Gadhdhoo

Gadhdhoo in the far south is where thundu kunaa are woven, mats made from a local reed dyed in black, brown and yellow and worked into geometric patterns on a simple frame, a craft carried on almost entirely by women and almost entirely on this island. Nearby Gan holds a large mound that was a Buddhist stupa before the Maldives converted to Islam in the twelfth century, among the biggest such remains in the country.

What you actually see

• The thundu kunaa mats - the dyed reed weaving done almost only on this island.
• The natural dyes - the black, brown and yellow colours worked into the patterns.
• The nearby Buddhist mound - the pre-Islamic stupa remains on Gan across the water.
• The southern setting - an island in one of the largest atolls in the world.

When to go

November to April is the dry season with easier travel. Weavers work on their own schedule. Flights to Kaadedhdhoo run from Malé.

Honest expectations

Getting there takes a flight and a boat. Weaving is not staged for visitors and finding it takes asking. Accommodation on the island is very limited.

Nearby

Gan and its mound are across the water, and Kaadedhdhoo airport is north.