Dhigurah Island might be probably the most lovely island you’ve by no means heard of within the Maldives. It’s an area island with out the flowery overwater resorts which might be well-known in Maldives, however as a substitute it has a protracted and great white sand seaside.
For those who’re eager to see the Maldives on a funds, this is without doubt one of the finest locations to do it. Dhigurah has the entire superb tropical surroundings you’d anticipate from the Maldives, with household owned lodges for as little as $70 USD per night time!
We not too long ago visited two native islands within the Maldives, Dhigurah and Fulidhoo, and couldn’t be happier with our selection.
This journey information will clarify tips on how to get to Dhigurah island, what to do there, the place to remain, and every thing else you want to know earlier than you go!
How To Get To Dhigurah Island
There’s no airport in Dhigurah, so the one method to get there’s by flying to Male Worldwide Airport (MLE) after which taking a speedboat, ferry, or seaplane to Dhigurah.
The gap between the 2 locations is about 100 kilometers (60 miles), so it’s a reasonably brief journey.
Dhigurah Island
• By Public Speedboat
The primary method to get to Dhigurah is by public speedboat. There are morning and afternoon departures daily from Male metropolis and the airport.
The speedboat journey to Dhigurah takes 2 hours and prices about $50 USD per particular person a technique. Children above 3 years previous pay full value.
The boat trip often isn’t too bumpy (relying on climate), and so they have a rest room and loads of room for storing baggage. The boats are new and the seats are snug. Additionally they present free bottled water.
The boats from Male to Dhigurah depart at 11 AM (Friday 10 AM) and 4:30 PM. The return boats from Dhigurah to Male depart at 6:30 AM and 1:30 PM (Friday 1:45 PM). There’s a quick cease in Dhangethi on the best way to Dhigurah.
Nonetheless, there are a number of speedboat firms working this route and the timetable appears to alter often, so I’d double examine this together with your lodge in Dhigurah earlier than you go.
You may ask your lodge in Dhigurah to guide the speedboat for you, after which pay for it together with your room invoice once you arrive. That’s what we did, and paying by bank card spared us from having to hold masses of cash in all places.
• By Personal Speedboat
A personal speedboat constitution will likely be much more costly than the general public speedboats, however it could be extra handy in circumstances the place you need to save time and wish a direct connection to Dhigurah from one of many different islands within the Maldives.
It’s best to be capable of prepare this together with your lodge in Dhigurah island.
Dhigurah Island
• By Home Aircraft
One of many best methods to get to Dhigurah is by taking a 20 minute home flight with Villa Air / FlyMe from Male to the airport in close by Maamigili island (VAM), adopted by a 5 minute taxi trip to the harbor after which a 20 minute speedboat trip to Dhigurah.
This route often has 3 or 4 flights per day. A technique ticket costs begin at $170 USD for adults and $85 for youths beneath 12 years previous, whereas children beneath 2 fly free. The speedboat switch is often included within the value.
In uncommon circumstances the place the waves are too tough for a traditional boat crossing, then this can be your solely choice of attending to Dhigurah.
• By Seaplane
A seaplane trip is without doubt one of the most scenic and enjoyable methods to get to Dhigurah, but in addition the costliest.
Ticket costs begin at $250 USD per particular person, and the journey includes a 30 minute flight to the Lux Resort within the South Ari Atoll, adopted by a ten minute speedboat trip to Dhigurah.
There isn’t a set schedule for the seaplane flights, so that you’ll have to rearrange it together with your lodge prematurely, and hopefully you’ll be able to share the flight with different passengers stepping into the identical course.
• By Public Ferry
Final, however not least, you’ll be able to take the general public ferry from Male to Dhigurah. That is the slowest choice, however it’s additionally the most affordable. The ferry trip to Dhigurah takes about 6 hours and prices $8 USD for a a technique ticket.
This route is operated by MTCC a number of days per week, with morning and night departures. You may affirm the present timetable with MTCC or together with your lodge in Dhigurah, and they need to give you the chance that will help you purchase tickets as effectively.
