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Travel guides

Dhiffushi travel guides

Start with 20 guides to Dhiffushi itself, then the Maldives month by month and topic by topic. 225 guides in all, written and kept up to date on the island.

When to go

The year in two monsoons

Iruvai, the dry northeast monsoon, runs from January to March. Hulhangu, the wetter southwest monsoon, from mid-May to November. April and December are the changeover. Pick a month for what to expect.

The two monsoons explained
  1. 01JanuaryDryThis month
  2. 02FebruaryDryThis month
  3. 03MarchDryThis month
  4. 04AprilChangeoverThis month
  5. 05MayWetThis month
  6. 06JuneWetThis month
  7. 07JulyWetThis month
  8. 08AugustWetThis month
  9. 09SeptemberWetThis month
  10. 10OctoberWetThis month
  11. 11NovemberWetThis month
  12. 12DecemberChangeoverThis month
The overview · 12 min read

Maldives travel guide

Everything you need to plan the Maldives the local way: islands and atolls, visa and IMUGA, seasons, money and taxes, transport, customs and reef-friendly travel.Read the Maldives guide

Before you go

26 guides
  1. First timeFirst time in the Maldives
  2. Visa & entryMaldives visa and entry requirements
  3. Getting thereHow to get to the Maldives
  4. When to goBest time to visit the Maldives
  5. ArrivingArriving in the Maldives
  6. DepartingLeaving the Maldives
  7. Money & costsMaldives money, costs and taxes
  8. The rufiyaaThe Maldivian rufiyaa
  9. Saving moneySaving money on a Maldives trip
  10. TippingTipping in the Maldives
  11. SIM, Wi-Fi & tipsMaldives SIM card, Wi-Fi and practical travel tips
  12. Plugs and powerPlugs, voltage and power in the Maldives
  13. Travel insuranceTravel insurance for the Maldives
  14. MedicinesBringing medicines into the Maldives
  15. Customs allowancesMaldives customs allowances
  16. What to wearWhat to wear in the Maldives
  17. Alcohol rulesAlcohol in the Maldives
  18. DronesFlying a drone in the Maldives
  19. Time and calendarsTime, weekends and calendars in the Maldives
  20. Sending postSending post and postcards from the Maldives
  21. Working remotelyWorking remotely from the Maldives
  22. LayoversA layover in the Maldives
  23. Maldives and Sri LankaCombining the Maldives and Sri Lanka in one trip
  24. Pets and animalsBringing pets and animals into the Maldives
  25. Children: entry rulesTravelling to the Maldives with children
  26. VaccinationsVaccinations and health requirements for the Maldives

Trip ideas & getting around

17 guides
  1. Getting aroundGetting around the Maldives
  2. Public ferriesPublic ferries in the Maldives
  3. Seaplanes and flightsSeaplanes and domestic flights in the Maldives
  4. Island hoppingIsland hopping in the Maldives
  5. Local islandsMaldives local islands
  6. Guesthouse staysStaying in a guesthouse in the Maldives
  7. 7-day itineraryMaldives itinerary
  8. Two-week itineraryMaldives itinerary 14 days
  9. With kidsMaldives with kids
  10. HoneymoonMaldives honeymoon on a local island
  11. Solo travelSolo travel in the Maldives
  12. Accessible travelAccessible travel in the Maldives
  13. Muslim travellersMuslim travellers in the Maldives
  14. Driving and scootersDriving and scooters in the Maldives
  15. Walking and cyclingWalking and cycling on local islands in the Maldives
  16. EveningsEvenings on a local island
  17. Rainy daysRainy days in the Maldives

Health & safety

8 guides
  1. Safety & healthIs the Maldives safe? Health and safety for travellers
  2. HealthcareHealthcare for visitors in the Maldives
  3. Sun safetySun safety in the Maldives
  4. Mosquitoes and dengueMosquitoes and dengue in the Maldives
  5. Stings and first aidMarine stings and cuts in the Maldives
  6. Drinking waterDrinking water in the Maldives
  7. Boat safetyBoat safety in the Maldives
  8. Weather hazardsWeather hazards in the Maldives

