for the rich cultural and traditional activities still practiced in the island. Maalhos is popular even among locals as a must-visit island during holidays as a lot of cultural events are organized by the residents every year.

15- B.Dharavandhoo 

PHOTO: Liquid Salt Divers

Home to one of the several domestic airports located around Maldives, Dharavandhoo is known as the hub of local tourism in Baa Atoll. As such, the island’s economy focuses mainly on tourism related activities, and offers several guesthouses and various excursions designed to get the most out of your stay in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Maldives.

16- Aa. Thoddoo

To most locals, the island is famous as the “island of watermelons”. This is no surprise as a large percentage of the beautiful island of Thoddoo is composed of farms used to cultivate the fruit through- out the year. However, the farms on the island are a secondary attraction to the tourists flocking in droves to enjoy the private beach area regarded by many as among the most beautiful beaches in the country.

17. Aa.Bodufolhudhoo

A relatively obscure little island located in North Ari Atoll, Bodufolhudhoo got some time in the spotlight recently after becoming the first island in Maldives to ban single use plastic bags. During the 1990s the island was used as a helicopter base by Hummingbird helicopter service and the helipad used by the company still exists.

18. Adh.Dhangethi

PHOTO: Mala Boutique Inn

Dhangethi is well-known for its cultural heritage, including traditional handicraft and carpentry. To cater to the local island tourism , various tourism related services such as water sports facilities, scuba diving center and speedboat rental services for guest excursions has also cropped up on the island. Curious about the statue of a pot (known as a ‘runbaa’ by locals) at the entrance of the island? Be sure to ask locals about the local folk story behind it. It is an interesting legend.

19. Aa.Himandhoo

PHOTO: MTCC

Himandhoo has become very popular as a beautiful vacation destination for locals as well as tourists in recent years. Having easy access to several popular dive spots in addition to the white sandy beaches surrounded by a beautiful lagoon just makes the allure even more potent.

20. K.Dhiffushi 

PHOTO : Matador Network

located 36,6 km northeast of Male, the capital of Maldives, Dhiffushi is becoming popular among tourist. Some of the major attractions of the island are the beautiful bikini beach area that visitors love and the clear turquoise lagoon that’s perfect for snorkeling and other types of water sports.

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The Maldives Unlike You’ve Ever Seen it Before: Local Style

12/19/2013 by Kristin Addis 26 Comments

Newlywed couples stroll along white sand beaches, hand in hand.  Their bungalow sits over the water, with bleached white sheets and a dedicated staff who serve them steak dinners, rent them expensive jet skis, and offer them boat trips with other foreign guests.

They spend $3,000 per night on this bungalow, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion!  Sure, it could be just about anywhere with beautiful beaches (and trust me, the world has more of them than one could ever hope to see), but it’s the Maldives, so it’s exclusive, and out of the reach of most people, right?

What if I told you none of this has to be true?   What if I told you there are locally-owned guesthouses in the Maldives, and it’s entirely possible to go there, even as a solo traveler, and have a completely authentic experience without feeling like the only odd man out without a spouse or boatloads of cash?

Guess what? That’s exactly what I’m telling you.

I had wanted to visit the Maldives ever since I first heard about it.  I knew it was amazing for diving and I had always dreamed of seeing it for myself.  When an email came through for one of the low cost airlines I subscribe to, I realized I could fly over for a couple hundred dollars and booked it without hesitation – I would figure out the rest later.

At first I was afraid it would break the bank.  Not only that, I’d be the only solo traveler in a sea of couples.  Then I found something out that changed my perspective completely.

Staying Local 

Three years ago, the Maldives opened up the possibility to locals to open guesthouses and welcome travelers to locally-inhabited islands, thereby providing an authentic and budget friendly alternative to resorts. I found this one via Airbnb.

Given it’s still such a small market (the place I stayed at will be fully booked for the first time ever this month, though it’s only three rooms anyway), local tourism in the Maldives is relatively new and provides a great opportunity for travelers who want to experience something more authentic.

I stayed at a place called the Amazing Noovilu, run by an upbeat and always smiling local named Mazin, with his family providing the rest of the support from cleaning rooms to driving boats to cooking the meals.  The room itself ran $100 per night, though I saw several options on Airbnb for closer to $50, making it a truly budget-friendly way to explore the Maldives.

Even better than that, Mazin ate each meal with us, which was almost always a traditional Maldivian meal, complete with grilled fish, a delicious bread called roshi, rice, curries, veggies, and lots of tuna.

Awesome almost-private tours

Perhaps the best part of the trip, and what remains the best kept secret on the Maldives at the moment, is how private each tour we did ended up being.  It was typically just myself, Mazin, his brother driving the boat, and the buddy I was traveling with.

“We must look like really big deals,” we joked to each other, being driven around in a private boat, just the two of us.  Yet we were paying less for the privilege.

We swam with manta rays and whale sharks, getting the opportunity to stay and float with them as long as we wanted while several boatloads of people came and left, only getting a short glimpse.

Possibly my favorite thing about the whole experience was getting to dive one-on-one with Mazin.  He rented diving equipment from local sea cucumber fishermen, took me out on the little speedboat, and guided dives in some of the best reefs in this world – all without any other divers around.

Fishing on a local fisherman’s boat under the stars and going to a deserted island while the others stay at the guesthouse were additional cherries on top of an already fantastic trip.

Interacting with the locals

Especially moving was the reception from the locals on Mahibadhoo .  When visiting the local outdoor coffee shop (the main hangout for locals), the owner came over twice to make sure the coffee and service was to my liking.

“I told him not to make it too sweet. I used to work in the resorts. I know Europeans don’t like it too sweet,” he said.

Then there was the encounter with a couple of young local girls outside my garden door, waiting to present me with some gifts – a set of hair barrettes and a pen. It was an incredibly touching gesture (and honestly, I needed a pen! I had misplaced mine).

I couldn’t have expected that this kind of no-frills trip to the Maldives would be so much fun and such a rewarding experience.  I’m glad to know that it’s possible to go and do it local, and to have crossed an item off of the never-ending bucket list.

Do it yourself:

• This guesthouse can be booked using Airbnb
• One thing to be aware of is the rules in the Maldives, which are structured according to Islam: no alcohol (it will be a “dry” vacation if you stay on a local island), no bikinis (though once you leave the local islands – on the boat or on private islands, bikinis are fine), and covering up shoulders and knees is pretty much required of females
• Meals are authentic and local.  This means fish for nearly every meal, though dietary restrictions can be accommodated
• More airlines are opening up routes to the Maldives via Malé, its capital city. Cheap flights are easy to find if you can be flexible with your dates. November proved to be an excellent month to visit

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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12/19/2013 at 7:07 am

That looks so amazing! I really have fallen in love with you and your blog, I check for updates daily! You have great stories and wonderful off the beaten path information!