Dhigurah Island
Dhigurah Island
How To Get Round Dhigurah Island
When you arrive in Dhigurah, the subsequent step is getting across the island.
This island is sufficiently small to be walkable. You will get in all places by foot! From finish to finish, Dhigurah island is barely 4 kilometers lengthy (3 miles), and the width is barely about 100 to 200 meters.
This is without doubt one of the issues we actually favored about it, as a result of it’s so handy and also you don’t need to pay for transport. Nonetheless, the lodges do have bicycles you’ll be able to hire for a half day or full day in case you’d like.
Finest Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island
• North West Seaside / Bikini Seaside
The primary seaside in Dhigurah is known as North West Seaside and it spans your complete west facet of the island. That is the island’s designated ‘bikini seaside’ the place vacationers are welcome to put on swimsuits and go suntanning.
It’s a wonderful seaside with calm water and palm timber, a lot of little hermit crabs, and never too many individuals. If the sky is evident, you too can watch the sundown on the seaside.
For snorkeling, there’s a spot close to the midway level, referred to as Turtle Reef, the place you’ll be able to swim with small sharks and sea turtles solely a brief distance from the shore.
Bikini seaside
Drone pic of the bikini seaside
• Lengthy Seaside Sandbar
One of many most important sights of Dhigurah island is the sandbar on the southern finish of the island, which is known as Lengthy Seaside. It is a very nice spot with snow white sand and shallow turquoise water, good for swimming or going for a stroll.
From any of the lodges in northern Dhigurah, you’ll be able to attain the sandbank by strolling for 1 hour on the seaside or via the jungle. We most well-liked the jungle path as a result of it’s extra shaded and you may see lizards and different animals.
One of the best time to get to the sandbar is 9 or 10 within the morning when there are much less folks and the solar isn’t too scorching but. For those who don’t really feel like strolling, it’s additionally doable to go along with a bicycle or rikshaw out of your lodge.
Keep in mind to convey loads of water as a result of it could actually get extremely popular right here at noon, and there’s nowhere to purchase drinks on the seaside. There are some free solar chairs and umbrellas close to the tip of the seaside the place you’ll be able to depart your stuff when you go swim.
Lengthy Seaside Sandbar
Lengthy Seaside Sandbar
Drone pic of the sandbar
Extra Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island
- Whale Shark Safari: One of the vital standard actions in Dhigurah is swimming with whale sharks. You’re not assured to see whale sharks, in fact, however there’s a reasonably good probability all all year long. A number of different excursions come right here for a similar motive, so that you need to attempt to be the primary one to identify a shark earlier than the crowds arrive. This tour usually lasts 2 or 3 hours.
- Dolphin Cruise: It’s widespread to see dolphins close to Dhigurah. They’re often shifting too quick to snorkel with, however it’s nonetheless enjoyable to look at a pod of dolphins from the boat.
- Manta & Reef Shark Cruise: The reef sharks and manta rays are additionally widespread within the Maldives, and so they have 2 or 3 hour boat excursions to go see them. There’s a manta ‘cleansing station’ close to Dhigurah the place the manta rays like to go to and get cleaned by small fish, so you’ve got a great probability of seeing them.
- Resort Excursions: The lodges in Dhigurah can prepare a half day tour to among the close by 5 star resorts like Amaya Kuda Rah, Vakarufalhi, or Vilamendhoo. This could be a enjoyable method to expertise one of many Maldives’ luxurious resorts with out paying full value. These packages usually embody transport there and again, plus entry to amenities just like the resort pool and spa, and an allowance for meals and drinks on the resort when you’re there.
- Fishing Excursions: The southeast nook of the Ari Atoll is meant to be a great place for giant sport fishing. For those who’re fortunate, you’ll be able to catch sail fish, king fish, yellow fin tuna, and other forms of fish to eat.
- Scuba Diving: Dhigurah is named the most effective islands within the Maldives for scuba diving. There are a bunch of excellent dive websites within the close by space, and you may see a lot of good fish and coral.
