Feridhoo Island Travel Guide 2025: A Maldivian Hidden Gem
Feridhoo Island is a hidden gem in the Maldives, offering stunning natural beauty and minimal tourism. It’s the quietest island we’ve ever visited, perfect for relaxing and soaking up the sun without any crowds. This is an excellent opportunity to experience a more authentic, less commercialized side of the Maldives.
The Bikini Beach is fantastic, with sunbeds and umbrellas reserved for each hotel’s guests. The house reef here is incredibly beautiful, possibly the best we’ve ever seen!
Feridhoo is the final island in the North Ari Atoll ferry chain and the last stop on the South Ari Atoll ferry route. Its location is likely why it remains such a hidden gem.
This guide contains everything you need to know for your Feridhoo trip, including the 5 best things to do!
Why Choose Feridhoo Island?
Top Reasons to Choose Feridhoo Island
1. Exclusivity
Feridhoo provides a quiet and intimate escape, away from busy tourist spots. It’s ideal for anyone looking to relax, disconnect, and enjoy a peaceful paradise with fewer crowds.
2. Natural Beauty + House Reef
Feridhoo is a paradise of untouched nature. The island is covered in lush greenery, surrounded by pristine white sand beaches, and boasts a stunning house reef on its public beach. Snorkelers can often see sharks, turtles, and rays, making every underwater adventure exciting and memorable.
3. Easy Transfers Between Atoll Ferry Routes (Bonus Tip)
Feridhoo is conveniently located between two major atoll ferry routes, making it perfect for island-hopping. It connects the South Ari Atoll (Dhigurah, Omadhoo, Mahibadhoo) with the North Ari Atoll (Rasdhoo, Thoddoo, Ukulhas, Mathiveri, Feridhoo). Travelers can easily stop in Feridhoo to explore and relax while waiting for their next ferry. Few people realize they can visit islands like Dhigurah, Omadhoo, Mathiveri, Ukulhas, and Thoddoo without returning to Malé, simply by using Feridhoo as a transit point.
Where is Feridhoo Island Located?
Map of Feridhoo Island
Open our free map pins in Google Maps to save them for your next trip.
Best Time to Visit Feridhoo Island
The Maldives has a tropical climate, so it’s warm all year round. Feridhoo Island is a great destination no matter when you visit. The dry season (November to April) brings sunny skies and calm seas, while the rainy season (May to October) has more rain but still plenty of sunny days.
We visited in March and August and had great weather both times. If you travel during the rainy season, consider staying an extra day on each island in case of rain. It’s also a good time to visit if you’re looking for fewer crowds and lower accommodation costs.
- Dry season (Nov-Apr): Sunny weather, calm seas, but more tourists and higher prices.
- Rainy season (May-Oct): Cheaper stays, fewer crowds, but a higher chance of rain and rougher seas.
How Long to Stay on Feridhoo Island
Feridhoo Island is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy nature, and spend time on the beach. How long you stay depends on how many islands you want to explore, but we recommend spending at least three days on Feridhoo.
Nearby Mathiveri Island offers more accommodation options, restaurants, and activities, making it a livelier choice. It’s just a short public ferry ride away, so you can easily add it to your itinerary if you want a mix of relaxation and adventure.
How to Get to Feridhoo Island?
To reach Feridhoo Island, fly into Malé International Airport (MLE), your gateway to the Maldives. From there, you can easily continue your journey to Feridhoo. We found budget-friendly direct flights to Malé from Kuala Lumpur (around 50 USD), Colombo (approximately 80 USD), and Abu Dhabi (around 80 USD).
By Speedboat to Mathiveri
The easiest way to reach Feridhoo Island is via a direct speedboat ride from Malé, which operates twice daily and takes approximately 1.5 hours. It’s advisable to book this service in advance through your accommodation.
By Ferry to Feridhoo
The most authentic, budget-friendly, but time-intensive way to reach Feridhoo Island is by public ferry, the primary mode of transport for locals in the Maldives.
It’s important to know that Feridhoo can be accessed from Malé via Rasdhoo, with stops at Ukulhas and Mathiveri, or via Mahibadhoo when traveling from Omadhoo or Dhigurah.
Feridhoo’s strategic location between two key atoll ferry routes makes it a perfect hub for island-hopping. It connects the South Ari Atoll (Dhigurah, Omadhoo, Mahibadhoo) with the North Ari Atoll (Rasdhoo, Thoddoo, Ukulhas, Mathiveri, Feridhoo).
If you need to transition between ferry lines, Feridhoo is an ideal spot to explore while waiting for your next connection. Many travelers are unaware that they can visit Dhigurah, Omadhoo, Feridhoo, Mathiveri, Ukulhas, and Thoddoo via local ferries without returning to Malé, simply by including a stop in Feridhoo.
