Mahibadhoo Island is a local island in the Maldives that isn’t a top pick for travelers. It’s not a place to spend your entire vacation intentionally, but it has its charms. There are tourists here, a designated bikini beach, and a few dining spots. You can easily spend a couple of days in peace and quiet on this island.
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Pros and Cons of Mahibadhoo Island
For tourists, the island has more drawbacks than advantages:
- Dense Construction and Population: By Maldivian standards, the island is heavily built-up and densely populated.
- Limited Greenery and Beaches: There isn’t much greenery, and even fewer palm trees and beautiful beaches. However, some do exist.
- Limited Activities: Tourist activities on the island are minimal, with just three restaurants available.
Good to Know:
Transit Stop for Travelers: Most tourists find themselves on Mahibadhoo while transiting. You can spend 3–4 hours waiting for your next ferry or stay for 1–2 days.
Advantages of Mahibadhoo:
- Few Tourists: Only about 20 tourists are usually on the island, ensuring a quiet, uncrowded beach. If you’re looking for solitude and dislike the hustle of more popular islands like Maafushi or Thoddoo, this is the place for you.
- Affordable Accommodation: Lodging prices seem about 20% lower than on more touristy islands. During the low season (May–June), you can find decent guesthouse rooms for $30–40 per night.
- Logistics Hub of the Atoll: Mahibadhoo serves as a logistical and transportation center for the atoll. So it is quite easy to get there.
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General Information About Mahibadhoo
- Coordinates: 3.757187365551497, 72.96896514444597
- Size: 1,000m x 400m—neither large nor small, a typical size for a local island.
- Population: Approximately 2,400, which is high for an island of this size. Most islands this size have populations of around 1,000.
- Distance from Malé and the International Airport: Around 70 km in a straight line.
2. Bikini Beach: Previously neglected and dirty but recently improved with loungers, umbrellas, showers, and regular cleaning.
Additional Notes:
- Official References: In schedules or official sources, the island may appear as ADH. Mahibadhoo. Don’t worry—it’s the same island.
- Atoll Details: The “ADH” prefix refers to the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (South Ari Atoll), which is a part of the larger Ari Atoll.
For more details on Maldivian atolls and tips on where to stay, check out our article on Maldivian Atolls: Where to Vacation. Spoiler: Alifu-Alifu (North Ari) is one of the most popular and accessible atolls for tourists.
How to Get to Mahibadhoo (Ferry or Speedboat)
Reaching Mahibadhoo from Malé is straightforward. Besides expensive private transfers, there are two main options that 99% of travelers use:
- Public Ferry #305
- Departs from Malé three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) at 8:30 AM.
- Arrives at Mahibadhoo by 12:40 PM, taking about 4 hours.
- Ticket price: ~$4.
- For details on where to buy tickets, how to check the current schedule, and more tips, refer to the article linked below.
Tip:
If your flight lands early in the morning and aligns with the ferry schedule, there’s no need to spend extra money. Take the ferry—you’ll be swimming in the Indian Ocean by lunchtime. The same applies when heading back to the airport.
- Speedboat
- Speedboats are faster, traveling at 60 km/h.
- Ticket price: $40 per person.
- Travel time: 1.5 hours (or 2 hours in bad weather).
- Daily departures: Two speedboats (morning and afternoon); only one in the morning on Fridays (a public holiday).
- Check the schedule and book tickets via the Odiapp app, as explained in the article on Maldivian speedboats.
Important to Know:
From Mahibadhoo, ferries travel both north and south across the Ari Atoll. This makes it easy to reach other popular local islands like Rasdhoo, Ukulhas, Thoddoo, and Dhigurah. If you’re traveling from Dhigurah to, say, Rasdhoo or Ukulhas, you’ll pass through Mahibadhoo and switch ferries here.
For details on this route, schedules, ferry numbers, and tips, check the article about Dhigurah Island.
Accommodation and Dining on Mahibadhoo
As mentioned earlier, Mahibadhoo isn’t a tourist-focused island, so people rarely stay for a week. Most visitors stop here briefly, staying just 1–2 days to explore the island.
The island offers six or more guesthouses, all of which include breakfast in the price. There are also three small restaurants serving Maldivian dishes, plus options like pizza and pasta. Here’s what you should know:
- Accommodation Area: Most guesthouses are on the eastern side of the island, in a quiet, green neighborhood with little traffic and fewer locals. Check the map (see earlier in the article) for reference—accommodations are near point #1.
- Look for accommodation using the links at the bottom of the article. There are few options, so don’t delay booking.
- Dining Tip: A good restaurant, Lemon Sea View, is located right at the port. It has a well-maintained area, and meals cost around $15 per person. Coordinates: 3.7562011665035504, 72.96789686457817.
You can explore the entire island and all its shops and restaurants in 1–2 hours. Mahibadhoo is developing, so you might find new eateries or shops during your visit.
Beach, Reef, and Excursions on Mahibadhoo
The bikini beach for tourists is on the western side of the island (point #2 on the map). However, it’s not the most appealing spot—there’s little shade, some litter, and a lot of dead coral.
Instead, the main beach on the eastern side (point #1 on the map) is cleaner and more comfortable. This is where most tourists stay, and it’s close to the guesthouses.
Features of the Beach and Reef:
- Size: The beach is small, about 100–150 meters long.
- Sand: Fine white sand, regularly cleaned.
- Shade: A few palm trees and more regular trees provide shade. There are hammocks and sun loungers.
- Reef: The house reef starts right from the beach. While not spectacular, it has plenty of fish. On the outer edge of the reef, about 200 meters offshore, you might spot reef sharks or turtles.
Ask your guesthouse or the island’s dive center about available trips. Standard options include:
- Snorkeling with turtles, manta rays, and sharks.
- BBQ picnics on nearby uninhabited islands.
- Whale Shark Excursions: Trips to Dhigurah for snorkeling with whale sharks cost around $100 per person.
Prices for excursions near Mahibadhoo are slightly below average for the Maldives.
More about excursions in the Maldives.
The beach featured in the photos: 3.7573809021368856, 72.97293543523666. While the beach isn’t extraordinary, it’s far from terrible. Many local islands have beaches of a similar quality.
Final Thoughts
Although Mahibadhoo is easy, quick, and affordable to reach from Malé, it’s not a major tourist destination—and for good reason. The island works best as a stopover for travelers going from Rasdhoo or Ukulhas to Dhigurah.
If you’re visiting the Maldives for a month or more and want to explore different local islands, Mahibadhoo can be worth a 1–2 day stay. But beyond that, there’s not much to do here.
You won’t find postcard-worthy scenery, lush palms, or emerald waters like on other islands. Instead, Mahibadhoo offers a glimpse of local Maldivian life, basic amenities, and a quiet, uncrowded experience.
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Resources to help you plan your dream trip to the Maldives
- Flight tickets and the best deals
- Tour packages (from budget to luxury): Expedia
- Hotels and guesthouses on any island:
- 12go is the largest Asian transfer service. It gathers all Maldivian carriers, even the small ones that operate between local islands.
- Tours and excursions: Viator – a limited selection of excursions, but convenient and reliable.
- Comprehensive insurance: EKTA
- eSIM at the same price as in telecom office in Male.