The best local islands of the Maldives for recreation

The Maldives is known for its luxurious resorts, but in recent years local islands that have been opened to tourists relatively recently are becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to enjoy the real Maldivian atmosphere at a more affordable price, immerse yourself in the local culture and see life outside of luxury hotels. Below we will tell you about the best local islands of the Maldives for recreation, where you can find the same paradise nature, comfortable hotels and interesting entertainment.

If you are considering accommodation on a local island, it is worth noting that the Maldives is a Muslim state, and your holiday may be somewhat limited. For example, there is no alcohol on islands with the local population, and for beach relaxation in swimsuits, tourists are provided with separate beaches.

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Maafushi

Maafushi is the most famous and developed local island. Its popularity is primarily due to its convenient location 26 kilometers from the international airport, where all guests of the country arrive.

Holidays on Maafushi will be quite diverse: you can visit the capital Male for shopping and excursions, or book an exciting tour, for example, fishing with a barbecue or a dolphin cruise at sunset. Here you can find budget hotels, cozy cafes, diving centers and a lot of entertainment: from snorkeling with mantas to visiting luxury resorts. Maafushi has only one bikini beach for tourists.

For a comfortable stay in Maafushi we advise you to consider Kaani Grand Seaview located right on the beach, Kaani Palm Beach with an infinity pool on the roof, as well as another popular option of the same chain - Kaani Beach Hotel.

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Thoddoo

Picturesque Thoddoo in North Ari Atoll is known for its watermelon plantations and spacious beaches. There are no noisy parties, so the island is ideal for a romantic holiday or a quiet retreat with nature. For tourism it is a very "fresh" island, the first guesthouses were opened in 2015.

The main advantage of Thoddoo is a rich tropical nature with an abundance of fruit trees and fabulously beautiful bicycle routes. In addition to walking, snorkeling and diving are fascinating activities. Nearby are no less attractive Rasdhoo and Ukulhas, where you can go on a tour.

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Rasdhoo

Among the Maldives budget options Rasdhoo island is very popular. It is located near Thoddoo, so you can travel between the islands by boat. There are several cafes, shops, souvenir shops, dive centers and water sports centers. The population of the island relative to its size is not small. The choice of housing, therefore, is quite good.

Local guides offer trips to the sandbank - a very attractive option for fabulous photo shoots. You can also choose night fishing with barbecue, dolphin cruise, one-day tour to a resort or exciting snorkeling in several locations. For tourists a separate beach is equipped - wide, beautiful and uncrowded.

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Dhigurah

Extended snow-white beaches, bright coral reefs and diving with whale sharks are a few reasons to go to the local resort. Dhigurah South Ari Atoll. "Long Island", as its name translates, stretches for 3 kilometers. For the Maldives it is quite impressive size.

Dhigurah is considered one of the most beautiful inhabited islands of the archipelago. There is only one village, with a population of about 600 people, and the rest of the island is occupied by plantations of fruits and vegetables, as well as rainforest. Another feature of the island is the stunning home reef.

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Ukulhas

Ukulhas is rightly called one of the most environmentally friendly inhabited islands of Alif Atoll and the entire archipelago. The peculiarity of Ukulhas Island is that it has one of the best waste management systems in the Maldives. Besides, the island implements various programs to plant plants and protect the marine environment. Its cleanest equipped beach attracts many budget tourists in the Maldives. The overall picture of impressions from Ukulhas is complemented by a colorful home reef and the close location of the island to popular dive sites. Therefore, snorkeling and diving are exceptional here.

Ukulhas are often chosen by families with children, due to the gentle entrance to the lagoon and the proximity of hotels to the coast. It is a very dynamic island with a good infrastructure for recreation: cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and a friendly atmosphere for tourists.

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Dharavandhoo

Dharavandhoo, the residential island of the most beautiful Baa Atoll, offers many experiences from the Maldives, in particular snorkeling safaris in Hanifaru Bay. It is part of a biosphere reserve under the protection of UNESCO. In addition, the island hosts the largest domestic airport of the Maldives, and getting here from Male will not be difficult.

There are several small hotels with comfortable conditions on Dharavandhoo, and wide snow-white beaches surrounded by greenery attract many tourists. The equipped bikini beach is located on the northern part of the island, so the main part of the tourist infrastructure is concentrated there.

