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

Rasdhoo is one of the most popular budget destinations in the Maldives. This is a local island, meaning the local population lives here, unlike private resort islands, which have only the hotel infrastructure. Most tourists want to get to the resorts - they are more comfortable, expensive, and Instagram. For those with limited finances, local islands, including Rasdhoo, are a great alternative.

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Infrastructure on Rasdhoo Island

Compared to other local Maldives islands, Rasdhoo is quite small. It has all the necessary infrastructure - from guesthouses and mini-hotels to police and sports grounds. By the way, there are no shops, pharmacies, markets, etc., on private islands. On Rasdhoo, as on other local islands, all this is available. Therefore, tourists often rent a room or apartments and cook themselves, buying groceries in stores. This is much cheaper than eating in resort restaurants.

There is a diving center, snorkeling excursions, a sports field, two bikini beaches, grocery, hardware, and souvenir shops, several cafes, a water sports center, a branch of the national bank and an ATM, a branch of the mobile operator, a hospital, a post office, and a police department. By and large, you will not even need a map of the island, since it is easy to walk around and find out everything yourself.

Characteristics of Rasdhoo:

• Population - about 1,500 people.
• Length of the island - 600 m.
• Width of the island - 500 m.
• Atoll - North Ari or Alif-Alif.
• Other names of the island - Rasdhoo, Rasdho, Rasdhoo, Rasdhu, Rasdou.
• Distance from Malé - 56 km. This is not much for the Maldives; you can get here by public speedboat or private boat.

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How to Get to Rasdhoo Island

Rasdhoo is located on the North Ari Atoll. It's approximately 56 kilometers from the capital Malé. Travel time will take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of transfer chosen.

Public Ferry

The public ferry ride to Rasdhoo Island takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. The ferry departs from the city of Malé on Monday and Thursday at 9 AM and arrives at Rasdhoo at 12:10. The cost of the trip is about 5 US dollars. Tickets can be purchased at Villingili Ferry Terminal in Malé.

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Public Speedboat

The public speedboat ride to Rasdhoo lasts just over an hour. The boat leaves Malé daily (except Friday) at 10:30 and 16:00. The cost of the trip is $40 per person. Transfer on a speedboat must be booked in advance. This can be done with the help of the administration of your guesthouse.

Private Speedboat

Private speedboat transfers also require prior booking at your guesthouse. The cost of the service, on average, ranges from $120 to $300. The journey will take about half an hour. When booking a hotel in the Maldives catalog, choose the appropriate transfer type or inform the manager in the online chat. We will help you find a transfer for you.

Seaplane

The seaplane flight to Rasdhoo takes about 15 minutes. As in the previous options, prior booking is required.

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Hotels and Guesthouses on Rasdhoo

According to the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives, about 20 guesthouses are registered on the island of Rasdhoo. Among the best:

• Quicksand Rasdhoo - a nice guesthouse with fresh rooms, located next to the bikini beach. Amenities include a restaurant, communal lounge, garden, and terrace (about $70 with breakfast).
• White Coral Rasdhoo - a clean guesthouse with friendly staff, consisting of 10 rooms, located 200 meters from the bikini beach (from $65 with breakfast).
• Acqua Blu Rasdhoo - a 3-star guesthouse next to a bikini beach. There is a restaurant, a fitness center, bicycle rental, and the possibility of organizing excursions (about $170).
• Club Gabbiano - a hotel with modern design, located just a few steps from the bikini beach. There is a restaurant, a terrace, a tour bureau, and a currency exchange office (from $60 without food or $100 with breakfast and lunch).
• Palm Residence - a guesthouse near the beach with a restaurant, barbecue facilities, and good free Wi-Fi ($135 with breakfast).
• Tranquila Maldives - a cozy boutique hotel with joint Italian-Maldivian management. Located on the coastline. There is a private beach area, a nice restaurant, and ample leisure facilities (about $120 without meals or about $230 with all-inclusive meals).
• Holiday Garden Rasdhoo - a budget, very clean guesthouse near the beach. There are restaurants on the territory (from $60 without food or from $70 with breakfast).
• Madivaru Kro - a guesthouse with a pleasant atmosphere near the bikini beach. There is a restaurant and the option of booking excursions ($120 with breakfast).
• Shallow Lagoon Rasdhoo - an inexpensive guesthouse a few minutes from the bikini beach. There is a restaurant, an ATM, free snorkeling equipment is provided, and excursions are held (from $65 with breakfast).
• Ras Village - a nice guesthouse next to a bikini beach. There is a restaurant, a tour bureau, currency exchange services, and laundry ($95 with breakfast).

