Dhigurah Island in the Maldives: all about rest, prices, locations

Dhigurah is an inhabited island of the Maldives, one of the quietest and most beautiful, typical islands of the far tropics. It is located on the South Ari Atoll (Alif Daalu). Dhigurah is one of the few large islands by Maldivian standards and has an elongated shape. This is its main advantage - beautiful long beaches for walks and secluded rest. Dhigurah has the longest beach on the atoll, stretching on both sides of the island. Even the name of the island speaks for itself, as from the Maldivian language Divehi, "Dhigurah" translates to "long." Being on one side, you can admire the sunrise, and on the other side - a colorful Maldivian sunset.

Dhigurah is considered one of the most beautiful and convenient for recreation among the local islands of the Maldives. The local highlight is the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks all year round.

General characteristics of the island:

• Population - about 600 people
• Length - 3.175 kilometers
• Width - 275 meters
• Atoll - South Ari
• Other names of the island: Dhigurah, Dhiura
• Distance from the Maldivian capital, Malé - 97 kilometers

The population of the island is about 600 people, and its infrastructure has everything needed for living, including a kindergarten, school, pharmacy, medical center, shops, souvenir shops, and a harbor.

The village occupies only a small part of the island, and the rest of its territory, which is not used for gardening or growing fruits and vegetables, is covered by an equatorial forest.

A walk through the village will take no more than 20 minutes. The locals are quite hospitable. In addition to agriculture, they are engaged in fishing, masonry, woodworking, boat building, or work at nearby resorts.

Abdulla Abeedh

How to Get to Dhigurah

The island is located 97 kilometers from Malé. To get there, you can use one of the following types of transfer:

Ferry. A public ferry ride is the most affordable option. There is a direct ferry without stops on other islands, which is very convenient and time-efficient. Departure is carried out once a day, daily. It is better to check the schedule with the owner of the hotel or guesthouse where you plan to stay. Please note that ferries may be canceled due to weather conditions. The trip to Dhigurah takes about 2.5 hours from the time of departure. The cost is approximately $80.

Speedboat. If a ferry trip seems too tedious, consider a speedboat transfer to Dhigurah. The cost ranges from $80 to $130 per person one way, and the duration is approximately 1.5 hours. The price depends on several factors: distance, type of boat, carrier fees, and whether you book an individual transfer or use a public boat.

Upon request, owners of many hotels and guesthouses can arrange an individual transfer, but its cost will be significantly higher.

By plane. If the sea is rough, ferries and boats may not operate, and the only transportation option will be a flight. To reach Dhigurah by air, you need to fly from Velana International Airport to Maamigili Domestic Airport (also known as Villa Airport), then take a taxi from the airport to Maamigili Wharf, where you will board a boat to Dhigurah. The duration of this trip is approximately 20 minutes of flight + 5 minutes by taxi + 20 minutes by boat.

To avoid additional hassle, be sure to contact your hotelier when planning your trip. In most cases, guesthouse owners are ready to handle all organizational aspects of the transfer, including assistance with purchasing tickets and meeting at the airport. Additionally, through the guesthouse administration, it may be possible to arrange a transfer at lower prices.

Depositphotos

Accommodation on Dhigurah

For accommodation on the island of Dhigurah, there are small hotels and guesthouses, including:

Bliss Dhigurah

Comfortable guesthouse on the coast, which has a private beach, a fitness center, and a sun terrace. Bliss Dhigurah is one of the most popular hotels for holidays on the island. The service includes several types of meals in the restaurant of local and international cuisine, a panoramic bar on the hotel’s roof, and a cozy café for rest and work. Profitable diving offers.

Bliss Dhigurah

Athiri Beach

A beach guesthouse with a high level of service for a local Maldivian island. At the guests’ service: terrace, restaurant, water entertainment, excursions on a pleasure boat, and a 5-star PADI dive center. The room fund consists of three types, all with ocean views. Among the leisure options at the hotel is its own indoor pool with a coastal panorama. Meal options at Athiri Beach include bed and breakfast, half board, or full board. Transfer services and airport pickup are available.

Athiri Beach

Boutique Beach All Inclusive Diving Hotel

In addition to modern service, this place offers excellent food and diving, which is already included in the price. Great location with access to a private beach. Repeatedly awarded by TripAdvisor. Two versions of the "all inclusive" package are offered: a diving package and a snorkeling package.

Dhigurah Dhonveli Boutique Hotel

The hotel is 5 minutes from the beach. The property features a sun terrace, a picnic area, and a playground for children. Cozy rooms with comfortable conditions. Breakfast at the restaurant is included. Free Wi-Fi access.

Dhiguveli Maldives

The cozy hotel offers modern island-style rooms, including standard, deluxe, and family rooms. Attractive diving and excursion packages, including popular dive sites, swimming with whale sharks, and night fishing. A restaurant with a varied menu. Organization of romantic dinners on the beach. Free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

White Sand Dhigurah

Beautiful guesthouse a few minutes’ walk from the beach. Features a good restaurant with culinary variety. Entertainment includes diving, fishing, picnics on the sandbank, and water activities. Beautiful secluded beach.

