START
Let’s start with the difference between inhabited islands and resort islands.
Over half a million Maldivians live on numerous idyllic islands scattered throughout the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, yet we only seem to hear about the $4,000-per-night resort islands. The often unspoken truth is you can visit pristine white-sand paradise for a fraction of that hefty price tag. Move over Kardashians, the Maldives is no longer an opulent destination fit only for lavish honeymooners and wealthy jet setters. You can snorkel, dive, lounge, and eat your way across the atolls without breaking the bank or sacrificing your iconic over-water bungalow experience.
The abundance of misinformation surrounding the Maldives too often discourages prospective beach bums. So, let’s clear the air. An inhabited island is an isle where locals live, and they are usually peppered with guesthouses, restaurants, and other accoutrements of daily life. In contrast, a “resort” island is a privately owned island that you cannot visit without booking a stay.
The inhabited islands adhere to the strict local Muslim laws, which means there is no alcohol at all served on land. This also means no bikinis outside of designated areas. Fortunately, each island has a “tourist beach” where you can flaunt your favorite two-piece freely. All the inhabited islands can be reached by either a slow local ferry that can take anywhere from one to six hours, depending on the island, or a much faster speed boat.
After numerous trips to the incredible archipelago and weeks of painstaking beach exploration, I have found these to be my 10 favorite islands in the Maldives. I’ve also included two budget-conscious resort islands on this list for travelers who want the more “traditional” Maldives experience. It is a once-in-a-lifetime tropical island getaway, after all.
1 OF 10
Omadhoo
Close your eyes and envision the perfect tropical beach—the pure embodiment of paradise. The post-card-worthy image procured inside your noggin is Omadhoo. This island has it all. Pastel pink sunrises over expansive white sand shores lined with fringed palms. Cozy locally-run hotels like Green Leaf Guesthouse offer shaded lounge chairs in lush sections of private beachfront where you can swim along the house reef in tranquil tropical waters. Large sting rays, nurse sharks, reef sharks, and turtles are frequent visitors alongside the hundreds of technicolored fish species—additionally, affordable oceanic excursions to swim with whale sharks and open-water snorkeling run daily. The lack of visitors to this particular island is mind-boggling, especially considering the relatively easy commute from the airport.
2 OF 10
Gulhi
If you’re looking for an easy, breezy island getaway with a good mix of excursions and a quiet beach, Gulhi is the perfect island for you. For about $1.50, you can take a public ferry from the airport to this teeny-tiny island paradise. There’s not a lot to do on the island besides lounge. In fact, you can circumnavigate the sugar sand shores in under 10 minutes flat, including the local market. But thanks to its proximity to Male, it gets enough traffic to merit an array of exciting excursions through Sandy Heaven Guesthouse, like open-ocean reef snorkeling, dolphin cruises, and snorkeling with sharks. For island hoppers, this is often your first introduction to the Maldives, and it’s a hard destination to follow.
3 OF 10
Ukulhas
Manta rays are a marine animal well worth traveling here for. From Indonesia to Hawaii, tourists are eager to get in the water with these harmless undersea creatures. The Maldives have the world’s largest population of reef manta rays and a considerable number of Giant Oceanic Rays. The only catch is that you can usually only see these graceful giants between May and November in the atolls. Which is, unfortunately, the off-season in the Maldives when considering beach and weather conditions. Ukulhas is the exception. A squadron of manta ray resides just offshore, making it the only destination you can swim with manta rays all year long. Additionally, restaurants and hotels like Nala Veli Maldives have upped the island’s dining game so you can dive into local Maldivian delicacies and fresh grilled seafood.
4 OF 10
Angsana Velavaru
Waltz into five-star luxury without the four-figure nightly price tag. This private resort island caters to the budget-savvy yet bougie traveler. Here, you’ll experience all the opulence that has become synonymous with a Maldivian vacation and have the opportunity to indulge in a healthy variety of island activities. Angsana Velavaru boasts over 30 dive sites, a vibrant house reef, an award-winning spa and dining scene, and opportunities to immerse in local life by visiting a nearby inhabited island or joining a Maldivian cooking class. Few resort islands have more activities on offer to keep even the most restless beachgoers occupied. This particular resort sets itself apart with excellent discount deals on its simpler beachfront rooms so that you can enjoy the untouched paradise of the South Nilandhe Atoll without buyer’s remorse.