Prices are indicated per day of accommodation in a room for two, excluding taxes and fees. By the way, on WIOTTO.com, taxes and fees are already included in the presented price. Choose resorts and guesthouses without extra fees upon arrival!

Tranquila Maldives

Island Trips

From Rasdhoo Island, you can easily reach the local islands of Thoddoo and Ukulhas, located less than 20 kilometers away. You can reach them by public ferry. However, a more convenient option would be to ask for assistance in organizing such a trip from your hotelier or book it at Jerrys Dive Club for about $10 per person.

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Resorts Near Rasdhoo

Near the island of Rasdhoo, there are several excellent private resorts. For many budget tourists, this is an opportunity to spend at least one or two nights in a luxury villa and plan the rest of the vacation on Rasdhoo. Let us say a few words about the two closest resorts to the island: Kuramathi and Veligandu, both of which are top recommendations on the islands.

Kuramathi Maldives

Kuramathi is a 4-star hotel, to which, according to recommendations, you can safely give all 5 stars. The resort stands out for its scale - it is one of the largest private islands. There is a wide infrastructure, including a promenade street with small shops and entertainment. The main advantage of the hotel, besides delicious cuisine and comfortable villas, is the children's club. A whole town for children with plenty of entertainment for all ages has been built on the island. Kuramathi Maldives is our top recommendation for families with children.

The island is elongated in shape, about the same area as Rasdhoo. There is a wide selection of restaurants and bars, a spa, a water and land sports center, diving, and snorkeling. There is a nice house reef around the island. You can get to the resort from Rasdhoo by speedboat in a few minutes.

Kuramathi Maldives

Veligandu Island Resort

Veligandu Island is a classic Maldivian resort with villas on the coral shore or in a lagoon with thatched roofs and wooden finishes. The Superior-level hotel slightly increases the price tag of 4 stars, but this affects the comfort and chic menu in restaurants and bars. A great option if you want luxury but have a limited budget. The island also has a spa, an outdoor communal pool, diving, snorkeling, water sports, and more. It will take about 5 minutes to reach Veligandu from Rasdhoo Island. There is also a transfer from the capital Malé.

Veligandu Island Resort

Restaurants and Cafes on Rasdhoo

There are a number of restaurants and cafes on the island of Rasdhoo. Prices are much lower than at resorts but several times higher than, say, in Egypt. For example, a continental breakfast for one costs $6-10. Among the most famous cafes on Rasdhoo:

• Tranquila Ristorante Italiano - an Italian restaurant with ocean views, serving not only Italian but also Maldivian cuisine. It is part of the Tranquila Maldives hotel.
• Lemon Drop - a two-story establishment with a pleasant, unhurried atmosphere, popular among both tourists and locals. The menu includes a variety of seafood, rice, salads, pizza, and possibly vegetarian dishes.
• Coffee Ole - a good café in the central part of the island. The menu includes seafood, European, Asian, and Maldivian cuisine, burgers, and sandwiches.

You can also have a good time by visiting the multinational restaurant at the Shallow Lagoon hotel. The menu includes:

• Indian and Maldivian cuisine - $2-10;
• Seafood - $10-75;
• Spaghetti and pasta - $7-15;
• Rice dishes - $6-12;
• Fish and meat dishes - $3-20;
• Pizza - $10-15;
• Burgers and sandwiches - $6-9;
• Salads - $5-7;
• Soups - $6;
• Desserts - $1-9;
• Smoothies, juices, and other drinks - $1-6.

