Alifu atoll. Maldives. Haa Alifu Atoll Haa Alifu Atoll Maldives
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Atoll Haa Alifu located in the northern region and only recently became available to tourists. The atoll consists of 42 islands, 16 of which are inhabited. In total, about 14 thousand local residents live here. Coastal waters are distinguished by a rich underwater world and are considered one of the most fishy places in the archipelago. All islands have a certain direction here.
So, Ihavadhoo and Huvarafushi are known as the patrimony of fishermen, off the coast of Uligam there is a bay for yachtsmen and sailing enthusiasts, and the largest number of indigenous people live on Dhidhodhoo. Matirah Island serves as the cultural and religious capital of the atoll. Here is an ancient mausoleum, with a sacred tomb, to which Muslim Sufis from all over the world regularly make pilgrimages. On the island of Kelaa, during the Second World War, there was a British naval base, traces of which have been preserved there to this day. Several island-hotels form the tourist image of the resort, and the abundance of coral reefs that attract diving enthusiasts here perfectly complement the beautiful landscapes of this region. Haa Alifu is located at a respectful distance from the country's international airport. On a seaplane it can be overcome in 50-60 minutes, plus some more time is required in order to get to the destination by boat.
One of the most luxurious islands - hotels on the atoll is Beach House Maldives The Waldorf Astoria Collection 5*. It is equipped with magnificent villas, which carefully shelter from the sun, exotic trees of the tropics, the shadow of which falls directly into the ocean. Each villa has its own swimming pool and green garden where you can sunbathe and enjoy natural sunbathing. The hotel also has a diving center, massage parlour, several bars and restaurants. If you wish, you can rent a boat, a pedalo or a boat here to go explore the flora and fauna of these places. The coast of the island has a wide coastline and wonderful white sand. Throughout the day, tourists are invited to do any water sports or take a boat trip to other islands and nearby atolls. Not far from the Beach House Maldives The Waldorf Astoria Collection is another wonderful island hotel, Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives 5*, literally immersed in greenery. In its shape, this small piece of land resembles a crescent moon that has fallen from the sky into the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, which includes several dozen secluded villas on the coast itself. The abundance of all kinds of sports entertainment, combined with exotic Maldivian dishes and own water transport, enable guests of the island to diversify their recreation program to the maximum.
Cinnamon Island Alidhoo 5*, Jumeirah Dhevanafushi 5* and club hotel Robinson Club Maldives 4*, are magnificent island hotels located in the waters of Haa Alifu Atoll. They also have a luxurious design and are serviced by highly qualified staff. It also offers all services for the rental of vehicles and rental equipment for scuba diving. Coral reefs around the islands abound not only with exotic animals, but also attract with their unusual shape. Here you can fish in glass-clear water, admire the sunset or swim by the moonlight.
Meanwhile, all hotels have high-tech communications and access to the Internet, which makes it possible for resort guests at any time to briefly restore their connection with the outside world and remember the benefits of civilization.
Unlike most of the islands and atolls in the archipelago, there are not many divers on Haa Alifa. Most likely this is due to the lack of promotion of the resort and its remoteness from the rest of the territory, especially since the underwater world near the local shores is in no way inferior in brightness of colors and diversity to other regions of the country. These places are popular with fans of sailing due to the fact that the local weather conditions, and in particular the strength of the wind, contribute to comfortable movement on the waves. Snorkeling in the local waters turns into an exciting adventure, as the marine inhabitants, not exhausted by the attention of tourists, willingly make contact and allow themselves to be seen in all their diversity.
The fact that Haa Alifu Atoll is a relatively new resort gives it a number of advantages. Many places here have not yet been explored by tourists, and hotels are not packed with countless guests. This gives romantic travelers an opportunity to spend an unforgettable time surrounded by coconut trees, tropical vegetation and the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. A minimum of people, deserted beaches and complete unity with nature are an excellent motive to explore these exotic and mysterious islands of a mysterious atoll located more than 100 kilometers from the capital of the republic.
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The islands are all different, each with its own zest. And now we will tell you about each of them, revealing the secret of how to cheaply relax in the Maldives.
