Gan and the RAF Gan relics, Addu Atoll: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Gan and the RAF Gan relics

Royal Navy work began on Gan in 1941 as a covert base known as Port T, and airstrips were built by Royal Marines. The base was handed to the RAF in 1957 and closed on 1 April 1976, when the island and airfield returned to the Maldivian government. Gan's inhabitants, along with those of Feydhoo, were relocated during the construction.

H. C. P. Bell recorded Buddhist ruins on Gan in 1922, but these were reportedly bulldozed when the airfield was built.

Useful facts

Gan and the RAF Gan relics facts at a glance

Location

Gan, southern end of the atoll

Experience type

Self-guided walk or cycle

Known for

RAF base, war graves, causeway views

Period

1941 to 1976

Good for

History and an easy morning

Why it matters

Why Gan and the RAF Gan relics is worth your time

Gan is a small place with an outsized role in the modern Maldives. It sat on the Indian Ocean crossing between Britain and its eastern stations, and when the RAF left on 1 April 1976 it handed the island and the airfield back to the Maldivian government. That airfield is now the atoll's international airport, and the old base is still the backbone of tourism on the island.

For visitors it explains why Addu looks different from other Maldivian atolls. The causeways, the large airfield and the roomy building plots date from this military period. The story also has a human side, with Gan's own islanders relocated during construction, so a visit works best as a quiet look at both the infrastructure and the community it changed.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Equator Village buildings

   Former military buildings reused as rooms and facilities, a living example of the RAF layout.

2. 02

   War grave and cannons

   The Commonwealth war grave, old British guns and cinema remains are listed as public WWII sights.

3. 03

   Sunset Bridge

   The Gan to Feydhoo causeway is the easy place to catch the day's last light.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Start where the story starts: Gan is the island the Royal Navy chose in 1941 for a secret fleet anchorage and airstrips. By 1957 the airfield had been passed to the RAF, and for nearly two decades RAF Gan was a staging post between the Middle East and the Far East. Walk or cycle slowly from Equator Village, the old military buildings converted into rooms, and look for the Commonwealth war grave, old British cannons and the remains of a cinema that Visit Maldives lists among the public WWII sights.

Pick up the story of the people, too. When the RAF arrived, Gan's own residents were moved to nearby islands, which is why Feydhoo's community traces its roots back to Gan. Later, drive or ride along the Link Road and cross the Sunset Bridge, the causeway between Gan and Feydhoo, for the view at the end of the day.

You will not find a formal museum, so do not expect labels. Ask your hotel for a local guide if you want names and dates explained. Combine the walk with a coffee and a rest, and keep your exploration to the first half of the day, when the island is at its coolest.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Gan island, at the southern end of the Link Road, next to Gan International Airport

Time needed

Half a morning (2 to 3 hours)

Best time

Early morning, before the heat builds

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

Gan is flat and small, about 1 km long, with sealed roads and few steps. Shade is patchy and seating is limited, so carry water and a hat, and take a rest at the resort.

Tickets and access

No ticket for walking around the public parts of the island. Some buildings are inside resort grounds; ask Equator Village or your guesthouse what you can see. Treat war graves as places of respect.

Plan it with

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