Addu Atoll Holidays

Addu Atoll, the most southern atoll in the Maldives, is made up of a collection of 32 islands in the Indian Ocean, which sit positioned in a unique heart-shape. Being a relative newcomer to the holiday market, and having only 7 inhabited islands, holidays to Addu Atoll offer a taste of unspoilt island life, and feature plenty of tropical beaches, as well as world-class scuba-diving and snorkelling conditions. The atoll has one of the longest stretches of coral reef and beach in the Maldives, and is home to a diverse collection of whales and dolphins. Addu Atoll is accessed via an international airport on the island of Gan, and, thanks to its varied accommodation options, appeals to both the luxury holiday-maker and more independent traveller.

Full of tropical beaches fringed with swaying palms, lush vegetation and a host of natural lagoons, Addu Atoll is an idyllic tropical getaway. Home to a wide range of accommodation options, from budget resorts and exclusive boutique-style spas to all-inclusive holidays with upmarket hotels, the region is perfect for those content to just laze on white sands and enjoy beachside luxury, or venture out to explore the coral reefs and ride bikes to neighbouring islands. There are islands that are home to just one hotel, meaning privacy is guaranteed, and there is plenty of room on the beaches for peaceful sunbathing, with more-than comfortable lodgings in the form of bungalows and beachside villas. Still relatively undiscovered, Addu Atoll remains uncrowded and is an alternative to the more popular and established regions in the northern Maldives. Addu Atoll is a good choice for those in search of traditional Maldivian culture and an insight in Addu life, with the local people being fiercely independent and speaking a different dialect.

 

The atoll is unusual in the fact that it has a natural harbour surrounded by the islands, resulting in very safe calm waters due to its landlocked position. Most of the inhabited islands are found in the western reef, with four of these islands - Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo - being linked by causeway and road. These were built by the British when the atoll was the site of a Naval base during World War II, with the base continuing to be used as an Royal Airforce outpost in the Indian Ocean until the middle of the 1970's. This created an important infrastructure in the region, resulting in Addu Atoll being the main administrative centre in the south of the Maldives, and starting off the tourist industry in the atoll.