This is an in-depth guide to Rasdhoo Island, one of the top local destinations in the Maldives. I’ll walk you through everything you need to know — unique features of the island, where to spot sharks, where to see glowing plankton, how to get there cheaply, or how to get there quickly. Expect plenty of useful tips to help make your stay on Rasdhoo truly unforgettable.
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Maldives without these websites
Table of Contents
Pros and Cons of Staying on Rasdhoo
As mentioned earlier, Rasdhoo is currently one of the most popular local islands among independent travelers. Out of the hundreds of inhabited islands in the Maldives, Rasdhoo easily ranks among the top ten. Let’s break down why:
Pros of Rasdhoo Island:
- Close to Malé — just 60 km away, which means getting there is quick and inexpensive.
- Administrative center of its atoll — so the island has solid infrastructure: shops, a bank, a police station (though crime is virtually nonexistent in the Maldives), a school, a hospital, and several restaurants and cafés catering to tourists.
- Affordable accommodation and food — prices are low even compared to neighboring local islands.
- Excellent house reef for snorkeling — you can easily spot sharks and turtles near the beach. Manta rays are rarer but do visit the area. Rasdhoo is also known for its glowing plankton at night.
- Clean, green, and tourism-oriented — virtually every resident not involved in fishing works in tourism. The island is fully adapted for travelers, with everything you might need.
- Bikini Beach — a designated area where tourists can wear swimwear, making the island suitable for families with children.
Cons of Rasdhoo:
There’s really just one: the beach is relatively small. But there’s enough space for everyone, and the situation is steadily improving — more on that in the beach section.
The only downside of Rasdhoo, actually, is its beach. It is relatively small, but there is enough space for everyone. The situation quickly improves, though. But more on that in the section about the beach.
Rasdhoo Island: General Information
- Coordinates: 4.263101500301823, 72.99179080582519
- Size: 600 x 500 meters — typical for a Maldivian island (some are even smaller).
- Population: Around 1,400, though it often feels much less crowded.
Rasdhoo is the administrative center of Rasdhoo Atoll, part of the larger Alif Alif Atoll (also known as North Ari Atoll). You may see it referred to by either name.
Good to know:
Direct public ferries from Malé usually operate only to the administrative centers of atolls. From there, you often need to transfer to other islands. Rasdhoo is well-connected — there’s a direct public ferry from Malé, which then continues on to other islands in the atoll.
Getting to Rasdhoo: Ferry vs. Speedboat
Technically, you can take a seaplane, but it’s extremely rare — mostly reserved for officials like the Prime Minister on work trips. If you can afford a $400 seaplane ride, you’d probably be vacationing at a $5,000-a-night resort, not a local island like Rasdhoo.
So realistically, there are two main ways to reach Rasdhoo from Malé:
Option 1: Public Ferry (Route 303: Malé – Thoddoo)
- Official schedule: Check here: MTCC Website
Look for: CTN Ferry – All Atolls. Then search for ferry number 303 using Ctrl+F in the schedule PDF. - Duration: 3–4 hours (depends on weather).
- Cost: ~$3.50 USD. Tickets are sold at the terminal before departure.
- Schedule:
- Malé → Rasdhoo: Mondays & Thursdays at 9:00 AM
- Rasdhoo → Malé: Wednesdays & Sundays at 11:00 AM
For Maldivian standards, twice a week is actually good!
🚨 Always check the current schedule, as it may change.
- Departure terminal: Henveiru Ferry Terminal (same as airport ferries)
Coordinates: 4.177919379417996, 73.51716451880544
A highly useful article about inter-island ferries, which is a must-read! You’ll find out where to check the current schedule, what to expect from the ferry, how rough the ride is (spoiler alert: very), how often the ferries are cancelled, and how to read the schedule correctly
Option 2: Speedboat (Most Common)
Used by 90% of travelers.
- Frequency: Twice daily, even on Fridays (though sometimes only once on Fridays).
- Departure times: ~9:00 or 10:00 AM, and 4:00 PM
- Cost: From $40 one-way
- Duration: Around 1 hour
Want all the speedboat details, including how and where to book? I cover it in a separate article on speedboats in the Maldives.
Where to Stay and Eat on Rasdhoo
No problems here — it’s all very straightforward.
Accommodation:
The primary option is guesthouses. Read about what they are in the article: where and how to book accommodation on local islands. These are like small hotels, typically offering:
- A large bed
- Air conditioning
- A private bathroom
- A fridge
- Breakfast (usually included)
There are now around 30 guesthouses on Rasdhoo.
- Prices: From $50 per night for a basic room.
In high season, expect rates from $70 and up.
You can search on any service, here’s one of the convenient options: Trip.com.
Or Tripadvisor – it compares prices among a dozen other accommodation booking services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
Important: Always check the location of your accommodation on the map before booking. Some platforms suggest places on nearby islands and list them as “1 km from Rasdhoo.” On the Maldives, 1 km is an entirely different island.
For example, 1 km from Rasdhoo is the private island resort Kuramathi, where rooms start at $500/night (excluding meals). But you can visit Kuramathi on a day trip from Rasdhoo for around $150 per person, including food and drinks. A speedboat takes you there in the morning and brings you back in the evening.
Update: Day trips now go to Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, not Kuramathi. See the comments under the main article. And if you do manage to visit Kuramathi from Rasdhoo, please share your experience in the comments!
