As many times as I've sat down to think about what heaven could be like, I always think of a place like this! Endless golden beaches, deep blue waters, towering palm trees and always the sun. This is how this particular Atoll is, which I strongly recommend you visit if you ever find yourself in the Maldives!
A few words about the atoll
Before I begin my reference to this particular part of the planet, I feel free to explain the term atoll! An atoll is a class of coral islands, which are ring-shaped and located in tropical seas. In their center is a lagoon, the diameter of which can be more than 75 kilometers. Alif Alif Atoll also known as North Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi is an administrative division of the Maldives. It was created on March 1, 1984, combining the northern part of Ari Atoll, the small Rasdhukuramathi Atoll and the isolated island of Thoddoo. Many of the islands in this atoll have been inhabited since ancient times and have archaeological remains from the Buddhist period of the Maldives. So I will try to present you this earthly paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean through my own eyes and share with you what I think a first-time visitor should see.
Thoddoo
Thoddoo is the largest of the inhabited islands of this Atoll. It is located 67.51 km northwest of the country's capital Male and is 2 km long and one km wide. The population of the island today is estimated at 2023 inhabitants, a number that more than doubled compared to 2016! The reason is simple, since 2015 the local islands have been "opened" to travelers, with the result that many find opportunities in the tourism sector! Apart from tourism, however, the locals are mainly involved in agriculture, since they grow tropical vegetables such as chili peppers, brinjals, gourds, bitter gourds and various kinds of fruits such as papayas, melons, passion fruits, bananas, mangoes and watermelons. In fact, this island is the largest producer of watermelon in the Maldives! Of particular interest is the fact that only one third of the island is inhabited, the second third is reserved for farms, while the last third is jungle! Buddhist ruins have been found in Tondoo, testifying that at one time the locals followed Buddhism, unlike today when people have embraced Islam! Finally, being there it is worth swimming at the two wonderful beaches for tourists (bikini beaches), which are not suitable for diving with a mask and snorkel, since there are not many coral reefs in the area! Going from Male by local ferry costs $15 and the journey takes around 5 hours, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $45 and takes about an hour. In the second case, just contact your hotel and they will arrange this for you!
Rasdhoo
Rasdhoo is the administrative capital of Alif Alif Atoll and one of its most popular islets. This means that there you will find everything you may need in your daily life, such as a bank, ATM, police station, post office, grocery stores, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and shops that carry out various water activities! This is not a given in the other islands! Rasdhoo is located 58.26 km west of Male and is 500 meters long and six hundred meters wide. Unlike Tondoo, this particular island is built from end to end, while it is estimated that 16 guesthouses and hotels operate! The population of the island is estimated at 949 permanent residents, but they are constantly increasing! Furthermore, the island's beach occupies its entire length (500 meters) and is famous for its blue-green waters and fine sand! Unfortunately, it is full of dead coral though, so I'd suggest bringing either special shoes or flippers. Of course, corals create a beautiful seabed, which is home to many special and colorful fish! The ways to get to Rasdhoo vary depending on how much money and time you want to spend! The most economical way to reach the island is via the local ferry that runs twice a week from Male! The ideal option for me is the speedboat which costs 30 dollars and the duration of the trip is estimated at one hour and twenty minutes. Finally, there is the seaplane option which costs around $360 but will take you to your destination in just under fifteen minutes!
Ukulhas
Ukulhas has been awarded as the cleanest and most environmentally friendly island in the Maldives. Located 71.68 km west of Male, it is oval in shape and occupies an area of 1.025 km in length and 225 meters in width. It counts 921 permanent residents, which are constantly increasing, which makes it very lively throughout the year! In addition to hotels, cafes, restaurants, mini markets and souvenir shops, in Ukulhas there are mosques, schools, pharmacy, hospital, cemetery, ATM and in general all the infrastructure that makes the life of locals and tourists even easier! The main attraction of the island is its beach, which occupies its entire western part and is considered the best of the Atoll! Also, Ukulhas is ideal for families with small children or the elderly, as the distance from the beach to the hotels is a maximum of 100 meters! The beach has plenty of sunbeds and shade from palm trees, while it doesn't have many corals and stones, which makes it ideal for swimming! If you swim a little further though you will discover a long and beautiful reef, full of colorful live and hard corals that are home to many species of fish! Finally, the area is ideal for swimming with Manta Rays, dolphins, sea turtles and sharks! Going from Male by local ferry costs $4 and the journey takes around 4 hours, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $50 and takes about an hour and a half.
