The 14 Best Beaches in The Maldives You Must Visit (2024)

Clean, white, and fine as flour sands flanked around the tropical vegetation, the shoreline of Maldives is sprinkled with the world’s best beaches. You must lounge under palms to gawp at the Indian Ocean. Dine at the sandbanks that appear and disappear under the tide. There are dozens of beaches in the Maldives scattered around its 200 inhabited islands. But the real question is, how do you find which beach in the Maldives is suitable for you? Should you go to the Maldives beaches on local islands or private islands? In a nutshell, whatever you select, the sugar-white sands and crystalline waters have the enigma to soothe the restless minds of travelers. And the distinguishable feature? Most of them are backed by lush green foliage.

When is the Best Time to Visit Maldives Beaches?

The months between November to April marks the best time to visit Maldives beaches since it is a dry season. It is more noticeable in the northern atolls. During these months, the sea temperature is ideal for watersports, and there is no risk of high waves. Whereas May to October is a rainy season in the Maldives. Some tourists find the wet season the best time to visit the Maldives as surfing is best enjoyed during the same season. So it depends on the individual’s choice when to visit the Maldives. Lastly, dry season is also when the beach resorts in local and private islands shoot up their prices.

14 Best Beaches in Maldives ( At Local and Private Island)

  • Mudhdhoo Beach
  • Hulhumale Beach
  • Bandos Beach
  • Reethi Beach
  • Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Beaches
  • Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island
  • Baros Maldives
  • Mirihi Island Beach
  • Dhigurah Island Beaches
  • Veligandu Island Beaches
  • Fulhadhoo Beach
  • Four Seasons Beaches
  • Thulusdhoo Beach (Bikini Beach)

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1. Mudhdhoo Beach

If you want to witness bioluminescent plankton in the Maldives, visit Mudhdhoo Beach, which is christened on the same island. This island resort is located on the territory of the Baa Atoll, where the underwater marine world houses clownfish, stingrays, colorful corals, and parrotfishes.

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Mudhdhoo Beach is a famous Maldives beach because it lights during the night. The presence of tiny organisms produces a bioluminescent blue glow in contrast with the white sands. Couples will love taking strolls at Mudhdhoo Beach during sunset and sunrise.

Read Also: Best Resorts in Maldives for honeymoon

2. Hulhumale Beach

How about rejuvenating with the blue hues of the Indian Ocean followed by sunbathing on white sands? If the idea sounds like what you actually need, then Hulhumale beach of the Maldives in Kaafu Atoll should be your bet.

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Touted to be one of the best public beaches in Maldives, this beach is actually located on a local inhabited island, and hence, this is a no bikini beach. Instead, you will find pocket-friendly hotels at the Hulhumale Beach shoreline with a short, accessible distance from the white sandy shores. The water here is sparkling blue, and you can indulge in a range of watersports like snorkeling, diving, jet-skiing, and plenty more.

3. Bandos Beach

Just a 15-20 minutes speedboat ride from Male airport, you will see Bandos Beach. Bandos Beach is located on a private island and has bright blue waters and white sands. You will feel immediate tranquility if you look for a romantic beach in the Maldives for couples.

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When you are at Bandos, go out fishing, snorkeling, sunset dolphin cruise, and a sandbank picnic. In addition, you can ask the resort staff to arrange a private movie experience in the middle of the lagoons, followed by a night fishing experience.

Read Also: Best Islands in Maldives for honeymoon

4. Reethi Beach

Reethi Rah is a 4-star luxury private island resort with several beaches within its vast shoreline. Their whole private island in Baa Atoll is fringed with 12 private and beautiful white sandy beaches.

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You can easily reach Reethi Beach from Male via speedboat if you want to spot one of the beautiful sunsets. Imagine you and your significant other are enjoying a private beach setting and witnessing the sunset setting behind the horizon.

Read Also: Places to visit in Maldives for honeymoon

5. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Beaches

One of the best beaches in Maldives, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is a 5-star private island resort in Kaafu atoll in North Male. The sand is silky white, and the shoreline is punctured with palm trees.

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Luxury travelers spend their 3-4 days at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru because beach yoga is one of the best things to do here. In addition, you can witness amazing underwater marine life and some fabulous colorful coral reefs on snorkeling, scuba diving, and underwater sea walks. We assure you that you will definitely feel the sense of tranquility, magic, and romance at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.