TME Retreats Dhigurah

Comfortable 3-star hotel a few meters from the beach, with a restaurant, opportunities for diving, excursions, and water sports. A good choice of accommodation - 28 rooms in 4 categories. Modern amenities in the rooms, free Wi-Fi, and a communal pool on the property.

ATOLLKEY Beach Villa

The hotel offers secluded villas on the beach, designed in an island style. Rooms are surrounded by dense tropical gardens. Excellent service, a variety of restaurant cuisine, and organization of excursions, including spectacular diving with whale sharks.

ATOLLKEY Beach Villa

Where to Eat on Dhigurah

There are enough restaurants and cafés on the island where you can have a snack at reasonable prices. Many of them belong to hotels and guesthouses. The cuisine on the island is very diverse compared to many other residential islands. Menus feature dishes of Thai, Maldivian, Chinese, European cuisine, as well as barbecue. Plenty of seafood, pizza, salads, steaks, and burgers in a wide range. No less diverse selection of soft drinks.

Reminder: There is no alcohol on local Maldivian islands due to religious reasons. For a holiday with alcoholic beverages, consider a vacation on a resort island, where this restriction does not apply to tourists.

Accommodation prices in Dhigurah hotels and guesthouses, depending on location and meal plan, range from $60 to $150 per night per person.

Bliss Dhigurah

Entertainment on Dhigurah

Island activities include impressive diving and snorkeling, water sports, socializing with locals, fishing and preparing your catch for a barbecue, watching dolphins, swimming with whale sharks, and exploring the island and its surroundings.

Near the island, there is a beautiful sandbank where romantic dinners and picnics are often arranged. During low tide, you can walk along this sandy spit to the neighboring resort - LUX South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas. Visiting the resort is paid.

LUX South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas

Bikini Beach

In accordance with Islamic customs, tourists are urged to wear modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees on the local island and in the village. However, Dhigurah’s advantage is a beautiful 3-kilometer-long bikini beach where you can spend time in regular swimsuits.

Water Sports

In addition to snorkeling with a mask and tube, guests can enjoy water activities such as wakeboarding, banana boating, jet skiing, water skiing, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Some hotels offer free use of snorkeling equipment and certain water sports equipment during your stay.

Snorkeling and Diving

Marine life thrives around the island. The waters of the South Ari Atoll are home to a huge number of whale sharks, rare sea turtles, giant manta rays, colorful fish, and vibrant corals. Here, you can see over a thousand species of fish and other marine inhabitants, including needlefish, giant Napoleon wrasses, parrotfish, clownfish, moray eels, and various mollusks.

Near the island, there is a beautiful lagoon and a good home reef where whale sharks often swim, so long trips are not always necessary to encounter them. Travelers looking to expand their horizons can use one of the island’s dive centers, which offer excellent opportunities for divers of all skill levels. The choice of dive centers for a local island is impressive:

• Dive center at Athiri Beach Hotel
• Dhigurah Divers
• Island Divers
• Oceanholic Dive Centre
• Boutique Beach All Inclusive Diving Hotel

Within an hour’s boat ride from the island, there are about 40 dive sites where you can swim with sharks, make drift dives, or explore sunken ships. Qualified instructors will help plan a route based on your experience, skills, and preferences.

Indicative prices:

• Single dive: $50-60
• Discover Scuba Diver course: $145-160
• PADI Scuba Diver course: $550-700
• PADI Open Water Diver course: $750-850

Depositphotos

Excursions on Dhigurah

Among the excursions available from the island are whale shark safaris, dolphin watching, trips to nearby reefs, picnics on sandbanks, sunset fishing, and night fishing.

As for excursion costs, encountering whale sharks or mantas costs about $90, a snorkeling tour to the reefs costs $50-60, and fishing costs $40-50.

Prices are for informational purposes and may vary by hotel. You can check excursion costs and book them at your hotel or dive centers.

Depositphotos

Visiting Resort Islands - Resort Day Trip

Some guesthouses can arrange day trips to nearby resort islands for their guests, such as:

Vilamendhoo Island

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa (Ex. Centara Grand Island)

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Vakarufalhi Island Resort

LUX South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas

Amaya Resort Kuda Rah

The cost of trips depends on the resort and the services and entertainment included in the package. For example, during a day visit to Amaya Resort Kuda Rah, guests can use the beach, pool, showers, pool bar, and restaurants. Pool towels are also provided.

NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort

Visiting Local Islands

In addition to visiting resorts, guesthouse owners can arrange private boat transfers from Dhigurah to other local islands, such as Mahibadhoo, Fenfushi, Maamigili, and Dhangethi. The trip’s cost depends on the guesthouse and the proximity of the chosen island, so it should be clarified in each case.

Alternatively, these islands can be reached by public ferry, the schedule of which can be checked on-site.

Depositphotos