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Fulidhoo

A small inhabited island in Vaavu Atoll with a sandbank and a nightly stingray visit.

Updated 3 September 2026

Typeisland
WhereVaavu Atoll
Nearest cityMalé
Best seasonNovember to April
Time to allowTwo to three days
Getting therePublic ferry or speedboat from Malé, around two to three hours
EntryFree; guesthouses charged

Fulidhoo is a village island in Vaavu Atoll of a few hundred people, small enough to walk across in ten minutes, with a sandbank running off one end and a bikini beach set aside for visitors as local islands require. Stingrays come into the shallows by the harbour most evenings when the fishing boats clean their catch, and nurse sharks follow them. Guesthouses have operated here since the law changed to allow them on inhabited islands.

What's there

  • The stingrays - the animals coming into the harbour shallows most evenings.
  • The sandbank - the strip of sand running off the end of the island.
  • The bikini beach - the section set aside for visitors on a local island.
  • The village - a settlement of a few hundred people walkable in minutes.

When to go

November to April is the dry season with the calmest crossings. Ferries run on limited days. The monsoon from May brings rougher water.

Before you go

Local island rules apply: modest dress outside the designated beach and no alcohol on the island. Public ferries run only on certain days. Guesthouses are simple.

Nearby

Thulusdhoo is north, and Malé is northwest.

Key facts

Location3.6806° N, 73.4147° E · map

Source: Wikidata, item Q2444130, read on 18 October 2026.

What to pack for Fulidhoo

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Travel rod + reel - A packable multi-piece rod fits in a case and covers most holiday fishing. Find on Amazon
  • Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
  • Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
  • A small tackle selection - Hooks, weights, line and a few lures or flies suited to local waters. Find on Amazon

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Plan your trip

Where to start if Fulidhoo is going on the list.

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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