Cheapest islands: best Maldives local islands with amazing beaches

You can totally do a cheap holiday to the Maldives and the way to do that is to some on some epic Maldives local islands – why not do it on a budget if you can? It doesn’t need to be expensive and these are the cheapest islands in the Maldives with some of the best beaches.

I think I might actually prefer the budget islands to the resort islands; it’s super cheerful, colourful and you’re immersed in the Maldivian culture, which you don’t always see in luxury resort islands. The Maldives islands are plentiful and there are hundreds of beaches to choose from, so don’t limit yourself to the resorts only! Here’s everything you need to know about travelling to this idyllic destination on a budget. Maldives local islands are the best kept secret, although, not for long, I expect! If you’re doing the Maldives on a budget, then this is the way to do it, but don’t worry, there are luxury options too, even on the local islands.

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Quick Mini Guide To the cheapest islands

Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to the Maldivian Islands.

Which islands?

• Maafushi is vibrant and buzzing with beach bars and fun music
• Fulidhoo is paradise, idyllic and quiet
• Both are accessible by the local ferry from the airport (around $2pp but it runs x3 per week) or a private transfer (recommended).

Where to stay

• In Maafushi you should stay at Arena Beach Hotel OR Rehendhi Villa.
• In Fulidhoo you should stay at Luau Beach Inn, Maldives, The Pearl Seaview OR Rushkokaa Beach Villa

Don’t miss…

• Parasailing
• A luxury resort day trip
• Shipwreck and snorkelling excursion

Best time to go

November-April. This season has the best weather. May-October might see rainy season, but it’s quieter & better for surfing.

Stay connected

Buy an eSim with Airalo to get mobile data abroad! Life saver. Use code A&M3 for $3 off your first order.

You might be interested in my other Maldives blog posts:

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Your guide to travelling the Maldives local islands… We went about 6 years ago to one of the best resorts and wondered if we could go again but experience it on a bit of a budget, as we’re travelling full time and can’t blow huge amounts of cash on ultra luxury stays.

Maldives local islands: how to travel on a budget

Resort Island or Inhabited Island?

I’ve stayed on both luxury resort islands and budget friendly inhabited islands so I feel able to write a comprehensive guide on both.

It’s hard to pick which was my favourite; resort or local inhabited islands, here’s a breakdown of both.

Resort Islands

Resort islands are wildly different. It’s generally about a luxury, pampered experience, everything is pristine and perfect. Private islands are owned by billionaires that need to make returns on their investments. They are of course, exceedingly beautiful, but expensive. They can charge whatever they want for food, drink, amenities and getting there can be expensive; private seaplanes, speedboat transfers, or extra internal flights.

I’ve heard that people say they can get a little bored on resort islands after several days. It is very nice though.

Inhabited Maldives Local Islands

I LOVED spending time on local inhabited islands in the Maldives and never felt bored. There was always so much to see and do, cafes to sip coffee from, bars to try drinks at, people to chat to, dolphins to see. See detailed descriptions below.

A day experience on a Resort Island

But if you want to experience a luxury resort island, you can pay for a ‘day’s experience’, which starts from £73. This usually includes a boat trip over to a resort island, unlimited food and drink (some will include alcohol in this) and you’ll get to use all the resort’s facilities, such as tennis courts and spas.

Whatever your budget, you can make it work in the Maldives.

Staying on a Resort Island on a budget

If you’re desperate to stay on a resort island, consider going off season (see below on when to visit to the Maldives), as hotel prices can be up to 70% off – which is what I did last time, and stayed on an overwater villa for a fraction of the cost. You can also sign up to discount hotel websites.

But if you really want a cheap holiday, stay on the inhabited islands.

Staying on budget friendly inhabited islands in the Maldives

There are loads of Maldives local islands to choose from and you’ll essentially be living alongside locals, which I actually really enjoyed. The islands are just as idyllic as the resort ones, and hotel rooms here are much cheaper, starting from £35 per night for 2 people in the high season, which I think is pretty reasonable as far as accommodation goes!