Important! If you are going to relax in the Maldives inexpensively, then you need to keep in mind that a budget trip to the Maldives will still be more expensive than a vacation in Thailand or other countries of Southeast Asia. However, it will be significantly cheaper compared to all-inclusive tours to the bounty islands.
Read more:
Map of North Ari Atoll
Map of Northern Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif) - clickable!
Islands of Ari Atoll on the map
Rasdhoo Island
Rasdhoo Island (Rasdhoo island) is located on a small geographically isolated atoll 58 km from Male, however, it is part of the North Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif Atoll) and is even its administrative center. The island is not very big, fully built-up, but there are many shops, cafes and restaurants, and most importantly there is a bank and a post office! The presence of an ATM makes the life of a tourist very easy - you don’t have to think about cash and how much to take with you from the capital, but at any time withdraw it from the card.
Rasdhoo is famous for its excellent diving spots, the legendary Maya Thila ( Maya Thila) and Fish Head ( Fish head). There are also several diving schools on Rasdhoo where you can learn to scuba dive. But Rasdhoo is not only diving, other sea sports are also popular here - windsurfing, snorkeling, parasailing and so on.
Since Rasdhoo is isolated from other islands and there are no beautiful lagoons around it, while snorkeling you need to watch out for strong currents. There is a sandbar near the island Finolhu, and a desert island Madivari can take you all day.
Good to know:
There are also bounty islands near Rasdhoo - Kuramati Island Resort(price per room per day - $600) and Veligandu Resort & Spa(cost per day - $ 700). However, these, unlike those located in the vicinity of the island of Maafushi, do not allow guests from other islands to enter their territory, including the sand spit belonging to the Kuramati resort. But the hotels on the island of Rasdu please with more affordable prices - there are for $50-60 (plus taxes), but most of the hotels keep the price of about $100 per room per day.
- Hotel with a rooftop terrace close to the beach Relax Inn →
- Located on bikini beach, breakfast included – Island Inn Beach Front →
- Comfortable rooms and friendly staff, excellent restaurant - Dive Lodge →
- The state ferry from Male departs from New Harbor ( viligili Terminal) and costs 53 rufiyaa. The journey will take 3.5 hours. The schedule can be seen at the end of the article.
- The speedboat departs from Petrol Jetty every day, the price is $40 per person. Departs from Male at 16:00 and at 7:30 from Rasdhoo. Travel time is 2.5 hours.
- Kuramati resort also provides a speed boat: every day from 9:00 a boat leaves for Rasdhoo. The boat departs back at 6:00 every day from the pier of the Kuramachi resort. So it will be necessary to agree with your guesthouse to be thrown to the departure. On the way, the boat spends 1.5 hours. This transfer costs $95 per person.
- A seaplane flight from Male to Rasdhoo will cost $260 per person one way or $350 round trip.
- From the island of Rasdhoo, you can also get to other islands of the Ari-Ari atoll, including the island of Thoddoo, which is also isolated from everyone. Ferries run every day on schedule, except Friday.
Read also:
(Thoddo island) is located 67 km from Male and, like Rasdhoo, is also somewhat distant from the main Alif Alif atoll. This island has become extremely . Thoddoo is a plantation island, fruits (local watermelons are especially famous) are transported from here throughout the state (through Male, of course!). That is why there are more mosquitoes on Thoddoo than on other islands.
Interesting fact: Buddhist ruins were found on the territory of the island of Thoddoo, which were subsequently completely destroyed, but nevertheless managed to shed light on the history of the Maldives before the adoption of Islam in the 12th century.
A beautiful sandy beach stretches along the coast, which glorified Thoddoo. Therefore, a lot of people gather here who want to enjoy the sun and water. The tourist beach is located in the west of the island, so daily walks of 15 minutes through fruit plantations are provided.
If you are too lazy to walk, you can rent bicycles in guesthouses. This is what distinguishes Thoddoo from other Maldivian islands: it is good to ride a bike here, visit fruit plantations (of course, having received special permission for this, while picking fruit is prohibited!).
Here is a short video about Thoddoo Island:
There are two diving centers on the island, they can organize diving and provide ample opportunities to see the inhabitants of the sea - stingrays, turtles. You can also do snorkeling here (although there are not very many spots for this), parasailing and other water sports.