Malé & around

12 guides
  1. MaléMalé, Maldives
  2. One day in MaléOne day in Malé
  3. HulhumaléHulhumalé guide
  4. VillimaléVillimalé guide
  5. Malé terminalsMalé ferry terminals and jetties
  6. Malé marketsMalé fish market and local market
  7. National MuseumThe National Museum of the Maldives
  8. Grand Friday MosqueThe Grand Friday Mosque in Malé
  9. Hukuru MiskiyHukuru Miskiy
  10. Sinamalé BridgeThe Sinamalé Bridge
  11. ThilafushiThilafushi explained
  12. Islands near MaléLocal islands near Malé

Atolls & islands

27 guides
  1. Facts and mapWhere is the Maldives? Facts, map and geography
  2. The atollsMaldives atolls explained
  3. North Malé AtollNorth Malé Atoll (Kaafu)
  4. South Malé AtollSouth Malé Atoll guide
  5. Ari AtollAri Atoll guide
  6. Baa AtollBaa Atoll guide
  7. Raa AtollRaa Atoll guide
  8. Lhaviyani AtollLhaviyani Atoll guide
  9. Vaavu AtollVaavu Atoll guide
  10. Laamu AtollLaamu Atoll guide
  11. Meemu AtollMeemu Atoll guide
  12. Faafu AtollFaafu Atoll guide
  13. Dhaalu AtollDhaalu Atoll guide
  14. Thaa AtollThaa Atoll guide
  15. Noonu AtollNoonu Atoll guide
  16. Shaviyani AtollShaviyani Atoll guide
  17. The far northThe far north of the Maldives
  18. Huvadhoo AtollHuvadhoo Atoll guide
  19. FuvahmulahFuvahmulah guide
  20. Addu CityAddu City guide
  21. Atoll codes and addressesAtoll codes and island addresses in the Maldives explained
  22. Island namesMaldivian island names
  23. Link roadsLink roads in the Maldives
  24. SandbanksMaldives sandbanks and picnic islands
  25. Uninhabited islandsUninhabited islands in the Maldives
  26. Protected areasProtected areas of the Maldives
  27. Tourism statisticsMaldives tourism statistics

Diving, snorkelling & activities

18 guides
  1. SnorkellingSnorkelling in the Maldives
  2. Snorkelling for beginnersSnorkelling for beginners in the Maldives
  3. DivingDiving in the Maldives
  4. Learning to diveLearning to dive in the Maldives
  5. FreedivingFreediving in the Maldives
  6. Night snorkellingNight snorkelling and night diving in the Maldives
  7. Wreck divingWreck diving in the Maldives
  8. LiveaboardsLiveaboards in the Maldives
  9. SurfingSurfing in the Maldives
  10. Water sportsWater sports in the Maldives
  11. FishingFishing in the Maldives
  12. DolphinsDolphin watching in the Maldives
  13. Whale watchingWhale watching in the Maldives
  14. PhotographyPhotography in the Maldives
  15. StargazingStargazing in the Maldives
  16. Sunrise and sunsetSunrise and sunset in the Maldives
  17. VolunteeringVolunteering and citizen science in the Maldives
  18. SportsSports in the Maldives

Sea life & nature

21 guides
  1. Marine lifeMaldives marine life
  2. Wildlife calendarMaldives wildlife calendar
  3. Whale sharksSwimming with whale sharks in the Maldives
  4. Manta raysManta rays in the Maldives
  5. SharksSharks in the Maldives
  6. Sea turtlesSea turtles in the Maldives
  7. RaysStingrays and eagle rays in the Maldives
  8. Reef fishReef fish of the Maldives
  9. Coral reefsCoral reefs of the Maldives
  10. Coral spawningCoral spawning in the Maldives
  11. Protected speciesProtected species in the Maldives
  12. Sea of starsBioluminescence in the Maldives
  13. Currents and channelsCurrents and channels in the Maldives
  14. Sea temperatureSea temperature in the Maldives
  15. MonsoonsHulhangu and iruvai
  16. SeagrassSeagrass in the Maldives
  17. MangrovesMangroves and wetlands of the Maldives
  18. BirdsBirds of the Maldives
  19. Land animalsLand animals of the Maldives
  20. Plants and treesPlants and trees of the Maldives
  21. Coconut palmThe coconut palm in Maldivian life

