Thulusdhoo - the perfect local island in Maldives

Oh Thulusdhoo! Thulusdhoo is wonderful local island in Maldives which bursts colour and life. It’s in Kaafu Atoll, which means it’s very close to the capital city, Male – less than 18 miles, which was about 40 minutes via private speedboat transfer, or an hour and a half by public ferry. 

Getting there 

Getting to Thulusdhoo is extremely simple so long as you DON’T TRAVEL ON A FRIDAY. The ferry leaves from Male at the Villingili ferry terminal every day (except Friday) at 14:30 and costs around 20 rufiyaa ($1.30). This is an excellent ferry as it has several stops along the way- meaning your trip could include many islands for next to nothing! After leaving Male it goes to Hinmafushi, then to Hura, then stopping at Thulusdhoo before finally finishing off at Dhihfushi. There’s only one boat a day though, so if you do get off on one of the islands be sure to organise a stay at one of the local guest houses. 

The ferry then makes it return journey early in the morning from Dhihfushi. It leaves Thulusdhoo around 7.25AM but I was there from 7:00 to be safe. At Hinmafushi it actually stopped for about 10 minutes, so I was able to hop off and go buy fresh coconut juice from a local stall. 

[Image: thulusdhoo]      

[Image: thulusdhoo]       Where to wait for the province ferry (to the left of the main jetty)

Where to stay 

There are loads of guest houses around the island, all of them great value and super friendly. Our group had NINE of us in total and we hadn’t arranged bookings beforehand. In the end half of us stayed at Thulusdhoo Surf Camp, while the rest of us stayed with Surfer’s World. (I can’t seem to find Surfer’s World own website, but you can call the owner, Musthaq, on (+960) 751-6386. 

I absolutely loved Surfer’s World- the rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable and they had a lovely private garden, perfect to seat ALL nine of us (even though half weren’t even staying there) where we enjoyed a MASSIVE feast of a barbecue, arranged by the very helpful owner, Musthaq, at a tiny price of 150 rufiyaa each (less than $10, including drinks). He also helped us organise a day trip to an uninhabited island very close to Thulusdhoo, called Kuda Villingili (Chicken’s Island), for just $5 each for transport plus a $5 entrance fee. 

If you book with Surfer’s World directly, depending on the season, you should be looking at just $60 a night for a double room with Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Work-permit holders are welcomed for 500 rufiyaa per room not including meals. 

Thulusdhoo: A vibrant local village with stunning white sandy beaches, warm turquoise waters and a remarkable house reef, not to mention all of the incredible dolphins. Thulusdhoo really is the ideal island for a more local (and affordable) trip to this exotic archipelago.

   

[Image: thulusdhoo]       Politics! Locals proudly paint their homes with the colour and number of the political party they support

[Image: celebration graffiti happy eid]       “Eid Mubarik” Happy Eid!! [Image: thulusdhoo]       This is the beautifully isolated deserted island “Kuda Villingili” or ‘Chicken’s island’. A great excursion with friends

    

[Image: man fishing sunset resized]       A local enjoying a spot of sunset fishing [Image: thulusdhoo]       Goodbye Thulusdhoo! (7.20AM)

NB: As of yet (December 2014), there aren’t any dive schools on the island BUT my good friends from Scuba Divine over on Hura island were more than happy to pick up my friends and I for a fantastic morning diving and drop us back off. Plus they didn’t charge anything extra despite the added journey! Two of my friends booked a Discover Scuba Dive while the rest of us were certified. We had smiles all-round- they’re a superb dive club, instructors are extremely professional and so friendly too! Expect VERY high standards from them. 

Here’s a video I made using my own clips of Thulusdhoo, mostly underwater, including snorkelling along the house reef, diving at a dive spot (called Colosseum) very close to the island, as well as a mesmerising dolphin show! They were everywhere! Even just sitting on the beach on Thulusdhoo you’re sure to see dolphins. I was lucky enough to be on the dive boat when we saw them and swam to catch up with them. 

Thulusdhoo Maldives – Paradise for surfers

Thulusdhoo Island is located just 28 km north of Male. It is the capital of Kaafu Atoll. Approximately 1400 people   live on the island. The size of Thulusdhoo is 700 x 400 meters (according to Google Maps). After the devastating tsunami that happened in 2004 on Rinbodhoo island, more than a half of the population had to move to Thulusdhoo, so the population of Thulusdhoo grew.

Thulusdhoo industrial sector is quite varied, it includes factories where workers deal with tuna drying and sea cucumber drying (looks like black sausages) and boat building workshops. But Coca-Cola factory, which was built in the 80s, is considered to be the heart of the island. It is the only Coca-Cola factory in the world, where desalted seawater is used. Because of this factory the island is sometimes called Coke’s Island. Apart from that, the nearest surfing spot also got the same name. It’s called simply Coke’s.

