Gulhi
Small local island south of the capital with a quiet village, a wide bikini beach and clear shallow water. It is an easy day trip or overnight stay from Maafushi.
Maafushi (local island)
South Male Atoll holds this local island, which has day trips, guesthouses and a bikini beach for tourists and suits budget travellers.
Attractive locations
Guraidhoo
Inhabited island in South Malé Atoll with a village, a beach and guesthouses. Boats set out from here for snorkelling, sandbank picnics and visits to nearby reefs.
Fulidhoo
Small island in Vaavu Atoll with sandy lanes and a quiet village, reached by a longer boat ride. Visitors come for reef snorkelling and diving and for a slower pace of island life.
Vaavu Atoll
Atoll south of the Malé atolls with a small number of inhabited islands. It is known to divers and snorkellers for its reefs and channels, and is less visited than nearby atolls.
South Malé Atoll
Southern part of Kaafu Atoll, made up of reefs and islands including Maafushi, Gulhi and Guraidhoo. Many dive and snorkel sites and sandbanks are reached by short boat rides.
Airports
Velana International Airport MLE
It is about 28 km in a straight line from Maafushi (local island).
Villa International Airport Maamigili VAM
It is about 90 km in a straight line from Maafushi (local island).
Dharavandhoo Airport DRV
It is about 141 km in a straight line from Maafushi (local island).
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Maldives page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.3 °C53 mm
- Feb27.5 °C37 mm
- Mar28.1 °C50 mm
- Apr28.6 °C98 mm
- May28.7 °C191 mm
- Jun28.3 °C148 mm
- Jul28.0 °C165 mm
- Aug27.8 °C193 mm
- Sep27.7 °C185 mm
- Oct27.6 °C186 mm
- Nov27.4 °C233 mm
- Dec27.4 °C184 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Aug, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 51% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 119. Ambulance 102. Fire 118.
local government
Maldives Police Service - Tourist Police
Helps with: Police unit set up in 2009 to protect visitors. It helps tourists with disputes, fraud and safety concerns and patrols airports, resorts and guesthouses. Its page gives a 24/7 assistance line.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other international visitors in the Maldives.
Phone: +960 979 0070
ngo
Maldivian Red Crescent
Helps with: The national Red Crescent society. It responds to emergencies, supports recovery, and teaches first aid, with volunteers in local units across the islands.
Who qualifies: People in the Maldives who need its emergency response, first aid or community services.
Phone: +960 3341009
Email: info@redcrescent.org.mv
Address: Maldivian Red Crescent Building, 2nd Floor, Hithigasmagu, Hulhumale'
local government
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Helps with: The Maldives' national disaster authority. Its site lists 115 as its emergency hotline and shares disaster preparedness information and help for people affected by incidents.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the Maldives affected by a disaster or incident.
Phone: 115
Address: Ameenee Magu, Male 20060, Maldives
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Maldives
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in the Maldives since 2013. It supports migrants, displaced people, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants and other people on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +960 7757 646
Address: H. Fehi Aabadh, 9th Floor, Abadhah Fehi Magu, Male, Republic of Maldives