Maldives Information

1) From Hulhule to Hulhumale

http://trekkersnotes.com/a-night-in-hulhumale/

Ibrahim International Airport, Friday, 6th March 2015, 11:30AM. I was fuelled with excitement
when I saw the airport in a whole island. The island name is called Hulhule and if you notice
there’s an oblique island connecting to the airport, it is called Hulhumale. That’s the place
the travellers sleep for a night before going to other island, and some stays at the City (you
cannot see it here).

Photo courtesy from Maldives Airport.

Velana airport also known as Ibrahim International Airport previously.

The whole island is an airport with only one hotel (Hulhule Island Hotel) that caters alcoholic
drink and pork in the whole country of Maldives. Alcohol is prohibited but as what I’ve heard,
drugs can go in due to high volume of different ships from different countries. Pork is also
not allowed as this is a pure Muslim country. Bible and other Christian materials are
prohibited as well. What you can do is just respect their culture.

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport map.

It was a hot, sunny day at 31ºC. There’s a lot of shuttle waiting outside the airport, bringing
every travelers to their respective hotel in Hulhule or Hulhumale. Well, Hulhumale is the only
island that connects the airport by bridge, the rest are by boat or seaplane.
Informations I gathered a week before my travel:

1) There are no boats from Malé to the other islands on Friday.

2) There are no bus from the airport to Hulhumale but when I check some of the site, there
are buses, only the timing is different. Solution? I asked the hotel to which I will stay and the
owner, Nasih of UI Hotel emailed me back that there are buses. Problem solved.

3) I didn’t read this one. A friend told me that her husband told her that us, women,
especially those who cannot dive won’t enjoy Maldives. Let’s see!

4) I didn’t read this one as well (this happened after I travelled and posted pictures on my
social media). A friend told me that he thought that we cannot stay in Maldives if we don’t
have SGD1,000 per day. I told him that I spent below SGD1,000 for my 5 days stay in
Maldives.

So, I arrived at 11:30 and the first thing that I saw was the super clear and clean water in the
port. It was like you want to jump in there anytime. It was freaking hot as well. No mountains,
no buildings, only boats and crystal clear water.

Port in Ibrahim International airport

I don’t know where’s the bus stop is so I asked around in the airport. One guy told me there
is no bus and he can take me to my hotel for MVR50. I refused because I want to know
where is the bus stop and how much is the fare. I asked another guy and he told me to walk
on my left (that is when you go out from the airport). He said that there is no bus at this
moment, I have to wait an hour.

Outside the airport:

See that tree? That’s where the bus stop is.

Yes, the sign board is hiding, lol. You cannot see it so take note of the tree.

Bus schedule:
 Hulhumale bus schedule
Place take note of the timing of Hulhule to Hulhumale bus schedule. It states that on Friday
afternoon, there is no bus from Hulhumale to Hulhule from 12:15 to 1:00PM. And there is no
bus from Hulhule to Hulhumale from 12:40 to 1:30PM. The schedule on the left side is from
Hulhumale to Hulhule while on the right side is from Hulhule to Hulhumale. But expect
delays as this is Friday, Islam’s praying time.

I still have lots of hour so I walked around the airport. I went inside Bali Thai to see what I
can order. It’s lunch time in Maldives while early in the afternoon in Singapore, and yes, I’m
hungry. Singapore is 3 hours ahead in Maldives. The price in the airport is per USD and one
order will be around USD10. Fuckin’ expensive, lol. I don’t want burgers so I just order the
cheapest one just to have my stomach stops from growling. I was queuing when I overheard
our language and I butt-in with them. They were stunned because they thought I am
Chinese. Dear Lord, a lot of people thought I’m Chinese. So we ate together, we talked and
we instantly became friends! They even agreed each other that they will tour me around the
city and they even send me to my hotel and even pay for my bus fare! Bus fare is MVR16
(USD1.00). I don’t want them to do it but they insist so I just said thank you and enjoy the
moment. While waiting for the bus, one of them got impatient because of the hot weather
and the long hour of bus arrival. She then suggested that we can take a boat to Malé. As far
as the information that I gathered is concern, I told her that there is no boat going to Malé on
Fridays. She grinned and said, “Eacel, we came here by boat from Malé. There is a boat
from Malé to the airport and to Hulhumale on Fridays, only there are time that needed to
wait.” Well, well, well, grinning embarrassment alert! But one of them said that she haven’t
experienced riding a bus in Malé in her years of stay! lol. She didn’t even know that there is
a bus operating from the airport to the other island. So there, we stayed and waited for the
bus.

I just put my things down in the hotel and went out with them. There are buses going to the
port of Hulhumale and take a boat going to Malé. Bus fare is only MVR3 (USD0.20) from UI
Hotel to Hulhumale port. Ferry fare is MVR5.50 (USD0.35) for only 15 minutes.