Kristin says

12/20/2013 at 6:32 am

Thanks so much Kylie! I try! I really appreciate your kind comment 🙂

Pamela says

12/19/2013 at 6:57 pm

Wow, I have always put this place at the furthest corner of my mind because I was under the impression of it being expensive and lots of honeymoon couples hanging around. So thank you for making me realise that it is possible to enjoy the beauty of the place and get the authentic feel os the place. 😀 I will put this country in the one of the possible places to go in 2014!

12/20/2013 at 6:33 am

I thought that too but I had always wanted to go there so badly. It’s great that now it’s an option for everyone!

Alexandra says

12/19/2013 at 8:34 pm

When I was struggling with the heat in India this summer I almost headed to the Maldives but thought there was no way to do it on a budget… If only you had written this earlier 🙁

Best put it on the list for the future then!

Franca says

12/20/2013 at 2:46 am

You did it the right way, that’s for sure. After 18 months of traveling I learnt that staying with locals turns out to be always the best option, at least it has been for me so far. You don’t need a 5 stars resort to enjoy a place, thanks for sharing! 🙂

Completely agreed it’s always the best way to experience a place

Queenie says

12/20/2013 at 5:34 pm

Thanks for this extremely helpful article. I always wanted to go to Maldives, but had not really planned the trip because I felt it was too expensive and not suitable for a solo traveler like me. But this article changed all that! I can’t wait to share this with my friends!

12/20/2013 at 6:23 pm

glad you found it helpful! Yes, it was really good to find out it doesn’t have to be all couples and honeymooners!

12/23/2013 at 9:56 am

wow such vivid colours

12/26/2013 at 10:40 am

This is an experience of my dreams. How amazing to get to experience local activities without it seeming like a show is being put on for you as a tourist. The girls giving you those gifts is just adorable. I could dive into that photo of the reef.

12/27/2013 at 5:16 am

I know! I was so touched by that! I love that it doesn’t have to be super expensive too. It was all around perfect.

02/27/2014 at 2:53 pm

Maldives looks like a perfect place to visit.

04/09/2014 at 12:08 am

Mazin’s is the only place I’ve stayed, but in this article I wrote for nomadic matt I described, in detail, how to get around the Maldives and a few websites you can use for booking. I’d suggest airbnb which gives you a map view of guesthouses, and then cross referencing with trip advisor: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/travel-to-the-maldives-budget/

paper boat sailor says

11/07/2014 at 10:33 pm

I am researching for an article about tourism in the Maldives and this write-up was of great use to me. This beautiful atoll country actually has an immensely troubled political history, and none of its tensions and effects are remotely apparent on the exclusive resort islands–what a pity, right? I went to the Maldives for the first time last year, stayed in Male, Maafushi and Addu atoll, and was witness to the daily life in a unique country with a completely absorbing history.

11/09/2014 at 11:50 am

I found out more about that while I was in the Maldives. I think there were protests in Male in the months prior to my arrival. A resort would be pretty, I’m sure, but staying with locals was the coolest experience I could have had.

05/04/2016 at 3:29 pm

I lived in Maldives for almost a year so can definitely back you up girl! Budget, authentic travel in Maldives IS possible!! Great article, what lovely memories you’ve made. 🙂

05/07/2016 at 12:06 pm

Wow what a cool experience that must have been!

04/12/2017 at 2:51 am

Hey Kristin,

If you don’t mind, I’d like to share a list of other nice and peaceful local islands: – Rasdhoo; – Ukulhas; – Mathiveri; – Thoddoo; – Dhigurah; (All of them in Ari Atoll as Mahibadhoo) – Dharavandhoo, Baa Atoll – Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll – Guraidhoo, South Male Atoll

11/25/2018 at 8:32 am

How do we find a place to stay in these places please?

11/25/2018 at 11:18 am

I’d check out Airbnb

whatthewhatthewhat says

04/15/2017 at 5:46 pm

What about gays? Since it’s a Muslim country, I’m assuming if I were to go with my boyfriend, I would have to hide PDA? Which is fine but would be unfortunate.

04/15/2017 at 11:30 pm

I can’t answer that from experience but these guys did a pretty good write up on it: http://nomadicboys.com/gay-maldives/ I generally felt that if I wanted to be totally free, to wear a bikini, drink alcohol, eat pork, etc., I’d need to be on a resort island. When you stay local you accept their rules, which fall under Sharia Law. I think the ideal vacation there would include both local and resort islands.

08/20/2019 at 12:05 am

Maldives is an amazing place that I want to Visit!! Would love to explore it soon! Keep on sharing this kind of blogs…

7 of the best places to visit in the Maldives

Feb 27, 2024 • 5 min read

Experience the best of the Maldives with these unmissable places to visit © Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

The fabulous diversity of the Maldives means there’s an island for every type of tourist, from budget travelers to adrenaline junkies who dream of exploring beneath the waves.

So whether you’re a first-time visitor  on honeymoon or coming back again to gain a deeper insight into the region, here are our picks of the must-visit destinations in the Maldives.

1. Raa Atoll

Best for the diverse marine life 

The Raa Atoll, a 45-minute seaplane journey from Male ’s Velana International Airport, comprises 88 islands. Its diverse marine life, combined with its proximity to the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve , makes it a great destination for divers, many of whom come to see the manta rays that head to this part of the Indian Ocean to raise their young.

Raa Atoll resorts worthy of a spot on your bucket list include Heritance Aarah , which has fantastic sustainability credentials as the Maldives’ first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold resort. It’s also got a brilliant on-site museum, where various artifacts and a replica of a traditional Maldivian village provide a wonderful insight into the region’s history.

Additionally, the Cora Cora Maldives resort has a dive school that offers a huge range of qualifications, including Bubblemaker courses for children who fancy heading beneath the waves for the first time.

2. The Fari Islands

Best for luxury

A new concept for the Maldives, the North Male Atoll’s Fari Islands development currently comprises two resorts. The Patina Maldives  attracts a young stylish crowd with its minimalist over-water villas designed by Studio MK27 and a boutique filled with clothing curated by fashion magazine  The Rake . There's also a huge focus on art, the highlight of which is American artist James Turrell’s Skyspace , a hollow wooden structure that affords unique views of starry night skies.

