
Thulusdhoo is one of over 1,000 islands in the Maldives, surrounded by breathtaking turquoise water. You can relax here without spending a fortune. Discover everything you need to know about this beautiful island.
Thulusdhoo is a local island, meaning that instead of visiting resort islands built especially for tourists, you are visiting an island inhabited by locals. It is part of the North Male Atoll in the Maldives and is easy to reach by boat or ferry due to its proximity to the airport. Thulusdhoo is pretty small and peaceful so it’s the perfect destination to chill. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy the peaceful and beautiful island life.
From the Airport it’s a 45 min boat ride or a two-hour trip with the local ferry. The speedboats depart multiple times daily, and the prize is around $25. You have to book the speedboat in advance and I recommend Odi App for bookings and timetables.
The ferry departs once per day (not on Friday) from Malé to Thulusdhoo at 14:30 and from Thulusdhoo to Malé at 7:10 in the morning. It is only 22 MVR ($1.5). You have to pay directly on the ferry in cash. From Malé you can take the airport ferry (10 min) which runs every 15 minitues.
As there is no traffic on the island (apart from a few scooters), you can take a nice walk around the island if it’s not too hot. There are lots of cute little houses, a few boutiques and a Coca-Cola factory. There is also a small island off the coast from where you can enjoy a beautiful view, watch the sunrise or do a little yoga. As the island is very small, I won’t give you detailed directions, but it’s worth going on a little exploration tour yourself.
I would like to mention that the Maldives are a Muslim country and you should therefore respect the rules on the island. Specifically, this means that shoulders and knees should be covered (all genders) as long as you are not on a Bikini Beach. I simply wore long, airy pants and had no negative experiences at all.
There are two bikini beaches on Thulusdhoo where you are allowed to wear swimwear. One is close to the accommodations and cafes. There you can relax perfectly on a lounger under the palm trees and snorkel around the rocks. Although stone walls have been built in the water to protect the beach from storms, the water remains breathtakingly clear.
The other bikini beach, known as Dream Beach, is located near the pier. The view of the sea is stunning, and the shallow water is perfect for cooling off. Swimming in this place felt surreal, and I experienced a deep sense of inner peace. The water is just as bright turquoise and clear as it appears in pictures.
At the southern end of the island, there is a small sandbank that gives you a panoramic view of the sunset. Towards evening, when the sun is less intense, you can take a nice walk around the island. Of course there are a few people there to take photos, but I didn’t find it too crowded. In general, the island didn’t seem overcrowded with tourists. Let’s see how this develops in the future when larger hotels are built.
The Maldives are known for their rich underwater world. Thulusdhoo itself doesn’t have a house reef that you can explore from the beach, but that’s not a bad thing as there are plenty of excursions to stunning places.
We ourselves went on the shark and stingray tour, where we saw lots of colorful fish, rays, sharks and turtles. The prize for this tour is $40 per person. You travel by speedboat in a small group to the snorkeling point, where the guide goes into the water with you and helps you spot reef sharks and other animals. The boat trip to the snorkeling points alone is worth it, as the sea is so incredibly blue. What is also special about Thulusdhoo is the opportunity to surf and of course, there are also diving schools on site.
If you are considering visiting a local island, I recommend booking your accommodation a few weeks in advance. In my experience, prices go up if you book at short notice or the cheaper alternatives are sold out. The location of your guest house doesn’t matter as the island is so small and you can walk everywhere. I can recommend Sun&Surf on Thulusdhoo.
Here we paid $55 per day for a double room, including breakfast.
There are restaurants, especially for tourists, where the prices are a little higher (european level) and local restaurants where you can eat for under 10 €. Simpler (but still filling) dishes such as fried rice are also available for under 5 €. Otherwise, you can eat fresh fish or sandwiches, burgers and curries. Otherwise, there are only a few mini-markets for snacks on the island. We usually kept our heads above water during the day with snacks we brought from home and then went out to eat in the evening. Cheap restaurants that I can recommend are:
Note: On the local islands the sale and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited. This means you won’t find any alcohol in local shops, restaurants, or guesthouses.
I love being surrounded by greenery and the sea, so I travel whenever I can. Join me as I show you colorful places and share tips on how to explore the world on a budget by yourself.
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