Dhigurah island might be essentially the most lovely 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 an extended and fantastic white sand seashore.
In the event you’re desirous to see the Maldives on a finances, this is likely one of the greatest locations to do it. Dhigurah has the entire wonderful tropical surroundings you’d count on from the Maldives, plus family-owned motels which are 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 find out how to get to Dhigurah island, what to do there, the place to remain, and every thing else it’s worthwhile to 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’ll be able to take a speedboat or ferry on to Dhigurah, or you’ll be able to 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.
Dhigurah island
• By Public Speedboat
The primary option 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 individual a technique. Children above 3 years outdated pay full value.
The boat journey 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 offer you 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, take note there are a number of speedboat firms working this route and the timetable appears to alter 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 if you arrive. That’s what we did, and paying by bank card spared us from having to hold masses of cash in every single place.
• By Non-public Speedboat
A personal speedboat constitution will probably 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.
You need to have the ability to prepare this along with your resort in Dhigurah island.
Lazy palm tree
• 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 journey to the harbor after which a 20 minute speedboat journey 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 underneath 12 years outdated, whereas children underneath 2 fly free. The speedboat switch is generally 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 possibility of attending to Dhigurah.
• By Seaplane
A seaplane journey is likely one of the most scenic and enjoyable methods to get to Dhigurah, but additionally the costliest.
Ticket costs begin at $250 USD per individual, and the journey entails a 30 minute flight to the Lux Resort within the South Ari Atoll, adopted by a ten minute speedboat journey 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’ll be able to share the flight with different passengers moving into the identical path.
• 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 possibility, but it surely’s additionally the most cost effective. The ferry journey to Dhigurah takes about 6 or 7 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 verify the present timetable with MTCC or along with your resort in Dhigurah, and they need to have the option that will help you purchase tickets as effectively.
The seashore is rarely crowded right here
Drone pic of Dhigurah island
How To Get Round Dhigurah Island
When you arrive in Dhigurah, the following step is getting across the island.
Fortunately, the entire island is sufficiently small to be walkable. You may get in every single place on foot! From finish to finish, Dhigurah is barely 4 kilometers lengthy (3 miles), and the width of the island is barely about 100 to 200 meters.
This is likely one of the issues we actually appreciated 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’ll be able to 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 seashore in Dhigurah is named North West Seashore and it spans the whole west aspect of the island. That is the island’s designated ‘bikini seashore’ the place vacationers are welcome to put on swimsuits and go suntanning.
It’s a gorgeous seashore with palm timber, a lot of little hermit crabs, and never too many individuals. The water is calm sufficient for youths to swim. If the sky is evident, you can even watch the sundown on the seashore.
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!
The seashore in Dhigurah is definitely one of many longest seashores within the Maldives, and it’s how the island obtained its identify — Dhigurah means ‘lengthy island’ within the native language.
Good place to tug up a chair
Drone pic of the bikini seashore
• Lengthy Seashore Sandbar
One of many major points of interest of Dhigurah is the sandbar on the southern finish of the island, which is named Lengthy Seashore. This can be a very nice spot with snow white sand and shallow turquoise water, excellent for swimming or going for a stroll.
From any of the motels in northern Dhigurah, you’ll be able to attain the sandbank by strolling for 1 hour on the seashore or by 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 individuals and the solar isn’t too sizzling but. In the event you don’t really feel like strolling, it’s additionally potential to go along with a bicycle or rikshaw out of your resort.
In the event you maintain following the sandbar to the tip at low tide, you’ll be able to really stroll all the way in which to the neighboring LUX Resort, though you’re not speculated to be there if you happen to aren’t a visitor.
Keep in mind to convey loads of water as a result of it may possibly get extremely popular right here at noon, and there’s nowhere to purchase drinks on the seashore. There are some free solar chairs and umbrellas close to the tip of the seashore the place you’ll be able to depart your stuff whilst you go swim.
The sandbar at Lengthy Seashore
Shallow water on the sandbar
Drone pic of the sandbar
Extra Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island
- Whale Shark Safari: Some of the well-liked actions in Dhigurah island 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 cause, 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, but it surely’s nonetheless enjoyable to observe 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 will have a great probability 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 is usually a enjoyable option 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 whilst you’re there.
- Fishing Excursions: The southeast nook of the Ari Atoll is meant to be a great place for large recreation fishing. In the event you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to catch sail fish, king fish, yellow fin tuna, and different kinds of fish to eat.
- Scuba Diving: Dhigurah is named among the best islands within the Maldives for scuba diving. There are a bunch of excellent dive websites on this space the place you’ll be able to see a lot of good fish and coral.
- Watersports: There are many watersports obtainable on Dhigurah island, together with kayaking, kiteboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, tube rides, and jet snowboarding.
Drone pic of Dhigurah Maldives
How Lengthy To Keep In Dhigurah Island
This can be a small island, so you’ll be able to wander most of it and see one of the 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 joyful to remain every week or two!
In the event you’re like us, being on the seashore and swimming within the ocean by no means actually will get outdated, and you may spend a few additional days 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’d attempt to use the ATM on the airport first moderately 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 every single place on the island, though you’ll get barely higher charges with Maldivian Rufiyaa. Simply take note Rufiyaa can’t be used outdoors 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 greatest to do that in Male airport.
- Faith: Maldives is a Muslim nation, and the native islands like Dhigurah have a conservative gown code since there are largely locals residing right here. You’re not speculated to put on swimsuits or revealing garments besides on the designated ‘bikini seashore,’ though we noticed loads of individuals breaking this rule, so it doesn’t appear to be strictly enforced. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep out of hassle, it’s greatest to comply with this rule and canopy up if you’re not on the seashore. 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 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 likewise on the Lengthy Seashore sandbar.
- WiFi: There’s 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 capable of convey and use a drone with no points. I confirmed this with my resort upfront. The sandbar on the finish of Lengthy Seashore is a superb place for taking drone footage.
- Wildlife: You may see big fruit bats (flying foxes) within the timber on Dhigurah, and likewise a number of sorts of birds, lizards, and crabs.
- Mosquitoes: We primarily obtained attacked by mosquitoes after we have been too near the jungle. In the event you’re lounging within the shade close to the seashore, attempt to keep in a breezy space to maintain the mosquitoes away. A number of the shady spots nearest the seashore 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 after we have 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.
Crystal clear water
Dhigurah Accommodations
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 one of the 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 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 more likely to have some rain.
Paradise within the Maldives
Extra Maldives Journey Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for Dhigurah island within the Maldives. It’s actually paradise on a finances.
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