Island Hopping: Logistics & Schedules
Traveling between local islands is easier than you think — but requires planning because public ferries do not run daily.
Transfer Options
| Mode of Transport | Price | Availability | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Ferry (MTCC) | $2–5/person | 2–3x per week, not on Fridays | Simple, but cheap |
| Shared Speedboat | $25–40/person | Daily, multiple departures | Fast, wet (splashing!) |
| Private Speedboat | $200–400/boat | On request, anytime | Flexible, private |
| Domestic Flight | $120–250/person | 1–3x daily (Maldivian/Flyme) | Fast, comfortable |
Important Ferry Connections
| Route | Duration | Price | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malé → Maafushi | 90 min. | 22 MVR ($1.40) | Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat |
| Malé → Guraidhoo | 2.5 hours | 32 MVR ($2) | Sun, Tue, Thu |
| Malé → Fulidhoo | 3.5 hours | 44 MVR ($2.80) | Sun, Thu |
| Malé → Thulusdhoo | 75 min. | 22 MVR ($1.40) | Sun, Tue, Thu |
| Maafushi → Dhigurah | 2.5 hours (Speedboat) | $35–40 | Daily |
Island Hopping Routes
Route 1: The Classic (10 days)
- Day 1: Hulhumalé (arrival, jetlag)
- Day 2: Malé city tour → Speedboat to Maafushi
- Day 3–4: Maafushi (snorkeling, dolphins, sandbank)
- Day 5–7: Dhigurah (whale sharks, 3-km beach, bioluminescence)
- Day 8–9: Fulidhoo (tranquility, manta rays, night dive Alimathaa)
- Day 10: Hulhumalé → Departure
Budget: approx. $70–90/day per person including everything.
Route 2: The Surfer (14 days)
- Day 1: Hulhumalé
- Day 2–5: Thulusdhoo (Surfing: Cokes + Chickens)
- Day 6–8: Guraidhoo (Surfing: Guru's + Diving)
- Day 9–11: Maafushi (Water sports, snorkeling)
- Day 12–13: Dhigurah (Whale sharks as a contrast program)
- Day 14: Hulhumalé → Departure
Budget: approx. $60–80/day per person. Best time: March–October (southwest swell).
Route 3: The Diver (10 days)
- Day 1: Hulhumalé
- Day 2–4: Maafushi (PADI course or dives at Vaadhu Channel)
- Day 5–6: Fulidhoo (Night dive Alimathaa, Fotteyo Kandu)
- Day 7–9: Dhigurah (Whale shark snorkeling + dives Maaya Thila, Fish Head)
- Day 10: Hulhumalé → Departure
Budget: approx. $90–120/day per person (including dives).
💡 Tipp
Check the ferry schedule at mtcc.com.mv and plan the route around it. The guesthouse owners know all the connections and help with booking. Contact the next guesthouse via WhatsApp before you arrive — they often organize the speedboat transfer.
