How To Go to Dhigurah Island: Finances Paradise In Maldives

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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 can be well-known within the Maldives, however as an alternative it has a protracted and fantastic white sand seaside.

In case you’re desirous to see the Maldives on a price range, this is among the finest locations to do it. Dhigurah has the entire superb tropical surroundings you’d anticipate from the Maldives, plus family-owned accommodations which can be as little as $70 USD per night time!

We just lately visited two native islands within the Maldives — Dhigurah and Fulidhoo — and couldn’t be happier with our alternative. They have been each good and totally different.

This journey information will clarify the best way to get to Dhigurah island, what to do there, the place to remain, and every little thing else it is advisable 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 need to fly into the capital of the Maldives at Male Worldwide Airport (MLE), which is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Dhigurah.

From Male, you possibly can take a speedboat or ferry on to Dhigurah, or you possibly can take a seaplane or home flight to one of many close by islands after which get a ship the remainder of the best way.

 

• By Public Speedboat

The primary approach to get to Dhigurah is by public speedboat, and that’s how we went. There are every day departures within the morning and afternoon from Male airport and town.

The speedboat journey to Dhigurah takes 2 hours and prices about $50 USD per individual a technique. Youngsters above 3 years outdated pay full worth.

The boat experience often isn’t too bumpy (relying on climate), and so they have a rest room and loads of room for storing baggage. The boats are new and the seats are comfy. Additionally they provide you with free bottled water.

The boats from Male to Dhigurah depart at 11 AM and 4:30 PM (Fridays 10 AM). The return boats from Dhigurah to Male depart at 6:30 AM and 1:30 PM (Fridays 1:45 PM). There’s a short cease in Dhangethi island on the best way to Dhigurah.

Nevertheless, take note there are a number of speedboat firms working this route and the timetable appears to alter often, 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 ebook the speedboat for you, after which pay for it along with your room invoice while 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 Personal Speedboat

A personal speedboat constitution shall be much more costly than the general public speedboats, however it could be extra handy in instances the place you need to save time and wish a direct connection to Dhigurah from one of many different islands within the Maldives.

It is best to have the ability to prepare this along with your resort in Dhigurah island.

 

• 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 experience to the harbor after which a 20 minute speedboat experience to Dhigurah.

This route often has 3 or 4 flights per day. A method ticket costs begin at $170 USD for adults and $85 for teenagers beneath 12 years outdated, whereas youngsters beneath 2 fly free. The speedboat switch is generally included within the worth.

In uncommon instances 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 experience is among 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 experience to Dhigurah.

There isn’t a set schedule for the seaplane flights, so that you’ll have to rearrange it along with your resort prematurely, and hopefully you possibly can share the flight with different passengers entering into the identical path.
 

• By Public Ferry

Final, however not least, you possibly can take the general public ferry from Male to Dhigurah. That is the slowest possibility, nevertheless it’s additionally the most cost effective. The ferry experience 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 affirm the present timetable with MTCC or along with your resort in Dhigurah, and they need to give you the chance that will help you purchase tickets as nicely.

 

How To Get Round The Island

When you arrive in Dhigurah, the subsequent step is getting across the island.

Fortunately, the entire island is sufficiently small to be walkable. You will get in every single place on foot! From finish to finish, Dhigurah is 4 kilometers lengthy (3 miles), and the width of the island is barely about 100 to 200 meters. It’s a protracted and thin form.

This is among the issues we actually favored about Dhigurah island, as a result of it’s so handy and also you don’t need to pay for transport. Nevertheless, the accommodations do have bicycles you possibly can hire for a half day or full day for those who’d like.
 

Greatest Issues To Do In Dhigurah Island

• North West Seashore / Bikini Seashore

The primary seaside in Dhigurah is named North West Seashore and it spans the whole west facet of the island. That is the island’s designated ‘bikini seaside’ the place vacationers are welcome to put on swimsuits and go suntanning.

It’s an exquisite seaside with palm bushes, a lot of little hermit crabs, and never too many individuals. The water is calm sufficient for teenagers to swim. If the sky is obvious, you can even watch the sundown on the seaside.

For snorkeling, there’s a spot close to the midway level, known as Turtle Reef, the place you possibly can swim with child sharks and sea turtles solely a brief distance from the shore!

The seaside in Dhigurah is definitely one of many longest seashores within the Maldives, and it’s how the island obtained its title — Dhigurah means ‘lengthy island’ within the native language.

 

• Lengthy Seashore Sandbar

One of many principal 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 accommodations in northern Dhigurah, you possibly can attain the sandbank by strolling for 1 hour on the seaside or via the jungle. We most well-liked 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 folks and the solar isn’t too sizzling but. In case you don’t really feel like strolling, it’s additionally potential to go together with a bicycle or rikshaw out of your resort.

In case you maintain following the sandbar to the top at low tide, you possibly can really stroll all the best way to the neighboring LUX Resort, though you’re not purported to be there for those who aren’t a visitor.

Keep in mind to carry loads of water as a result of it may get very popular right here at noon, and there’s nowhere to purchase drinks on the sandbar. There are some free solar chairs and umbrellas close to the top of the seaside the place you possibly can go away your stuff whilst you go swim.