Read Also: Things to do in Maldives

6. Kandolhu Island Beach

Want to make your sweetheart’s jaws drop on an unforgettable Maldives honeymoon? Visit this 5-star private island resort for a candlelight dinner on the sandbanks, special movie screening under the lagoons.

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The best way to enjoy the salty breeze at Kandolhu Island Beach is to book a beach villa or ocean pool villas. It is just around 40 minutes speedboat from Male airport and features an in-house reef also. So it is obvious that you can enjoy snorkeling, diving, catamaran sailing here at Kandolhu Island Beach.

7. Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island

Are you a price-conscious traveler? If yes, then visit Maafushi Island to unwind at the Bikini Beach. It is a touristy beach, and the USP of this beach of Maldives is its tourists have the freedom to flaunt themselves in a bikini or other beachwear.

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With strips of talc white and palm trees swinging in the backdrops, Bikini Beach in Maafushi Island is one of the best beaches in Maldives. Lastly, you will find cafes, hotels, resorts just a stone’s distance away, and Maafushi Island is one of the best places to visit in the Maldives for a one day trip from Male – the capital town.

8. Baros Maldives

The sandy shores of Baros Maldives have some of the mesmerizing Maldives beaches under its belts. Baros Maldives is a 5-star private island resort located 30 minutes speedboat ride from Male International Airport. Geographically, Baros Maldives is in North Male atoll, and couples love to take a romantic stroll on the white sandy shoreline.

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From sandbank dining to a destination wedding, the beaches of Baros can’t be ignored. The distinguishable feature? Baros Maldives has overwater beach villas to stay. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and catamaran sailing are some of the excellent water sports to try at Baros Maldives.

9. Mirihi Island Beach

This is another private island resort accessible by a 40 minutes seaplane ride from Velana International Airport. This gem of white sands and fringed palms is located in South Ari Atoll and personifies detoxification at its best. Mirihi Island has no loud music, nightlife to disturb you, and travelers can surely unwind in a peaceful environment.

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Mirihi Island Beach is one of those Maldives beaches where you can try the Ocean Pro diving experience. So make your heart wander on the yacht before dining on the white sandbanks.

10. Dhigurah Island Beaches

How about setting a picnic table into a sandbar on your Maldives vacation? Visit the Dhigurah Island in South Ari Atoll if the idea intrigues you. The beaches of Dhigurah Island are best for swimming.

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You must know that this is a local island, and hence, you will find a bikini zone at the island’s southern part only. The thick band of white sands, crystal clear water are best observed on a snorkeling excursion. On a guided snorkeling excursion, expect to see the blue marlin fishes, reef sharks, manta rays. Did we mention that Dhigurah Island beaches also allow night diving?

11. Veligandu Island Beaches

With a cluster of dozens of powdery sandy beaches and tropical vegetation belts, Veligandu Island Resort is a private island resort that features white sandy beaches. There are overwater villas on the island, and the long stretching sandbar, which is perfect for private lunch, is the USP of Veligandu Island Resort.

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Don’t forget to dip your toes in the crystalline blue waters. For the best marine life experience at Veligandu Island Resort, indulge in reef snorkeling, scuba diving under the resort’s supervision.

12. Fulhadhoo Beach

There is no other joy than enjoying a centennial Maldivian holiday experience other than at the calm lagoons and fantastic waters for snorkeling and dolphin spotting excursions. If you resonate with what we are saying, sign up for a tropical bliss at Fulhadhoo Island.

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This is a local island beach which is accessible by 2-hour speedboat from Male airport. Even more, you will find affordable accommodation at Fulhadhoo Beach for sure because the locals inhabited here provide homestays also for the tourists. Indeed, this beach in the Maldives is your door to access the finest Maldivan hospitality at your disposal.

Read Also: Water Sports Activities in Maldives

13. Four Seasons Beaches

With its milky shoreline and gently lapping waves, Four Seasons Beaches at Landaa Giraavaru within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is one of the best Maldives beaches at private island resorts. Guests can expect luxury and watersports like snorkeling, scuba diving, catamaran sailing at their disposal.

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This rarest gem of Maldives is punctured with 2 kilometers of lagoons. Stay inside the beach villa to walk around the walk swathes of powdered sands. The Four Season Beaches are backed by the lush green jungle greens and the underwater marine life beacons marine life lovers to uncover sea turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and coral colonies.