At the  Ritz-Carlton Maldives , butler service comes as standard, and youngsters are kept occupied by the enormous video console-filled kids club. In 2025, a third resort, the  Capella Maldives , will be added.

3. Crossroads

Best for the range of accommodation 

Crossroads is another multi-resort complex, and it was one of the first in the Maldives. It’s also a destination in its own right – in addition to the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives , Saii Lagoon Maldives and SO/ Hotel Maldives , there’s a beach club and marina. Its proximity to Male’s Velana International Airport – it’s just a 15-minute speedboat ride away – means visitors whose seaplane flights are delayed (a regular occurance, given seaplanes are unable to fly at night) no longer have to stay in the notoriously basic hotels in the center of Male, but can head to one of Crossroads’ three resorts, instead.

Planning tip:  Got a painfully early flight home after your holiday? Rather than spending your final night in Male, where there are limited hotels, book a night at one of Crossroads’ hotels instead.

4. Baa Atoll

Best for wildlife-spotting excursions 

Baa Atoll is another popular destination for divers, snorkelers and anyone keen to check out the region’s marine life. This is where you’ll find the UNESCO-listed Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, home to one of the Maldives’ largest coral reefs and a magnet for a wide range of species. Many visitors come to this atoll to spot manta rays – it’s home to Hanifaru Bay, where thousands of the creatures regularly gather to feast on plankton carried here by the Indian Ocean’s currents. We recommend booking a stay at Vakkaru Maldives , which offers big five diving safaris designed for guests hoping to see manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, dolphins and blacktip sharks, all of which thrive here. 

Planning tip: If spotting mantas is a priority, aim to visit the Baa Atoll between June and November .

5. Laamu Atoll

Best for remoteness

One of the least developed atolls, Laamu in the southern Maldives is known for its lush vegetation, palm-fringed beaches and fabulously clear night skies (several resorts here have in-house astronomers). There’s just one resort on this atoll – the Six Senses Laamu , which is one of the best Maldives resorts for marine life due to its collaborations with the Manta Trust , Blue Marine Foundation and Olive Ridley Project , founded to protect endangered turtle species. A large number of liveaboards (boats with onboard accommodation for divers keen to visit multiple atolls) operate here.

6. Local islands 

Best for culture vultures 

There are hundreds of so-called "local islands" in the Maldives – islands which aren’t home to resorts, but local communities of Maldivians, many of whom work as fishers. While certain resorts offer day trips to local islands, it’s also possible to stay on one, in homestay-style accommodation owned by locals. These include Maafushi , which is connected to Male via a regular ferry service; Fulhadhoo, which is a two-hour speedboat ride from Male and located on the wildlife-rich Baa Atoll; and the Ari Atoll’s Hangnaameedhoo, surrounded by a beautiful coral reef.

A stay on one of these islands doesn’t just offer brilliant value for money (expect to pay between US$30 and US$60 for a night in a guesthouse) but a fantastic insight into the Maldivian way of life, and many guesthouse owners will happily arrange visits to island schools or excursions with local fishers.

7. Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

Best for sustainability 

The Green Globe-certified Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fush i is one of numerous Maldives resorts going all out when it comes to sustainability, but we’re flagging this particular property because it’s the one many resorts look to as inspiration. In the on-site sustainability lab, various pieces of hi-tech kit – including an extruder, which turns pellets made from marine waste into a range of products including furniture – allow staff to recycle more plastic than any other resort. It’s not just employees turning trash into treasure, either – during regular workshops, guests can make items such as earrings and toys from waste plastic. The resort also has a turtle ranger project, the Coralarium, which acts as an artificial coral reef, and an osmosis facility that allows the resort to generate its own water supply, eliminating the need for plastic bottles. 

This article was first published Nov 8, 2021 and updated Feb 27, 2024.

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Ultimate Guide To Best Local Islands In Maldives

Find out what are the best local islands in Maldives you need to visit in our ultimate guide! We spent a long time trying to plan a trip to Maldives but it required a lot of effort to match up the ferry times and the logistics of actually getting from one local island in Maldives to the next.

We ended up visiting loads of islands on a backpacking budget and we’re here to share everything you need to know about visiting Maldives on a budget!

In this post you’ll find out what local islands in Maldives we visited, how we did a day trip to a Maldives resort, how much we actually spent in Maldives and so much more!!

Table of Contents

Where is Maldives?

Most people might have heard of Maldives but also a lot of people have no idea where it is exactly. Fear not, we had to run a search on it before we could work out the logistics.

Maldives is often an extra tag onto many people’s trips who are heading to India or Sri Lanka because it’s just a short flight away. We actually went onto Sri Lanka and India after our visit to Maldives which worked out really well.

Maldives is also the smallest Asian country of just 298 square kilometres and is home to 427,756 people.

Book Maldives Accommodation In Advance

So here’s the thing, it took me absolutely ages to work out a plan for Maldives. Now usually when we travel, we just turn up and find accommodation. Not with Maldives.

You have to book your Maldives accommodation ahead because, well, getting to islands isn’t that easy and that’s when the local knowledge of the guest house owner will come through like a knight and shining armour and help you plan the trip.

However, I wasn’t quite aware of this and did all of my own planning which is why I’m going to show you exactly how to travel around Maldives on a budget in this ultimate guide!

I did buy a Lonely Planet for Maldives but I didn’t actually use it once as I just read more up to date blogs about it.

I booked all of my locals islands In Maldives accommodation through airbnb and booking.com.

OK so brace yourselves, this is a long post but it’s also got all of the information you need for your Maldives holidays!

I’ve tried to be as detailed as possible and you’ll even get to see my itinerary, a Maldives map of the islands we visited and how much we actually spent in Maldives.

How To Get cheap Flights To Maldives

We managed to find really cheap flights to Maldives from Sydney – Male, the capital city for $350 with Scoot Airlines on Skyscanner.

I mean $350 probably wouldn’t even get you to Perth from Sydney, yet somehow we found flights to Maldives. Turns out flights from other destinations to Male can be cheap too.

Things To Know Before Visiting Local Islands In Maldives

Getting a Maldives visa

You don’t need a visa to visit Maldives under any nationalities, just make sure you don’t stay over 30 days!

Maldives Money

This is a confusing one. Everything is priced in US$ and the local currency, Rufiyaa. It works out better value to pay in US$ but bring some local currency with you if you want to buy stuff at the local shop like drinks or ice cream.