 

Extra Issues To Do In Dhigurah

• Whale Shark Safari: Some of the common actions in Dhigurah island is swimming with whale sharks. You’re not assured to see whale sharks, in fact, however there’s a fairly good likelihood 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 widespread to see dolphins close to Dhigurah. They’re often transferring too quick to snorkel with, nevertheless it’s nonetheless enjoyable to observe a pod of dolphins from the boat.
• Manta & Reef Shark Cruise: The reef sharks and manta rays are additionally widespread 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 might have an excellent likelihood of seeing them there.
• Resort Excursions: The accommodations in Dhigurah can prepare a half day tour to a number of the close by 5 star resorts like Amaya Kuda Rah, Centara Grand Island, Vakarufalhi, or Vilamendhoo. This is usually a enjoyable approach to expertise one of many Maldives’ luxurious resorts with out paying full worth. These packages usually embody transport there and again, plus entry to amenities 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 an excellent place for large recreation fishing. In case you’re fortunate, you possibly can catch sail fish, king fish, yellow fin tuna, and other forms of fish to eat.
• Scuba Diving: Dhigurah is called the most effective islands within the Maldives for scuba diving. There are a bunch of excellent dive websites on this space the place you possibly can 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.

 

How Lengthy To Keep

This can be a small island, so you possibly can wander most of it and see the most effective highlights in 2 or 3 days, though it will be straightforward to remain longer. We stayed 3 days in Dhigurah, and would’ve been completely satisfied to remain per week or two!

In case you’re like us, being on the seaside and swimming within the ocean by no means actually will get outdated, and you possibly can spend a few additional days seeing the whale sharks and doing different excursions close to the island.

       
 
 

Different Suggestions For Visiting Dhigurah

• ATM: There’s one ATM in Dhigurah on the north finish of the island close to the ferry terminal, and it labored nicely 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 a giant wad of money throughout our keep and had no points with a U.S. issued debit card. The machine dispenses Maldivian Rufiyaa.
• Forex: US {Dollars} are accepted in every single place on the island, though you’ll often 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 finest to do that in Male airport.
• Credit score Playing cards: You’ll need to double verify, however many accommodations in Dhigurah can help you pay your whole invoice by bank card, together with the speedboat transfers. Ours allow us to do this. There could also be a charge for this (like 3 to five %), however in my view it’s value it for the comfort. Nevertheless, take note the eating places and minimarkets in Dhigurah often don’t settle for card, so that you’ll must carry a minimum of some money.
• Costume Code: Maldives is a Muslim nation, and the native islands like Dhigurah have a conservative costume code since there are principally locals dwelling right here. You’re not purported to put on swimsuits or revealing garments besides on the designated ‘bikini seaside,’ though we noticed loads of folks breaking this rule, so it doesn’t appear to be strictly enforced. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep out of hassle, it’s finest to comply with this rule and canopy up while you’re not on the seaside.
• Alcohol: They don’t enable alcohol on Dhigurah island, however you will get it for those who go to one of many close by resorts. We by no means heard any noisy mosques on the island, so that you don’t have to fret about that.
• Mosque: There’s a mosque on the island, nevertheless it was quiet. We by no means heard any noise from it.

• Electrical energy: We stayed at a price range resort in Dhigurah 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 (via T-Cellular) within the city space and in addition on the Lengthy Seashore sandbar.
• WiFi: There may be quick and dependable WiFi in Dhigurah, even within the price range accommodations.
• Drones: A lot of the fancy resorts in Maldives don’t enable drones in any respect, however since Dhigurah is an area island, I used to be in a position to carry and use a drone with no points. I confirmed this with my resort prematurely. The sandbar on the finish of Lengthy Seashore is a good place for taking drone photos.
• Wildlife: You may see big fruit bats (flying foxes) within the bushes on Dhigurah, and in addition a number of sorts of birds, lizards, and crabs.
• Mosquitoes: We primarily obtained attacked by mosquitoes once we have been too near the jungle. In case you’re lounging within the shade close to the seaside, attempt to keep in a breezy space to maintain the mosquitoes away. Among the shady spots nearest the seaside have sufficient wind to be secure from mosquitoes.
• Malaria: Your complete 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 once we have been consuming at out of doors eating places.
• Security: On the whole, Maldives is a really secure nation, with one of many lowest homicide charges on the planet. We at all times felt secure right here, and I haven’t heard of any unhealthy incidents on the island.
• Hospital: There’s a small well being middle in Dhigurah, however for a severe emergency you’d must go to the hospital in Malé. That’s true for the resort islands within the Maldives too, although.
• Meals: The native Maldivian meals is type of like Indian meals, so not everybody would possibly get pleasure from it, however you can even get the same old western favorites like pizza, burgers, and steak.
• The place To Eat: There are 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, Malaveli, or Shell Restaurant.

 

Dhigurah Resorts

 

Greatest Time To Go to The Maldives

Like the remainder of the Maldives, there’s a dry season in Dhigurah from January to April. That is the most effective 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 right now, 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 right now, however you’re extra more likely to have some rain.

 

Extra Maldives Journey Guides

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this journey information for Dhigurah island within the Maldives. It’s really paradise on a price range.

Don’t overlook to take a look at my journey information for Fulidhoo island as nicely! There’s a seaside in Fulidhoo the place you possibly can see a lot of good stingrays, turtles, and nurse sharks every single day.