[Image: thulusdhoo-sunset]  

Sports In The Island

The Maldivians are a very active nation; various sports events are often held there. Football and cricket are the most popular sports there. But I’d like to describe local games that are also in favor there.

Bashi is an entertaining game only for women (that’s a Muslim country, but still). You’re expected to kick a tennis ball with a racquet as hard as you can to the other side of the pitch, while your opponent is to catch it. Limb injures and hitting on a head with a ball are the most widespread injures in this game, which shows how fearless the Maldivian women are.

When tournaments are held, such a dance is traditionally performed before a game. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Baibalaa is men sports, presupposing tough contact, when one team’s player is trying to get into a circle, to touch an opponent and to leave the circle before he is caught and probably injured by his opponents. The tourists’ participation in evening sports events is always welcomed and it provides you with an opportunity to have a good time with the locals.

I’d like to mention that I’ve never heard of these sports on other islands.

Thulusdhoo Infrastructure

There are 8 guest houses on the island, and all of them are eager to do everything possible to make your holiday unforgettable. There are several groceries and hardware stores, where you can buy not only fresh fruit or dried tuna, but also a beach gear.

[Image: thulusdhoo-beach]  

Public food services are represented by four small but cosy restaurants: Farista, RSR, Gulhi и Madi Restaurant   . The last one has got rather good reviews on Tripadvisor, what can’t be said about RSR. Nevertheless, I’d recommend visiting them all to choose, which is better for you. An average bill is approximately $10-18 per two persons. Rather budget, if you ask me.

[Image: thulusdhoo-island]  

The island has its own bikini beach, where tourists are most welcomed. Apart from that, the beach area was extended at the cost of the artificial bank on the eastern side. On the whole, the rules concerning wearing bikinis are much stricter there than, for example, on Rasdhoo   . It’s not recommended to wear cutoffs and off-the-shoulder T-shirts outside the beach.

[Image: thulusdhoo-relax]  

Activities On Island

Thulusdhoo Island is rightfully considered to be one of the best surfing spots in Maldives. And it’s not for nothing. It was surfers who lay the foundations of local tourism on the island in the 70s. A distinctive feature of the spot, which, by the way, is called Chickens’, is the fact that you can catch a wave just on the coast itself. The spot is located on an uninhabited island, where a bridge leads. There used to be a chicken farm. It doesn’t exist now, but the Chickens’ name got stuck to it forever. There are also other Maldivian surf spots nearby, which made North Male Atoll famous: Lohis, Sultans, Jailbreaks, Honkys и Ninjas.

[Image: thulusdhoo-surfing]  

Not a fan of extreme sports? Then snorkeling on the home reef and on Thingiri point is definitely for you. There you’ll surely see sharks and manta rays and other bright and spectacular underwater flora and fauna. If you want something more than just swimming with a mask and a tube, you can try diving at different diving points, for example, at Thulusdhoo Channel, where they guarantee turtles, skates, sharks and other unusual underwater species in great numbers.

[Image: thulusdhoo-diving]  

But still, it’s one thing to observe underwater inhabitants, but when you can also try and catch them, it’s by far more interesting.

Strict rules against poaching helped these atolls to preserve the abundance of sea life. On Thulusdhoo there are boats, which are constructed for catching not only large marlines, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna, but also for smaller species, such as crevalles, barracudas, and runners.

[Image: thulusdhoo-fishing]  

OK, we were swimming, diving, catching waves. What now? Yes, sitting still is by far not interesting, so you can go on a guided tour to the neighboring resorts – Club Med Kanifinolhu or Dhon Veli. The cost of visiting the first one is $120 per person (8.00 – 17.00), the second one – $130. What is included in the cost? The tourists are offered a wide range of dishes, unlimited access to alcohol bar, shows, and cultural events.

[Image: thulusdhoo-resort]  

Transfer To Thulusdhoo

Transfer by speedboat to Thulusdhoo 

Speedboat transfer from the airport to Thulusdhoo takes only 25 minutes. On request and in order to save money guest house administration can organize a joint transfer with other passengers.

[Image: thulusdhoo-transfer]  

Transfer by local ferry to Thulusdhoo 

The ferry departs from the quay located opposite Marry Browns fast food restaurant at the southern part of Male at 15:30 sharp on Saturday (according to other data – at 15:00), Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The cost is $3.

On Friday it departs from Male at 22:30.

On Tuesday the ferry departs from Villingili Ferry Terminal, Male, at 14:30 and runs making stops on several islands, and also on Thulusdhoo.

The ferry from Thulusdhoo departs at 07:30 sharp on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

On Friday the ferry departs from Thulusdhoo at 14:30, the travelling time is 90 minutes.

On Tuesday the ferry departs from Thulusdhoo at 19:20 and runs making stops on several islands, and also on Thulusdhoo. The travelling time is 150 minutes.

For further information on transfers contact the manager of your guest house.