Also, there isn’t any ATMS on any of the local islands . I did however see one on Rasdhoo when we visited for the day, but that’s it, so bring US$ before you leave your country and get some local currency at the airport when you land. Most guest houses will have a credit card machine but check with your guest house before you arrive.

Expectation of the Maldives local islands

Don’t expect the local islands to be anything like a resort because they’re not. Travelling around Maldives this way allows you to go island hopping, immerse yourself in the local culture and to really get a feel of a country that is known for having the most luxurious resorts in the world. The local islands might not have the luxury of a resort but the beauty of the island will be there. The clear water as well will be out of this world!

Level of Service on Maldives local islands

As a backpacker or for someone on a budget, we specifically made sure we found the cheapest places to stay on the islands not only because we needed to but because I wanted to show everyone what Maldives is actually like on the tightest budget.

We were totally blown away by the service of the Maldivian people. From our guest houses to restaurants to boat drivers, the level of service was excellent . Not once did we carry our backpacks ourselves.

If we needed something, our guesthouse host would go above and beyond to sort it out for us no matter how small an ask. As someone on a budget, I doubt you’d find anywhere else in the world with better service than in Maldives. We have those resorts to thank for that!

Is Maldives Safe?

Honestly, Maldives has to be the safest country I’ve ever been to . The local people are incredibly friendly and the hospitality is on another level. We walked around with our expensive Canon cameras out and no one cared.

When we flew our drone on all the islands, none of the locals even battered an eyelid. We got more attention at the resort from the other tourists! We also left our all of our equipment including 2 MacBook Pros in our room and they were fine. We also felt safe walking outside at night time and didn’t have any problems at all.

Most of all, no one hassled us, asked us for money or even tried to rip us off. We had a huge culture shock when we arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and greatly missed the level of service and safety in Maldives. I honestly don’t think you’ll get much better anywhere else in the world when it comes to being safe and being respected by the locals.

Getting a Maldives mobile SIM and Wifi

I read online to pick up a SIM from the airport which was a great idea because they actually have a really good deal for credit and data. I spent $32 for 15GB for 2 weeks. Can you believe I actually ran out of data? It was all of those insta stories I blamed it on because well, when you’re in the Maldives, you want the world to know about it!

My lovely guest house owner Arif, in Fulidhoo helped me buy more data which was a mission but it cost me something like $30 for 5GB. You’ll get phone reception everywhere in Maldives, on the local ferry, on the islands, everywhere!

If you miss out on buying a SIM at the airport, there’s a Dhiraagu behind the ferry port in the centre of Male you can get one from there.

Wifi is also amazing in Maldives. It honestly kicked Australia’s butt to the curb, it was so good. But only in Hulemale and Thoddoo it was incredible.

Maldives Food Local Maldivian breakfast at our beautiful guest house, Thundi Guest House in Fulidhoo

There’s not a huge choice of restaurants on the local islands that we went to and you’ll pretty much be living off fish and rice everyday. The local breakfast is a mix of tuna and coconut and roshi (like roti) which is a simple but awesome dish. We also lived off Peanut bars and on some islands they had every single Magnum ice cream flavour going. Of course we tried them all!

Can you drink alcohol on local islands in Maldives?

Alcohol is banned in Maldives. If a local person is caught selling it or drinking it, they will go to prison. You on the other hand will probably be deported. But, anything goes on the resorts and you can drink there or there’s a booze boat on Maafushi Island (more on that later).

You Can Do A Day Trip To Maldives Resorts

That’s right, you can visit a resort for the day ! We paid $150 each which included the speedboat and entry into the resort for an all inclusive deal. This means you can experience Maldives on both sides for next to nothing and you can drink as much alcohol during the day before you get picked up and dropped back to your resort. More on this later on.

Maldives Resort vs Maldives Local Islands

What to wear on the local islands in maldives.

If you’re wondering what to wear on the local islands i n Maldives? Because it’s a Muslim country meaning men and women have to cover up their shoulders and above the knees, it can be a bit tricky trying to find the right clothes.

I honestly didn’t see many tourists at all abide by these rules and it’s highly offensive to the local culture. I heard that women even went into the mosques with their bikinis on which is terrible. Be warned, it is very hot in Maldives but cools down in the evenings for a more manageable heat. We had aircon in every guest house we stayed in so it’s not too bad!

What To Wear In Maldives Local Islands

What is an maldives bikini beach.

One thing to know is, because its a strict Muslim country it’s not like you can swim anywhere in your bikini or swimmers. You’ll need to go to a designated tourist beach known as a bikini beach to be able to sunbathe and swim as you would do normally, otherwise you’ll have to swim in your clothes on the local beaches.

Make sure you check with the island you are staying on because I know Rasdhoo Island doesn’t have a tourist beach and that would suck because it’s so hot.

What nationalities are the other tourists on the local islands in Maldives?

I really only noticed a huge influx of Italians and Russians on the last two islands I visited. When we visited Thoddoo, the locals said they had only met one other Australian before so Steve felt quite chuffed. The majority of tourists were couples or families. I rarely saw any single travellers but it doesn’t mean you can’t travel on your own at all.

Washing your clothes & bathroom habits

I was prepared to have to hand wash our clothes but there’s washing lines at most guesthouses and we were even allowed to use the guest houses washing machines!

Also, on a random note, don’t put any toilet paper down the toilets on the local islands, always use the bin provided.

Taking your shoes off

When you go into your guest house, shop or any building for that matter on the local islands, you have to remove your shoes. It soon becomes the norm and you’ll be doing it without even thinking!

Things to do in Maldives

Make sure you try scuba diving as Maldives has some of the best diving in the world. Check out our review here of Steve’s diving with sharks which was out of this world!

Every island has different packages ranging from sandbank trips, resort trips, snorkelling, etc so there’s plenty to do in the day. At night, there’s not much going on so we just got early nights each night.

How To Travel Maldives

This is a very tricky one because if you want to go island hopping like we did, you’ll need to plan way before you arrive in Maldives. More on this one later in the post. The local ferries and speed boats were brilliant. I’ve heard that the local ferries and speedboats sometimes don’t turn up and we experienced this when going from Ukulhas to Thoddoo so we had to pay $130 to get a private boat over to the island.

Extra charges

There are a few extra charges in Maldives like a tourist tax and green tax on the local islands. They are around $6 on top of your bill at your guest house, something that the government has included and can’t be avoided.

OK, so there’s a few things to know about Maldives. Still interested? Read on to see what islands we stayed on and where we also would have gone if we had more time.

In total, we spent 17 Days in Maldives.

