Three ways to the local islands
Every trip starts at Velana International Airport, on its own island beside Malé. From there the local islands are reached three ways: a shared speedboat, the slow public ferry, or — for the furthest — a short domestic flight. Seaplanes mostly serve the resorts.
Shared speedboats
The usual way in. Scheduled speedboats run from Malé or the airport jetty a few times a day: about 15–45 minutes to the islands of North and South Malé, and 1¼–2 hours to Ari and Vaavu. Fares run from about US$20 to US$70 each way.
The last boats leave in the mid to late afternoon — land before about 4 pm, or plan a night in Malé or Hulhumalé.
Public ferries
The public ferries cost a few dollars and take far longer — about an hour and a half to Maafushi, three hours to Dhiffushi, four or more to Ari. They leave from Malé, several routes from the Villingili ferry terminal, usually once a day and never on Fridays.
Timetables shift with the season, so confirm close to travel. Ferries also link neighbouring islands, which makes them useful for island-hopping within an atoll.
Domestic flights
Three of the islands we cover are best reached by air: Dhigurah, by a 20-minute flight to Maamigili and a short boat; Fuvahmulah, about an hour and a half south; and Muli, whose own airport opened in 2025 — about 35 minutes.
Schedules change with the season, so check the flight times before you fix the rest.
Arriving late, or on a Friday
If your flight lands late in the day or on a Friday, plan a night in Malé or Hulhumalé and take the morning boat — or a private speedboat, which runs at any hour.
Island by island: times and fares
The main way in to each island we cover, with the public ferry where there is one. Times and fares are approximate, as researched in 2026.
| Island | Main way in | Time | Fare, each way | Public ferry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malé | Public ferry from the airport | About 10 min | A dollar or two | — |
| Himmafushi* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 15–20 min | About US$20–30 | About 45–60 min · Afternoons, most days; never Fridays |
| Huraa* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 20–30 min | About US$20–30 | About 1–1½ h · Afternoons, most days; never Fridays |
| Gulhi* | Shared speedboat from Malé | 25–30 min | About US$25–30 | About 75–90 min · Afternoons, most days; never Fridays |
| Thulusdhoo | Shared speedboat from the airport | About 30 min | About US$30 | Close to 2 h · Most days, never Fridays |
| Maafushi | Shared speedboat from Malé | About 30 min | About US$25–30 | About 90 min · Most days, never Fridays |
| Guraidhoo* | Shared speedboat from Malé | 35–45 min | About US$25–35 | 2–2½ h · Once a day, most days; not Fridays |
| Dhiffushi | Shared speedboat from Malé | About 45 min | About US$25–35 | About 3 h · Most days, never Fridays |
| Fulidhoo | Shared speedboat from Malé | About 1¼ h | About US$40 | About 3½ h · Alternate days, never Fridays |
| Rasdhoo | Shared speedboat from Malé | 1–1½ h | About US$49 | Several hours · A few days a week; days shift |
| Thoddoo | Shared speedboat from Malé | 1¼–1½ h | About US$35–45 | Several hours · Most days, never Fridays; times shift |
| Ukulhas* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | About 1½ h | About US$40–60 | About 4 h · A couple of days a week, via Rasdhoo; days shift |
| Omadhoo* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | About 1½ h | — | About 4½ h + a short hop · A few days a week; not Fridays |
| Thinadhoo | Shared speedboat from Malé | 1¼–1½ h | — | — |
| Keyodhoo* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 1½–2 h | — | About 3–5 h · A few days a week; never Fridays |
| Mathiveri* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 1½–2 h | About US$50–80 | About 5–6 h · A few days a week; not Fridays |
| Feridhoo* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 1½–2 h | — | About 7 h · A few days a week; never Fridays |
| Dhangethi* | Shared speedboat from Malé or the airport | 1½–2 h | About US$40–80 | 6–8 h · A few days a week; not Fridays |
| Dhigurah | Shared speedboat from Malé | About 2 h | About US$50–70 | — |
| Muli | Flight to Muli’s own airport | About 35 min | — | — |
| Fuvahmulah | Domestic flight from Malé | About 1½ h | — | — |
* An island guide — avé doesn’t arrange stays on these islands; each guide points to the nearest island we do.
Written in October 2026 from what each island’s own page says. Things change with the season — confirm the day’s details close to travel.
