Thaa Atoll guide: a large southern atoll

Thaa sits in the middle of the long chain of atolls that runs south from Malé. Meemu and Dhaalu lie to the north, and Laamu lies just to the south. Veymandoo, the most populous island, is roughly 225 km from the capital, so this is not an atoll you reach for a day trip.

Kolhumadulu is a wide atoll with a large lagoon and many islands along its rim. A few are inhabited, a few are resorts, and many are uninhabited islets and sandbanks.

If you are new to the atoll system, our Maldives atolls guide explains the difference between natural atolls and the 20 administrative atolls.

The Maldives Bureau of Statistics counted 10,260 people in Thaa in the 2022 census, including about 1,100 foreign residents. Island populations range from about 300 to 1,300. Atoll councils were abolished in May 2026, so each island is run by its own island council.

The table below lists all 13 inhabited islands in alphabetical order, with 2022 census figures, and shows which ones have accommodation on the Ministry of Tourism’s register of guesthouses and homestay guesthouses (checked October 2026).

Registers change often. Places open, close and change names, so check the Ministry of Tourism’s current list and the island council before you book. Islands with no listed guest stays can still be visited on a day trip if a boat can take you, but you will not find rooms there.

Every island in Thaa has its own character, mosque, school and harbour. A few stand out for travellers.

Thimarafushi

Thimarafushi has the atoll’s domestic airport and more registered guesthouses than any other island in Thaa. It makes a natural base, as you can land and be at your room within minutes.

Buruni

Buruni is a small island on the atoll’s eastern side with several registered guesthouses. When the 2004 tsunami destroyed neighbouring Vilufushi, Buruni took in many of its people while their island was rebuilt.

Vilufushi

Vilufushi was one of the islands hit hardest by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Its people were moved away, and the island was later rebuilt and enlarged on reclaimed land, with a sea wall and a new harbour, before residents returned. It is a quiet reminder of how low and exposed these islands are. Our guide to sea level rise and climate change covers that bigger picture.

Veymandoo and Guraidhoo

Veymandoo is the most populous island in Thaa, and Guraidhoo is close behind. Both have registered guest stays and give a good sense of everyday island life in the south.

Dhiyamigili

Dhiyamigili is a small island with a big name in Maldivian history. It is associated with the Dhiyamigili dynasty of sultans, who ruled the country in the 18th century. Read more about this era in our history of the Maldives.

By domestic flight

Thimarafushi Airport opened in September 2013 and is the atoll’s only airport. Flights leave from Velana International Airport, next to Malé. Schedules can change, so book well ahead and keep a buffer day before any international flight home. Our guide to seaplanes and domestic flights explains baggage limits and how connections work.

By boat within the atoll

From Thimarafushi, guesthouses usually arrange a speedboat to your island. In September 2025, a new Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry service was launched in Thaa. Ask your host or the island council for the current days and times.

For most visitors there is no practical sea route from Malé, so the flight is the realistic option. Our guide to getting around the Maldives compares the options across the country.

Thaa is a place to slow down, meet people and spend time in the water.

• Snorkelling: most inhabited islands have reef close by, but currents can be strong. Go with a local guide on the first day and check conditions.
• Sandbanks and picnic islands: guesthouses run trips to nearby sandbanks and uninhabited islands. Take water, shade and all your rubbish back with you.
• Fishing: line fishing at sunset is a big part of island life.
• Village life: walk the island in the late afternoon, when it cools down and children and families come out.

Thaa’s reefs share the wildlife found across the Maldives: reef sharks, turtles, schooling fish and moray eels in the channels, and rays over sandy lagoon floors. Dolphins are often seen from boats.

All rays and turtles are protected in the Maldives, and feeding sharks or rays is illegal. Keep a respectful distance and never touch coral. Our coral reef guide explains how to snorkel without causing damage.

We could not confirm a designated protected area in Thaa on the official national list. Government reports in recent years have mentioned surveys of sites in Thaa for possible future protection. Whatever the status, treat every reef and sandbank as if it were protected: don’t take shells or coral, and don’t anchor on reefs.

Thaa follows the national pattern described by the Maldives Meteorological Service. The dry northeast monsoon runs from January to March, the wetter southwest monsoon from mid-May to November, and April and December are transition months. It is hot all year, with sea temperatures around 28–29°C. Allow for rough crossings in the southwest monsoon. Our best time to visit guide has more detail.

The same rules apply in Thaa as on every inhabited island in the Maldives:

• Alcohol is not sold or allowed on local islands.
• Wear swimwear only on a designated bikini beach, if the island has one. Elsewhere, cover shoulders and knees.
• Shops and cafés close for a while at Friday midday prayers.
• During Ramadan, don’t eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight.

Outer islands in Thaa are more traditional than islands near Malé and may not have bikini beaches at all. Ask your host. Our local islands guide covers etiquette in more depth.

• Cash: bring enough rufiyaa and US dollars for your stay. Don’t assume you will find a cash machine that takes foreign cards on a small island.
• Health: island health centres handle minor problems. Serious cases go to larger hospitals, and the fully equipped ones are in Malé and Hulhumalé. Take out good travel insurance.
• Taxes: guesthouses on local islands with 50 rooms or fewer charge a green tax of USD 6 per guest per night, plus 17% tourism GST (since July 2025).

Thaa suits travellers who have time and want an atoll that sees very few visitors. If you have a short trip, an island near Malé is easier. Dhiffushi, on the eastern rim of North Malé Atoll, is about 40–50 minutes by shared speedboat from the airport and gives the same local-island experience without a domestic flight. See how to get to Dhiffushi or our guide to local islands near Malé.