Male Accommodation

The reality of Hulhumale

With over 150,00 people in Male, our taxi driver said that if everyone was to walk around the city, there wouldn’t be enough space in the 5.8KM2 radius. I have a feeling Thoddoo was a bigger island than Male as I timed it as 6KM when we cycled around it.

Don’t stay in Hulhumale for any longer than one night, because, well, it’s a dump although it’s where all the tourists stay. Construction is everywhere in Maldives and mostly here where new guest houses are going up by the dozen. We walked around it and all we could think of was it sort of looked like it was once a holiday destination, but has now been deserted and ruined. This is not what we hope Maldives to be like and frankly, it’s not a good first impression of the country.

Where to stay? We booked into UI Inn  (for AU$45) although when we arrived, they made us go down the street and stay at another hotel. It was late, we’d been on a long flight and I didn’t actually are too much so we ended up staying at Star Shell Hotel which was pretty good.

Getting to Hulhumale is easy. You can either get the local bus which costs around $1. Once you come out of the airport, just turn left down the road opposite the water, and there’s a bus stop. It goes every 30 minutes to Hulhumale town. Or you can organise your hotel to pick you up and it costs just $10.

Or if you arrive early in the morning, you will probably be able to get onto a ferry or speedboat to the island you are visiting. For us, Maafushi was the easiest first island to visit because it was only 30 minutes away and the local speedboat cost $25 each and left the airport at 10am. You can also get the local ferry at 16:00 which won’t cost more than a couple of dollars. More on Maafushi below.

Which Islands In Maldives To Visit

Sunset on Ukulhas Island was incredible!

There are like over 200 islands to choose from and it’s a bit of a minefield to know what’s going to be best for you. Luckily I ended up going to four islands: Maafushi (1 night), Fulidhoo (6 nights), Ukulhas (3 nights), Thoddoo (5 nights).

See below for a map of the islands we went to!

[wpgmza id=”67″]

Our host on Thoddoo told me that apparently the further away from Male you go, the more beautiful the islands are. There were islands I wanted to go to but to be honest, they were so far away that you’d have to get a seaplane and they aren’t cheap.

I was quoted $450 for a return seaplane ride, that’s more expensive than the flight from Sydney – Male! So I made sure I kept to local ferries and local speedboats when choosing the islands to visit.

What time of year to visit Maldives

Just before I start, one thing I did learn was that the local islands are changing at such a huge rate because tourism is exploding. So, what might have been amazing a few years ago, might not be now or for that matter might be even better. Also, at the time of visiting in January 2018 during high season (Dec-Feb), every single island had construction going on with more and more guest houses being built. If you’re thinking of going to Maldives, get there now 🙂

I’ve also written more detailed posts about each island we visited which are linked in the sections below.

1. Maafushi Island in Maldives

I specifically wanted to go to Maafushi first because a) it’s the local island tourist hub and b) I hadn’t read any good reviews about it and I thought if I visited it first, I wouldn’t have anywhere else to compare it to, and it would be a good insight to form my own opinion. Also, it was the easiest island to get to from Male which I stated above.

Weirdly Maafushi Island also houses one of the two prisons in Maldives. This one is only for the drug addicts, yep you heard right. Weird to think alcohol is banned yet there’s a drug problem. We didn’t experience any problems on any of the islands with anyone with drugs whatsoever. You wouldn’t even know it’s a problem unless you chatted to the locals about it.

Maafushi is an island split into three sections, the local side, the tourist side and the prison. The tourist beach was jammed packed and there was building work everywhere. But Maafushi had a great holiday vibe to it. There were loads of restaurants on the beach and watersports so if you’re looking for a holiday vibe and want to be around loads of other tourists then this is a good place to base yourself.

It is also a great island to experience loads of activities and best of all, you can get a great cheap deal to a resort for the day. I saw some for just $100 and we paid $150. Also remember there is a booze boat as well so if you want a drink you can just get a free transfer over to the boat.

Watch My Maafushi Island Video Below

How much did we spend on 1 night in Maafushi Island?

$50 on accommodation incl. brekkie at Maafushi Inn

$10 on 2 coconuts (they were huge and delicious!)

$14 on two fish meals

$50 on speedboat from Hulmale

Total: $124

Getting to Maafushi

Local Ferry: 16:00 everyday except Fridays. Takes 1.5 hours and costs something like $2. Ask your guesthouse if they can ask the ferry to pick you up from Hulemale rather than Male ferry wharf.

Speed Boat: 10:00 everyday except Fridays. Takes 30 minutes and costs $25 per person. Ask your guesthouse to book this for you.

What’s Maafushi Island In Maldives Really Like?

2. fulidhoo island – the ultimate castaway paradise.

I absolutely loved Fulidhoo Island in Maldives for its beauty, authenticity and charm. It’s one of the smallest islands in Maldives but I just fell hard for it.

We stayed at a beautiful brand new guesthouse called Thundi Guest House and it was stunning falling asleep to the waves every night. We also made friends with the local diving company and had an awesome time with them.

If you’re looking for a very quiet island with a small but gorgeous little tourist beach, barely any tourists and an island so small you’ll get to know the locals quickly, then this is for you. The diving is also incredible from here as you’ll get to dive with sharks if you are Advanced certified.

Incredible Scuba Diving In Maldives With Fulidhoo Dive

Be warned, there’s only two places to eat on this island so we ate at our guest house every night. Our guest house was in the middle of building a stunning rooftop restaurant when we were there, that I’m sure it will be THE go to place.

Watch Our Scuba Diving In Maldives Video Below!

How To Get to Fulidhoo Island in Maldives:

Ferry from Male  – takes 3.5 hours every, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and costs about $4US

Ferry from Maafushi  (same one as from Male)

See  here  for more information about the local ferries from Male – Fulidhoo

Local Speedboat from Male  – takes 1h10m and costs $50 one way. Ask your guest house to arrange for you.

Private Speedboat from Male  – $200 one way. Ask your guest house to arrange for you.

How much did we spend on 6 nights in Fulidhoo?

$540  incl. brekkie ($90 a night at Thundi Guest House). Book here and make sure you use my $50 off airbnb here

$156 on dinner ($26 on dinner every night at the guest house)

$60 on ice cream and water (av. $10 a day)

$200 on Steve’s diving (inc 3 dives)

$40 on sandbank trip

Total: US$996

Why Fulidhoo Island In Maldives Is Our Favourite Local Island

3. ukulhas island in maldives – the forward thinking eco friendly island.