Overview of hotels on Thoddoo Island
There is much more space for nature walks on Thoddoo than on Rasdhoo, and a lot of them are concentrated in the center of the island. Prices start at $50-60 (plus taxes), then jump to $80-90. There are cafes and shops on Thoddoo.
- Small cheap guesthouse with breakfast, garden and wonderful hosts — palm garden →
- All-inclusive hotel with cozy rooms close to the beach Relax Residence →
- Nice hotel with clean rooms, outdoor breakfasts and dinners Sunrise Inn →
- Guesthouse with great staff and service, hair dryer, kettle Ari Heaven →
- Highly rated guesthouse, bike rental Resten Inn →
- A hotel with a cozy courtyard, a good breakfast and free internet Evila Inn →
- Ferries from Rasdhoo to Thoddoo and back run every day except Friday.
- The speed boat to Thoddoo departs from Male at 15:30 and from Thoddoo at 7:00 every day except Wednesday and Friday. The transfer costs $50 per person.
- The state ferry from Male to Thoddoo departs from New Harbor ( viligili Terminal) and costs 53 rufiyaa.
Ferry schedule Male - Thoddoo with a stop at the island of Rasdhoo in the Maldives:
| ferry route | Departure | Arrival | Days of the week |
| Male – Rasdhoo | 09:00 | 12:10 | |
| Rasdhoo – Thoddoo | 15:15 | 16:30 | Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday |
| Thoddoo – Rasdhoo | 07:00 | 08:15 | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday |
| Rasdhoo – Male | 11:00 | 14:30 | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday |
(Ukulhas island) - the island as part of Ari Atoll is located 72 km from the capital Male. This unique island was the first to introduce a garbage disposal system and constantly monitors cleanliness. For his efforts he was awarded the "Green Leaf" in 2014. it eco-friendly an island inhabited by friendly people.
The main occupation of the inhabitants of the island of Ukulhas in the Maldives is fishing, and their specialization is yellowfin tuna. A special community has developed here, and a visit to Ukulhus can give a much greater idea of the Maldives, add color to the missing palette of impressions.
On the island of Ukulhas, an old mosque from the 17th century has been preserved. The island stood at the crossroads of the sea routes of various peoples: Arab, Malay, Indonesian, African, Hindu, Sinhalese traditions were mixed here.
In the northwest of Ukulhas Island, there is a beautiful blue lagoon with a sandy beach and turquoise water. From May to November, the water is dirtier, the waves are stronger due to the change in wind direction. In the rest of the period, everything is peaceful and beautiful.
Ukulhas has many restaurants and cafes serving cuisines from all over the world.
On the island of Ukulhas there are two hotels for $60-80, the rest for $120. This is a great place for a family vacation, for couples who want solitude and silence. But you can also come here for a day from the island of Rasdu without spending the night.
- Stylish hotel opposite the beach, with breakfast, beautiful reef, inexpensive - Coral Reef View Inn →
- New hotel with good service and reviews, free bikes - Island Home →
- cozy guesthouse in a quiet and location, helpful staff, meeting at the airport, transfer - Thun'dee Inn →
Fishermen in the sea
How to get to Ukulhas Island, Maldives
- The state ferry to Ukulhas Island departs from New Harbor in Male ( viligili Ferry Terminal). The schedule is shown below. The trip takes 4.5 hours.
- The speedboat to Ukulhas departs from Male every day at 15:00 (Friday at 9:30). The price is $60 per person. From Ukulhas to Male, the boat returns at 7:00. The trip lasts 1 hour one way.
- From the island of Rasdu you can get to Ukulhas by ferry, which departs in the morning and returns in the evening. The one-way trip lasts 1 hour and costs 22 rufiyaa. There is no ferry service on Friday. From Ukulhas you can also take a public ferry to other islands in Ari Atoll.
(Bodufolhudhoo island) is located 84 km from Male in the heart of the North Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif). It became the first island in the Maldives archipelago to ban single-use plastic bags and generally holds the mark of being one of the cleanest islands in the Maldives.
The beach is open for tourists, here you can sunbathe and swim in a bikini. The island has diving schools and opportunities to explore local reefs rich in coral and underwater life. As well as a large selection of sea excursions - watching dolphins, manta rays, snorkeling on a reef, trips to a sandy desert island Mathiveri Finolhu, located next to the inhabited island of Mathiveri. Excursions are quite expensive compared to other islands - the cost starts from $60-70.
