Atolls

From Malé to the airport approx. Most hotels can be reached by boat in 30-45 minutes. South Male Atoll (also known as South Kaafu Atoll) has only three inhabited islands, the other tourist islands. It is separated from North Malé Atoll only by a channel (Vaadhoo Kandu - Kandu means channel), near which there are very good diving sites. The largest island of the atoll is Maafushi with about 1,200 inhabitants, which is quite popular among backpackers. In its northern part there is also Gulhi, the people living here are mainly engaged in fishing and there is also a small shipyard here. The largest town of the atoll is Guraidhoo with 1,800 inhabitants.

The hotels on the island can be reached by boat from Malé Airport in about 20-50 minutes on average. It is one of the most discovered and well-known parts of the Maldives. The very first hotels were built here in the 1970s. The capital of the atoll (Malé Atoll, also known as Kaafu Atoll) is the town of Thulusdhoo in the central part of the east, with a total of about 1,200 inhabitants. The other major center of North Malé Atoll, its inhabited island, is Huraa, which is inhabited by about 750 people. Excursions are often organized here from the holiday islands, and there are several tourist guesthouses for backpackers and those who like cheap vacations. A mosque was built on the island in 1759 by the Sultan Al-Ghaazi Hassan Izzaddeen dynasty. Larger inhabited islands are also Himmafushi and Dhiffushi.

Baa Atoll, with its 13 inhabited and several holiday islands, is located northwest of Malé. The resort islands can be reached with an average 30-minute flight plus a 10-15 minute boat ride. Domestic flights arrive at Dharavandhoo airport, seaplane transfers are also provided upon request.

It is located north-west of Malé (above Baa Atoll). It consists of more than 90 islands, 16 of which are inhabited. The holiday islands can be reached by plane in an average of 30 minutes plus approx. We can reach it by boat in 25 minutes. Domestic flights arrive at Ifuru Airport, but you can also get there by seaplane transfer, which takes about 45 minutes. 

This is the northernmost atoll, its official name is Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll. A total of 42 islands belong to the Atoll, 14 of which are inhabited. The hotels are approx. It can be reached by a 1-hour flight and a 15-minute boat transfer, a seaplane transfer is also available. Domestic flights arrive at Hanimaadhoo airport, from where you have to travel further to the islands by boat. Utheemu Island has the most interesting history of the Atolls in the north. 

Vaavu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives that includes the natural atolls of Felidhu Atoll and Vattaru Reef. It is the smallest administrative atoll in the Maldives in terms of population. This atoll is located 40 miles from the capital Malé, 60 minutes by speedboat and 3 hours by dhoni.

North of Male is Lhaviyani Atoll, also known as Faadhippolhu Atoll, the islands are about 30-40 minutes away by seaplane from Male. There are a total of 54 islands in the Atoll. Although tourism is a major source of income, their main income still comes from fishing. The center of Lhaviyani Atoll is Naifaru, with almost 5,000 inhabitants.

Ari Atoll, also known as Alifu Atoll, is located west of Malé from the airport, from where you can reach the resort islands in Ari Atoll in about 25-35 minutes by seaplane transfer. The total length of Ari Atoll from its northern point to its southern border is 80 km, and its width is 30 km. It has a total of 81 islands, 18 of which are inhabited.

Meemu Atoll is located about 130 km south of Malé (locally called Mulaku), there are only two hotels on the atoll, which can be reached by seaplane transfer in about 45 minutes. Its center is approx. Muli with 900 people. 

Ari Atoll, also known as Alifu Atoll, is located west of Malé from the airport, from where you can reach the resort islands in Ari Atoll in about 25-35 minutes by seaplane transfer. The total length of Ari Atoll from its northern point to its southern border is 80 km, and its width is 30 km. It has a total of 81 islands, 18 of which are inhabited. Its most densely populated island is Mahibadhoo, which is also the center of the southern part of the atoll (South Ari Atoll) approx. with 2000 inhabitants. If you want to get to know the life of the locals, it is worth visiting here for a day.

Rasdhoo Atoll is a small atoll (also known as Rasdhukuramathi Atoll, approx. 500 x 600 meters in size), located between North Male Atoll and the northern tip of Ari Atoll (closer to Ari Atoll). The distance from Malé is about 60 km, the resort islands (two hotels in total) can be reached in about 20 minutes by seaplane. 

South Nilandhe Atoll is 37 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide. There are eight inhabited islands and 35 uninhabited islands of which two are resorts.

Noonu Atoll (Southern Miladhunmadulu) is located approximately 170 km north of Malé. The resort islands can be reached by seaplane transfer in about 40 minutes.

Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Gaafu Dhaalu is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created on February 8, 1962 when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Dhaalu corresponds to the Southwestern section of this large natural atoll, south of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. 

Maldives as we all know, is an archipelago and therefore, the Shaviyani Atoll is a part of the northern group of islands. It is located almost 270 kilometres away from the Male airport. The Shaviyani Atoll is an administrative division of Maldives. Geographically speaking, the Shaviyani Atoll is a part of the Thiladhunmathi and the Miladhunmadulu great Atoll. With an area of more than 1,400 square miles, this great Atoll is deemed to be the world’s biggest natural coral atoll formation.

Gaafu, or Huvadhoo is not only the second largest atoll in the Maldives it is also on the list of the top 10 largest natural atolls in the world. Located in the southern part of the Maldives 50 km above the equator Gaafu Atoll is administratively divided into two parts: Gaafu Alifu (North Huvadhoo atoll) and Gaafu Dhaalu (South Huvadhoo atoll) and has 235 islands with capitals: Villingili (North) / Thinadhoo ( South)