East beach
The first Maldivian sunrise.
Saaremees — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tkkrd — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Matthias Rühlemann at de.wikipedia — Public domain · nathan williams from London, UK — CC BY 2.0 · Saaremees — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small local island in North Malé Atoll, about 37 kilometres northeast of Malé, some 950 metres long and 200 wide, with about 1,270 residents at the 2022 census. It is described as the easternmost inhabited island of the Maldives, the first place in the country to see the sunrise. Coral reefs surround it and its lagoon is rich in marine life, so you can snorkel straight from the shore. It has three tourist beaches: the north beach, known for stingray spotting; the south beach, with sunbeds, swings and a café; and the east beach, the favourite for watching the sunrise. Tourism has grown here since 2009, when the government allowed guesthouses on local islands, and there are dive and water-sports centres, with trips to sandbanks and nearby reefs per visitor guides. Shared speedboats from Malé take 40 to 45 minutes for about USD 35, and the public ferry two to three hours, per visitor guides. It is a local island, so modest dress is advisable away from the tourist beaches, and alcohol is not served.
The first Maldivian sunrise.
For stingray spotting.
Snorkelling from shore.
North Malé Atoll, about 37 km northeast of Malé
By shared speedboat in 40 to 45 minutes for about USD 35, or by public ferry in two to three hours, per visitor guides.