We wanted to go to Ukulhas Island in Maldives because it’s known as the first eco friendly local island of the Maldives. You see, Maldives has a bit of a plastics problem and you might see some plastics washed up on the shore on the islands but not on Ukulhas. There’s constant reminders of keeping the island clean everywhere on the island and I especially loved the eco parks.

Ukulhas is perfect for those wanting an in between island. For somewhere that has a touristy vibe because there are a good few restaurants to choose from but also small enough to get a good local vibe. The beach is also beautiful here.

Our only let down was all of the other tourists were unfriendly Russians which was a shame. We did however absolutely love our accommodation called Holiday Haven and would recommend staying there in a second for the amazing hospitality and service.

How to get to Ukulhas Island in Maldives

Local speed boat from Male:  Our guesthouse in Ukulhas sorted out our speed boat tickets and we paid them when we got there. After we arrived from Fulidhoo, we caught a cab for 30R around to the other port, at Ferry 6 opposite the Bank of Ceylon.

The boat was an hour and a half late, something that’s apparently the norm in Maldives so we just waited with the other locals until it arrived. The speed boat cost $50 and the guys working on the boat had our names down for the boat so it was super easy.

Private speedboat from Male:  I’m not too sure how much it would cost but I’m guessing it would be something like $200. Your guest house can easily arrange this for you.

How much did we spend on Ukulhas in three days?

US$278 – on accom

US$100 local speedboat to get to Ukulhas

US$300  on the resort

US$60 – on food ($20 a day)

Total: US$738

Why You Need To Visit Beautiful Local Island Ukulhas In Maldives

4. visiting ellaidhoo maldives by cinnamon resort for the day.

Whilst we were staying on Ukulhas Island in Maldives, we decided to go and visit a resort for the day to see what it would be like in comparison to the local islands. We really loved that you can have the best of both worlds when staying on the local islands and at a fraction of the cost. We spent $150 each to get a speedboat to take us to Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon Resort for an all inclusive package.

We stuffed our faces with the buffet lunch and drank as much alcohol as humanly possible before we had to go back to Ukulhas at the end of the day. As much as it was fab to experience a resort, I was glad we were experiencing the real Maldives.

5. Thoddoo Island – the fruit plantation island

We wanted to go to Thoddoo because it seemed so different to the other islands. For a start, Thoddoo wasn’t part of any of the 19 atolls in Maldives and it was an island all out on its own. We also wanted to really experience the local vibe and to see where most of the country’s fruit is grown.

The thing about Thoddoo is, like the other islands, it’s growing fast. Guesthouses has risen by 200% in the last year from 10 to 30 which is mad but it’s still pretty rustic. We went on a full board basis at Royal Stay Inn and the food was the best we had in Maldives. It’s a fifteen minute walk to the most beautiful local beach we witnessed in Maldives with a stunning beach den area jam packed with sun loungers and hammocks.

This is an island you can keep to yourself if wanted and you don’t have to mix with the locals at all if you want to spend all your time at the tourist beach.

There’s quite a few activities here too, we hired our bikes for $5 each and cycled around the island. See also did the sunrise manta ray trip and sand bank and snorkelling trips which were awesome.

This island was rustic, still had its authenticity but there seemed to be a divide between locals and tourists. Funnily enough the island was only full of Italians and Russians. We heard Steve was one of the first Australians to visit this island.

How to get there:

Local Ferry: The local ferry goes at 23:45 every night except Fridays and takes about 5 hours.

Local Speedboat: If you get the express from Male it costs $35 which leaves at 4pm everyday except Fridays. Because the ferry decided not to run on the day we had planned to arrive from Ukulhas, our amazing host from our guesthouse in  Ukulhas  managed to hire out the local speedboat to take us across the waters and before we knew it we had landed on a huge island thirty minutes away. It did cost us a hefty $130 thought.

Private Speedboat: I can imagine it’s around $200 for a private speedboat.

How much did we spend on 5 nights in Thoddoo?

$575 – full board accom for 5 nights

$20 – on icecream and water

$10 – renting out bikes for the day

$70 – getting the ferry back to Hulemale

Total: US$675

Total spent on visiting four local island between two of us over 17 days which would have been cheaper if we just got local ferries and didn’t go on any excursions: US$2,523.  I know that’s a lot for a budget traveller, but to be honest, when you think about it, you’d be lucky to pay for one night on a resort for that much!

Why We Love Thoddoo Island In Maldives

Local island in maldives itinerary.

Friday 5 January: 1 night in Hulhumale 

Bus to Hulhumale $1

Accom: UI Inn AU$45 but ended up staying at Star Shell

Saturday 6 January: Hulhumale – Maafushi 1 night

$10 cab back to airport, then $25 speed boat at 10am to Maafushi.

Accom: Stayed at Maafushi Inn US$50 a night

Sunday 7 January: Maafushi – Fulidhoo 6 nights

$3 local ferry from Maafushi to Fulidhoo (1.5 hours).

Accom: Stayed at Thundi Guest House for US$90 a night

Saturday 13 January: Fulidhoo – Ukulhas 3 nights

$3 local ferry from Fulidhoo to Male (3.5 hours) at 11am

$10 cab to Ferry 6 terminal to get the local speedboat to Ukulhas

$50 each for local speedboat to Ukulhas. Our guest house Holiday Haven sorted out our tickets and we just paid them at the end of our stay on Ukulhas.

Accom: We stayed at the awesome Holiday Haven (AU$116 a night)

Tuesday 16 January: Ukulhas – Thoddoo 5 nights

Local speedboat didn’t turn up

$130 on private speedboat to take us to Thoddoo (30 minutes) Our guest house again at Holiday Haven organised this for us.

Accom: Stayed at the lovely Royal Stay Inn (US$115 a night for full board)

Sunday 21 January: Thoddoo – Hulhumale 1 night

$35 7am local speedboat to Hulhumale Airport from Thoddoo (1h10m)

$10 taxi pick up from Hulhumale Airport to our guest house Koamas Lodge

Accom: Stayed at Koamas Lodge (AU$55)

Monday 22 January: Leave Maldives

$10 taxi back to the airport before our flight to Sri Lanka!

Maldives Islands we also considered 

If we had more time, I would have probably visited some of the islands below Fulidhoo like Keyodoo, Thinadoo, Felidhoo. I was also really interested in the Barefoot Eco Resort but it looked like the only way to get there would be to get a seaplane as it’s in the far north of the country.

Maldives Islands like Gulhi and Guraidhoo near Maafushi are becoming really popular because of the mass tourism on Maafushi. We did consider staying on one of these islands but I’m glad we just headed straight for Fulidhoo as it was lovely and quiet there.

