Top five beautiful islands you MUST visit in Maldives
What is the most beautiful island in the Maldives? Well, we have an answer but we don’t want to tell you too quickly. Don’t worry, we don’t have overpriced resorts on our list, rather, we’ve included the best local islands that you can explore and fall for. A couple of these might be a tad hard to get to but that’s obviously part of the thrill. So, sit back and enjoy the reveal.
1. Laamu Gan
One of the largest islands in the entire Maldives, Gan is a special place with miles of beach, Buddhist ruins and lots of wilderness. Gan is also unique in that it is connected with a squad of three other islands, and they make up the longest stretch of dry land in the whole country. The Buddhist sites on the island are the best preserved in all of the Maldives said expert HCP Bell. These have been vandalised in recent years, however. Meanwhile, we’re confident Gan’s lush jungles will live up to the expectations of explorers. And after a long hike, you can cool off on a pure white beach. It’s totally a place that belongs on any list.
How to get here:
Maldivian flies to Kadhdhoo and back from Velanaa International Airport’s domestic terminal. Expect to pay around $450 return.
2. G.Dh Vaadhoo
Another gorgeous and secluded island, Vaadhoo lies in the largest natural atoll in the world and is home to patches of pristine beach and a large forest for the intrepid. There are two historical mosques on the island displaying mastery of coral stone and lacquer work. Vaadhoo also hosts a great surf point, Blue Bowls, that is fairly underexploited throughout the year so the surfers among you won’t have to worry about crowds.
How to get here:
Take a flight to Kaadedhdhoo from Velanaa International Airport’s domestic terminal (approx. $400 return). Hire a speedboat to Vaadhoo for $100 per way.
3. Kaashidhoo
A small atoll in its own right, Kaashidhoo is a stunning island that, while considered part of Male atoll, is far enough from its neighbours to be absolutely remote. Its nearest neighbour, Gaafaru in North Male Atoll, is almost an hour’s journey by speedboat. Large swathes of Kaashidhoo are uninhabited, most of the land is either forest or farm. On a clear night, head towards the beach on a bike or scooter and you will be gifted with a gorgeous view of the night sky. Forest bathers will love Kaashidhoo’s marsh and woods, home to an endangered species of native tortoise. The island also features in a popular folktale involving the marriage between a man and a female demon, unsurprising as Kaashidhoo is legendary by all means.
How to get here:
There are slow ferries that travel daily between Kaashidhoo and Male for about $15 per way. There are also speedboats available for $30 per way.
4. Goi-fulha-fehendhoo
This is somewhat unusual but we feel these three must be visited together. They form a small ‘atoll within an atoll’ up north in Baa – the Maldives’ biosphere reserve. All three are inhabited islands but with low populations. Fehendhoo and Fulhadhoo have less than 200 people each while Goidhoo has only about 500. Every one of these islands boasts the kind of beaches and clear waters that propelled Maldives to superstardom. Each island has its own personality, flavour, and history. Divers will be thrilled to know that there are two famous shipwrecks around the tiny atoll: the Corbin, a 400-tonne French ship sunk while in search of riches in the east and the Naamuli Wreck on the west of Goidhoo.
How to get here:
There are private speedboats for about $18 per way from Male on weekdays.
5. Fuvahmulah
This island will top quite a few lists though you’re unlikely to find any online. It’s an island fanatic’s island – a real stunner and the archipelago’s third largest landmass, making up the entire Gnaviyani atoll. It has beautiful beaches and a unique ‘pebble’ beach made up of coral worn smooth by the waves. There are two ‘kilhi’ on the island – large freshwater mangroves that some claim have healing properties. Fuvahmulah also has historical mosques and pre-Islamic sites that are worth a look. If you’re feeling especially daring, go for a snorkel or dive outside the harbour, famous for its tiger sharks which congregate in great numbers.
Fun fact: Fuvahmulah is named after the areca nut.
How to get here:
Take the Maldivian to Addu City’s Gan island from Velanaa International Airport’s domestic terminal (about $500 return). Then go to Hithadhoo by taxi and get on a ferry to Fuvahmulah (around $70 return).
