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Dhigurah island might be essentially the most stunning island you’ve by no means heard of within the Maldives. It’s an area island with out the flamboyant overwater resorts which are well-known in Maldives, however as a substitute it has a protracted and great white sand seaside.

For those who’re desirous to see the Maldives on a finances, this is among the greatest locations to do it. Dhigurah has all the superb tropical surroundings you’d anticipate from the Maldives, plus family-owned motels which are as little as $70 USD per evening!

We just lately visited two native islands within the Maldives, Dhigurah and Fulidhoo, and couldn’t be happier with our alternative.

This journey information will clarify methods to get to Dhigurah island, what to do there, the place to remain, and the whole lot else you must know earlier than you go!

The place To Keep In Dhigurah

 

How To Get To Dhigurah Island

There’s no airport in Dhigurah, so that you first must fly to the capital of the Maldives at Male Worldwide Airport (MLE), which is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Dhigurah.

From Male, you may take a speedboat or ferry on to Dhigurah, or you may take a seaplane or home flight to one of many close by islands after which get a ship the remainder of the way in which.

 

• By Public Speedboat

The primary solution to get to Dhigurah is by public speedboat. There are morning and afternoon departures every single day from Male metropolis and the airport.

The speedboat journey to Dhigurah takes 2 hours and prices about $50 USD per particular person a method. Youngsters above 3 years previous pay full value.

The boat experience normally isn’t too bumpy (relying on climate), and so they have a bathroom and loads of room for storing baggage. The boats are new and the seats are snug. In addition they provide you with 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 island on the way in which to Dhigurah.

Nonetheless, have in mind there are a number of speedboat corporations working this route and the timetable appears to vary sometimes, so I’d double verify the timetable along with your resort in Dhigurah earlier than you go.

You may ask your resort in Dhigurah to guide the speedboat for you, after which pay for it along with your room invoice whenever you arrive. That’s what we did, and paying by bank card spared us from having to hold lots of money in every single place.
 

• By Personal Speedboat

A non-public speedboat constitution can be much more costly than the general public speedboats, however it might be extra handy in instances the place you need to save time and want a direct connection to Dhigurah from one of many different islands within the Maldives.

It is best to have the ability to prepare this along with your resort in Dhigurah island.

 

• By Home Airplane

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 experience to the harbor after which a 20 minute speedboat experience to Dhigurah.

This route normally has 3 or 4 flights per day. A method ticket costs begin at $170 USD for adults and $85 for youths below 12 years previous, whereas youngsters below 2 fly free. The speedboat switch is generally included within the value.

In uncommon instances the place the waves are too tough for a standard boat crossing, then this can be your solely choice of attending to Dhigurah.
 

• By Seaplane

A seaplane experience is among 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 experience to Dhigurah.

There isn’t a hard and fast schedule for the seaplane flights, so that you’ll have to rearrange it along with your resort upfront, and hopefully you may share the flight with different passengers getting into the identical route.
 

• By Public Ferry

Final, however not least, you may take the general public ferry from Male to Dhigurah. That is the slowest choice, however it’s additionally the most affordable. The ferry experience to Dhigurah takes about 6 or 7 hours and prices $8 USD for a a method ticket.

This route is operated by MTCC a number of days per week, with morning and night departures. You may verify the present timetable with MTCC or along with your resort in Dhigurah, and they need to have the opportunity that can assist you purchase tickets as properly.

 

How To Get Round Dhigurah Island

When you arrive in Dhigurah, the subsequent step is getting across the island.

Fortunately, the entire island is sufficiently small to be walkable. You will get in every single place on foot! From finish to finish, Dhigurah is simply 4 kilometers lengthy (3 miles), and the width of the island is simply about 100 to 200 meters.

This is among the issues we actually preferred about Dhigurah island, as a result of it’s so handy and also you don’t must pay for transport. Nonetheless, the motels do have bicycles you may lease for a half day or full day if you happen to’d like.
 

Finest Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island

• North West Seashore / Bikini Seashore

The primary seaside in Dhigurah known as North West Seashore and it spans the complete west aspect 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 lovely seaside with palm timber, a number of little hermit crabs, and never too many individuals. The water is calm sufficient for youths to swim. If the sky is obvious, it’s also possible to 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 may swim with small sharks and sea turtles solely a brief distance from the shore!

