Culture in Addu Atoll
- 01
Koagannu cemetery and Meedhoo
Meedhoo has some of the oldest settlement traces in the Maldives, and Wikivoyage lists the Koagannu cemetery there as the oldest and largest in the country. Visit with respect and a local host.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the ferry
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- No ticket reported; Koagannu Park beside the cemetery is described as open 24 hours and free. The cemetery is a working burial ground, so dress modestly and keep quiet.
- 02
Maradhoo and its Bondoge
Maradhoo is the main fishing village of the atoll, with a large old building called the Bondoge that has been a theatre and a detention centre. It is a good stop on the Link Road.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, when boats come in
- Tickets
- No ticket. Public life is conservative; dress modestly and ask before photographing people. Do not enter private property or offices without invitation.
Experiences in Addu Atoll
- 03
Addu Link Road and Sunset Bridge
A causeway of about 14 to 16 km joins Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. Cycling it is the best way to see ordinary island life in the Maldives.
- Time needed
- 2 to 5 hours depending on the stretch
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- No ticket. Bicycles and scooters can be rented from guesthouses (one is listed by Wikivoyage), and Equator Village offers bikes to guests. A local bus also runs, slowly.
Gardens and parks in Addu Atoll
- 04
Addu Nature Park and Eydhigali Kilhi
A protected area on Hithadhoo with freshwater wetlands, red mangroves and walkways, where you can canoe or tour by buggy. It is the greenest part of Addu.
- Time needed
- Half a morning (2 to 3 hours)
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning
- Tickets
- No ticket is listed by sources we opened. Activities such as buggy tours or canoes are arranged locally, so ask your guesthouse or resort. Respect posted rules in the protected area.
Neighbourhoods in Addu Atoll
- 05
Gan and the RAF Gan relics
Gan, the southernmost island of the atoll, was a Royal Navy and RAF base from 1941 to 1976. Today you can see war graves, old guns and a former cinema around the airport and Equator Village.
- Time needed
- Half a morning (2 to 3 hours)
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning, before the heat builds
- Tickets
- 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.
Landmarks in Addu Atoll
- 06
Koattey
A protected beach and house-reef area at the north end of Hithadhoo, with a bird-watching platform and little else. It rewards a quiet morning.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning, calm sea
- Tickets
- No ticket reported. There are no facilities or lifeguards. Swim only in calm water, cover shoulders and thighs outside resorts, and respect the protected status.
