On our last trip to the Maldives we visited 3 local islands, Ukulhas, Fulidhoo and Maafushi. Here is a comparison in accommodation, transport, food and excursions. If you are interested in a comparison between a local island and a resort, click here and you can read about our experience.
| Maafushi | Ukulhas | Fulidhoo | |
| Transport | Local ferry 1,5 hours 4 USD Speed boat 45 min 25 USD |
Local ferry 4 hours 4 USD Speed boat 1,5 hours 50 USD |
Local ferry 2 hours 4 USD
Speed boat 1 hour 15 in 40 USD |
| Accommodation | From 40 USD per night | From 30 USD per night | From 35 USD per night |
| Food | Lots of restaurants with different food; pizza 8 USD, dinner buffet 12 USD (+12%, + 10%) | Had lunch and dinner at the hotel as we found only 1 restaurant open in low season | 2 Restaurants and cafes, we had a tuna with rice, which was delicious |
| Excursions | Snorkeling and sandbank 25 USD Manta point 25 USDSnorkeling 25 USD Sunset dinner 25USD |
Sandbank picnic 90 USD Manta point 90 USD Snorkeling 70 USD Sunset dinner 70 USD |
Sandbank picnic 50 USD Manta point 50 USD Snorkeling 45 USD |
| Diving | 35 USD per dive | 65 USD per dive | 40 USD per dive |
| ATM | yes | no | no |
| On island transport | On foot, it’s small | On foot, it’s very small | On foot, it’s very small |
| Highlight | Number of affordable excursions | Best bikini beach | Snorkeling with stingrays offshore |
Although Ukulhas is more expensive (transportation and accommodation), the bikini beach is one of the nicest we’ve seen and the snorkeling directly from the beach is amazing. We enjoyed the peace and quiet for a few days, but the decided to move to Maafushi because of the diving prices.
Maafushi got quite touristy – it developed a lot and construction is still going on. There are many guesthouses, restaurants and bars and due to competition, the prices of excursions are much lower than on other islands we visited.
For Fulidhoo we can say we enjoyed our short stay very much, the bikini beach is nice, but the highlight for us was swimming with stingrays, which is possible directly from shore – local fisherman feed the stingrays, that’s why they are often around. But be aware you’re not on bikini beach, that’s why you have to go into water in shorts and a t-shirt. It is a very calm and quiet island, with a few guesthouses and restaurants.
If we would have to choose, it would depend on our needs at the moment – you want to relax and nothing else? Go to Ukulhas or Fulidhoo. You want to go on excursions, drink a coconut on the beach and have different dining option for dinner? Go to Maafushi. We would mix it up and visit at least 2 of these island. But to be honest – you cannot go wrong with any of the Maldivian islands.
sLOVEnians travel 
Hi, may i know when or what month was the ukulhas video taken? Thank you.
LikeLike
Hi Roni,
we were there at the end of August.
Have fun and all the best 🙌
LikeLike
Hello,
Nice article! Would you please share how (and for how much) did you go from Ukulhas to Maafusi? I can not find any scheduled boat.
Thank you!
Tímea
LikeLike
Thank you. There are no direct boats. You have to go to Male and then to Maafushi. To Male it was 50 $ and Maafushi 25$. It took us in total 3,5, hours. 😉
LikeLike
Thank You for this amazing article. I and friends are planning a diving trip to the Maldives and are confused between Fulidhoo and Mafushi. I know you didn’t do any diving but was hoping if you have any insights regarding the same
LikeLike
We actually went diving on Maafushi and really liked it. We went with Maafushi scuba and really liked it. You might also get some info from this video: https://slovenianstravel.com/2018/10/24/maldives-1-week-itinerary/
LikeLike
Hi, nice article. I am planning to go to Maldives for a week and I am choosing between Ukulhas and Fulidhoo. I am a solo traveler on a budget trip and would like to relieve myself of stress so I want peace and quiet area but at the same time I would like to interact with people which might be tough these days due to Covid19. Please advise which one you would recommend?
LikeLike
Hi, thanks so much. Well as both islands were quite peaceful BC (before corona), I guess you can’t go worng with either of them. On Ukulhas you defonotely have a much nicer beach (although I read the other day that it might be depending on the season – how wide the beach is and how much sand it is). The most ameneties are for sure on Maafushi. Transport is also the cheapest for Maafushi. Maybe take a look at Rashdoo (nearer than Ulkuhas, but also looked nice) and Gulhi (smaller and peacefuler than Maafushi, also cheap). I had the feeling that Ukulhas was more expensive that Fulidhoo. Because I don’t know what is important for you – price, beach etc., you will have to decide for yourself, but I hope I could give you some info and new ideas. Good luck and enjoy paradise for me as well ❤
LikeLike
hi. thanks for sharing the info. I would love to know from which island and on what excursion you snorkeled with sharks. Thanks in advance.
LikeLike
Hi,
sorry for such a late responce
The excursion was from Maafushi.
Enjoy,
simona
LikeLike
Hi:) I am really confused,which islands to visit in August. Were there big waves/bad wheather on your way to Ukulhas? I am afraid of seasickness…
Can you swim with sharks or touch stingreys on Ukulhas?
I am looking for islands with nice biki-beach, interesting sea-life and enough cafes/restaurants options. I really want to see mantas and touch stingreys.
I v heard Maafuchi is too dirty and overcrowded… and I am afraid Fulidhoo is too small or boring to stay for a week.
Do you think it is better to visit Fulhidoo+Maafushi or Ukulhas+Thodoo? I was also thinking Fulhidoo+Ukulhas but 3.5 hours by boat is too much.
Thanks in advance:)
LikeLike
Hi, so sorry about the late reply… We are constantly on the go since May
If you still didn’t choose an island combination: both combinations sound good. Ukuljas has a changing beach – a reader wrote to me the beach (sand) wasn’t there when she was there because of the currents. Thoddoo supposed to be nice, we would love to go there next time. As for maafushi – because it’s so near to Male it developed the fastest, that’s why it might feel a bit crowded. We’ve been there twice and both times it was OK. What we loved there were the cheap trips and cheap diving. Eather way I’m sure, you’ll have a great time. Have an amazing trip and take care 🙂
LikeLike