Maalhos is one of the inhabited islands of the Maldives in the stunning Baa Atoll.
It’s just like you imagine the Maldives to be with white sand beaches, sunsets and coconut trees. But there are no resorts on Maalhos. It is a local island and a chance to visit uncovers an entirely different side of travel to the Maldives.
So, whether you are wondering if it is possible to visit the Maldives on a budget. Or you are simply seeking a different type of travel to this picturesque island archipelago. The Maldives is an incredible destination and Maalhos is a place that you should not miss!
- About Maalhos
- Where is Maalhos?
- Things to do on Maalhos
- Snorkelling
- Fishing
- Shops
- Money
- SIM card for Maldives
- Getting from Male to Maalhos
- Accommodation on Maalhos
About Maalhos, Maldives
Maalhos is a small island with less than 600 inhabitants. The island is about 700 meters long and 500 meters wide.
It is not a major tourist destination in Maldives (the basis of its appeal!). Maalhos is a local island in Maldives. There are limited options for accommodation (see more below). As well as three basic convenience stores and a Diving Centre.
But despite being a local island, Maalhos has a beautiful allocated private beach – called Bikini Beach – where visitors can swim and sunbathe. Bikini Beach is about 200 meters long and is located on the north coast of the island.
The southern coast of Maalhos is mainly forest.
Where is Maalhos island?
Maalhos is an island in Baa Atoll 115 km northwest of the country’s capital, Male. The island can be reached by air or sea.
The pace of life on Maalhos
It felt like we hadn’t actually strayed too far in our time on the island.
We had wandered loops of the island and wound our way up and down all of the small roads of the village that reach from the beach to the jungle.
The pace of island life suited us perfectly for a week in paradise. The corners of the roads have small hubs with swing chairs where the locals sit. Some are chatting, some dozing, some working on small tasks – weaving or plaiting the coconut fibres, or parcelling up the fronds for salting and thatching.
Everyone is busy in their tasks but at a relaxed pace, and without the outward atmosphere of stress that so quickly consumes us while at home.
The women weave the coconut fronds and make them into thatching. Coconut fibres are braided in to rope, ready to be salted in the sea (to make them longer lasting). The final product is sold to the outer islands and resorts for decoration and roofing.
Things to do on Maalhos, Maldives
It may only be a small island but it is a fascinating insight into life in the Maldives and there are plenty of things to do on Maalhos to keep entertained…
- Explore Maalhos: An adventure in itself! The island may be small but for any visitor it feels well more than a world away from home.
- Snorkeling: The house reef is a renowned snorkeling spot known for its biodiversity.
- Fishing: Have a go with the families fishing every evening on the main beach. See how they run up the beach!
- Bikini Beach: The best place for a swim or sunbathe.
- Baa Atoll Excursion: Take a daytrip by speedboat to one of the beautiful, deserted sandbars in Baa Atoll.
- Snooze in a hammock: Truly! Do as the locals do. There are hundreds of hammocks strategically placed all over the island.
Snorkeling on Maalhos
Snorkelling in the Maldives was undoubtedly a highlight for us. The house reef of Maalhos has an impressive biodiversity. We’ve lived in the Cook Islands where we snorkelled every day. But the marine life and snorkelling from Maalhos is unlike anywhere we’ve ever seen!
Albeit we wondered how it would actually work. Taking two kids snorkelling beyond the drop-off of the reef in the Indian Ocean sounds risky – but they absolutely rocked it!
We were guided by our host, Aslam from the guesthouse. He took us out each day showing us different areas and really supported all of us to feel comfortable snorkelling.
The boys snorkelled with life jackets on and comfortably floated out to the drop-off to see all the marine life and coral.
We saw huge schools of fish each day and swam around with turtles right below us!
Fishing on Maalhos
We do seem to end up with a fisherman’s tale from each destination as long as it has water…
Remembering that almost half the island is jungle and there is no transport. So on day one we had actually set off for a wander around the island – we weren’t planning on fishing. But we met two local families fishing on the other side of Maalhos and the next minute both Harry and Oscar were out in the water bobbing around and fishing with them!
