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Tourism is well developed in North Male Atoll, which includes the tiny single-island atolls of Gaafaru Falhu and Kaashidhoo to its north. Maldivian tourism began here with the resort of Kurumba opening its doors in 1972, and many of the resorts in North Male are grand dames in the scope of the country's relatively recent conversion to luxury travel destination. As well as having many of the best known resorts, these days there are many inhabited islands that are now home to thriving guesthouse scenes.
Despite Male being the national capital of Maldives, it is not actually the atoll capital, as it’s considered to be its own administrative district. Instead, the atoll capital is Thulusdhoo, on the eastern edge of North Male Atoll, a charming island with dozens of hotels and guesthouses on it that is particularly beloved by Italians and surfers.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout North Male Atoll.
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Thulusdhoo has traditionally been an industrious island, known for manufacturing of bodu beru (big drums), for its salted-fish warehouse and for its Coca-Cola factory, the only one in the world where the drink is made from desalinated water. In the past few years tourism has exploded, however, and there are now some 30 guesthouses here, with plans for a further 20. There are several stretches of good beach, including a bikini beach and a bridge link to a small island.
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Himmafushi is famous for its main street selling some of the least expensive souvenirs in the country, such as carved rosewood manta rays, sharks and dolphins. Wander into the back streets and you'll discover a sleepily traditional village and a cemetery with coral headstones. A sand spit has joined Himmafushi to the once separate island of Gaamaadhoo, where there used to be a prison. The surf break here, aptly called Jailbreaks, is a great righthander.
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The island of Huraa is well used to tourists visiting from nearby resorts, but it retains its small-island feel. It is now home to several guesthouses, and a buzzing surfer scene with 15 breaks within easy reach. Huraa’s dynasty of sultans, founded in 1759 by Sultan Al-Ghaazi Hassan Izzaddeen, built a mosque on the island that still stands today.
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Dhiffushi is an appealing inhabited island, with around 1000 inhabitants, three mosques and two schools. Mainly a fishing island, it has lots of greenery, grows tropical fruit, and is home to a couple of guesthouses.