If you’re traveling from Malé, take a ferry to Rasdhoo, followed by another ferry from Rasdhoo to Feridhoo. The journey takes approximately 6-7 hours, including a 1-hour lunch stop in Rasdhoo, and operates only a few times a week. Make sure to check the latest schedule on the MCTT website.
Maldivian local ferries are frequently delayed and can even be canceled at the last minute due to weather conditions. If your ferry is canceled in the morning (as they usually all depart in the morning), you can still try to take a morning or afternoon speedboat to your desired location.
How to Get Around Feridhoo Island
Feridhoo Island is small and easy to explore on foot, like all the Maldivian islands we have visited. Everything, including the bikini beach and accommodations, is within walking distance. You can rent a bicycle if you prefer, but walking is the best way to enjoy the island.
Where to Stay in Feridhoo
We adore the local islands of the Maldives for many reasons, and one of the top highlights is the accommodations.
It’s rare to find a destination where nearly every stay, budget options included, consistently scores 9+ in ratings. Even the lower-rated places maintain impressive standards, often above 8.5. See for yourself on Booking.com! And don’t forget to check Agoda.com to compare prices and snag the best deals.
In Feridhoo, most accommodations are owned and operated by locals, offering warm hospitality and a truly authentic experience.
Best Accommodations in Feridhoo
BUDGET TIP: Accommodations in the Maldives typically offer breakfast included in the room price, providing a great opportunity to save money.
Best Food in Feridhoo
In the Maldives, many accommodations include breakfast in the room rate. If you have the choice between a continental or Maldivian breakfast, be sure to try the Maldivian option at least once. It typically includes mas huni, a flavorful mix of tuna, coconut, onions, and lime, served with flatbread. It’s a delicious experience you won’t want to miss!
When we visited Feridhoo Island, there were three restaurants. Aliha Cafe didn’t have a chef that week, so it only served salads and snacks. The other one didn’t meet our expectations, so the only option for us was Ambaa Cafe & Bistro, and honestly, it was a great experience for all the meals we had there.
Best Things to Do on Feridhoo Island
1. Relax on the Bikini Beach
Enjoy Feridhoo’s stunning bikini beach, a spacious, white sandy beach surrounded by lush greenery, with hardly anyone around. It’s the perfect spot to sunbathe and swim in peace.
On many Maldivian islands, beach seating can be scarce and first-come, first-served. However, in Feridhoo, the reserved sunbeds and umbrellas make all the difference. Each hotel provides its own sunbeds, ensuring a stress-free visit to the bikini beach, where you’ll always have a comfortable spot to relax.
2. House Reef Snorkeling
Discover the amazing marine life around Feridhoo Island! The public beach offers fantastic snorkeling opportunities in the island’s house reef, which is arguably one of the best we’ve encountered in the Maldives. We even spotted several sharks during our exploration!
Remember to wear appropriate clothing (no bikinis) and always check the currents to ensure they match your skill level. You can bring your own snorkeling gear or rent it from your guesthouse, often for a small fee or even for free.
Prefer guided adventures? Book a snorkeling boat tour through your accommodation to access even more stunning spots while enjoying the safety and expertise of an experienced guide.
3. Take a Sunset Stroll
Enjoy a quiet walk along the southwest shore of Feridhoo. Start at this point and head to the island’s tip to take in an unforgettable sunset. It’s the perfect way to relax and end your day.
4. Island Hopping
Hop on a local ferry or speedboat to more beautiful islands like Dhigurah, Omadhoo, Mathiveri, Ukulhas, Rasdhoo, and Thoddoo. Each island offers unique beaches, cultural experiences, and additional snorkeling opportunities to explore. You can choose to visit them as a day trip or add them to your itinerary after Feridhoo.
5. Seek More Adventure
Looking for more excitement? Your accommodation can help organize amazing tours, like snorkeling with manta rays, whale sharks, and reef sharks, or exploring coral reefs and sandbanks. They also offer dolphin safaris, fishing trips, and various water sports for adventure enthusiasts.
Where to Go After Feridhoo
Here are a few easy recommendations for your next destination after Feridhoo. All of these islands are in the North Ari Atoll and can be reached by public boat nearly every day from Feridhoo, except Fridays.
- Mathiveri: The perfect balance between a peaceful retreat and a vibrant island experience, best known for its stunning picnic island, an incredible shipwreck, and plenty of activities.
- Rasdhoo: Ideal for a short stop when arriving by ferry from Malé, offering excellent diving opportunities with top-notch dive centers and impressive dive sites.
- Ukulhas: A bustling island with a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities to choose from.
- Thoddoo: A lush, green island famous for its fresh fruits, plantations, white sandy beaches, and turtle snorkeling right from the shore.
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