Clean, white, and fine as flour sands flanked around the tropical vegetation, the shoreline of Maldives is sprinkled with the world’s best beaches. You must lounge under palms to gawp at the Indian Ocean. Dine at the sandbanks that appear and disappear under the tide. There are dozens of beaches in the Maldives scattered around its 200 inhabited islands. But the real question is, how do you find which beach in the Maldives is suitable for you? Should you go to the Maldives beaches on local islands or private islands? In a nutshell, whatever you select, the sugar-white sands and crystalline waters have the enigma to soothe the restless minds of travelers. And the distinguishable feature? Most of them are backed by lush green foliage.
When is the Best Time to Visit Maldives Beaches?
The months between November to April marks the best time to visit Maldives beaches since it is a dry season. It is more noticeable in the northern atolls. During these months, the sea temperature is ideal for watersports, and there is no risk of high waves. Whereas May to October is a rainy season in the Maldives. Some tourists find the wet season the best time to visit the Maldives as surfing is best enjoyed during the same season. So it depends on the individual’s choice when to visit the Maldives. Lastly, dry season is also when the beach resorts in local and private islands shoot up their prices.
14 Best Beaches in Maldives ( At Local and Private Island)
- Mudhdhoo Beach
- Hulhumale Beach
- Bandos Beach
- Reethi Beach
- Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Beaches
- Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island
- Baros Maldives
- Mirihi Island Beach
- Dhigurah Island Beaches
- Veligandu Island Beaches
- Fulhadhoo Beach
- Four Seasons Beaches
- Thulusdhoo Beach (Bikini Beach)
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1. Mudhdhoo Beach
If you want to witness bioluminescent plankton in the Maldives, visit Mudhdhoo Beach, which is christened on the same island. This island resort is located on the territory of the Baa Atoll, where the underwater marine world houses clownfish, stingrays, colorful corals, and parrotfishes.
Mudhdhoo Beach is a famous Maldives beach because it lights during the night. The presence of tiny organisms produces a bioluminescent blue glow in contrast with the white sands. Couples will love taking strolls at Mudhdhoo Beach during sunset and sunrise.
Read Also: Best Resorts in Maldives for honeymoon
2. Hulhumale Beach
How about rejuvenating with the blue hues of the Indian Ocean followed by sunbathing on white sands? If the idea sounds like what you actually need, then Hulhumale beach of the Maldives in Kaafu Atoll should be your bet.
Touted to be one of the best public beaches in Maldives, this beach is actually located on a local inhabited island, and hence, this is a no bikini beach. Instead, you will find pocket-friendly hotels at the Hulhumale Beach shoreline with a short, accessible distance from the white sandy shores. The water here is sparkling blue, and you can indulge in a range of watersports like snorkeling, diving, jet-skiing, and plenty more.
3. Bandos Beach
Just a 15-20 minutes speedboat ride from Male airport, you will see Bandos Beach. Bandos Beach is located on a private island and has bright blue waters and white sands. You will feel immediate tranquility if you look for a romantic beach in the Maldives for couples.
When you are at Bandos, go out fishing, snorkeling, sunset dolphin cruise, and a sandbank picnic. In addition, you can ask the resort staff to arrange a private movie experience in the middle of the lagoons, followed by a night fishing experience.
Read Also: Best Islands in Maldives for honeymoon
4. Reethi Beach
Reethi Rah is a 4-star luxury private island resort with several beaches within its vast shoreline. Their whole private island in Baa Atoll is fringed with 12 private and beautiful white sandy beaches.
You can easily reach Reethi Beach from Male via speedboat if you want to spot one of the beautiful sunsets. Imagine you and your significant other are enjoying a private beach setting and witnessing the sunset setting behind the horizon.
Read Also: Places to visit in Maldives for honeymoon
5. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Beaches
One of the best beaches in Maldives, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is a 5-star private island resort in Kaafu atoll in North Male. The sand is silky white, and the shoreline is punctured with palm trees.
Luxury travelers spend their 3-4 days at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru because beach yoga is one of the best things to do here. In addition, you can witness amazing underwater marine life and some fabulous colorful coral reefs on snorkeling, scuba diving, and underwater sea walks. We assure you that you will definitely feel the sense of tranquility, magic, and romance at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Read Also: Things to do in Maldives
6. Kandolhu Island Beach
Want to make your sweetheart’s jaws drop on an unforgettable Maldives honeymoon? Visit this 5-star private island resort for a candlelight dinner on the sandbanks, special movie screening under the lagoons.
The best way to enjoy the salty breeze at Kandolhu Island Beach is to book a beach villa or ocean pool villas. It is just around 40 minutes speedboat from Male airport and features an in-house reef also. So it is obvious that you can enjoy snorkeling, diving, catamaran sailing here at Kandolhu Island Beach.
7. Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island
Are you a price-conscious traveler? If yes, then visit Maafushi Island to unwind at the Bikini Beach. It is a touristy beach, and the USP of this beach of Maldives is its tourists have the freedom to flaunt themselves in a bikini or other beachwear.
