Thanks to its biodiversity, Baa Atoll is recognized as a sanctuary of global significance. The amazing phenomenon of plankton glowing can be observed there throughout the year. This region is a wonderful place where true connection with nature and comfortable rest in elite hotels are possible.
General Information
Baa Atoll, also known as Southern Maalhosmadulu, is an administrative unit of the Maldives. It is located 118 km from the capital of the Maldives.
Baa Atoll stretches 42 km in length and 32 km in width. Its total area reaches 1127 km².
The atoll consists of 75 islands. Thirteen are inhabited, five are temporarily inhabited, and 57 are completely uninhabited.
As of 2022, the population of Baa Atoll is 10,631 people. The local population works in the tourism industry, engages in crafts, and fishing.
For a long time, the only resort hotel on the atoll was Soneva Fushi. Recently, four more islands were allocated for hotels on Baa Atoll. The cost of vacationing on this atoll is among the highest in the Maldives, as it is considered one of the most prestigious.
How to Get to the Baa Islands
There are two options to get to Baa Atoll from the Maldives International Airport, located near the capital of the republic.
The first option is to use a seaplane. The airport on Dharavandhoo Island accepts domestic flights from Male airport, with several such flights throughout the day. The flight lasts 20 minutes. From Dharavandhoo airport, any island of the atoll can be reached by speedboat.
The second option is a ferry from Male. It is more budget-friendly but takes much more time – almost 8 hours.
Often, the transfer from the airport is included in the package. Be sure to ask the receiving party about this.
Weather and When to Visit Baa Atoll
The islands of Baa Atoll have a subequatorial climate. Due to the proximity to the equator, there are almost no seasonal changes. The temperature remains at a fairly favorable level: for air, it is +31°C, for ocean water +28°C. You can vacation on the Baa islands all year round, but some features should be considered.
The most favorable period for a calm beach holiday is from January to April. During these months, the weather is hot and dry, the ocean is calm, and the sun shines for 8-9 hours a day.
From May to October, the weather is unstable: one day it can be calm and quite comfortable, and the next – rain and storm. Of all the summer months, June is the cloudiest and rainiest. But from May to October, holidays on the islands are very cheap, especially in June and July.
What else, besides the weather, should be considered when planning a trip to Baa Atoll and other Maldives islands?
In the Maldives, two religious holidays are celebrated on a grand scale: Ramadan in mid-August, and Kurram Bayram in mid-October. During this time, carnivals with performances, traditional music, and ritual dances are held on the streets. If you want to get to know the culture of the Maldives better, you can go on vacation during these holidays.
What to Do on Baa Islands
As everywhere in the Maldives, tourists on Baa Atoll are waiting for a calm and serene beach holiday. Many hotels offer residents a huge selection of entertainment and activities: dance parties, movie screenings, kayaking and water skiing, fishing, windsurfing.
However, it should be noted that Baa Atoll is the best place in the Maldives for scuba diving. Diving is the most popular activity among tourists, perhaps even more popular than beach holidays.
Underwater World of Baa
Baa Atoll has a fairly long outer reef, the western side of which faces the open ocean. Near the reef, there are almost always many Manta birostris rays throughout the year, arriving in search of plankton. Their flocks can be quite large – from 30 to 200 individuals. Manta rays do not pay attention to people at all, nothing prevents them from moving in their mesmerizing circular dance.
The atoll has several channels and many coral reefs that attract the attention of divers. The most popular sites include:
- Miriandhoo Thila: A small but quite deep reef. Recommended for experienced divers only. The place is rich in soft corals and has various marine inhabitants, including turtles and eagle rays.
- Bathalaa: An outer corner of the reef channel, rich in pink, black, and various soft corals.
- Dharavandhoo Thila: Located on the east of the atoll. The reef, connected to the island by a narrow isthmus, forms an intricate topography with numerous caves, narrow passages, and cracks, overhanging corals. There are many bright sponges, sea stars, and cucumbers, large groupers.
- Hanifaru Bay: A small bay on the southeast side of the atoll. Manta rays and whale sharks, attracted by the abundance of plankton, can be observed there in August and September.
The beauty of Hanifaru Reef, which attracts divers from different countries, is worth mentioning in more detail. The reef quickly gained immense popularity, prompting Maldivian authorities to take it under protection. Since 2011, it has been a UNESCO-protected reserve and natural site. To visit the reef, you need to obtain a permit from the local authorities on Dharavandhoo Island. From this island, you can reach Hanifaru Reef in just 10 minutes.
Best Hotels on the Atoll
All hotels on Baa Atoll promise heavenly enjoyment of a Maldives vacation and offer excellent service. All hotels are good. However, according to tourist reviews and Booking.com ratings, there are a few of the best.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Luxurious villas are located on Kihavah Huravalhi Island. Guests rated the complex at 9.7 out of 10. Some structures are above the water of a quiet lagoon, and some are on the beach.
For guests, there is a special spa center on the water, a fitness center. Conditions are created for wakeboarding, windsurfing, and catamaran riding.