From Bodufuludu there is an opportunity to go to the Nika resort ( Nika Island Resort), which has an entrance fee of $30 and spend all day on the beach there as a guest. Prices for hotels and guesthouses on the island of Bodufuludhoo in the Maldives start at $50-60 (plus taxes).
- Peaceful place for a romantic getaway Lagoon View Maldives(rating 9.1 )
- Hotel with family rooms, great service, great beach - Holiday Village Retreat(rating 9.4 )
- A small cozy hotel with an all-inclusive option - Castle Inn(rating 9.5 )
- The state ferry runs exactly according to the schedule, which is presented below. From Male to Bodufolhundhu is 5-6 hours sailing on the waves of the Laccadive Sea. Stock up on patience, books or a pillow. But the price of such a trip is only $3.5.
- It is possible to do the same route in just an hour on a speedboat, paying $50.
- The seaplane transfer from Male to Bodufuludhoo Island takes only 20 minutes but costs $260.
(Mathiveri island) is one of the westernmost islands of the Maldives archipelago. This is another inhabited island that is part of the Alif Alif Atoll. It is located 84 kilometers from the capital Male. The island is small and beautiful, surrounded by beaches. Stingrays constantly live near one of them, you have to be careful with them because of the spike on their tail.
Bikini Beach (that is, a beach where you can swim and sunbathe in a swimsuit) on the island of Mathiveri is very beautiful. Local residents did not regret and gave it to the use of tourists. However, they themselves also come and do not pay attention to vacationers. Also, local residents organized a floating bar standing in the sea, a trip for alcohol will cost $10 (also very expensive!).
Excursions to Mathiveri are quite expensive, as there is only one diving center. But over time, this situation should improve, and prices will decrease. The best time for diving in Alif Alif Atoll is from October to March. Among other excursions, it is worth highlighting a trip to a picnic island, an uninhabited island Mathiveri Finolhu, snorkeling, watching manta rays and others. Excursion to the beach resort Nika ( Nika Island Resort) - $70 per person (including delivery and entrance fee).
Useful information
Many Russian-speaking tourists rest on the island of Mathiveri in the Maldives. Prices for accommodation in hotels start from $55-60 for a double room per night.
- The hotel with the most delicious food in a restaurant on a paradise island - Riveli Retreat(rating 9.2 )
- Modern rooms, great food: breakfast, half or full board - Veli Beach Inn(rating 9.1 )
- Nice hotel with new clean rooms for a romantic getaway - Mathivery Inn(rating 8.9 )
Howget thereto Mathiveri
- On the state ferry from Male, which departs from New Harbor ( viligili Terminal) according to the schedule shown in the table below. Ferry ticket price is $4.
- By speedboat that runs daily from Male at 15:00 (Friday at 9:30). The fare is $60. Travel time is 2.5 hours. The boat runs back from Mathiveri to Male every day at 6:30.
- A charter boat costs almost $800. The more people travel, the less each will pay for the trip. This boat gets to Mathiveri in 1.5 hours.
- A seaplane flight from Male to Mathiveri costs $260.
- From the island of Mathiveri, you can move to neighboring islands using the state-owned ferry, which runs on a strictly scheduled basis. It must be remembered that the ferry does not run on Friday.
(Feridhoo island) is a very tiny and green island in the Ari Atoll, 90 km from Male, but despite its size, it still receives guests and has prepared beautiful and secluded white sandy beaches for them. Those who want a romantic getaway away from cheerful and noisy companies, without excursions, but only soak up the sun - this is here, on Ferida.
Feridhoo is also famous for being the birthplace of the Maldivian bodu beru dance (boduberu), which expresses the very spirit of the island. It arose spontaneously - the men returned home at the end of the working day, beat the drums and danced.
A similar dance - candombe - exists in Uruguay, but women also participate there. Men play, women dance. The dance came to Uruguay from Africa, where the slaves were brought from. And how did he get to the Maldivian island of Feridhoo?