I was really surprised at the total boho vibes on the islands. It reminded me of a cross between the Philippines, Mexico and Thailand. As soon as I arrived, I saw plenty of bright, cheerful signs with peeling paint of locals selling ice creams, fresh exotic juices, day trips to local reefs, turtle watching tours and outdoor cinemas in between the lush palm trees on the beach.

The décor on the island is resourceful and unique; painted surf boards point you to turtle tours, driftwood signs are painted in 100 pastel colours and I really couldn’t stop smiling at everything.

There’s other cute interactions I had with locals that touched me, like the cute little 4 year old girl picking fresh fruit off the trees and running over to pass me one. Interactions you won’t get on a resort island.

Which islands are budget friendly to stay on in the Maldives?

There are plenty. If you stay close-ish to Male Airport (the capital), you’ll be able to get a local ferry to the following islands and avoid expensive transfers:

• Maafushi, South Male Atoll
• Gulhi, South Male Atoll
• Fulidhoo, Vavuu Atoll
• Male, Male Atoll
• Hulhumale, Male Atoll
• Guiradhoo, Kaafu Atoll
• Thulusdhoo Island, Kaafu Atoll, North Male Atoll
• Dharavandhoo, Baa Atoll
• Dhigurah Island, South Ari Atoll
• Thoddoo Island, Alif Alif Atoll, North Ari Atoll
• Rasdhoo, Alif Alif Atoll
• Dhiffushi Island, Kaafu Atoll
• Ukulhas Island, Alif Alif Atoll

Each of the islands have something different to offer, Maafushi is a popular island packed with restaurants and beach bars, Dhigurah island is notorious for whale sharks all year round, Thoddoo island and Ukulhas island and Thulusdhoo island are said to have great beaches too. Dhiffushi island is said to have 6 sandbanks nearby, perfect for picnics and tours, so it all depends what you want.

Here’s a full guide to the islands I stayed on:

Maafushi – best public island in Maldives

Summary/TL:DR – Best budget Maldives local islands, packed with restaurants, bars, ice cream stalls, beaches are very nice but you’ll find slightly better ones on nearby islands.

See the full guide to Maafushi Island here. Definitely one of the best public islands in Maldives. And also gets my award for best place to stay in Maldives on a budget. It also has a great house reef, beautiful turquoise waters and plenty of water sports to keep you occupied. Think speed boats, jet skis, banana rides and paragliding!

Getting to Maafushi

We stayed on Maafushi for over 1 week and loved it. It’s 1h30 from Male, the capital city, and you can reach the island by ferry for £1.25pp.

I was pleasantly surprised by Maafushi. It reminds me of chic, boho islands in Thailand, Mexico and the Philippines. As you wander down the main street, the beach stalls play tropical music and you can’t help but smile as you read their painted signs about saving the ocean and taking ethical tours.

The island is packed with brightly coloured ice cream stalls, fresh fruit juice shacks, beach front restaurants with fairy lights, bars on every corner, and plenty of tour operators offer to take you turtle and dolphin watching. Because there are plenty of different restaurants and tour operators, the prices are fairly cheap (or at least competitive). It doesn’t ever feel cramped, crowded or busy. Just inviting.

See the full guide to Maafushi Island here.

The best hotels in Maafushi

We stayed in 4 different guest houses and hotels in Maafushi (because we were island hopping back and forth from this island). All of the hotels will come collect you and your luggage from the jetty when you arrive by ferry, or from your chartered speedboat if you give them a time. Some hotels have more amenities than others, but overall, there wasn’t huge differences other than the amount of space and nautral light.

Check them out, photos below, prices range from £35-100

Restaurants in Maafushi

Most meals cost around £4, but they range from £2.50-10+, and you’ll be able to shop at local stores if you just want a snack for lunch. If you’re really on a budget, you can buy instant noodles and other snacks from the stores!

I would say you probably don’t need full board at your hotel, because there are so many restaurants to try on the island. Try half board maybe; enjoy eating out at all the different restaurants and getting a different vibe and flavour.

