Innumerable scenic beachscapes, glorious sunsets and pristine shores are part and parcel of the Maldives that complement their mesmerising underwater world. In this cluster of nearly 1200 tiny islands each island has something unique to offer. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover another slice of paradise on your visit, and the good news is there are many ways for visitors to do island hopping, not just using speedboats and seaplanes which are the ones used often by visitors.
Travelling between Islands
This is becoming increasingly popular with visitors using 5 Star Resorts in Maldives. When you are at a resort hotel for several days, it can be exciting to visit another island to experience the distinctive features of that island. However, the process is a bit complex if you are not on a busy island such as Male. Resort islands don’t have a regular speedboat service thus creating a need to use a private ferry, dhoni or speedboat transfer if you wish to travel to another island. The resort hotel would facilitate the process but it becomes an add-on service.
Therefore, planning for these island-hopping excursions is key. You need to spend time evaluating which islands you would visit considering where you are spending most of your time and have it built into an inclusive travel option with the hotel as done by guests at Adaaran Prestige Water Villas.
Domestic Flights
Once you arrive in Male there are regular domestic flights operated by Maldivian (The National Airline of the Maldives) and FlyMe to the 17 regional airports scattered throughout the Maldives. As a visitor to a local inhabited island, you can use these domestic flights by getting your guesthouse to book the flights for you as they get a discounted rate. Have this flight booking done in advance as seats are limited. In case you don’t get a domestic flight you can always stay overnight in Male (where the Velana International Airport is) and take a flight the following day.
Boat Services
The best way to get around in this archipelago is by boat. They can be taxi boats, speedboats, and dhonis. These services operate from Male Island and nearby islands and can be booked through your hotel or guest house. With a span of 500 miles between the south and the north and 80 miles between the east and the west, getting these distances covered is more efficient by seaplane and the cost is much higher.
Book a Dhoni Service
When exploring uninhabited islands, or empty beaches try chartering a traditional Maldivian Dhoni. This service is available from Male and the islands in the vicinity of Male Island. Made out of coconut timber which is widely available in the Maldives, the arrangement can be done by your guest house or the resort. It is also possible to do dhoni excursions to other islands as a group.
Different speedboat services
Guests booked at Private Resorts use a speedboat service to get to their hotel on their arrival in the Maldives. The cost of this service is built into the total resort package and is handled by the property with the speedboat operator. Private speedboat transfers can be used from Male depending on the distance.
Public Ferry Services
This is the best option for budget travellers as they connect you to all inhabited or local islands. They don’t take visitors to or from private resort islands. Priced quite low these services are used often by the locals as a regular mode of travel for island hopping and are also used by backpackers. The downside is they can be slow, waiting times are longer and the schedules are not reliable. However, your local guesthouse can provide more close estimations of their schedules.