The seaside in Dhigurah is definitely one of many longest seashores within the Maldives, and it’s how the island acquired its identify — Dhigurah means ‘lengthy island’ within the native language.

 

• Lengthy Seashore Sandbar

One of many fundamental points of interest of Dhigurah is the sandbar on the southern finish of the island, which known as Lengthy Seashore. This can be a very nice spot with snow white sand and shallow turquoise water, good for swimming or going for a stroll.

From any of the motels in northern Dhigurah, you may attain the sandbank by strolling for 1 hour on the seaside or by way of the jungle. We most popular the jungle path as a result of it’s extra shaded and you may see lizards and different animals.

The very 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 sizzling but. For those who don’t really feel like strolling, it’s additionally potential to go together with a bicycle or rikshaw out of your resort.

For those who hold following the sandbar to the tip at low tide, you may truly stroll all the way in which to the neighboring LUX Resort, though you’re not alleged to be there if you happen to aren’t a visitor.

Keep in mind to carry loads of water as a result of it could possibly 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 may depart your stuff when you go swim.

 

Extra Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island

• Whale Shark Safari: One of the well-liked actions in Dhigurah island is swimming with whale sharks. You’re not assured to see whale sharks, after all, however there’s a reasonably good likelihood all all year long. A lot of different excursions come right here for a similar purpose, 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 frequent to see dolphins close to Dhigurah. They’re normally 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 frequent 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 an excellent likelihood of seeing them there.
• Resort Excursions: The motels in Dhigurah can prepare a half day tour to a few of the close by 5 star resorts like Amaya Kuda Rah, Centara Grand Island, Vakarufalhi, or Vilamendhoo. This could be a enjoyable solution to expertise one of many Maldives’ luxurious resorts with out paying full value. These packages usually embrace transport there and again, plus entry to services 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 an excellent place for giant sport fishing. For those who’re fortunate, you may catch sail fish, king fish, yellow fin tuna, and other forms of fish to eat.
• Scuba Diving: Dhigurah is called top-of-the-line islands within the Maldives for scuba diving. There are a bunch of excellent dive websites on this space the place you may see a number of good fish and coral.
• Watersports: There are many watersports accessible on Dhigurah island, together with kayaking, kiteboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, tube rides, and jet snowboarding.

 

How Lengthy To Keep In Dhigurah Island

This can be a small island, so you may wander most of it and see the most effective highlights in 2 or 3 days, though it wouldn’t harm to remain longer. We stayed 3 days in Dhigurah, and would’ve been joyful 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 would spend a few further days seeing the whale sharks and doing different excursions close to the island.

       
 
 

Different Suggestions 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 properly in our expertise, though I’d attempt to use the ATM on the airport first fairly than counting on this one. We used the Dhigurah ATM to withdraw a giant 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 every single place on the island, though you’ll get barely higher charges with Maldivian Rufiyaa. Simply have in mind 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 change in Dhigurah, so it’s greatest 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 residing 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 greatest to observe this rule and canopy up whenever 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 accessible on Dhigurah island, however you will get it if you happen to go to one of many close by resorts.
• Electrical energy: We stayed in a finances resort and nonetheless had 24/7 electrical energy, so that you don’t have to fret about outages right here.
• Cell Service: Our telephones had respectable 4G reception with Ooredoo within the city space and in addition on the Lengthy Seashore sandbar.
• WiFi: There may be quick and dependable WiFi in Dhigurah, even within the finances motels.
• Drones: Many 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 carry and use a drone with no points. I confirmed this with my resort upfront. The sandbar on the finish of Lengthy Seashore is a good place for taking drone photos.
• Wildlife: You may see big fruit bats (flying foxes) within the timber on Dhigurah, and in addition a number of sorts of birds, lizards, and crabs.
• Mosquitoes: We primarily acquired 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 protected from mosquitoes.
• Malaria: All the 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 outside eating places right here.
• The place To Eat: There are a a number of good eating places in Dhigurah with native, western, and Asian meals for comparatively low costs. Take a look at Cafe Dune, Seashore View Cafe, or Shell Restaurant.

 

Dhigurah Motels

 

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 most effective 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 at the moment, 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 at the moment, however you’re extra prone to have some rain.

 

Extra Maldives Journey Guides

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this journey information for Dhigurah island within the Maldives. It’s really paradise on a finances.

Don’t overlook to take a look at my journey weblog for extra Maldives articles coming quickly!