With strips of talc white and palm trees swinging in the backdrops, Bikini Beach in Maafushi Island is one of the best beaches in Maldives. Lastly, you will find cafes, hotels, resorts just a stone’s distance away, and Maafushi Island is one of the best places to visit in the Maldives for a one day trip from Male – the capital town.
8. Baros Maldives
The sandy shores of Baros Maldives have some of the mesmerizing Maldives beaches under its belts. Baros Maldives is a 5-star private island resort located 30 minutes speedboat ride from Male International Airport. Geographically, Baros Maldives is in North Male atoll, and couples love to take a romantic stroll on the white sandy shoreline.
From sandbank dining to a destination wedding, the beaches of Baros can’t be ignored. The distinguishable feature? Baros Maldives has overwater beach villas to stay. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and catamaran sailing are some of the excellent water sports to try at Baros Maldives.
9. Mirihi Island Beach
This is another private island resort accessible by a 40 minutes seaplane ride from Velana International Airport. This gem of white sands and fringed palms is located in South Ari Atoll and personifies detoxification at its best. Mirihi Island has no loud music, nightlife to disturb you, and travelers can surely unwind in a peaceful environment.
Mirihi Island Beach is one of those Maldives beaches where you can try the Ocean Pro diving experience. So make your heart wander on the yacht before dining on the white sandbanks.
10. Dhigurah Island Beaches
How about setting a picnic table into a sandbar on your Maldives vacation? Visit the Dhigurah Island in South Ari Atoll if the idea intrigues you. The beaches of Dhigurah Island are best for swimming.
You must know that this is a local island, and hence, you will find a bikini zone at the island’s southern part only. The thick band of white sands, crystal clear water are best observed on a snorkeling excursion. On a guided snorkeling excursion, expect to see the blue marlin fishes, reef sharks, manta rays. Did we mention that Dhigurah Island beaches also allow night diving?
11. Veligandu Island Beaches
With a cluster of dozens of powdery sandy beaches and tropical vegetation belts, Veligandu Island Resort is a private island resort that features white sandy beaches. There are overwater villas on the island, and the long stretching sandbar, which is perfect for private lunch, is the USP of Veligandu Island Resort.
Don’t forget to dip your toes in the crystalline blue waters. For the best marine life experience at Veligandu Island Resort, indulge in reef snorkeling, scuba diving under the resort’s supervision.
12. Fulhadhoo Beach
There is no other joy than enjoying a centennial Maldivian holiday experience other than at the calm lagoons and fantastic waters for snorkeling and dolphin spotting excursions. If you resonate with what we are saying, sign up for a tropical bliss at Fulhadhoo Island.
This is a local island beach which is accessible by 2-hour speedboat from Male airport. Even more, you will find affordable accommodation at Fulhadhoo Beach for sure because the locals inhabited here provide homestays also for the tourists. Indeed, this beach in the Maldives is your door to access the finest Maldivan hospitality at your disposal.
Read Also: Water Sports Activities in Maldives
13. Four Seasons Beaches
With its milky shoreline and gently lapping waves, Four Seasons Beaches at Landaa Giraavaru within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is one of the best Maldives beaches at private island resorts. Guests can expect luxury and watersports like snorkeling, scuba diving, catamaran sailing at their disposal.
This rarest gem of Maldives is punctured with 2 kilometers of lagoons. Stay inside the beach villa to walk around the walk swathes of powdered sands. The Four Season Beaches are backed by the lush green jungle greens and the underwater marine life beacons marine life lovers to uncover sea turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and coral colonies.
14. Thulusdhoo Beach (Bikini Beach)
The Maldives has many Bikini beaches under its belts on local islands, and Thulusdhoo Beach in the local inhabited island of Thulusdhoo is a surfer’s heaven. Set in the capital of the Kaafu Atoll, travelers can truly bask in the pure Maldivian hospitality at Thulusdhoo Island after enjoying watersports at Thulusdhoo Beach, aka Bikini Beach.
Although there are several other beaches within the island, Bikini Beach is the one that allows tourists to flaunt in a swimsuit. Board a half an hour ferry from Male to reach Thulusdhoo Beach. You will find the decent reef at Bikini Beach. A 30 minutes island hopping will reward you with various sandbanks where you can enjoy a private lunch experience under the crew’s supervision.
Wrapping Up the Best Beaches in the Maldives
To keep it simple, we would like to state to you that the beaches in the Maldives at the local island are not bikini beaches (ONLY A FEW OF THEM ARE). But the beaches on private island resorts in the Maldives allow tourists to flaunt themselves in their swimsuits without any hindrance. At the same time, the best Maldives beaches on private island resorts feature overwater villas that feel like a floating luxury. Simultaneously, the Maldives beaches on local islands do not have overwater villas. Instead, travelers can stay on beach villas on both private and local Maldives islands.