This complex is great for families with children, as many activities are provided for young guests. There is a children’s center with a large trampoline park, and sessions are held in the water spa center.
The complex has several gastronomic establishments:
- A beach restaurant where guests come for breakfast;
- A restaurant offering Italian, Japanese, and Mediterranean cuisine;
- An underwater restaurant, SEA, beautifully blending with the nearby coral reefs.
For an additional fee, a transfer from/to Male airport is possible. The seaplane flight lasts 35 minutes.
The villa is rented entirely. The price for one night for two people is from 1,900 €. Find out more details about the hotel and book accommodation here.
Royal Island Resort at Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve
This spa hotel consists of cozy wooden villas. Guests can swim in the outdoor pool, visit the spa center, work out in the gym, and play tennis. There are also good opportunities for diving and kitesurfing.
The spa hotel has:
- Maakaana: A beach restaurant with a daily buffet;
- Raabondhi: A restaurant with a huge selection of seafood dishes;
- Four bars with a wide selection of drinks and snacks.
The hotel administration obligatorily organizes a transfer to/from Male airport, which must be paid upon arrival. The flight takes 30 minutes.
The average guest rating is 9.1. For two people, the price for a villa starts from 178 € per night. More photos and details about the hotel can be found on this page.
Milaidhoo Maldives
This boutique hotel is located on Milaidhoo Island, near Hanifaru Bay and the reef, recognized as the best in the Maldives for diving. Various activities are available: kayaking, catamarans, fishing. The hotel staff organizes dolphin-watching cruises.
The resort has a spa center and a hall where free meditation and yoga sessions are held. A fitness center is available at any time.
The resort has three restaurants and two bars, serving local and international cuisine, grill, and barbecue.
For an additional fee, guests are picked up and taken to Male airport. The flight to Milaidhoo Island takes only 30 minutes.
Accommodation for two in the boutique hotel costs from 1,770 € per night. And the rating on booking.com is 9.7 out of 10. View more photos and book a room here.
Dusit Thani Maldives
This hotel consists of 94 villas and has a private beach. The hotel territory has one of the largest panoramic pools in the Maldives, surrounded by a ring of reefs.
The hotel has a unique Devarana spa salon. It consists of six cabins that literally hang on trees and offer beautiful views.
Guests of the resort can use the services of a yoga instructor for free, work out in the gym, and visit tennis courts. There are also good opportunities for diving, and snorkeling equipment can be rented.
The resort has a library and a photo studio, and daily entertainment events are held. There is a children’s center and a souvenir shop.
The resort’s gastronomic establishments:
- The Market: A restaurant specializing in international cuisine;
- Benjarong: A restaurant over the water where Thai food is cooked;
- Sea Grill: A beach restaurant where seafood and meat are grilled;
- Bars Sand and Sala offer various drinks and snacks.
From Male airport, you can fly to the hotel by seaplane – the flight takes 35 minutes. There is another option: a domestic flight takes 25 minutes to Dharavandhoo airport, and from there, a speedboat takes 10 minutes to reach the island hotel.
The price for one night for two people at the hotel starts from 1,370 €. The guest rating is 9.1. For booking, photos, and detailed descriptions of the hotel, go to this page.
Vakkaru Maldives
Vakkaru Maldives Resort Hotel consists of 113 villas with private beaches. For guests, there is a Coconut Club with a lounge, a wellness center on the water, and a Merana spa salon. The Splash Center offers excellent conditions for diving and various water sports and organizes excursions.
The hotel has a large Parrotfish kids club, where personal nanny services are available.
The hotel’s gastronomy is also well-organized:
- Restaurants Amaany and Onu are known for Brazilian and Asian cuisine;
- Isoletta: An Italian restaurant where you can order vintage wine for lunch and dinner;
- In the Cabana restaurant, food is cooked on the grill;
- The Lagoon bar serves cocktails and snacks;
- The Vakku restaurant offers a menu with meat and seafood dishes.
From Male airport to this resort, you can fly by seaplane in 25 minutes or by domestic flight in 30 minutes.
Prices per night start from 850 € for two. The hotel deserved 9.5 out of 10 based on guest reviews.
Interesting Facts and Useful Tips
- Near the Maldives islands, there are a huge number of Manta rays. Nowhere else are they found in such numbers.
- Once, Hanifaru Reef was popular as a place for shark hunting. In the late 20th century, tourists began visiting the reef, causing the local fauna population to sharply decrease. After that, the territory of Baa Atoll was taken under protection.
- To observe the rays, it is advisable to come to the Maldives from May to November. The best days are when there is a full moon – then the tide begins, and there is more plankton. More rays appear as they come to feed on the plankton.
- On the atoll islands, you can buy vases made of Funa wood (Alexandrian laurel). Such souvenirs are not sold anywhere else.
- Baa Atoll is recognized as a site of global significance due to its biodiversity. The biological diversity of the atoll is comprised and supported by various habitats, including coral reefs, islands, mangrove forests, and ocean floor vegetation.
