Key hubs
Ari Atoll airport and railway station
- Airport
- Velana International Airport (MLE), Malé, then seaplane or boat. A small airport at Maamigili (VAM) serves the south; check airline schedules.
- Railway station
- None. The Maldives has no railway, so there is no station to plan around.
- Getting around
- Seaplane, speedboat and public ferry between islands; walk or cycle on the islands themselves.
How to reach Ari Atoll by air
Fly from India to Velana International Airport (MLE) at Malé; IndiGo is listed by Wikipedia as flying from Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, and Maldivian from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Check current schedules. From there Ari is roughly a 30-minute seaplane flight, or a longer boat ride. A small airport at Maamigili (VAM) serves the south.
How to reach Ari Atoll by train
There is no railway in the Maldives, so no station can help you. Travel from India is by air, and between islands by seaplane, speedboat or ferry.
How to reach Ari Atoll by road
There are no road links between atolls. Within an island, roads are short and often sand; the longer islands such as Dhigurah are best covered by bicycle or a short taxi or buggy ride.
Getting around Ari Atoll
Resorts arrange seaplane or speedboat transfers. Local islands use public ferries and speedboats; Wikipedia reports a ferry three times a week and daily speedboats to Rasdhoo, but check current times. On the islands, walk, cycle or ask your guesthouse for a ride.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Ari Atoll
- Plan boat journeys for the morning, and ask whether the boat has a covered seat, life jackets and a step down to the jetty. Fatal propeller accidents have been reported near South Ari whale-shark sites, so choose licensed operators.
- The islands are flat, but sand and heat make walking tiring. Walk before 10 am and after 4 pm, and carry water.
- Carry medicines in their original packaging, with a doctor's note, and keep a spare supply in hand luggage.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.