If you’re into surfing, there’s a famous surf spot called Coke’s at Thulusdhoo Island in Maldives which is not too far away from Male.

We hope you have found our guide to the best local islands in Maldives helpful. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!

Best Local Islands In Maldives

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If you found this post helpful, please share it on your social media pages 🙂

Found this incredibly helpful!

This is one of the best and most helpful blogs I’ve seen about budget travelling to the islands in the Maldives! Awesome!!

Oh that’s great – thank you! I tried to be as detailed as possible 🙂 Hope you have an amazing time, it’s absolutely stunning there!

I’m very glad that I found this writing. Currently I’m planning my trip to Maldives in Feb, 2020 and I got very much good tips for that.

Thank You ! 🙂

Thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful for planning our trip to the Maldives in Dec 2021.

That’s great, hope you have an amazing time!

Hello Annie, thank you so much for your precious review! I am planning to go to Thoddoo with a friend, I just wanted to ask whether do you think it is safe to go as 2 girls? Thanks for your reply!

Hi Claudia, it’s definitely safe for 2 girls for sure!

Rasdhoo has a bikini beach. Look it up on google 🙂

This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much!

So glad, hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Thank you for sharing your trip – if you were to go again – which one would you go for Fulhidoo or Ukulhas? I am confused as I can only go to one – i want good beach and some of activities to do. 🙂

We loved Fulidhoo the most! Would love to go back, it’s absolutely paradise over there!

Thanks for sharing your trip. Fulidhoo is on our list. Just a quick question i had are government ferries running now to Fulidhoo or is it just speed boat?

Right now you’ll need to get a speedboat to Fulidhoo. It’s totally worth it though!

Very nice post! I will go in November.. which one is better Fulidhoo or Ukulhas? I would to love t go to both but I have time only for one.

Oooh both are amazing! I just loved Fulidhoo but Ulkulhas is slightly bigger with more places to eat.

Thank you for letting us know about this blog post about Reethi far. We also work for the coconut spa in maldives you should visit reethi faru https://www.reethifaru.com/

This is a great post! I have been to the Maldives twice and have only ever stayed on local islands. I have been to Maafusi, Hulhumale, Rasdhoo, Ulkhulas, Mathiveri, Dhangethi and Dhigurah) but am going back for another trip in a few weeks to go to Hangnaameedhoo and Omadhoo). I am rubbish at writing blogs but I do backpack and use local speedboats (the local ferry had stopped running when i first went except between islands within an atoll) but i found the speedboats pretty reliable and were faster. As a single female i will say that i have never felt unsafe although i did get flashed by a guy in Hulhumale on the beach so would recommend staying close to the locals on this beach! Apart from that even when i felt like the only tourist in Mathiveri, no one ever bothered me. There was no hassling like in Zanzibar and the locals are super polite but just be respectful as we are visitors so wearing appropriate clothing is a must. I found some of the newer guesthouses super sweet as the owners were training locals to work in hospitality and although the service may not be like in a resort, it was such a nice experience and they go above and beyond to make sure you have a nice stay. Also the local breakfasts are amazing!

Ahh you’re making me miss Maldives so much! The local islands really are incredible!

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Maldives Minister Urges Indians to Visit As India Moves from Top Source Market to 6th

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

May 7th, 2024 at 9:45 AM EDT

The Maldivian tourism minister's plea to Indian visitors highlights the critical role tourism plays in the country's economic framework. It also speaks volumes about India's outbound tourism potential.

Peden Doma Bhutia

It’s been four months since the #BoycottMaldives trend started in India, and Maldives wants those tourists back.

“As the tourism minister, I want to ask Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism,” said Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal to PTI Videos. “Our economy depends on tourism. Our people and the government will extend a warm welcome to Indian travelers.”

The tensions began when three Maldivian politicians made disparaging remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian arrivals have plummeted more than 40% since then — to roughly 44,000 so far this year.

VIDEO | Here’s what Tourism Minister of Maldives Ibrahim Faisal said on India-Maldives relations. “We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will… pic.twitter.com/xFgEkgEunv — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 6, 2024

India’s ranking from the second-largest tourism source market during this period last year to the sixth shows the impact of the diplomatic tensions.

Maldives wants to mend the relationship. “We have a history. The Indian government has been very helpful during our time of need. We welcome Indian arrivals that’s a clear message from us. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India) and promote peace and a friendly environment,” the Maldives tourism minister said.

Faisal also talked about how India’s large population presents a huge tourism market for Maldives.

What Started It All

The controversy arose after Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands, with social media users suggesting that the visit was a push for Indian tourists to visit domestic destinations rather than international ones like Maldives.

The three Maldivian deputy ministers used words such as “clown” to refer to Modi, leading to the boycott.

Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip announced that it would suspend all flight bookings to Maldives. Skift tried searching for flights on the EaseMyTrip platform on Wednesday and found none.

“Since mid-January, we’ve upheld our decision of suspending flights to the Maldives,” Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder, of EaseMyTrip, told Skift. “As a leading Indian online travel agency (OTA) and out of a sense of responsibility, we prioritized our commitment over the business opportunities and continue to stand by it.”

Maldives Wants Indian Tourists

India was the biggest source market for tourism into the Maldives in 2023, with over 11% share in its 1.8 million tourism arrivals, according to the tourism ministry.

Last year, Maldives brought in 209,198 Indian tourists.

The usually-reticent CEO of resort chain Soneva, Sonu Shivdasani, also wrote about the potential impact of the diplomatic stand off on the tourism industry , and hoped for a reconciliation.

Determined to increase Indian arrivals to the island destination, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, had shared with Skift its plans to host roadshows in 3 Indian cities in July.

“Properties and resorts that rely heavily on the Indian market have been severely affected. This will hurt us in the long term and that is why we have decided to engage with the India market,” Abdulla Ghiyas, president of the association told Skift.

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The Skift India Report is your go-to newsletter for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

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Tags: asia monthly , china outbound , easemytrip , india outbound , maldives , russia outbound

Photo credit: Tourism arrivals from India to Maldives continue to dip. Asad Photo Maldive / Pexels

• You Are At:

'Our economy depends on it': Maldives urges Indians to contribute to its tourism as numbers decline

The number of indian tourists in the maldives has sharply declined in 2024, taking it from the topmost to the sixth position after january following a decrease of 42 per cent in arrivals. this decline has been attributed to president mohamed muizzu's pro-china foreign policy..

