from $50 / night
South Malé Atoll
Wave Sound of Gulhi
Gulhi
Small guesthouse on sleepy Gulhi. Private tropical feel, same turquoise lagoon Maafushi's crowds are missing.
- Private beach access
- Kitchenette rooms
- Free snorkel
Same atoll as Maafushi, a fraction of the crowds. Shallow lagoon, a handful of guesthouses, and easy speedboat access from Malé.
QuietLagoonGuesthouses
Where to sleep
Stays on Gulhi
2 curated stays across our tier rankings.
from $65 / night
South Malé Atoll
Thundi Gulhi
Gulhi
Family-run, freshly renovated, and the fastest way onto Gulhi's bikini beach.
- Quiet island
- Ferry-friendly
- Airport transfer
Things to do
On-island & excursions
Wildlife$25
Nurse shark snorkel
2 hours
Jetty-to-reef snorkel where nurse sharks cruise the shallows every evening.
Chill$120
Resort day trip
Full-day
Day pass to a nearby 5★ — pool, lunch, overwater villa photos on budget.
Island hop$30
Local island hop
Half-day
Half-day boat to Maafushi and a sandbank; see the busier side of the atoll.
Getting there
MLE → Gulhi
Mode
Public ferry
Duration
1h
Cost (1-way)
$2
Operator
MTCC public ferry
Same ferry line as Maafushi — Gulhi is the stop before. Speedboat $20, 25 min.
Creators loving this island
What the internet says
YouTube
budget
“It's really possible to see the Maldives for under $30 a day — guesthouses, local ferries and a bikini beach all to yourself.”
Independent travel vlogger
YouTube
“Is It Really Possible?! The Backpacker Guide to the Maldives UNDER $30 per DAY”
YouTube
budget
“Gulhi is the best island I found — same atoll as Maafushi, half the crowds, and paradise on a budget.”
Budget travel vlog
YouTube
“This is BY FAR The Best Island of the MALDIVES — Guide to Paradise on a Budget”
YouTube
budget
“2025 update: how to do the Maldives on a budget — Maafushi, Mathiveri, ferries, excursions, food costs all broken down.”
Maldives 2025 budget guide
YouTube
“Budget Travel Guide to The Maldives in 2025 🇲🇻”