Of course, it would be nice to visit all the “paradise” islands, but if you have to choose, you should first head to Addu Atoll. This is a classic “paradise” spot for an idyllic vacation with white sand beaches, turquoise sea, real banana palms, and comfortable hotels.
General Information
Addu Atoll, also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. It is located practically on the equator. From Malé, the capital of the country, to Addu Atoll, it is approximately 540 km.
The atoll resembles a giant horseshoe stretching from north to south for 14.5 km, and from east to west for 18 km. The total area of the atoll is about 140 km².
In the center, right in the middle of the “horseshoe,” lies a turquoise lagoon. It is connected by 4 natural channels located around the atoll: to the south is the Gan channel, to the southeast is the Villingili channel, to the north are the Kuda and Maa channels. This results in a natural harbor that is always very calm and safe for sea vessels. The atoll is protected from storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean by barrier reefs.
The atoll consists of 23 islands, but only 6 of them are inhabited. These are the natural islands of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, and Hithadhoo, where the city of Addu is located – one of the 4 cities of the Maldives. Notably, the districts of the city of Addu do not correspond to the islands where it is situated. Also among the inhabited islands is Gan, where the international airport is located.
The total area of the inhabited islands is 11.1 km². The largest islands are Hithadhoo with an area of 3.61 km², Gan with an area of 2.26 km², and Meedhoo with an area of 2.05 km².
The islands on the western part of the atoll are connected by a 16-kilometer road stretching from Hithadhoo in the north to Gan in the south.
As of 2023, the population of Addu Atoll in the Maldives is 33.5 thousand people.
How to Get to Addu Atoll
First, you need to fly to the Maldives to Malé International Airport. There are no ferries from this airport to Addu Atoll, but there are local airline flights to Gan Airport. There are several flights throughout the day, and the flight time is approximately one and a half hours. The domestic flight Malé-Gan-Malé will cost $300-350 per person.
From Gan Airport to the desired island, you can take a speedboat. You can also travel by land transport if the destination is on an island connected to Gan by a bridge. But the most convenient option is to arrange an individual transfer with the hotel administration.
If you do not wish to take a domestic flight, you can do otherwise. You can take a night passenger ferry to a distant atoll nearby and then find other water transport to Addu. When it comes to price, night ferries are a fairly good alternative to the airplane.
Diving and Snorkeling Opportunities
On the islands of Addu Atoll, as everywhere in the Maldives, diving and snorkeling are popular activities. Diving in the lagoon, where there are no underwater currents, is a good option for beginners. For experienced divers, there are more exotic places in the vicinity of the atoll, such as the British Loyalty tanker resting at a 30-meter depth. During World War II, it sustained such significant damage that divers can easily get inside now.
In the coastal waters of Addu Atoll, there are many different corals, some of which are hundreds of years old. Bright healthy corals (brain, table, branching) start at a depth of 1 meter below the water surface and descend with the reef to depths of 30 meters and more.
Other Available Activities
Of course, beach vacations are available on Addu Atoll. However, swimming is uncomfortable due to the rocky bottom. If resort stays are justified by low prices, the beaches of local islands can only please with typical Maldivian landscapes with palms and clean white sand.
What else can you do if not diving, snorkeling, or just staying on the beach?
You can take a bicycle and explore the islands of the atoll connected by embankment dams. Gan Island is quite different from other Maldives islands. It is covered with lush vegetation, flowering shrubs, and banana palm groves. There is also a British air-naval base preserved from World War II. Hithadhoo Island is unique as it has the only freshwater lake in the archipelago. Exotic red parrots nest by the lake, and from October to March, rare brown bustards can also be seen.
Tourists are offered boat rides with glass bottoms, excursions on regular boats to nearby islands. For example, on Fuamulaku Island, you can see the ruins of an ancient temple. One of the highlights available on Addu Atoll is canoeing in Bedi Bay, where there are many picturesque mangrove trees. You can diversify your vacation with fishing or windsurfing at a specialized center on Gan Island.
