When we first started exploring the Maldives, we quickly realized that every island had its own charm and challenges. Some were lively with cafés and diving centers, others quiet and untouched. After visiting a few local islands, we knew we wanted to understand them on a deeper level. Not just the most popular islands, but also those that are only beginning to welcome visitors.
Our goal was simple: to visit 30 local islands across the Maldives and collect accurate, hands-on information for our travel guides. We wanted to verify ferry routes, test private and public speedboats, visit guesthouses, and film everything from hotel rooms to island walks. We also wanted to experience what daily island life was really like. See how people lived, how tourists connected with locals, and what made each place unique.
We noticed how difficult it was to find reliable information online about ferries, transfers, or even which islands had good accommodation options. Many travelers were still confused about how to plan island hopping in the Maldives, so we decided to do the research ourselves, island by island, boat by boat.
What started as a 3-month project to fact-check details for our Complete Maldives Travel Guide turned into a full-on adventure. Between ferry delays, weather changes, and spontaneous discoveries, those months became some of the most memorable experiences we’ve ever had.
Our Plan: 3 Months, 30 Islands
When we first came up with the idea of visiting 30 local islands, it sounded simple enough. One island every few days for 3 months should be simple, right? But of course, nothing ever goes exactly as planned in the Maldives.
Our goal was to spend around 3 days on each island, which would give us enough time to explore, film, and meet people. We wanted to visit not just the famous islands but also smaller ones that were only beginning to welcome visitors. Some had only one or two guesthouses, while others were still setting up basic facilities for tourists.
We quickly learned that island hopping in the Maldives depends a lot on the weather and ferry schedules. Sometimes the sea was too rough, and public boats were canceled. Other times we fell in love with a place and stayed longer than planned. A few islands were just transit stops. We spent a night, caught a ferry the next morning, and moved on.
In the end, every delay and detour made the trip even more real. It wasn’t always easy, but it gave us a true picture of how travel between local islands actually works. Something we could never have learned by just reading about it online. We have documented our entire trip on your YouTube channel. You can watch the full playlist here.
How We Traveled Between Islands
Island hopping in the Maldives was an adventure from the start. We wanted to try every way of getting around (ferries, speedboats, even private rides) just to see what worked best and to travel the same way locals do. When the islands were close, we used public ferries. They were slow, but we didn’t mind, it gave us a chance to relax, enjoy the view, and save on transfer. It’s the most affordable way to move between islands, though the schedule can be unpredictable. Sometimes the ferry never showed up or was canceled at the last minute when the weather turned.
We also took public speedboats, which were faster and ran more often than ferries. They were perfect for hopping between nearby atolls or reaching islands with tight transfer windows. And when schedules didn’t line up, we had to book private speedboats. They are actually not as expensive as most people think.
After trying every way to get around, we learned that island hopping in the Maldives can be unpredictable. Some routes are simple, others take careful planning, and a little patience always helps.
Behind the Scenes of Our Travel Guide Research
Visiting 30 islands in 3 months was amazing, but it wasn’t all beaches and sunsets. We spent most days walking across islands under the heat, sometimes several times a day, filming, live streaming, and talking to locals. It was real fieldwork! We were on a mission to make sure every detail in our travel guides was accurate.
On every island, we checked ferry routes, talked to boat operators, and confirmed transfer schedules ourselves. We visited hotels and guesthouses, filmed the rooms, tested Wi-Fi, looked at outlets, and asked every question a traveler might wonder about. We collected restaurant menus, compared excursion prices, and even checked things like where to rent bikes or where the best smoothie spot was.
We shared a lot of what we found on our two YouTube channels, but honestly, what’s online is just a small part of it. Our guides go deeper, with all the practical island-hopping tips and transfer details we learned from doing it ourselves.
Those 3 months were intense but worth it. Every island taught us something new, and by the end, we felt like we truly knew the Maldives. Not just as tourists, but as people who experienced island life up close, one ferry at a time.
The Islands We Visited
Over those 3 months, we traveled across 30 local islands. Each one with its own character and vibe. Some were lively and full of cafés, while others were quiet and barely touched by tourism. A few were easy to reach, and others took several boats to get to. But every single one taught us something new about the Maldives.
Here’s a look at the islands we explored:
Guraidhoo, Gulhi, Fulidhoo, Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo, Maafushi, Dharavandhoo, Kendhoo, Kudarikilu, Kamadhoo, Kihaadhoo, Dhonfanu, Maalhos, Eydhafushi, Fehendhoo, Fulhadhoo, Diffushi, Thulusdhoo, Himmafushi, Rasdhoo, Ukulhas, Bodufolhudhoo, Mathiveri, Feridhoo, Himandhoo, Mahibadhoo, Omadhoo, Dhangethi, and Dhigurah.
Maafushi and Dhigurah were already well-known among travelers. Kihaadhoo and Dhonfanu, on the other hand, were just beginning to open up to tourism. Some islands, such as Dhiffushi or Himmafushi, were such a breeze to get to. But together, they gave us a complete picture of how different life can be from one atoll to the next.
Even after visiting so many, we still felt there was more to see. That’s the beauty of island hopping in the Maldives. Every island has its own vibe, its own people, and its own surprises waiting when you step off the boat.
Plan Your Own Island-Hopping Adventure
If our journey through 30 islands taught us anything, it’s that planning a trip across the Maldives doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need the right information. That’s exactly why we created our Maldives Budget Travel Guides.
Each guide is built from real, on-the-ground experience. We personally verified ferry routes, tested transfers, stayed in local guesthouses, and explored every corner to make sure everything inside is accurate and practical. Whether you’re visiting one island or planning a full island-hopping adventure, our guides will help you choose the right route, find reliable transport, and know what to expect before you even land.
You can spend hours searching online, or you can use what we’ve already learned the hard way. All organized and updated in one place. It’s everything we wish we had before starting our trip.
If you’re dreaming about seeing the real Maldives (resorts or local islands), start with our guides. They’ll save you time, money, and a lot of guesswork, so you can focus on what matters most: enjoying the islands.
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