Day Trips From Malé: Sandbanks, Snorkelling and Picnic Islands

Malé is one of the most crowded cities in the world, but the sea starts at the end of every street. Within an hour by boat are picnic islands, beaches, sandbanks, reefs and villages. Many of them are used as much by Malé families at weekends as by visitors. This guide collects the main day trips from the capital. Transport details change often, so check times and prices with the operator before you go.

Kudagiri picnic island

Kudagiri is a picnic island built for the people of the crowded Greater Malé region. It was opened in February 2023 by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It was developed by the state companies MTCC and HDC, and HDC runs it. It's reached by a 20-minute ferry from both Malé and Hulhumalé.

When it opened, the rules were:

• bookings through an app and website, with about 500 visitors a day allowed
• weekends and official holidays reserved for Maldivians, with free travel on those days
• on other days, a ferry ticket of MVR 25 and an entrance fee of MVR 50

Kudagiri was built to replace Kuda Bandos, a popular picnic island for Malé families until it was leased for tourism. Check the current booking rules with HDC before you go, as fees and access may have changed.

Villimalé: the beach next door

Villimalé (Villingili) is a small island about 2 km west of Malé, and part of Malé City. A local ferry runs 24 hours a day between the two. Once a resort, opened in 1973, it's now a residential district with a public beach, hotels and guesthouses, and a popular weekend escape for Malé residents. The Thilamalé Bridge, now under construction, is due to link it to Malé by road by December 2027.

Hulhumalé beach

Hulhumalé, the reclaimed city next to the airport, is reached by road from Malé over the Sinamalé Bridge. Its long beach and seafront are popular in the evenings and at weekends, and it's an easy half-day trip with cafés and parks nearby. Its master plan puts green spaces within a five-minute walk of every neighbourhood.

Local islands

A day on a local island shows a side of the Maldives that resort guests rarely see. From Malé, the most popular include:

• Maafushi, about 26 km south, with water sports, dive centres and excursion operators.
• Gulhi, a small, quiet island near Maafushi and close to Ras Malé.
• Huraa, about 20 km northeast, the origin of the Maldives' last royal dynasty, with a protected mangrove reserve.
• Himmafushi, about 16 km northeast, known for the Jails surf break.

Public ferries are cheap but slow, often run only once a day and mostly don't run on Fridays, which makes a same-day return hard. Shared speedboats are quicker. Read our guides to Gulhi, Guraidhoo and Maafushi and North Malé Atoll's local islands.

Sandbanks

Sandbanks are bare strips of white sand that appear in the lagoons, some only at low tide. Trips to them are among the most popular excursions in the Maldives, usually combined with snorkelling. Operators in Malé, Hulhumalé and on local islands like Maafushi run half-day and full-day trips. Take shade, drinking water and reef-safe sunscreen, because a sandbank has no shade and no fresh water.

Snorkelling and diving

The reefs of North and South Malé Atoll include some of the best-known dive sites in the country:

• Banana Reef, named for its curved shape, was among the first dive sites recognised in the Maldives and is a protected marine area. Its caves and overhangs suit divers and confident snorkellers.
• HP Reef, also called Girifushi Thila, is a protected site with soft corals and strong currents, best for experienced divers.

In February 2026, the Maldives Independent reported that dive operators were concerned about the state of some reefs near Malé. They said Banana Reef and Kurumba's house reef were in poor condition, and the "shark tank" site near Hulhumalé had become murky, which the report linked to dredging sediment. Ask your operator which sites are in the best shape. See Ras Malé's environmental impact.

Choosing an operator

Excursions near Malé range from big, well-equipped boats to a single fisherman's dhoni. Before you book, ask how many people will be on the trip, which sites it visits, whether snorkel gear and life jackets are included, and what happens if the weather turns. A guide who knows the reefs will also know which sites are in good condition after the 2026 dredging concerns.

Dolphin and sunset cruises

Evening boat trips to look for dolphins are offered from Malé, Hulhumalé and most local islands, often on a traditional dhoni. They're a gentle option for families and non-swimmers.

Resort day visits

Some resorts close to Malé sell day passes, typically including transfers, lunch and use of the beach and pool. It's a way to see a resort without staying, and one of the few ways to have a drink if you're staying on a local island. Several resorts are 10 to 25 minutes from the airport by speedboat. See resorts closest to Malé.

What about Ras Malé?

You can't visit Ras Malé yet. It's an active reclamation site in Fushidhiggaru lagoon, with no public access or visitor facilities. Boat trips around Gulhi and Maafushi may pass close to the work. When the city opens, it's planned to include a waterfront and marina district, with hotels, shops and restaurants, so it may become a day trip in its own right. Until then, read where Ras Malé is and what's being built.

Three easy days out

A beach day, no boat trip needed

Take the 24-hour ferry to Villimalé in the morning for a swim and lunch. Come back to Malé, then cross the Sinamalé Bridge to Hulhumalé for the seafront at sunset.

Sea and sand

Book a half-day sandbank and snorkelling trip from Malé or Hulhumalé, with a stop at a reef chosen by your operator. Add an evening dolphin cruise if you still have energy.

Island life

Take a morning shared speedboat to Maafushi or Huraa. Walk the village, eat at a local café and join an afternoon excursion. Check the return boat times first, as public ferries won't get you back the same day.

Tips for day-trippers

• Fridays: many public ferries don't run, and shops close for Friday prayers. Plan around it.
• Weekends: Fridays and Saturdays are the Maldivian weekend, so picnic islands and beaches are busiest then.
• Dress: on local islands and in Malé, cover shoulders and knees away from tourist beaches.
• Weather: the southwest monsoon, from about May to November, can bring rough seas and cancelled trips. Leave a spare day if a trip matters to you.
• Operators: book through registered operators or your hotel, and check that boats carry life jackets.
• The reef: don't touch or stand on coral, and don't feed fish.