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Ukulhas Island, Maldives
A beautiful local island known for white beaches, clear waters, marine life and an eco-conscious island culture.
Green Leaf
Award · 2014
Award · 2014
Welcome to Ukulhas
The Maldives, authentically
On the western edge of the Maldives sits Ukulhas, a small inhabited island where turquoise seas, paper-white sand and genuine island life meet. No gates, no formality, just one of the country's most celebrated eco-conscious communities.
Each year visitors are struck by its beaches, lush vegetation and reefs alive with marine life. Ukulhas goes a step further. Its dedication to cleanliness earned it a Green Leaf Award from the Maldivian government in 2014, and the seas around it have stayed crystal-clear ever since.
Alif AlifNorth Ari Atoll
~72 kmNorth of Malé
33 islands~6,000 people
Year-roundWarm weather
Why visit
A little something for everyone
Beaches
World-class sand
Turquoise-blue waters and paper-white sand, with a dedicated bikini beach, free sun beds and umbrellas.
Marine life
Manta & turtles
Manta rays, dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and clouds of tropical fish, with some of the atoll's best snorkeling and diving.
Eco-conscious
A green island
Systematic waste management and community cleanliness keep Ukulhas pristine, a shining example of green island life.
Beaches & the bikini beach
Where to soak up the sun
On the south side of the island lies the bikini beach, one of the largest and most beautiful in the Maldives, where guests are free to wear Western swimwear.
- Free sun beds & umbrellas along the sand
- Snorkel straight off the beach, so bring a mask
- Amazing coral reefs, exotic fish & black-tip reef sharks
- Modest dress in the village; swimwear at the bikini beach
Diving & snorkeling
One of the planet's finest dive atolls
The Alif Alif Atoll is considered one of the best dive destinations in the world, with unrivalled visibility and a wealth of tropical sea life.
Manta rays, sharks, turtles and tropical fish all call these crystal-clear waters home. Ostrov Tours runs snorkeling safaris, manta encounters and PADI diving across the atoll's best sites.
Explore Ostrov ToursGetting here
How to reach Ukulhas
From Velana International Airport (Malé), Ukulhas is reached by scheduled speedboat or the public ferry.
Speedboat
The most common way to arrive, usually around 60 to 90 minutes. Coral Transfer runs the standard island service, and we help coordinate your arrival.
Public ferry
An inexpensive, scenic ride that runs less often and takes longer, around four hours or more. Schedules vary, so we'll guide you.
Where to stay
Stay with Ostrov
Good to know
Ukulhas FAQs
Very. Calm shallow lagoons, a relaxed pace, family rooms and gentle snorkeling make it one of the easiest local islands for children.
Yes, on the designated bikini beach on the south of the island. Elsewhere in the village, please dress modestly out of respect for the local community.
About 72 km north of Malé. Most guests arrive by scheduled speedboat, usually 60 to 90 minutes depending on sea conditions, or by the inexpensive public ferry. Send your flight details and we'll help coordinate it.
Yes. Cafés and restaurants (including our own Ostrov Café & Bar), small shops and a souvenir boutique. It's a lived-in local island, not a private resort.
Excellent. The house reef and nearby dive sites in the Alif Alif Atoll teem with manta rays, turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish.
Plan your island trip
Discover Ukulhas with Ostrov
Rooms, tours and transfers, arranged by an island team who know every reef and sunset.