Neighbourhoods in Ari Atoll
- 01
Dhangethi
A small inhabited island in South Ari Atoll with a shipyard, a traditional mosque and a handful of guesthouses, and a dive centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or 1 to 3 nights
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Visits are arranged through guesthouses; be considerate when photographing residents and the mosque.
- 02
Mahibadhoo
The capital of Alif Dhaal Atoll and home to the atoll hospital, the main healthcare provider for South Ari.
- Time needed
- Part of a day, if passing through
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Any time; boats are calmer in the dry months
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The Atoll Hospital serves local residents; it is not a tourist attraction, so contact it only for care.
- 03
Mathiveri
A very small local island in Alif Alif Atoll with a sandbank a short wade away and a shipwreck inside snorkelling range, popular with divers.
- Time needed
- One night or more
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Sandbank and wreck trips are normally arranged through guesthouses or dive centres; ask about life jackets and tide timing.
- 04
Rasdhoo
The administrative capital of Alif Alif Atoll and the easiest local island to reach from Malé: tiny, walkable, and lined with guesthouses.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or 2 to 3 nights as a base
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The speedboat or ferry is the main cost; Wikipedia reports a ferry three times a week and daily speedboats, so confirm the current timetable with your guesthouse.
- 05
Ukulhas
A small coral-sand island in Alif Alif Atoll that was among the first in the country to organise waste management, and began taking guesthouse visitors in 2012.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or 2 to 3 nights
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Plan the speedboat or ferry with your guesthouse, and check whether a day visit is practical from your base.
Experiences in Ari Atoll
- 06
Dhigurah
A thin island more than 3 km long in Alif Dhaal Atoll, known as a base for whale-shark outings.
- Time needed
- One or two nights
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Whale-shark and snorkel trips are booked through guesthouses or licensed operators; ask for current guidelines and prices.
- 07
Thoddoo
A small island in Alif Alif Atoll that is better known for its fields than its resorts: it is the country's largest watermelon grower, and local guesthouse tourism started only in 2015.
- Time needed
- Half a day to one night
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Dry months, December to March
- Tickets
- No entry fee for the island. Visits are normally arranged through a guesthouse, which also arranges the speedboat; confirm transfer times and whether a day visit is possible.
- 08
Whale shark outings in South Ari
Boat trips to snorkel with whale sharks in the waters of South Ari, where the animals are described as year-round residents.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Check with your operator; Wikipedia describes the sharks as year-round residents
- Tickets
- Booked through a guesthouse, dive centre or resort. Ask about price, group size, life jackets, a guide in the water and what happens if no shark appears. Prices are not given here.
