The mangroves
Kayaking through the wetland.
Andreas Faessler — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas Faessler — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas Faessler — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas Faessler — CC BY-SA 4.0 · M.SaameeMilandhoo — CC BY 3.0
Hanimaadhoo is an inhabited island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll in the northern Maldives, about 289 km from the capital Malé. One of the few islands with an international airport, it is slowly becoming a northern base for budget travellers and those after local life, away from the busier central atolls. Scientists knew it before tourists did. The island is home to the Hanimaadhoo Meteorological Observatory, the starting point for research into aerosols and the Brown Cloud. On 27 February 2025 it recorded 35.8 °C, the highest temperature on record in the Maldives. Its upgraded airport has added flights to Indian cities including Kochi, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, and guesthouses have grown with it. The island has long palm-shaded roads and sandy beaches fringed with green, and some hotels lend free bicycles to explore them. Kayaking through the mangrove wetland is its best-known activity, and guesthouses offer diving, snorkelling, fishing and dolphin trips. It is a Muslim community with no alcohol, so dress modestly away from any swimming areas set aside for tourists, and ask about them where you stay. A domestic flight from Malé takes about 45 minutes. Hotels lie about 15 minutes by car from the airport, and some may need a short boat ride, so ask when you book. Allow at least two nights, since it is further to reach than the islands near the capital, and flight schedules change by season.
Kayaking through the wetland.
A cycle between village and beach.
Sand and calm water away from crowds.
Haa Dhaalu Atoll, northern Maldives
It is less crowded and offers quieter local life, with its own airport, but it takes a domestic flight and has fewer activities.
Sources mention routes to Indian cities since the airport upgrade, but these can change, so check with airlines before planning.