For more information regarding ferry schedule, click here.

http://www.mtcc.com.mv/transporthome.aspx

2) Ferry Schedule

 Hulhumale to Male http://mtcc.com.mv/sites/default/files/Hulhumale%20Ferry.pdf

 Male to Villingili

Take a Taxi to Villingili Ferry terminal where the Maafushi ferry will depart.
Taxi’s will charge around US$ 3.00.
OR
Via ferry
http://www.mtcc.com.mv/sites/default/files/tsd_ferry_schedules/Villingili%20Ferry%20-%
202015.pdf

After you arrive at the Villingili Ferry Terminal area, buy a ticket at the counter to
Maafushi.
Ticket per person is US$ 2.00. After you buy your ticket ask for the Maafushi ferry. Its
always safe to arrive 15-20 minutes before ferry time, so you have time to buy the ticket
and find the ferry.
After you find the ferry please reconfirm with the captain or crew if the ferry is going to
Maafushi island

 Villingili to Maafushi

Option 1: Public Ferry

The ticket price to Maafushi Island from Malé at the time of travel

Try to arrive at Malé’s ferry terminal about 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure
time. When it’s time to board the ferry be sure to ask one of the workers if it is the correct
ferry servicing Maafushi Island as it isn’t overly clear.

The trip should take between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on the weather, delays, etc.

Maafushi Island may not be the first stop on the journey (it wasn’t during our visit to
Maafushi as we first stopped (briefly) at Gulhi Island), therefore ask while you are on the
ferry whether it is indeed Maafushi before you disembark.

http://www.chasingplaces.com/how-to-get-from-male-to-maafushi-island/
Option 2: Speed boat
iCom Tours also operates speedboat transfers from Male Island to Maafushi. The timings are
from 8am to 7pm daily too, and the price is also 20 USD (goes down to 15 USD if there are
more people). The trip takes around 40 minutes.

iCom Tours
Website: https://icomtours.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/icomtours
Phone: +960 7902069 / +960 7792069
Email: info@icomtours.com

 Maafushi Island to airport

The speedboat ride costs 20 USD per pax, but the price goes down to 15 USD if there are
more people. The ride takes just 45 minutes, book via iCom.

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/01/how-to-get-to-maafushi/
 3) Transportation

http://www.velanahotels.com/transfers

Public Ferry Boat Transfer

Price: US$ 2.00 (per group)

Number of passengers: 18 (max)

Departure Location: Near Villingili ferry terminal
Scheduled time: 15.00 hours everyday (EXCEPT Fridays). Its advisable to be there 15-20
minutes before ferry departure time.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Upon arrival at the airport take a ferry to Male’ (the capital city). There
is a ferry to Male’ every 10 minutes. Take a ticket at the ferry counter. The price of a ferry
ticket to Male’ is US$ 1.00 per person. The ferry takes 15 minutes to reach Male’. 2. After
you reach Male’, you can take a Taxi to Villingili Ferry terminal where the Maafushi ferry will
depart. Taxi’s will charge around US$ 3.00. If you have a lot of time you may choose to rest
to spend your time in one of the many restaurants and Cafés in the Male’. 3. After you arrive
at the Villingili Ferry Terminal area, buy a ticket at the counter to Maafushi. Ticket per person
is US$ 2.00. After you buy your ticket ask for the Maafushi ferry. Its always safe to arrive 15-
20 minutes before ferry time, so you have time to buy the ticket and find the ferry. After you
find the ferry please reconfirm with the captain or crew if the ferry is going to Maafushi
island. 4. We will greet you on arrival at Maafushi island.
 4) Hotel Options
 Hulhumale

UI Hotel 33$
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-s1-g1938013-d2290098-Reviews-
Hotel_UI_Inn-Hulhumale.html

Crystal Beach Inn 58$

https://www.agoda.com/pages/agoda/default/DestinationSearchResult.aspx?asq=1s
UhGnEt%2f6h0NzD58CxHwuKjdxaoWOBU0xhfos3kH5kv1+hhQ0jnt67OTPKXn%2f
Dyz%2f8IiOt1Noy7ql2UthUtVYanlEWPdTNvhRAleYDmaUG7N5JAzXcuXgQxjXuER
O51JF58AHcFOjfPWXipL1qKQwL32eC1j1+7EcFqn0V%2fTYSBLXjNcwiAJ8Hbp37O
FSaAbm5KeejK2gPTikyTDF36u5kbhfx2cNa5DG80LFNTCWelrLKm3c1InVZs9Crm9I
cT05uHOw5zRjNqQQWB7tToA30WIxNAZgudolCQ%2f5DvlBUbVyT0EyaR7WhH4h
3k21jEkHEk2ITR1biHI1CeCcTuqMPQgbH8N0yhg9FQEm6Vsyo%3d&currency=USD
&cid=1731668&sort=agodaRecommended

 Maafushi
http://www.velanahotels.com/transfers

5. Itinerary

 Hulhumale
FIRST STAY AT HOTEL UI INN IN HULHUMALE AND MALÉ ONCE AGAIN
http://trekkersnotes.com/first-stay-at-ui-hotel-hulhumale-and-male-once-again/

 Male
 GETTING AROUND MALÉ

http://trekkersnotes.com/getting-around-male/

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/02/ultimate-maafushi-travel-guide/

Where is the Best Area to Stay in Maafushi Island (Maldives)?

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/02/where-to-stay-in-maafushi-maldives/

10 Awesome Things to Do in Maafushi Island (Maldives)!

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/01/what-to-do-in-maafushi-maldives/

The Ultimate Maafushi Travel Guide!

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/02/ultimate-maafushi-travel-guide/

Maafushi Island (Maldives) – Five Days Itinerary!

http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/02/maafushi-maldives-five-days-itinerary/