At a glance
| At a glance | Addu |
|---|---|
| Where | The far south, just south of the equator |
| Getting there | A domestic flight to Gan, about 70 to 95 minutes, then a short boat ride or drive |
| Under water | The British Loyalty wreck; mantas all year |
| On land | RAF Gan history; wetlands; the link road |
| Suits | History and nature lovers, divers, local life |
Where it is
Addu is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, just south of the equator. The longest link road in the country runs from the atoll capital all the way to Gan, the airport island. It has resorts as well as guesthouses.
Getting there
There are daily flights from Malé to Gan International Airport, taking about 70 to 95 minutes. From Gan, resorts are a short boat ride or drive away.
History
Addu was home to the country’s first international airport, the Royal Air Force base at Gan. The British built a base here during the Second World War, the first aircraft landed on Gan in 1943, and the British left in 1976. A war memorial stands outside the former RAF headquarters, and some of the old RAF buildings are still in use.
Under water
The British Loyalty, a tanker torpedoed in 1944 and later scuttled in the lagoon, is Addu’s best-known dive, a deeper dive, and has been protected since 2018. Manta Point is a cleaning station where reef mantas are seen all year. There are dive sites for a range of levels, from shallow sites inside the lagoon to deeper channels, and the channels are wider than elsewhere, so currents are gentler.
On land
Addu Nature Park, on Hithadhoo, takes in the Eydhigali Kilhi wetlands, among the largest in the country, with mangroves to explore by canoe and paths to cycle. Meedhoo was among the first islands in the Maldives to adopt Islam, and Hithadhoo has a fine mosque in the Maldivian style.
Who it suits
A stay here suits history and nature lovers and divers: the British Loyalty wreck, mantas all year and the wetlands of Addu Nature Park, a domestic flight to Gan. Our pick is below. Tell us who is travelling and what matters most, and we suggest the island that fits.