I can’t recommend this island enough. In short, it has everything you need, all the amenities and is super fun.

See the full guide to Maafushi Maldives local islands here.

Tours in Maafushi!

There are plenty of tours in Maafushi, check out the below. We did the local turtle watching tour, as well as some of the nurse shark tours.

Fulidhoo Island Maldives – my favourite island

Summary/TL:DR – Idyllic island known for its pristine white beaches, swimming with dolphins and sharks. It’s quieter and has less restaurants which is not a bad thing. Packed with natural beauty.

You might be interested in the full guide to Fulidhoo Island.

This was probably my favourite island, but it’s a close call between Fulidhoo and Maafushi. It’s also probably the best island in Maldives for couples, it comes with the best beaches and is the best non resort island Maldives. So, I’d recommend you do both. Fulidhoo is another 2 hours from Maafushi (on the same ferry line, the next stop along from Maafushi), so it’s a total 3.5 hours from Male. Definitely gets my award for one of the best local Maldives local islands.

Fulidhoo is quieter than Maafushi (not necessarily a bad thing!), and my gosh it has incredible beaches and scenery. The island is geared towards tourists; there are a good number of hotels and some restaurants to choose from. There are local corner shops to pick up snacks, clothes and souvenirs from.

There are plenty of lush Fulidhoo hotels to stay at. I would strongly recommend staying at The Pearl Seaview, and getting half board. The food here was really good, and unlike Maafushi, I didn’t see loads of restaurants which I was dying to try. We dined on the beachfront most nights, with our own private table lit by candles. Perfect!

The Pearl Seaview also runs Barefoot Maldives, a tour company, which I honestly cannot recommend enough. It was undoubtedly better than the tour we did in Maafushi.

‘If you want to swim with wild dolphins, jump off the boat right now’

This phrase alone sold me. We actually got to swim with wild dolphins, saw turtles, swam with sharks, sting rays and saw tonnes of fish – and of course, found Nemo! One of the things great about Barefoot Maldives is that they take a lot of footage of you swimming with dolphins etc. and share it with you free of charge.

Take a look at their Instagram to see the quality of the footage they take, it’s excellent; they have the latest camera gear for GoPros, Drones and other underwater cameras. The only additional charge for footage is drone use – they have the latest drones and camera equipment, so it makes sense they need to cover the cost of their collection of incredible camera gear. There is also a lot of scuba diving sites near Fulidhoo and the marine life is generally spectacular year round.

Read the full guide to Fulidhoo Island.

Gulhi Island, Maldives

Summary/TL:DR – Instagrammable island, incredible idyllic beaches, but much of the Maldives local islands is under construction with multiple building sites

You might be interested on the full guide to Gulhi Island.

Gulhi is a 15 minute boat ride from Maafushi. It seems like it’s a few years behind Maafushi in terms of development, hotels are being built by the dozen. Don’t let the construction sites put you off though; the construction is mostly near the pier and once you hit the beach you forget about it. The beaches are incredibly instagrammable, with fun sea swings and signs everywhere.

Have a look at all the luscious but cheap Gulhi hotels, we stayed at Pearlshine Retreat.

Give this island a few years and it will be absolutely banging; ridiculous beaches and plenty of restaurants will spring up around it. It is perfect if you want a quiet beach holiday, lots of tourists lounged around on the beach and swimming in the ridiculously blue, calm and shallow waters. We found that the tours here were a little more expensive, so we decided to go on tours on the other islands.

Do a day trip!

If you don’t want to stay on this island, you can do a day trip from Maafushi – a daily ferry leaves at 7.30am and returns at 4pm. You can also do a day tour to Gulhi, so you don’t have to think about anything.

To read more on these you may be interested in my other Maldives blog posts:

Male, the capital city

Summary/TL:DR – one of the most populated places on the planet, plenty of cafes here, and an artificial beach. Male can’t compare with the other Maldives local islands.