5 OF 10
Dhigurah
I love a silky stretch of sand as much as the next person, but I burn to a crisp without a verdant jungle of tropical palms and plants to shelter under. The lush landscape of Dhigurah offers a real tropics vibe deep in the South Ari Atoll. Thanks to its remote location, the island has retained its distinct Maldivian culture, offering local cooking classes and warm hospitality to its few visitors. Dhigurah is most famous for its Whale Shark snorkeling excursions, as the behemoth spotted fish reside near the atoll all year round.
6 OF 10
Fulidhoo
Fulidhoo is a diver’s paradise. It is one of the only inhabited islands with a top-notch PADI-certified Dive Center. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand new to diving and looking to certify, this is the perfect Maldivian destination. You’ll explore nearby sites brimming with vibrant coral reefs, hammerhead sharks, shipwrecks, and giant trevally, or even see what the ocean is like after dark with their incredible night dives. Tourism is a relatively new industry here, so local development is much less than in Maafushi or Ukulhas, which means unspoiled beaches and abundant sea life surround the island.
7 OF 10
Maafushi
Without question, Maafushi wins hands down in terms of being budget-savvy and popular. But popular doesn’t always translate to better. The bikini beach on Maafushi is crowded and small, albeit stunning. What you give up in beach access, however, you gain in diverse dining options, amenities, and low-cost group excursions. You can do anything from Maafushi, even whale shark excursions! More travelers means more people to split the cost with. While you do have to share the experience with numerous others, this can be a serious plus for solo travelers, backpackers, or anyone on a tight budget.
8 OF 10
Kuramathi
There are a few ways Kuramathi Resort lends itself to budget-savvy travelers. For starters, it has the single best offshore house reef for snorkeling in the Maldives, thanks to the property’s extensive coral replanting and sustainability initiatives. The island is rimmed in idyllic, uncrowded, soft white sand beaches free for lounging, and nature lovers can stroll through the jungle filled with native plant species and wildlife that cuts through the island center. All rooms in this locally owned resort come with half-board to their five-star dining options with an impressive array of Maldivian delicacies. Additionally, most resort islands require an expensive seaplane transfer from Malé, but Kuramathi offers a budget-friendly speed boat instead. This way, you can splurge on a luxurious overwater bungalow and the numerous infinity pool bars.
9 OF 10
Thulusdhoo
Just a stone’s throw from the bustling capital of Male, Thulusdhoo is unsurprisingly one of the most well-developed islands on this list. It even has a functional Coca-Cola factory supplying the entire archipelago with its fizzy fix. But the real draw isn’t its soft beaches, charismatic fruit bats, or abundance of restaurant options—although it delivers in droves on all three—it’s the exceptional surfing just offshore. Surfing in the Maldives is novel because rather than riding the crashing waves to the sandy shores, you usually cruise a reef break far from land. Catching a wave off Thulusdhoo requires a short boat ride to reach the swell, but this gives you a chance to mingle with fellow surfers and embrace the island’s laid-back vibe. Those in the know can visit the local “boat bar,” often anchored offshore and serving cold San Miguel beers.
10 OF 10
Dharavandhoo
While each island on this list has an attribute that sets it apart from the rest, Dharavandhoo’s unique quality is not ON the island but rather what can be found off it. From May to December, the nearby Hanifaru Bay and its plankton-rich waters churn with hundreds of dancing Manta Rays. Travelers staying on Dharavandhoo can take day trips to the Northern Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Bioreserve, where carefully regulated snorkeling sessions allow you an up-close view of this oceanic phenomenon. On the island, you can expect tranquil beaches, simple guesthouses, and a house reef known for excellent diving that regularly hosts spotted eagle rays.