Several diving centers are open on Dharavandhoo, and excellent sites for diving are available. All kinds of water sports are offered, along with a very variety of tours of one day, including elite resort islands located nearby, such as Amilla Fushi, Dusit Thani, Kihaa Maldives, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and others.

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Dhiffushi

The ideal choice for a first acquaintance with the local Maldives will be Dhiffushi in North Male Atoll, near the capital and the main international airport Velana. The island is actively being built up with new hotels and guesthouses, the nature here is very picturesque - with lush tropical gardens and a calm turquoise lagoon. It is suitable for a relaxing beach holiday and snorkeling. There are no dive sites nearby, so only remote reefs are available, which will cost more due to transfers.

Comfortable and modern guesthouses offer all conditions, including international cuisine. There are several shops, and the beach offers a wide range of water activities.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, pay attention to the 4-star Meeru Island Resort & Spa located on a neighboring island.

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Guraidhoo

Guraidhoo is a small and quiet island 30 kilometers from Male, with a population of no more than 2,000. Getting here is easy by boat or public ferry. The island has a selection of guest houses, a couple of cafes with Maldivian and international cuisine, and the natural tropical beauty is simply breathtaking.

On Guraidhoo you can go snorkeling, fishing or in search of dolphins, visit neighboring islands and sandbanks. Local guides also promise encounters with whale sharks and manta rays. There are two diving centers on Guraidhoo with a full range of services. This local island is also often chosen by surfers due to its proximity to several surf spots. Surf school and board rental are available.

We advise you to book a one-day tour to any of the nearby resorts to spend time by the pool, visit spa and dine at restaurants. For example, islands with premium services like Anantara Veli or Anantara Dhigu, the popular 3-star Biyadhoo Island Resort, or 4-star Adaaran Club Rannalhi. It's a good choice.

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Thulusdhoo

Not far from Guraidhoo is another small inhabited island with a calm atmosphere and paradise-like nature for a real Maldivian holiday. Thulusdhoo offers a good selection of hotels with meals, several restaurants and shops, versatile leisure activities.

The island has a bikini beach for tourists, ample opportunities for impressive snorkeling on the home reef, and a few dive centers with service packages. Surfers also stop at Thulusdhoo, as it is home to popular surf breaks like Coke's, which has direct access from the island, and Chicken's, located a few minutes away by boat. To diversify your holiday, you can visit a private resort the day pass program for example, on Cinnamon Dhonveli.

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Gulhi

One of the most popular places in the Maldives for budget holidays is Gulhi. Only 20 kilometers from Male with a short water transfer, its nature and fabulous coastline are no different from private islands. Gulhi Island is very small, about three times smaller than the dynamic Maafushi. Here you can enjoy a peaceful holiday without crowded beaches or bustle. In the past, the island was a small fishing village, a practice still continued by locals, so you can experience real Maldivian fishing.

If you stay on the island, you will not have a wide choice of accommodation, but in these few guest houses all comfortable conditions are provided. One of the most popular options is the 3-star hotel with meals Tropic Tree Hotel Maldives. Near Gulhi there are several private island resorts for recreation or day visits: Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Naladhu Private Island.

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Fulidhoo

A secluded holiday in an economy format is offered by the small island Fulidhoo with a population of about 300 people. This is a paradise in Vaavu Atoll. You can get here by boat in an hour and a half, or by ferry in 3.5 hours. The main natural feature of the island is a beach with sharks and stingrays, allowing you to watch these marine inhabitants right off the coast. There are excellent conditions for snorkeling, organized dive safaris on popular Maldivian sites in the vicinity and an open dive center.

On Fulidhoo there are about 10 small hotels with different levels of amenities. You will also be able to find dining options. Pay attention to the cozy bungalows at the 4-star NAKAI Dhiggiri Resort.

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Omadhoo

A long island with a population of about a thousand people offers a dip in Maldivian culture and hospitality. Omadhoo is a quiet island village with stunning nature. That's why tourists come here - for a calm, budget Maldives in an authentic atmosphere. Thick tropics and a snow-white clean beach, which is rare for local islands, are highlights. The home reef of Omadhoo is the main object of exploration during a holiday on the island. A hundred meters from the shore you can observe a rich underwater life, including stingrays and reef sharks.

The local islands of the Maldives are a great alternative to expensive resorts. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches, see the underwater world and feel the local culture.

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