In an interview with news agency PTI, Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibraham Faisal underscored the historical relations between India and the Maldives. "We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. As the Tourism Minister, I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," he said.

The India-Maldives ties have come under stress as President Mohamed Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. Soon after coming to power, Muizzu forced the withdrawal of the 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives.

Why has there been a decline in Indian tourists?

A full-blown backlash was directed at the Maldives following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian officials after the Indian PM posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India’s west coast on January 6 on his X handle. Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, while commenting on the photos of PM Modi, dubbed him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’.

Scores of Indians, including multiple celebrities, cancelled their reservations and dropped plans to visit Maldives. The tourism arrival statistics reflected how from being a top visitor country, India’s position went down from topmost to sixth position after January. As per a local media report, the number of tourist arrivals from India declined by 42 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the first four months of last year.

At the start of this year, India was the top tourist market for the Maldives. Data from the Maldives Tourism Ministry shows that the highest number of tourists there come from India. Out of the 17, 57,939 tourists in 2023, India led the number of tourists with 2,09,198 arrivals, followed closely by Russia  (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).

However, now India has slipped to the sixth position among the top tourist markets. According to Tourism Ministry statistics, Maldives recorded a total of 43,991 tourist arrivals from India as of May 4. Between January and April of last year, Maldives recorded 73,785 tourist arrivals. This year, the number stands at 42,638.

After the row occurred, former Maldives Minister Ahmed Mahloof said on X that if Indians started to boycott the country, it would have a huge impact on the country's economy. "I'm deeply worried about the escalating situation regarding the sensitive comments about our closest neighbour. Indians boycotting the Maldives would have a huge impact on our economy. It would be hard for us to recover from such a campaign. I call on the government to swiftly take serious action to solve the issue ASAP," Mahloof wrote.

Muizzu's pro-China stance

In the presidential elections, Muizzu contested with the India-out campaign. After assuming charge he maintained that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel. He has previously accused India of meddling in the affairs of the Maldives, despite it being India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

While India was forced to withdraw most of its military personnel manning three aviation platforms in the country, Muizzu travelled to China in January and met top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping. On his return, he said, "We may be small, but this doesn't give them the licence to bully us." Although he did not name any country, his remark was seen as a swipe at India.

Despite this, India has agreed to supply essential commodities to Maldives after the island nation's request. The government will export certain quantities of essential commodities including eggs, potatoes, onions, rice, wheat, flour, sugar, dal, stone aggregate and river sand to Maldives during 2024-2025 under the bilateral trade agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Maldives.

(with inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ |  India, Maldives review withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the island nation

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'Please be part of Maldives' tourism': Maldivian minister urges Indians to visit archipelago

From being the top tourist group visiting the archipelago nations, Indians went down to the sixth position in January on the back of mass ticket and hotel booking cancellations triggered by a diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

• Updated May 07, 2024, 9:13 AM IST

Maldivian tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal in an interview on Monday urged Indians to come to the archipelago nation in large numbers as the country's economy is highly dependent on tourism. He also emphasised on the historical relations between his country and India. 

"We have a history. So, when we needed anything, the Indian government was very helpful. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives' tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," Faisal told news agency PTI in an interview. 

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The diplomatic standoff between India and Maldives erupted when three Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted photos and videos from his visit to the Lakshadweep Islands on his X handle. 

While the Mohamed Muizzu government suspended the ministers, the issue led to Indians calling for a boycott of Maldives as a tourist destination.  As per a report in the Maldivian media, the number of tourist arrivals from India dropped by 42 per cent in the first four months of 2024, compared to the first four months of 2023. 

According to Tourism Ministry statistics, Maldives recorded a total of 43,991 tourist arrivals from India as of May 4. Between January and April of last year, Maldives recorded 73,785 tourist arrivals. This year, the number stands at 42,638.

Not only this, soon after coming to power, Mohamed Muizzu forced the withdrawal of 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation planes gifted by India to the Maldives. Back from his China visit in January this year, Muizzu said on India, "We may be a small nation, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us."

He won the presidential elections in September last year with an 'India Out' campaign. The Maldives is one of India's maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and has a place in initiatives like Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) as well as the Neighbourhood First policy of the Modi government. 

(With PTI inputs)

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Maldives lays red carpet for Indians after 42% dip in tourists

In may, the maldivian tourism minister appealed to indians to be part of the country's tourism as its economy depended on it. its foreign minister will be in india on may 9. the maldives is reaching out to indians after tourists from india to the country dipped by 42% in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023..

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• Maldives received 42,638 tourists from India between January and April 2024
• Sees decline of 31,147 tourists compared to same period last year
• This resulted in a revenue loss of Rs 468 crore or $56 million

"Please be a part of the Maldives' tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," Maldivian tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal recently appealed to Indian tourists amid a significant decline in tourist arrivals from India since the diplomatic row between the two countries erupted in January.

Indian tourists to the Maldives dipped by 42% in the first four months of this year in comparison to the same period in 2023.

Tourism Minister Faisal's remark during an interview was the latest in a string of attempts by the Maldives to woo Indian tourists back after Maldivian Tourism Ministry statistics that showed how India, from being a top visitor country, slipped to sixth position.

At the same time, there has been a steep increase in the number of Chinese tourists.

Four months ago, the scenario was quite different. Indian tourists were the highest foreign visitors to the Maldives in 2023 and China was in third spot.

HOW THE MALDIVES IS TRYING TO WOO INDIAN TOURISTS

The dropping footfalls have prompted the Maldives to reach out to India in a bid to woo back tourists.

Maldivian Tourism Minister Faisal was the latest to acknowledge the pitfalls of an 'Indian-mukt' Maldives tourism. Citing the historical ties between the two countries, Faisal said in an interview, "We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals."

Days ago, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) held a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives and discussed "collaborative efforts to promote tourism". The tourism body also stated that it would hold road shows across key Indian cities to promote the Maldives as a tourism destination.

"Plans are currently underway to launch comprehensive road shows across key Indian cities and to facilitate influencer and media familiarisation trips to the Maldives in the upcoming months," the association said in a statement while calling India a "crucial tourist market" to the Maldives.

Moreover, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer is also coming to India for his first high-level ministerial visit.

Foreign Minister Zameer is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday and regional issues are likely to be among the topics up for discussion.

The developments come as ties between the Maldives and India nosedived following derogatory remarks by three Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media last year.

The row started after PM Modi visited Lakshadweep in the first week of January and shared images of its pristine landscape. PM Modi's posts were seen in the Maldives as the promotion of Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the island nation.

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