- Watersports: There are many watersports obtainable on the island, together with kayaking, kiteboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, tube rides, and jet snowboarding.
Drone pic
How Lengthy To Keep In Dhigurah Island
It is a small island, so you’ll be able to wander most of it and see the very best highlights in 2 or 3 days, though it wouldn’t damage to remain longer. We stayed 3 days in Dhigurah, and would’ve been comfortable to remain per week or two!
For those who’re like us, being on the seaside and swimming within the ocean by no means actually will get previous, and you might spend a few further days simply seeing the whale sharks and doing different excursions close to the island.
Different Ideas For Visiting Dhigurah Maldives
- ATM: There’s one ATM in Dhigurah on the north finish of the island close to the ferry terminal, and it labored effectively in our expertise, though I might attempt to use the ATM on the airport first quite than counting on this one. We used the Dhigurah ATM to withdraw an enormous wad of money throughout our keep and had no points with a U.S. issued debit card. The machine dispenses Maldivian Rufiyaa.
- Foreign money: US {Dollars} are accepted in all places on the island, though you’ll get barely higher charges with Maldivian Rufiyaa. Simply remember Rufiyaa can’t be used exterior of the Maldives, so that you don’t need to have any left over on the finish of your journey. There isn’t a cash alternate in Dhigurah, so it’s finest to do that in Male airport.
- Faith: Maldives is a Muslim nation, and the native islands like Dhigurah have a conservative costume code since there are principally locals dwelling right here. You’re not alleged to put on swimsuits or revealing garments besides on the designated ‘bikini seaside,’ though we noticed loads of folks breaking this rule, so it doesn’t appear to be strictly enforced. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep out of bother, it’s finest to comply with this rule and canopy up once you’re not on the seaside. We by no means heard any noisy mosques on the island, so that you don’t have to fret about that. Alcohol isn’t obtainable on Dhigurah island, however you will get it in case you go to one of many close by resorts.
- Electrical energy: We stayed in a funds lodge and nonetheless had 24/7 electrical energy, so that you don’t have to fret about outages right here.
- Cell Service: Our telephones had first rate 4G reception with Ooredoo within the city space and likewise on the Lengthy Seaside sandbar.
- WiFi: There may be quick and dependable WiFi in Dhigurah, even within the funds lodges.
- Drones: A lot of the fancy resorts in Maldives don’t permit drones in any respect, however since Dhigurah is an area island, I used to be in a position to convey and use a drone with no points. I confirmed this with my lodge prematurely. The sandbar on the finish of Lengthy Seaside is a superb place for taking drone footage.
- Mosquitoes: We primarily obtained attacked by mosquitoes once we had been too near the jungle. For those who’re lounging within the shade close to the seaside, attempt to keep in a breezy space to maintain the mosquitoes away. A few of the shady spots nearest the seaside have sufficient wind to be secure from mosquitoes.
- Malaria: The whole nation of Maldives has been malaria free since 1984, so that you don’t have to fret about that, though there could also be some dengue fever. We used bug spray once we had been consuming at out of doors eating places right here.
- The place To Eat: There are a bunch of excellent eating places in Dhigurah with native, western, and Asian meals. A couple of good choices are Cafe Dune, Beach View Cafe, and Shell Restaurant.
Crystal clear water
Finest Time To Go to Dhigurah Maldives
Like the remainder of the Maldives, there’s a dry season in Dhigurah from January to April. That is the very best time to go to the island as a result of the climate is much less wet and extra sunny.
There are extra vacationers in Maldives presently, however the island by no means felt crowded in any respect in our expertise, and we visited in January. The wettest months within the Maldives are from September to December. You may nonetheless go to Dhigurah presently, however you’re extra prone to have some rain.
Paradise
Extra Maldives Journey Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for Dhigurah Island within the Maldives.
Don’t neglect to take a look at my travel blog for extra Maldives articles coming quickly!