Best Hotels on Addu Atoll
The most advantageous vacation strategy on Addu Atoll is to visit a local inhabited island and then go for a couple of days to a resort island. Why so? The transfer Malé-Addu-Malé when booking a room in a guesthouse is much cheaper than booking a room in a resort.
Here are the most popular hotels on Addu Atoll.
Canareef Resort Maldives
A 4-star hotel located on the resort island of Herathera. Comfortable villas stand along the eastern and western coasts, named respectively: “Sunrise” and “Sunset.”
The hotel has 2 restaurants and 3 bars. The main restaurant, Kilhi, offers a buffet three times a day. Meera Bar prepares food and drinks from the menu. Dhoni Bar serves light snacks along with drinks. There is also a bar on the beach.
Guests can use the gym, pool, and tennis court. You can relax in the spa center and buy beautiful souvenirs in the gift shop. The hotel has a kids’ club, and paid nanny services are available.
Canareef Resort is perfect for a romantic and peaceful family vacation with children or fun with friends. On Booking.com, this hotel has a rating of 8.1.
High season prices in the Maldives start from $110 per night for a double room.
Equator Village Resort
A 3-star hotel located on Gan Island, 1 km from the airport.
Guests of this hotel have access to a private beach, a common lounge, an outdoor pool, and a tennis court. It is also possible to rent equipment for water sports and fishing.
Equator Village is the only hotel on Addu Atoll and, respectively, in the Maldives, where guests are given a certificate for crossing the equator.
The hotel’s rating on Booking.com is 8.
The price for a double room in the high season starts from $85 per night.
True South
True South is a comfortable guesthouse welcoming tourists in Maradhoo-Feydhoo city. The guesthouse is located 3 km from Gan International Airport. A paid transfer from/to the airport is organized for tourists.
There is a common lounge and a spacious terrace, and a lush shady garden for guests at True South.
The cozy family atmosphere at True South is highly appreciated by everyone who stays there, confirmed by the rating on Booking.com – 8.9 points.
The cost per room in the high season is from $85 per night.
WAVE SOUND by 3S Maldives
A comfortable guesthouse WAVE SOUND by 3S Maldives is located on the first line of Maradhoo-Feydhoo city. The owners organize a paid transfer for visitors from/to Gan Airport, 3 km away.
A sun terrace and a shady garden create additional comfort for vacationers. There is a restaurant where you can order food and drinks delivered to your room. Guests can use the tour desk to book excursions and a currency exchange office.
Those wishing to take a bike ride or explore the islands by car can rent a bicycle or car at WAVE SOUND by 3S Maldives.
This guesthouse is incredibly popular among tourists. Its rating on Booking.com is very high – 9.4.
In peak season, the price for a room is from $100 per night.
Muladdu Inn
This guesthouse is located in Feydhoo city, 1 km from Gan beach.
Guests can use the common lounge and free car parking. There is a well-equipped children’s playground on the premises.
There are good opportunities for snorkeling in the surrounding areas. Those wishing to ride a bicycle or car can rent them at Muladdu Inn.
Muladdu Inn is very popular among travelers visiting the Maldives. Its rating on Booking.com is 9.4.
In the high season, prices start from $60 per night.
Interesting Facts about Addu Atoll in the Maldives
- Addu Atoll is home to some of the earliest known settlements in the country, such as those on Meedhoo, the northernmost island of the atoll.
- During World War II, Addu Atoll housed a secret Royal Navy base, successfully using the protected natural harbor. On Gan Island, the British built oil tanks, storage facilities, and an airstrip for planes, which now serves as Gan International Airport. Additionally, British military connected several islands on the western atoll with embankment dams – these islands remain connected today.
- The white tern (dhonhini) in the Maldives can only be found on Addu Atoll. This bird is considered a symbol of the atoll’s islands.
- The islands of Addu Atoll were the only ones in the Maldives not affected by the warm El Niño ocean currents in 1998, which led to global coral bleaching. Therefore, there are now many bright healthy corals in the coastal waters of the atoll, including brain, table, and branching corals.
- Addu Atoll is located slightly south of the equator. The Equator Village Hotel administration issues a certificate confirming that guests have crossed the equator.