Food and Restaurants
Rasdhoo now has 5–6 restaurants, and eating out is very affordable.
- Dinner for two: Typically around $20–30
- Grilled fish with sides for two: ~ $25
We personally recommend Lemon Drop Restaurant. Coordinates: 4.264487855623657, 72.99138047224153
Main dishes cost under 100 MVR ($6.70 USD), and a full dinner for two with grilled fish runs about 285 MVR ($19 USD).
Rasdhoo Beach, Mantas, Sharks, and Bioluminescent Plankton
Back in 2015, Rasdhoo was just another quiet local island in the Maldives, virtually unknown to tourists. But the creation of a designated bikini beach changed everything.
Important to know:
The Maldives is a Muslim country, and wearing revealing swimwear is only allowed on specific “bikini beaches” – not just anywhere you like. These designated areas vary in size and cleanliness from island to island.
As of 2025, Rasdhoo has a team from the local municipality maintaining the beach daily. The beach itself is small, around 200 meters long, but there’s enough room for everyone. The sand is fine and white, and the atmosphere is peaceful.
There’s a great volleyball court with a net and ball, plenty of shaded spots, and around 20 free sunbeds – first come, first served! There’s even a (basic) toilet facility. Despite its compact size, the beach has seen major improvements over the past year.
The Only Downside
The main drawback of the beach is the shallow water near the shore, filled with dead coral. (No sea urchins though!) During low tide – which isn’t extreme in the Maldives – it gets even shallower, making swimming less enjoyable for adults. But for kids, it’s perfect.
Still, just 50–100 meters out, the snorkeling gets amazing: reef sharks, sea turtles, and even manta rays can be spotted here. The edge of the reef drops into the deep blue – and that’s where the real underwater action happens.
Coordinates and points of interest:
- Bikini Beach:
4.260472990139405, 72.99158421290706 - Spot where reef sharks are commonly seen:
4.260520171101461, 72.99427126121223 - Turtles can be found along the entire reef line.
- Bioluminescent plankton beach:
4.264670186787254, 72.99325354300291
(Always the northeast side of the island. Check the article Maldives at Night to know when and how to see it.)
Tours and Activities on Rasdhoo
When it comes to entertainment, Rasdhoo is a typical Maldivian local island. Here’s what you should know:
- Alcohol is prohibited. You won’t find it anywhere on the island.
- There’s no nightlife. By 11 PM, the whole island is asleep.
Activities you can enjoy:
- Diving & snorkeling excursions: Rasdhoo has 6–7 dive centers (and counting). Whether you want to snorkel with sharks or mantas, enjoy a picnic on a deserted island, or take a day trip to a resort like Kuramathi, dive centers are the place to book. Just walk in and ask what they offer – they’ll gladly explain everything.
- Water sports rentals right on the beach: kayaks and SUP boards (around $30–40 for a half day).
A popular option: kayak over to the uninhabited Picnic Island or the nearby sandbank just 1 km away. Paddling around the island takes just 30–40 minutes, but heading for the uninhabited island is more fun!
- Shark Snorkeling: Around $45
- Diving: $50 per dive
- Manta Snorkeling at Sunrise: Starting from $40
(Mantas are harder to spot – they’re deep-sea creatures and only approach the island early in the morning, around 6–7 AM.) - Deserted Island Trip: You can kayak there yourself or go with a motorboat – from $25 per person.
Every evening around sunset, nurse sharks gather in Rasdhoo’s port, waiting for fishing boats to return so they can grab leftovers. Be sure to arrive at the port 30 minutes before sunset and stroll along the jetty – you’ll likely spot a few!
Please do NOT feed them bread or table scraps. This is not a zoo – it’s their natural habitat. If you want to feed them properly, ask the fishermen for fish heads. They often give them for free – and for a couple of bucks, you’ll get half a bag!
Shark hotspot coordinates: 4.26372017431482, 72.98969278176152
(At the far end of the jetty – use satellite view on your map.)
Travel Tips for Tourists
Like most local islands, Rasdhoo is quite small. You’ll walk every street and circle the island on foot within a day. You’ll snorkel the entire reef, spot sharks at the port and reef, and – if the weather is kind – maybe even witness the glowing plankton.
Top tip:
Maldivian local islands vary a lot. Don’t stay in one place for two weeks – you’ll run out of things to do.
After 4–6 days on Rasdhoo, move on! The surrounding islands in this atoll are beautiful and just an hour away by ferry.
- Thoddoo – Home to a turtle colony just 50m from the beach on its house reef.
- Ukulhas – Has a much larger and cleaner bikini beach than Rasdhoo. (And it’s on the same ferry route #303!)
Final Thoughts
Rasdhoo is one of the top Maldivian local islands for a 5–6 day stay.
It’s one of the few places where you can realistically spot all the marine life you’ve only seen on TV before: reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, colorful reef fish, and more. It’s also a safe, affordable destination ideal for families with kids.
Rasdhoo is definitely on my personal list of local islands I highly recommend for your Maldives adventure.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to the Maldives
- Flight tickets and the best deals
- Vacation packages (from budget to luxury): CheapOair
- Hotels and guesthouses on any island:
- TripAdvisor compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
- Trip.com – the most popular service for booking accommodation.
- 12go is the largest Asian ferry and speedboat reservation 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 airport.
Excellent up to date helpful information. I am in the Maldives now and already planning the next trip!
Thank you for your feedback! We wish you a wonderful and unforgettable journey!