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South Malé, Maldives
Guriadhoo, South Malé · Photo by Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · 17 MP

South Malé

ކ · K · The guesthouse belt

South Malé is where guesthouse tourism in the Maldives actually happened. Maafushi went from a fishing island to dozens of properties in little more than a decade, and the model spread from here to the rest of the country.

It is the cheapest way into the Maldives by a wide margin, and the closest. It is also the most crowded: if the appeal is an empty island, look further south.

At a glance

CapitalMaafushi (largest)
PopulationPart of Kaafu
AirportVelana Int'l MLE
Public ferryYes, most days
Resorts10
Hotels0
Guesthouses83

Getting there

Public ferry from Malé runs most days and costs a couple of dollars; speedboats do the same run in a fraction of the time for a great deal more.

Properties below are the Ministry of Tourism’s registered facilities for this atoll — name, island, rooms and beds exactly as recorded on the register. Transfer times, house-reef status and rates are checked by us property by property and appear as each listing is completed.

Resorts 10 in South Malé

All resorts →
Sun Siyam Olhuveli MaldivesOlhuveli460Rooms920Beds
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma MaldivesKandoomafushi162Rooms324Beds
Niva Velassaru MaldivesVelassaru129Rooms258Beds
Adaaran Club RannalhiRannalhi122Rooms244Beds
Embudhu VillageEmbudhu118Rooms236Beds
Bolifushi Island ResortBolifushi114Rooms228Beds
Anantara Resort and Spa MaldivesDhigufinolhu113Rooms226Beds
Ozen By Atmosphere At MaadhooMaadhoo107Rooms214Beds
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa MaldivesEmbudhu Finolhu67Rooms134Beds
Adaaran Prestige VadooVaadhoo50Rooms100Beds

Guesthouses 83 in South Malé

All guesthouses →
Triton ExoticaMaafushi117Rooms234Beds
Kaani Palm BeachMaafushi105Rooms210Beds
Kaani Grand SeaviewMaafushi56Rooms112Beds
Arena BeachMaafushi49Rooms98Beds
Arena Fushi SeaviewMaafushi49Rooms98Beds
Arena Veli SeaviewMaafushi49Rooms98Beds
Icom Blue SeaviewMaafushi49Rooms98Beds
Triton PrestigeMaafushi48Rooms96Beds
Arrival Beach and SpaGulhi47Rooms94Beds
h78 GuraidhooGuraidhoo45Rooms90Beds
Avyanna Gulhi BeachGulhi38Rooms76Beds
iCom Marina Sea ViewMaafushi36Rooms72Beds
Beach Heaven GuraidhooGuraidhoo35Rooms70Beds
Sunrise BeachMaafushi30Rooms60Beds
Arena Grand BeachMaafushi28Rooms56Beds
Rehendhi VillaMaafushi27Rooms54Beds
Aimi BeachGulhi24Rooms48Beds
Rosemary BoutiqueMaafushi22Rooms44Beds
Triton BeachMaafushi22Rooms44Beds
Arrival SeaviewGulhi20Rooms40Beds
Ayala Ocean ViewGulhi20Rooms40Beds
Kaani VillageMaafushi20Rooms40Beds
Kue MaafushiMaafushi20Rooms40Beds
Valley Palm SeaviewGuraidhoo19Rooms38Beds
Crystal SandsMaafushi18Rooms36Beds
Kaani BeachMaafushi18Rooms36Beds
Velana BluMaafushi18Rooms36Beds
Ocean Retreat and SpaGuraidhoo17Rooms34Beds
Lea Spa MaafushiMaafushi16Rooms32Beds
Summer Villa Guest HouseMaafushi16Rooms32Beds
Athens ViewGuraidhoo15Rooms30Beds
Solunar MaldivesMaafushi15Rooms30Beds
Lagoona SunsetMaafushi14Rooms28Beds
PalmcasaMaafushi14Rooms28Beds
Shadowpalm House MaldivesMaafushi14Rooms28Beds
Aqua GulhiGulhi13Rooms26Beds
Pearlshine Retreat MaldivesGulhi13Rooms26Beds
Arora ViewMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Bliss HavenMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Four CoralMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Kuredhi Beach InnMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Leisure BoutiqueMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Merijaan MaldivesMaafushi12Rooms24Beds
Rosy VillaGuraidhoo12Rooms24Beds
Alaika MaafushiMaafushi11Rooms22Beds
Iris Beach ResidenceGuraidhoo11Rooms22Beds
Lumeire SandsGuraidhoo11Rooms22Beds
Santorini Maafushi MaldivesMaafushi11Rooms22Beds
Tropic TreeGulhi11Rooms22Beds
Green VistaMaafushi10Rooms20Beds
Nala Island VillageMaafushi10Rooms20Beds
Sandy Heaven MaldivesGulhi10Rooms20Beds
Stingray Beach InnMaafushi10Rooms20Beds
Velana BeachMaafushi10Rooms20Beds
Palm LagoonGuraidhoo9Rooms18Beds
Beach StoneGulhi8Rooms16Beds
Beach Walk VillaGulhi8Rooms16Beds
Rustic VillaGuraidhoo8Rooms16Beds
29.9Guraidhoo7Rooms14Beds
Adroit Sunset ViewGuraidhoo7Rooms14Beds
Island AmbienceMaafushi7Rooms14Beds
Water SevenMaafushi7Rooms14Beds
Aqua SunsetGulhi6Rooms12Beds
Arora InnMaafushi6Rooms12Beds
Palm Grove BeachMaafushi6Rooms12Beds
Pelican Beach MaafushiMaafushi6Rooms12Beds
Coco Cottage Local StyleGuraidhoo5Rooms10Beds
Fazaa View InnMaafushi5Rooms10Beds
Hireath Island HomeGuraidhoo5Rooms10Beds
Ithaa SeaviewGuraidhoo5Rooms10Beds
Ocean VistaMaafushi5Rooms10Beds
SeasunBeach MaafushiMaafushi5Rooms10Beds
ZinniaMaafushi5Rooms10Beds
Coquillage InnGulhi4Rooms8Beds
Ithaa BeachGuraidhoo4Rooms8Beds
Kaafu InnGuraidhoo4Rooms8Beds
NinosGuraidhoo4Rooms8Beds
Premier BeachGulhi4Rooms8Beds
Sunshine ViewMaafushi4Rooms8Beds
Ayala HomelyGulhi3Rooms6Beds
Chambao MaldivesGuraidhoo3Rooms6Beds
Endheri ResidenceGuraidhoo3Rooms6Beds
Moodhumaa InnGuraidhoo3Rooms6Beds

Islands worth knowing

MaafushiThe island that started guesthouse tourism here.
GulhiQuieter than Maafushi and ten minutes away.
GuraidhooA working island with a good bikini beach.

Run a property here?

Listing is free and always will be. Add or correct yours — corrections are free too, and never conditional on paying us.