In addition, the hotel operates the Destination Dining concept, according to which guests can expect creative menus and entertainment both on the island and beyond. Find out what is worth trying from Maldivian cuisine.

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What to Do on Rasdhoo

It is worth noting that there is little to do on the island itself, except sunbathing on the beach. There is a large playground for kids. Most entertainment is connected with water in one way or another. That's why it's worth coming here.

The island offers diving, snorkeling safaris, various types of fishing, day use at nearby resorts, excursions to local villages, encounters with manta rays, turtles, and whale sharks, cruises, visiting a traditional show, romantic dinners, water sports, and much more.

Between the islands of Rasdhoo and Thoddoo, there is a place where a pod of dolphins gathers in the evening. Don’t miss your chance to take a short trip and watch these playful and intelligent sea creatures. Contact the local water sports and diving center.

Less than a kilometer from Rasdhoo is a miniature uninhabited islet of Madivaru and an untouched sandbank where you can snorkel, sunbathe, watch beautiful Maldivian sunsets, and, of course, eat delicious food.

Here are the approximate prices for some of the entertainment:

• Trips to the sandbank (for half a day, a whole day, or with an overnight stay) - from $25;
• Snorkeling safari with visits to three locations - from $50;
• Night fishing with barbecue - from $60;
• Dolphin watching - $45-60;
• Encounters and swimming with sea turtles - from $50;
• Visiting resort islands - from $95.

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Bikini Beach

The beach area designed for tourists is located near the village. There are free sun loungers and trees to shelter from the hot tropical sun. The coast offers a fascinating view of the sunset over the Indian Ocean. The beach is cleaned, but entering the water at low tide can be difficult due to dead corals, so it is better to bring special shoes.

Water Sports

The island has a water sports center located near Bikini Beach. In addition, the Shallow Lagoon hotel provides good opportunities for water sports. There are water skis, wakeboards, bananas, kayaks (for 1-3 people), surfboards, and jet skis. For sailing enthusiasts, there is a catamaran and trimaran, as well as seven board size options and 10 sail configurations for windsurfers of any experience level.

Diving and Snorkeling

Rasdhoo offers access to some of the best dive sites in the Maldives. In addition to a huge number of fish, there are manta rays, eagle rays, turtles, eels, and sharks (including white-tip, gray reef, and hammerhead sharks). During a holiday on Rasdhoo, you can visit popular locations such as Hammerhead and Manta Point, dive to sunken ships, and swim with various species of sharks. Many divers visit these places to encounter a hammerhead shark.

Near the island, there are about 20 diving sites, the most popular of which is Madivaru Corner, known for its large number of reef sharks and eagle rays. Among other famous dive sites near the island:

• Rasdhoo Channel
• Miyaru Faru
• Three Palms
• Madi Gaa
• Veligandu North
• Madivaru Reef
• Reef Explorer and Kuramathi Queen wrecks
• Hammerhead Shark Point

The island has several permanent dive centers (both PADI and SSI), offering a full range of courses for both beginners and professional divers, with a flexible training schedule. These include:

• Drop Dive Maldives;
• Jerrys Dive Club and Watersports;
• Rasdhoo Dive Club;
• Family Divers Maldives.

Some dive centers (e.g., Jerrys Dive Club) offer additional entertainment besides diving lessons: fishing, dolphin cruises, trips to Thoddoo and Ukulhas, picnics, underwater photo shoots, and drone filming.

Diving prices depend on the school and are estimated per person:

• PADI Discover course - $100;
• PADI Scuba Diving course - $395;
• PADI Open Water Diver course - $495;
• Snorkeling lessons - from $20;
• Snorkeling with manta rays at Manta Point - $35.

There is a house reef near the island, and many guesthouses provide their guests with free snorkeling equipment. The outer side of the reef is more interesting, where, in addition to large schools of tropical fish, there are reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, and other underwater inhabitants.

At the same time, island dive centers organize snorkeling tours to other interesting locations. Especially fascinating for tourists is snorkeling on the Madivaru Reef, where you can see beautiful corals and many fish, swim with manta rays and turtles, and try night snorkeling.

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