Local island •Noonu atoll, see all its islands
Maalhendhoo
- Population
- 715
- as of 2022
- Area
- 0.48 km²
- land area
- Distance to airport
- 190.3 km
- Velana Airport
Overview
Maalhendhoo is a local island in Noonu, 190.3 km from Velana International Airport. About 715 people live here.
On the island
- Health centre
Not on the island
- Clinic
- Hospital
- ATM
- Bank
- Airport
Access points
Getting to Maalhendhoo
190.3 km from Velana International Airport
Public Ferry
From Maafaru, Noonu Atoll
25 min • $3.24 per person
Daily except Friday
MTCC's RTL network runs a direct link between Maafaru and Maalhendhoo so there's no no need to route back through Malé. There is one sailing each way per day. This is the onward leg from the Maldivian flight into Maafaru, and the two do not connect tightly — the flight lands mid-morning and the boat leaves late afternoon. Nothing runs on Fridays, and there is no direct RTL service to Malé. Fare is the fixed per-person one-way public rate.
Not suited to late arrivals
Private Speedboat
From Velana International Airport / Malé
4 hr
Daily
Charter direct from Malé to the island, arranged ahead of time. Operators do not take walk-ups, and advance booking is required. It is the one option that skips the Maafaru handoff and the once-a-day ferry, at the cost of roughly 190 km of open water in a small boat. Any price quoted will be a charter fare for the whole boat, not a fixed per-person rate.
Not suited to late arrivals
Domestic Flight
From Velana International Airport (Malé)
45 min • $173.15 per person
Daily
Maldivian is the sole operator into Maafaru International Airport (NMF), the nearest airstrip to Maalhendhoo as it has none of its own. The flight only gets you as far as Maafaru; the RTL ferry covers the last leg to the island, and it sails once a day in the late afternoon, so a morning arrival at Maafaru means a wait of several hours before the boat. Fare is priced per person for one-way travel.
Not suited to late arrivals
Guest guidance
Good to know before you arrive
- No bikini beach
- No alcohol
Who it's for
Travellers after a quiet working village, a mangrove wetland with boardwalks and viewpoints, and a short ferry hop from an airport.
Who it's not for
Nightlife or bar seekers, anyone needing more than basic health-centre care, and travellers who want a ready-made tourist beach.
Dress code
Modest dress in the inhabited village (shoulders and knees covered); swimwear reserved for the designated bikini beach or a resort/sandbank excursion.
During Ramadan
Local cafés and restaurants may close or limit service during Ramadan daylight hours; guesthouses generally still serve guests.
Location
Where Maalhendhoo is
- Distance from Velana Airport
- 190.3 km