Gulhi — Attraction in Malé Atoll

Very bad experience - dirty and dangerous!!!

The bikini beach is dirty. I will not go back there. A lot of trash under the water. It was smelling very bad near the water sport point in the bikini beach. After a week in Gulhi, I got a skin allergy. I am not sure if it was because of the shower water or the sea water.

I often saw the locals coming to the bikini beach and littering, throwing food and plastic stuff in the water. I find it absolutely disgusting. They also burn the garbage next to the bikini beach so it's sometimes hard to breath.

Your holiday will be wasted if you go to Gulhi because there is nothing to do in the island. No bar, no clean restaurant. The locals are unfriendly. The excursions are too expensive. Plus you cannot even swim in this dirty beach. You will not even be able to take pictures for Instagram.

The photos of Gulhi you might see on Internet must be 100% photoshopped or taken from other islands.

I understand that this is a muslim country and I respect their rules, but be aware that we do not get their respect in exchange. They always try to cheat you and they limit the area you can go in the island. Basically you can only go from your hotel room to the dirty beach and back to your hotel. I think that most tourists end up spending 22h a day in their room. As they even start to feel unsafe there. We were scared at night. The hotel owner was even locking us up at night in case some local attack the hotel. We heard stories about locals taking drugs and some tourists being robbed.

I advise you instead to go to some of the North atoll islands.

The prices in this island are very high compared to other islands in the Maldives (food, hotel, excursions). Be aware that they will try to cheat you with the speed boats. It's better if you take the...

During my last visit, I stayed on Maafushi Island, and the next day, we took a trip to Gulhi Island. Located just 35 minutes by speedboat from Maafushi and 25-30 minutes from Velana International Airport, Gulhi is a small yet charming island that offers a more peaceful and intimate experience compared to its livelier neighbors.

At just 0.4 kilometers long, Gulhi remains less crowded, making it an ideal getaway for those seeking relaxation and natural beauty. The island has a handful of guesthouses and hotels, ensuring a quiet and comfortable stay. Walking around, you’ll come across a mosque, a school, and a play area for children, adding to its authentic local charm.

One of Gulhi’s main highlights is its stunning Bikini Beach, considered one of the most beautiful in the Maldives. Here, visitors can freely sunbathe and swim in the calm, shallow waters. The island is also an excellent destination for snorkeling, diving, fishing, paddleboarding, and even surfing at the nearby breaks.

Despite its small size, Gulhi offers local cafés and restaurants serving fresh seafood and traditional Maldivian dishes, allowing visitors to enjoy delicious meals at affordable prices. Unlike Maafushi, Gulhi is quieter and more laid-back, making it perfect for couples, honeymooners, and travelers looking for a peaceful beach holiday away from crowds.

There are no bars on the island due to local customs, but for those looking to enjoy a drink, alcohol is available on nearby safari boats just a...

DO NOT COME TO THIS ISLAND - EXTREMIST MUSLIMS

When you come to the Maldives, you expect a dream beach with corals and white sand. In Gulhi, the sewage system (from the toilets i.e. piss) goes right into the bikini beach. You can see the blue sewage tubes going into the bikini beach. There is no fish under the water. Everything is dead. It smells bad outside. There are plastic bottles floating all around. I do not think that it is safe in terms of hygiene to swim there.

The worst part is that there is a clean beach on the other side of the island, but it is only allowed to Muslims. We tried to go there anyway but we got yelled at that this beach was not allowed to foreigners. We were forced to go back to the dirty beach.

The excursions in Gulhi are twice more expensive than in Maafushi for instance.

The restaurants are also very expensive and with bad quality compared to other islands (Maafushi, Diffushi, etc...). Same with the hotels. The price absolutely does not match the value.

Finally, the locals are aggressive. We wanted to share with them, learn about their culture. But they only see foreigners as money and we could feel that they hated foreigners.

Small note for single women: be aware that the bikini beach is full of muslim men harassing girls. I think this is a dangerous place for women to travel alone.

After 2 months spent in the Maldives, I recommend you to go to Diffushi or Fullidhoo or even Maafushi. Avoid Gulhi...