Mahibadhoo

Mahibadhoo is the capital of Alif Dhaal Atoll and the biggest local island in the South Ari region. It's a working town as much as a holiday spot — busy harbour, fishing fleet, regional hospital, schools, mosques and a long stretch of palm-lined road that locals walk in the evenings.

For visitors that mix means a more lived-in island experience than the tiny tourist islands offer: a wider choice of guesthouses, proper supermarkets, ATMs, and easy access to the famous dive sites and whale shark routes of South Ari Atoll. Mahibadhoo also makes a comfortable base for longer stays or for exploring nearby reefs, picnic islands and sandbanks on day excursions.