They say that on the neighboring islands of Maalhos and Himadho live the descendants of those same slaves from Africa who helped the Sultan build the palace, and then were freed and settled on these islands. Another clue is that the same dances exist in eastern and southwestern Africa. However, it is amazing how the same culture settles on different continents and continues to connect people who do not even know about it.
Boats off the coast of paradise island
How to get to Feridhoo island from Male
There is a state ferry to Ferida, the schedule of which can be found at the end of the article.
(Maalhos island) is the westernmost island of the North Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif) and the entire Maldives archipelago. It is located apart in the middle of the ocean, 90 km from Male.
Maalhos is known for the fact that the ruins of an ancient Buddhist stupa were found here ( mudu), as well as a funerary urn made of coral with tantric inscriptions from the 9th century. As the westernmost island, it stood at the crossroads of cultures of different peoples. Sinhalese people were brought here, and tantra came from India, and African people from their large continent. Now the population of Maalhos is slightly different in appearance from other Maldivians precisely because of the mixing of cultures in the distant past.
Interesting facts about Maalhos Island:
- Festivals famous throughout the Maldives are held on Maalhos, including the ancient custom of ablution in seven waves.
- In the 17th century, a ship with gold coins sank here, since then the local reef has been called golden ( Runfaru reef).
There is one guesthouse on Maalhos Island Gurahaana and several restaurants. And not so much entertainment - except perhaps fishing, snorkeling, relaxing on the beach and a picnic. The beach is located on the western part of the island, separated from the village by a forest. This is the westernmost part of the westernmost island of the Maldives! Rest on Maalhos is not only an immersion in the authentic Maldivian life, but also an opportunity to be alone away from the noise, among the ocean and the greenery of a tropical island.
Tropical forest in the Maldives
How to get to Maalhos Island
- The state ferry to Maalhos departs from Male from Viligili Terminal ( viligili Terminal) at 9 AM. The road will cost 75 rufiyaas ($5) and almost 8 hours by sea.
- A seaplane flight from Male will cost $385 for a round-trip ticket.
(Himandhoo island) is located 90 km from Male.
The island has several guesthouses and a typical set of excursions around the house reef: snorkeling at different times of the day, picnics on a desert island, sunset at sea, fishing, watching manta rays (seasonal), dolphins and whale sharks. Diving is also available here, the price for one session of scuba diving is $65.
How to get to Himandhoo Island from Male
- The state ferry takes 8 hours from New Harbor ( viligili Terminal) Male, and the ticket price is $4.
- A speedboat transfer will cost $1,200 for a round trip. Travel time - 1.5 on the waves of the Laccadive Sea.
- Another speedboat, the fare on which depends on the number of people. $150 for one person, $175 for two, $200 for three, and so on. This boat leaves Male at 16:00. And he leaves Himandu Island early in the morning, at 5:30. Travel time is 1.5 hours.
- Seaplane ticket - $270 one way, $540 round trip.
Ferry from Male to the islands of Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif)
Schedule of the state ferry (MTCC) from Male to the islands of the North Ari Atoll (Alif-Alif) on the route: Male - Rasdhoo - Ukulhas - Bodufuludu - Mataveri - Feridhoo - Maalhos - Himandu and back:
| ferry route (Tue, Thu, Sun) | Time departures | Time arrival | ferry route (Mon, Wed, Sat) | Time departures | Time arrival |
|
| Male – Rasdhoo | 09:00 | 12:30 | Himandu - Maalhos | 06:30 | 07:00 | |
| Rasdhoo – Ukulhas | 13:00 | 13:55 | Maalhos - Feridhoo | 07:05 | 07:30 | |
| Ukulhas - Bodufuludu | 14:00 | 14:35 | Feridu - Mathiveri | 07:35 | 08:35 | |
| Bodufuludu - Mathiveri | 14:40 | 15:00 | Mathiveri - Bodufuludu | 08:40 | 09:00 | |
| Mathiveri - Feridhoo | 15:05 | 16:05 | Bodufuludu - Ukulhas | 09:05 | 09:40 | |
| Feridhoo – Maalhos | 16:10 | 16:35 | Ukulhas – Rasdhoo | 09:45 | 10:40 | |
| Maalhos – Himandu | 16:40 | 17:10 | Rasdhoo – Male | 11:00 | 14:30 |