Male is a good stop over if your flight arrives late, or you need to buy some swimwear or goggles. We decided to explore for a few days and you should too, check out the cheap hotels in Male, they are reasonably priced! Try stopping by some of the markets; the fresh fruit and vegetable markets were really interesting and I picked up some luscious coconuts to drink as well as eat some bananas.

If I had to skip one of the islands, it would be Male. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty to do here, but it really can’t compare with the other islands. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants and there’s an artificial beach (no bikinis allowed though). We tried a number of different cafes and I found that prices were comparable with London – easily spending £30 in a cafe with 2 little meals and a drink. After spending a day here (and 2 nights), I was happy to move on.

How to get to budget islands in the Maldives?

You can opt for private transfers; speedboats and chartered flights, but both are fairly expensive. We decided to take the local ferry.

Here are some example costs of a transfer to an Island close to Male

Cost of the local ferry: £1.25 pp
Cost of private speedboat: £25 pp

It’s best to check at the ferry docks in Male when the boat leaves, because the schedules can be more frequent than what they publish online and they can also change timings.

The ferries are slightly slower than private speedboats, but there’s not that much difference. Private speedboats take around 50 minutes to Maafushi, and the ferry takes about 1 hour 30.

Is the Maldives safe?

Yes! I take safety very seriously when I travel and I have to say, I feel really safe on all of the Maldivian islands I’ve been on. I’ve walked alone, late at night after dinner and never felt uncomfortable. There’s always beautiful fairy lights on every corner at each restaurant, gentle music and tourists milling around grabbing ice creams.

The locals don’t harass you, they don’t try to sell you wares aggressively; they’re living the chill island life, welcoming everyone but mostly leaving you to it.

Skin safety

Also.
The sun is extremely hot and burny (my English professor will balk at my use of English here). I am extremely cautious about sunburn (so bad for your skin!). Another thing I never revealed is that Mike had skin cancer last year (age 33!), despite being super cautious on holiday and always applying sun cream (he had treatment and is fine now).

Anyway, I write this with sunburn on my back – sacrilege – having not reapplied enough sun cream after dipping in the water. I felt like I wasn’t in the sun that long, and yet, somehow, I got burnt very quickly. And the burn developed later in the evening, after I had got out of the sun, so you don’t realise how burned you get.

So take my word for it, wear clothes that cover your skin and wear sun cream. Factor 30-50.

Make sure you use REEF FRIENDLY SUN CREAM.

Sea Safety

Be aware of currents and rip tides. Checking the government advisory websites from the UK and Australia, there are a few records of tourists drowning. Do not do anything stupid, do not swim out too far and get caught in a current. Swim in the designated beaches that are beautifully blue, full of coral and on the safe sides of the island where there aren’t currents.

Things to know about visiting a local island

Living with the locals

I absolutely loved seeing a bit more Maldivian culture by rubbing shoulders with the locals. Little girls ran up to me to hand me fruits to try, which I’d never even heard of or seen before. Local youths make bonfires on the beach at night and cook fresh fish they’ve caught. Older women come over and chat to you as you swing on fishnet chairs by the beach. Watch as local men perform a traditional Maldivian dances to a drum, which is a little reminiscent of Hawai’i – I really don’t know why they don’t make more of this at the resort islands, but there you go.

Seasonal food & local resources

It’s important to remember that the Maldives is 90% water and only 10% land mass, meaning farming and agriculture is very limited. This means that resources are not used frivolously; there aren’t endless supplies of fruit and veg that’s out of season, for example. Imports have extra costs, so there are extra costs for foreign chocolate bars, etc. You will be limited to whatever brands you can find in the shops. But really, I didn’t find this a bother at all. This means that you’ll be able to do a budget Maldives trip, as the local island utilises resources that are more seasonal.

Can I drink Alcohol on local inhabited Islands in the Maldives?

Sort of, yes – Most islands have floating bars which serve alcohol. Some islands prohibit the sale of alcohol on the island, so the way to get around this is the floating bar just off the coast.