Himandhoo
A little further south we find Himandhoo, which is 89.57 kilometers from Male. It is 750 meters long and 425 meters wide, while its population is estimated at 667 inhabitants! In contrast to the above islets, Himandhou is not so touristy, which is evident from the few hotels and shops housed there. This of course makes it even more special. The beach for tourists is quite small, but very beautiful and covered by tall palm trees that create a very exotic setting. To get to this particular island by local boat, you must first sail to Ukulhas and from there take another boat, with a total trip duration of around 7 hours and a cost of just under 10 dollars! But you can also board a speedboat that costs 70 dollars and the journey is reduced to 2.5 hours!
Mathiveri
The further we go down the list, the smaller the size of the islands we encounter. Mathiveri is a small island of the Atoll, which is 84.58 kilometers from Male and has a size of 480 meters long and 300 meters wide! This is a popular destination for those looking for a more authentic and affordable Maldives experience. The island has three beaches, the Stingray beach, which takes its name from the many stingrays that are there, and is also considered the best place to see the sunset. The second is a local beach where you are practically "forbidden" to swim and the Bikini beach, that is, the beach for tourists, which is located on the eastern side of the island and has calm and crystal clear waters! Directly opposite you will find one of the so-called picnic islands, which are essentially pieces of sand in the middle of the sea! These are chosen by locals and travel agencies as stops for food and relaxation, hence the name! Going from Male by local ferry costs $4 and the journey takes around 6 hours, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $65 and takes around two and a half hours. Finally, there is the seaplane option which costs $268 and takes about a quarter of the way to land!
Bodufolhudhoo
Bodufolhudhoo is the first island in the Maldives to ban single-use plastic bags! It has 586 permanent residents, who care and are very attentive to the beaches and nature, as a result of which this islet is one of the cleanest in the atoll! It is located 81.64 km west of Male and is 300 meters long and 300 meters wide! Due to its size, it does not have many hotels, while the beach for tourists is relatively small! But the fact that it is surrounded by some famous tourist resorts like Nika Island Resort, Velidoo and Gangehi makes it a nice stop for those who want to see something more authentic! Going from Male by local ferry costs $5 and the journey takes around 4 hours and twenty minutes, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $50 and takes about an hour and a half.
Feridhoo
Feridhoo is 89.96 kilometers from Male and has a particularly interesting history. Several centuries ago, two African slaves who had been bought by royalty on their Hajj trips to Mecca were officially freed from their slavery and settled on this island. One of them was called Sangoru and he worked for years in the palace in Male before the ailing king released him to gain merit in the afterlife. Today, 413 permanent residents live on the island, with many of them related to the two African ex-slaves! Finally, the island has a beautiful golden beach where you can snorkel and explore the wonderful seabed! Going from Male by local ferry costs $4 and the journey takes around 7 hours, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $75 and takes around two hours.
Maalhos
And closing with the inhabited islands of this Atoll, we meet the tiny Maalhos, which is 90.28 kilometers from the capital of the Maldives and is considered the westernmost island of the country! It is inhabited by 408 permanent residents and due to its size, accommodation and other infrastructure are minimal. Nevertheless, it has an unpretentious beauty, since the tourism part has not yet approached it for good! Going from Male with the local ferry costs $4 and the journey takes around seven hours, while there is also the option of the speedboat which costs $75 and takes just over two hours.
