from $65 / night
Haa Dhaalu Atoll
Hanifaru Transit Inn
Hanimaadhoo
The easiest base for the under-the-radar northern atolls. Near the domestic airport, jungle trails, untouched reefs.
- Airport transfer
- Jungle trail
- Off the tourist trail
An under-the-radar island in the far north with its own domestic airport, jungle trails, and reefs almost no tourist has ever seen.
Off the beaten pathJungleDomestic flights
Where to sleep
Stays on Hanimaadhoo
1 curated stay across our tier rankings.
Things to do
On-island & excursions
Food$90
Tuna big-game fishing
Half-day
Trolling for yellowfin in the channels — the north's main fishery.
Dive$70
Northern reef dives
Half-day
Reefs virtually untouched by tourists — hard coral gardens and grey reef sharks.
Culture$10
Bike the island + jungle
Half-day
Rent a bike, loop through interior forest trails barely any tourist has ridden.
Getting there
MLE → Hanimaadhoo
Mode
Domestic flight + speedboat
Duration
1h flight + short boat
Cost (1-way)
$160
Operator
Maldivian Airlines
Domestic flight from Malé to Hanimaadhoo (HAQ). Daily, ~45 min. Then walk/taxi in-island.
Creators loving this island
What the internet says
YouTube
budget
“It's really possible to see the Maldives for under $30 a day — guesthouses, local ferries and a bikini beach all to yourself.”
Independent travel vlogger
YouTube
“Is It Really Possible?! The Backpacker Guide to the Maldives UNDER $30 per DAY”
YouTube
budget
“Gulhi is the best island I found — same atoll as Maafushi, half the crowds, and paradise on a budget.”
Budget travel vlog
YouTube
“This is BY FAR The Best Island of the MALDIVES — Guide to Paradise on a Budget”
YouTube
budget
“2025 update: how to do the Maldives on a budget — Maafushi, Mathiveri, ferries, excursions, food costs all broken down.”
Maldives 2025 budget guide
YouTube
“Budget Travel Guide to The Maldives in 2025 🇲🇻”