Food & recipes

15 guides
  1. Maldivian foodMaldivian food
  2. Fish on the menuFish on the menu in the Maldives
  3. HedhikaaHedhikaa
  4. Sweets and dessertsMaldivian sweets and desserts
  5. FruitsTropical fruits of the Maldives
  6. Vegetarian foodVegetarian and vegan food in the Maldives
  7. Pantry ingredientsThe Maldivian pantry
  8. RihaakuruRihaakuru explained
  9. Mas huni recipeMas huni recipe
  10. Garudhiya recipeGarudhiya recipe
  11. Mas riha recipeMas riha recipe
  12. Masroshi recipeMasroshi recipe
  13. Gulha recipeGulha recipe
  14. Bondibaiy recipeBondibaiy recipe
  15. Kulhi boakiba recipeKulhi boakiba recipe

Culture & customs

22 guides
  1. Culture & peopleMaldives culture, people and language
  2. ReligionReligion in the Maldives
  3. Dhivehi phrasesDhivehi phrases for travellers (with pronunciation)
  4. Dhivehi and ThaanaDhivehi language and Thaana script
  5. DialectsMaldivian dialects
  6. NamesMaldivian names explained
  7. Visiting a homeVisiting a Maldivian home
  8. WeddingsMaldivian weddings and family celebrations
  9. Festivals & holidaysMaldives public holidays and festivals
  10. RamadanRamadan in the Maldives
  11. EidEid in the Maldives
  12. BoduberuBoduberu
  13. Traditional dressTraditional dress of the Maldives
  14. CraftsTraditional crafts of the Maldives
  15. Traditional gamesTraditional games of the Maldives
  16. Raivaru and literatureRaivaru and Dhivehi literature
  17. FolkloreMaldivian folklore and legends
  18. Traditional medicineDhivehi beys
  19. Nakaiy calendarThe nakaiy calendar
  20. SouvenirsMaldives souvenirs and shopping
  21. Island councilsIsland councils and local government in the Maldives
  22. ThaaraThaara

History & heritage

16 guides
  1. HistoryHistory of the Maldives
  2. Buddhist pastThe Maldives before Islam
  3. Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta in the Maldives
  4. Cowrie shellsCowrie shells and the Maldives
  5. Muhammad ThakurufaanuMuhammad Thakurufaanu
  6. IndependenceMaldives independence
  7. Flag and symbolsThe Maldives flag and national symbols explained
  8. Tourism historyA short history of tourism in the Maldives
  9. Historical sitesHistorical sites of the Maldives
  10. Coral stone mosquesThe coral stone mosques of the Maldives
  11. ArchitectureTraditional houses and architecture of the Maldives
  12. The dhoniThe dhoni
  13. Pole-and-line tunaPole-and-line tuna fishing in the Maldives
  14. The 2004 tsunami2004 tsunami in the Maldives
  15. EducationEducation in the Maldives
  16. PopulationThe Maldives population

Climate & environment

10 guides
  1. Responsible travelResponsible travel Maldives
  2. Climate and sea levelIs the Maldives sinking? Sea level rise and climate change
  3. Coastal erosionCoastal erosion in the Maldives
  4. Land reclamationLand reclamation in the Maldives
  5. Coral restorationCoral restoration in the Maldives
  6. Renewable energySolar and renewable energy in the Maldives
  7. Waste and recyclingWaste and recycling in the Maldives
  8. MaricultureMariculture in the Maldives
  9. FarmingFarming in the Maldives
  10. The economyThe Maldivian economy explained

Written on the island

Every guide is written and checked by Dhiffushi Island Council. Prices and boat times change, so confirm with your guesthouse before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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