Resort Islands
Finally, in Alif Alif atoll there are several uninhabited islets that have been turned into tourist resorts. Essentially, these are luxury hotels spread across the island and offering high-quality services. Most of them even have a seaplane landing spot, making the transition from Male a breeze! Throughout your stay there, you will feel like royalty, living moments taken from your most beautiful dreams. Depending on the packages you choose, there are spa services, huge food buffets with everything imaginable, water activities and more. Of course, such an experience costs, and in our case it costs very much. Typically, a night at such a resort starts from 700 euros and can reach several thousand euros. This is one of the reasons why the Maldives is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations. The most important resort islands of the Atoll are: Bathalaa, Ellaidhoo, Fesdhoo, Gaathafushi, Gangehi, Halaveli, Kan'dholhudhoo, Kudafolhudhoo, Kuramathi, Maayafushi, Velidhoo, Veligandu! In conclusion, even if you can't or don't want to stay at one of these overpriced overwater resorts, it's still worth visiting even on the same day to see for yourself what it's all about. For a fee, you have access to the buffets and some of the facilities on these islands!
How to go
Of course, it would not be possible to have a direct connection between Thessaloniki and the Maldives, so you will definitely have to make some stops to reach your final destination. The best option is a combination of Wizzair flights from Athens, with a stopover in Abu Dhabi to Male, where with proper planning you can find tickets starting from €310 round trip! From there you will take a ferry or seaplane depending on the island that will be your final destination!
Where to stay
The accommodation I have to recommend is located on the islet of Ukulhas and more specifically the Ranthari Hotel & Spa. It is a four-star hotel with beautiful and spacious rooms, an excellent restaurant, a spa, a rooftop pool and a private beach, which offers the ultimate living experience.
How to move
While you are on an island of Alif Alif Atoll you will not need any means of transport. Everything is very small and you can easily walk around it in just a few minutes. However, to go from one island to another you can use either the local boats or a private ferry boat!
What to eat
Maldivian cuisine harmoniously combines the culinary traditions of India, Thailand and China. As a Muslim country, pork (and alcohol) is prohibited, which means you will find main dishes with poultry, beef and, of course, a lot of fish, mainly tuna! Also, most of the national dishes contain rice, various spices, mostly curry, coconut, lemon juice and fish stock (garudium). In addition, in the Maldives you will taste delicious exotic fruits such as passion fruit, mango, pineapple, grapefruit, banana, papaya and others, which are also used as raw material for juices, smoothies and desserts. Some of the country's most popular dishes are Mas Huni (pasta with tuna, onion, coconut and chili), Kuli Borkiba (boiled fish with spicy spices and pies), Fiya Satani (salad with onion and green chili peppers), Cypress Torah (spicy soup with pumpkin, curry and chili peppers), Handulu Bondibay (dessert with rice pudding and curry) and finally Dhufun (nut with various spices). To try authentic Maldivian flavors, I recommend visiting Ranthari Hotel & Spa and Peperone Restaurant.
Useful information
In the Maldives we travel with a Passport with a validity of at least 6 months, while a Visa is not required in advance. Upon your entry into the country, your passport will be stamped.
In the Maldives the language used is Dhivehi, while most, for tourist reasons, also know French. However, everyone is willing to help if they know.
The country's currency is the Rufiyaa (MRF) and its exchange rate is currently €1 = 16.44 Rufiyaa. Of course, the local currency comes second, since most transactions are done in US dollars. Finally, everyone accepts euros.
I would suggest you carry cash, mostly US dollars, as most shops will charge you a fee for using a card or the local currency!!
Alif Alif Atoll is two hours ahead of Greece (GMT +5).
There are specific options for getting to and from Male airport. If you plan to go directly to another island, you should make arrangements in advance with the accommodation where you will be staying to reserve a speed boat or seaplane. If you are going to Male again, hotels usually offer free transportation, while taxis are very cheap.
There is no Greek embassy or consulate in the Maldives. Our country is diplomatically represented in the Maldives, through parallel accreditation, by our Embassy in New Delhi, India!
The best time to visit Alif Alif Atoll and the Maldives in general is between November and April, i.e. after the monsoon season.
Suggested excursions → Male, Maafushi, Fulidoo, Vaavo Shipwreck
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
