Addu (also Seenu) is the southernmost atoll in the Maldives. Hithadhoo, its capital, was the base of the short-lived United Suvadive Republic secessionist movement in 1959–1963.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]- 1 Gan International Airport (GAN IATA). It can be reached from the capital, Male, in an unforgettable 60-minute flight over the southern atolls of the Maldives. There are also scheduled flights to some other atolls as well as one international flight to Colombo operated by SriLankan Airlines.
Get around
[edit]The four islands of Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo are connected to each other by causeways. There is a bus service which runs daily every two hours (except on Friday morning) all the way from the Gan island up to the north of the Hithadhoo island and back. The bus is reliable but slow: the 15-km-long route takes almost an hour. On the Feydhoo island the bus passes the Feydhoo ferry terminal from where you can take a ferry to Meedhoo. On the Gan island the bus doesn't go directly to the airport but terminates about 500 m away from the airport (to get there walk out of the airport, turn left and walk for about 500 m along the Link Road until you see a building with the label "ASTRA" on the left side of the road, this is where the bus terminates).
See
[edit]- Commonwealth War Grave (second world war) - Gan
- Sunset Bridge (causeway connecting Gan and Feydhoo) - Gan
- Equatorial Convention Centre - Hithadhoo: seventeenth SAARC summit was held here, the centre is being converted to a hospital.
- Koattey - Hithadhoo: beautiful nature reserve on the very north of the Hithadhoo island, you can see many birds from the observation platforms.
- Ranin hanaa fenganda - Hithadhoo
- Aari Kilhi (fresh water body) - Hithadhoo
- Eedhigali kilhi - Hithadhoo
- Hukuru miskiy - Hithadhoo
- Koagannu Cemetery: The oldest and largest cemetery in the Maldives, a 900‑year‑old burial ground located on the northern edge of Meedhoo in Addu City. Set among swaying palms just a short walk from the beach, the site is a peaceful open‑air gallery of early Maldivian Islamic history. Observe proper respect as it is a working cemetary..
- Koagannu Park (adjacent to Koagannu Cemetery): A small, lush green space in Meedhoo (Hulhumeedhoo) and is a contrast to the historic cemetery nearby. With well-maintained paths, local flora, and calm atmosphere. The park is open 24 hours and free to enter. Many visitors stop here before or after exploring the adjacent Koagannu Cemetery.
- Mathikilhi Eco Garden: Serene spot with bodies of water, local flora, and quiet paths.
Do
[edit]Scuba diving - one company which offers scuba-diving trips and PADI Diving Courses is Aquaventure Maldives, Located on Maradhoo. Aquaventure Maldives is a PADI 5Star Dive Center with a European & Maldivian Management.
- 1 Aquaventure PADI 5 Star Dive Center, Dha'ndumathee Hingun, ☏ +960 7974310, [email protected]. Was founded in 2013 on Maradhoo Island, Addu Atoll. It’s a local island in the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Aquaventure is the first PADI Dive Center in Local Addu, where a full range of daily excursions and PADI courses are provided for divers, from beginners to professionals. $ 60.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]There are three hotels or resorts in the atoll and several local guesthouses.
- Equator Village, Gan. Three-star hotel on the airport island.
- Canareef (formerly Herathera), ☏ +960 689-6677, [email protected]. Resort claiming to have the longest beach in the Maldives.
- 1 Aquaventure Guesthouse (Equatorial Divers Lodge), Feydhoo (Taxi from GAN Airport), ☏ +960 7774310, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. 3Star lodge, provides daily housekeeping, private check in/check out, taxi service, luggage storage, bicycle rental, free Wi-Fi in public areas. 10 rooms around the inhouse pool. US$80.