Every atoll, north to south
The Maldives is 26 natural atolls and 1,192 islands strung along 871 km of ocean — 298 km² of land scattered across roughly 90,000 km² of sea. Administratively it divides into the atolls below, and that is how the country actually works: your transfer, your ferry and your airport are all decided by which one you land in.
HA Haa Alifu The far north. Hanimaadhoo takes the domestic flights and a handful of resorts sit around it. 4Resorts 21Guesthouses 3Routes HDh Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi is the north's largest town — a working island, not a resort one. 3Resorts 18Guesthouses 2Routes Sh Shaviyani Quiet and thinly developed. Most beds here are guesthouses on inhabited islands. 2Resorts 14Guesthouses 2Routes N Noonu Maafaru's runway takes private jets, which is why several of the priciest resorts landed here. 7Resorts 12Guesthouses 3Routes R Raa Ifuru opened the atoll up. Good reefs, and a shorter transfer than the numbers suggest. 9Resorts 19Guesthouses 4Routes B Baa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Hanifaru Bay manta aggregation, June to November. 14Resorts 38Guesthouses 11Routes Lh Lhaviyani Naifaru is the capital; the diving around Kuredu draws most of the traffic. 6Resorts 16Guesthouses 5Routes K North Malé Closest to the airport. Most speedboat transfers land inside 45 minutes. 27Resorts 51Guesthouses 14Routes K South Malé Maafushi and the guesthouse belt. Public ferry runs most days. 19Resorts 96Guesthouses 9Routes K Malé City The capital and Hulhumalé. Almost all of the country's city hotels, and no resorts. 0Resorts 24Guesthouses 0Routes AA Alifu Alifu Rasdhoo and Ukulhas. Small islands, strong currents, reliable diving. 12Resorts 44Guesthouses 8Routes ADh Alifu Dhaalu Whale sharks along the southern rim. Dhigurah and Dhangethi are the guesthouse anchors. 19Resorts 77Guesthouses 12Routes V Vaavu Small, quiet, dive-led. Fulidhoo is the one guesthouse island most reach. 4Resorts 17Guesthouses 6Routes M Meemu Barely developed. Two resorts and a scattering of rooms on inhabited islands. 2Resorts 9Guesthouses 3Routes F Faafu Nilandhoo carries the history — one of the oldest mosque sites in the country. 2Resorts 8Guesthouses 2Routes Dh Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo's airport made the southern half of the atoll reachable. 5Resorts 11Guesthouses 3Routes Th Thaa Working islands and boatbuilding. Very little resort development. 1Resorts 12Guesthouses 2Routes L Laamu Linked by causeway across four islands — you can cycle between them. A surf atoll. 2Resorts 15Guesthouses 3Routes GA Gaafu Alifu Deep south. Long reefs, few visitors, and some of the country's best untouched diving. 3Resorts 13Guesthouses 5Routes GDh Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo is the southern hub. Guesthouses outnumber resort beds several times over. 2Resorts 16Guesthouses 4Routes Gn Fuvahmulah One island, one atoll. Tiger sharks year-round, and a freshwater lake in the middle. 0Resorts 22Guesthouses 4Routes S Addu City The far south. Connected by road across four islands, and its own international airport. 3Resorts 34Guesthouses 6Routes
Resort, guesthouse and route counts are AtollIndex estimates pending per-atoll verification. National totals come from the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, 30 December 2025.