We had satisfyingly wrinkled fingers most afternoons after that; mastering the technique of Maldivian beach fishing.
It became a treasured part of our routine on the island. And more days than not we found ourselves fishing until sunset while the sound of the call to prayer rang out across the island. Magic.
Day trip in Baa Atoll
It’s easy for your guesthouse to arrange a speedboat outing for a day out in Baa Atoll. We really enjoyed a snorkel at the main reef and took a picnic to the beautiful sand bar.
It looked like every image we had ever seen of the perfect white sand beaches of the Maldives!
Getting around Maalhos
There are no cars on the island! Aside from a few bicycles and a couple of electric scooters; the only way to get around is on foot.
Shops on Maalhos, Maldives
There are three basic convenience stores on the island with varying degrees of size and food and items available.
There are two fishing and dive shop: Maalhos Divers and Maldivers Diving Centre.
Money on Maalhos
There is no bank or ATM on Maalhos. The closest ATM is Bank of Maldives (BML) on Dharavandhoo island (where the domestic airport is) a short boat ride away.
Your accommodation on Maalhos may be able to help you exchange money. But arrive prepared. You can exchange current at Velana International Airport, Male.
Payment for accommodation is accepted on Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards (Diners Club, Maestro and CUP credit cards not accepted).
- Tip: The shops on Maalhos only accept payment in cash.
Getting a SIM card for Maldives
It is easy to get a SIM card on arrival at the airport in Male. Or choose an eSIM prior to arrival in the Maldives for the best connection for your trip.
How to get from Male to Maalhos
Flying into Male, Maldives is an incredible experience. You will have likely seen photos of the landing in Male and in real life it has just as much awe as the images!
We flew to Malé from Sharjah in the UAE.
From Malé there are two options to get to Maalhos:
- By Air
- By Sea
It is easiest by air (although it does still require a short speedboat ride from the domestic airport to the island).
Getting to Maalhos by air
The closest domestic airport is Dharavandhoo Airport. Flights from Male operate four times a day with Maldivian and Fly Me airlines. Flight time is 20 minutes.
From the airport in Dharavandhoo it is a short walk to the port. A speedboat ride to Maalhos from there is around 10-15 minutes.
Getting to Maalhos by sea
It is possible to get to Maalhos from Male by speedboat via the nearby island of Eydhafushi. Speedboat transfers from Malé are available on Saturday, Monday and Thursday. Travel time is 2.5 hours.
From Eydhafushi it is a further 10-minute boat ride to Maalhos.
Cost is $50 one way. Departure time from Male at 12:00pm.
About nearby Dharavandhoo Island
Dharavandhoo is the closest main island to Maalhos. As well as the domestic airport there is an ATM and bank office, mobile operator offices, one pharmacy, and two dive centers.
Accommodation on Maalhos
There are several options for accommodation on Maalhos, Maldives.
- Dhonfulhafi Beach View Inn
A two-story hotel consisting of 14 rooms of different categories (standard, family and VIP). There is a restaurant onsite.
- Madi Giri
A small guest house near the beach. Offers visitors food and a selection of excursions.
- Thundi Village and Spa
Guesthouse consisting of 18 rooms; some of which have ocean views. Located next to the beach and offers guests snorkelling equipment. Meals available.
- Dhooni Finolhu Guesthouse
A clean and well-maintained guest house with a homely atmosphere and good Maldivian cuisine.
- Moonshell Residence
Guesthouse with 5 rooms. Located within walking distance of bikini beach. Restaurant on site.
We stayed at Dhonfulhafi Beach View Inn and would definitely recommend it. We were excited by the opportunity to see what local island life in the Maldives was like.
The resort side is much-publicised but the local island alternative satisfied our cravings.
Haneef and Aslam were fantastic as hosts and guides. We booked the ‘all inclusive’ package before arriving. This included accommodation, meals, drinks, drinking water, and two excursions.
Overall we enjoyed a very memorable week on Maalhos and can highly recommend the island as a great way to experience the Maldives.
- What do you reckon? Would you like a local island Maldives adventure?
More useful links for your travels in Maldives and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world.
- Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home).
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