Can I wear a bikini on local inhabited islands? Bikini beaches vs no bikini beaches

Yes you can! But… only on the designated bikini beaches. The Maldives is a Muslim country, meaning that locals dress conservatively, and you will be expected to respect their customs. It’s not acceptable to walk around the island in a bikini or budgie smugglers (speedos, to you and me). Bring a loose fitting top or dress and chuck it over your swimwear; a small price to pay for being respectful to the locals.

Each island will have a few beaches where you can swim in a bikini. Other areas are called ‘no bikini beach’, where you will be allowed to swim, but it’s important to wear swim tops and shorts. You will often see locals swimming here too. I find this is a very comfortable way to live side by side with the locals, whilst enjoying the culture. To be honest, the sun is extremely strong here and I found myself wearing Rashie tops (swim tops) and shorts half the time anyway to save myself from burning!

Are the beaches clean on local islands?

Yes! For the most part, the beaches are clean and pristine. On Gulhi, at the end of each day, locals were paid to clean up the beach (which mostly included sweeping away leaves). Some areas of the island have trash littered down some alleyways, but really, the rest of the islands tend to be extremely beautiful. This being said; clear up after yourself and don’t leave rubbish anywhere!

When to visit to the Maldives: the wet vs dry season

The Maldives is warm and sunny throughout the year because it’s near the equator, making it a popular all year round. Temperatures range from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) from January to December.

The dry season in the Maldives

The dry season runs from November to April is the most popular time to visit the Maldives. The seas are calm, there’s less rain and lower humidity, so it’s great for diving and snorkelling. Prices can increase during high season, for everything.

The wet season in the Maldives

The wet season runs from May to October. The wet season is a bit more tropical, shall we say, with rain, higher humidity, and thunderstorms. This can make some activities less desirable if the seas are choppy, but I found that it would rain for an hour or two and then clear up. The wet season also offers lower prices and fewer crowds, making it a good time for budget-conscious travellers.

Overall, it doesn’t really matter; as it’s beautiful either way, it just depends on your budget and availability.

Average temperature and rainy days in the Maldives

The Maldives Weather in January:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 5-6
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

The Maldives Weather in February:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 4-5
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

The Maldives Weather in March:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 6-7
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in April:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-32°C (86-90°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 8-9
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in May:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-32°C (86-90°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 12-13
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in June:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-31°C (86-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 13-14
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in July:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 13-14
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in August:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 12-13
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

The Maldives Weather in September:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 11-12
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

The Maldives Weather in October:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 9-10
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

The Maldives Weather in November:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 7-8
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

The Maldives Weather in December:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 6-7
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Travel resources for your trip that are actually really handy!

Here’s everything I use when I travel abroad, I strongly advise you to have travel insurance, and the other recommendations are also super handy!

• Travel insurance – don’t ever go on vacation without travel insurance, you never know when you might need it!
• Tours – Compare tour prices on Viator and Get Your Guide
• Hotels – I always use Booking as the more hotels I book, I get a higher Genius discount. I also compare prices on Expedia.
• Airport transfers – I use Kiwi Taxis which are super reliable, or I search on Viator.
• E-Sims – purchase an e-sim with Airalo on your phone so you can make calls and have mobile data abroad! There’s no need to remove your current sim card!
• Car rental – if you’re booking a car, I compare prices on Discover Cars.
• Travel essentials – have a look at a full list of travel essentials that I use, including the best powerbank!

Cheap flights to the Maldives

There’s 4 things you can do to get the best flight prices:

1. Use a flight comparison checker, I use Skyscanner without fail.
2. Search for flights without a date to check when in the month/year is cheapest to go
3. Set up price alerts, so you get email notifications when the price drops. I’ve done this many times
4. Think about using airmiles and points to cover some of the journey. I have a credit card that earns me airmiles.

Basically… get yourself to the Maldives, it’s lush and delicious and everyone can get here with a bit of saving.

You might be interested in my other Maldives blog posts on individual islands:

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