14. Thulusdhoo Beach (Bikini Beach)

The Maldives has many Bikini beaches under its belts on local islands, and Thulusdhoo Beach in the local inhabited island of Thulusdhoo is a surfer’s heaven. Set in the capital of the Kaafu Atoll, travelers can truly bask in the pure Maldivian hospitality at Thulusdhoo Island after enjoying watersports at Thulusdhoo Beach, aka Bikini Beach.

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Although there are several other beaches within the island, Bikini Beach is the one that allows tourists to flaunt in a swimsuit. Board a half an hour ferry from Male to reach Thulusdhoo Beach. You will find the decent reef at Bikini Beach. A 30 minutes island hopping will reward you with various sandbanks where you can enjoy a private lunch experience under the crew’s supervision.

Wrapping Up the Best Beaches in the Maldives

To keep it simple, we would like to state to you that the beaches in the Maldives at the local island are not bikini beaches (ONLY A FEW OF THEM ARE). But the beaches on private island resorts in the Maldives allow tourists to flaunt themselves in their swimsuits without any hindrance. At the same time, the best Maldives beaches on private island resorts feature overwater villas that feel like a floating luxury. Simultaneously, the Maldives beaches on local islands do not have overwater villas. Instead, travelers can stay on beach villas on both private and local Maldives islands.

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The 14 Best Beaches in The Maldives You Must Visit (18)

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The 14 Best Beaches in The Maldives You Must Visit (2024)

FAQs

What is the most visited beach in the Maldives? ›

1. Hulhumale Beach. Hulhumale Beach is one of the most popular public beaches in Maldives. Being close to the Male airport, the island is convenient to enjoy a budget trip in the powder-like white sand and clear blue water.

What is special about Maldives beaches? ›

The beaches are extremely rare

It not only looks attractive but it's actually made from coral. Coraline beaches make up only 5% of the world's beaches, with most beach sand being made of quartz.

Which Maldives island has the clearest water? ›

Fulhadhoo Island: Fulhadhoo Island offers a serene and tranquil beach experience with some of the clearest waters in the Maldives. This remote island is perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape. Visitors can explore the coral gardens just a few meters from the shore or simply unwind on the pristine sandy beach.

Which is the No 1 island in Maldives? ›

1. Maafushi Island, Maldives. It is not until one steps into the beautiful Maafushi Island in the Maldives does one know how it feels like to stay in a slice of paradise on earth.

What is the most popular spot in Maldives? ›

Maafushi. Maafushi is one of the most popular islands in Maldives, famed for its water sports offerings and scuba diving. While it was heavily damaged in the 2004 Tsunami, the local community has been working hard to rebuild the island which is now completely transformed.

Which island is better than Maldives? ›

Some are fabulously far-flung, well-known Maldives alternatives – the vibrant natural beauty of the Seychelles, Mauritius and Hawaii, for example, make them worthwhile contenders.

What language is spoken in Maldives? ›

While the national language is Dhivehi, most Maldivians can speak English with no problems. In fact, many staff at various Maldives resorts can speak French, German, Mandarin, and other international languages.

Which is the glowing beach of Maldives? ›

What beach glows at night? The Mudhdhoo Island, also known as Vaadhoo Island located on the island of Raa Atoll, is one of the popular tourist destinations in the Maldives that is famous for its bioluminescent waves that glow at night.

Where is the bluest water in Maldives? ›

The glowing beach is located on Vaadhoo Island in Raa Atoll. As it is mainly populated by locals and with no luxury resort, travellers don't often visit the island – unless of course it is to witness the blue beach.

Are Maldives water safe to swim? ›

Swimming safety

The sea around Maldives can have strong tidal currents and a number of tourists drown every year. Always take local advice before going into the sea.

What is the famous sea in the Maldives? ›

The Maldives' famous Sea of Stars is part fact, part fiction – but that just adds to the mystery of one of the country's top tourist attractions. A glittering expanse of the Indian Ocean glowed blue in the dark as if the stars were submerged underwater after falling from the sky.

What island do celebrities go to in Maldives? ›

Of all the islands that make up the Maldives, Reethi Rah is most in tune with the celebrity zeitgeist. Purposefully not 'trendy', in the development stage to the top level of luxury, specializing in high quality service to its guests, such an experience you would have hard to find somewhere else in the Maldives.

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