How to Travel the Maldives on a Budget: Our Week Exploring Dhigurah

How to Travel the Maldives on a Budget: Our Week Exploring Dhigurah

We’re Luke and Nadia, and we spent an unforgettable week on the local island of Dhigurah — swimming with whale sharks, snorkeling with mantas, exploring hidden sandbanks, and living the true island life.

Here’s everything we wish we’d known before going.

Getting to Dhigurah: Speedboat vs. Public Ferry

After landing at Velana International Airport in Malé, we found our pre-booked speedboat easily. The guesthouse sent us the GPS location, and from the airport it was just a 5-minute walk to the harbor.

The shared speedboat costs $60 per person, each way, and takes 1 hour 45 minutes. It cruises at 60 km/h and offers incredible views along the way.

You can take a public ferry for under $10, but be prepared for a 6-hour journey with multiple stops. Also, there’s no seaplane to Dhigurah. However, an airport nearby is expected to open soon for international flights — which will make reaching the island even easier.

Where to Stay in Dhigurah

We stayed at Seascape Retreat Hotel, and in our opinion, it offered the best value for the money.

  • The staff were amazing — warm, helpful, and always available for anything we needed.
  • The rooms were simple but comfortable, perfect for relaxing after long days of snorkeling and beach exploring.
  • The location was fantastic — close to Bikini Beach, the sandbank, and most restaurants within walking distance.

OnlyRoadTrips Tip:

Choosing a guesthouse near the beach and restaurants will make your Dhigurah experience much more relaxed, especially under the tropical sun.

Other Hotels We Noticed and Would Explore Next Time

While we loved Seascape Retreat Hotel, during our walks around the island, we also spotted a few other hotels that looked very promising and could be great options for different budgets and tastes:

  • Beach Hotel Dhigurah
    (Right by the water, modern look, bigger structure — would be interesting for a future stay.)
  • Bliss Dhigurah
    (Stylish boutique vibes, with a cozy lounge area — great for couples.)
  • TME Retreats Dhigurah
    (A little more resort-style, but still relaxed and close to key snorkeling points.)
  • Boutique Beach All Inclusive
    (If you prefer an all-inclusive package but still want a local island experience.)

Quick Hotel Overview

Hotel

Vibe

Why Consider It

Seascape Retreat Hotel

Best value, friendly, relaxed

Great location, amazing staff, close to beach

Beach Hotel Dhigurah

Modern resort feel

Bigger rooms, new facilities

Bliss Dhigurah

Stylish, cozy

Boutique atmosphere, perfect for couples

TME Retreats Dhigurah

Resort-like guesthouse

Great for snorkeling enthusiasts

Boutique Beach (All Inclusive)

Dive-focused, all-inclusive

Full package for hassle-free holidays

 

Recap: Why We Recommend Staying in Dhigurah

  • Affordable yet comfortable options.
  • Super friendly guesthouses and hotels that give a family-like experience.
  • Walking distance to everything important — beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants.
  • Real Maldivian experience without the crazy resort prices.

Our total cost for accommodation and speedboat transfers (round trip) for both of us was: $1,098 USD

And worth every dollar for the level of comfort, hospitality, and location.

Where to Eat in Dhigurah: Our Favorite Restaurants

Finding good food on Dhigurah takes a little trial and error, but after a week of testing, here’s our honest list of the best spots we found.

Overall, eating on a local island is way cheaper than at a resort (where you’d easily spend $100 per meal for two).

On Dhigurah, we averaged about $16–20 USD per meal for two — and that included grilled fish, curries, and fresh tropical juices!

Here’s where we ate, and what we recommend:

1. Whale Shark Beach Restaurant

  • Atmosphere: Relaxed and beachy.
  • Food: Excellent quality — we especially loved the tuna steak.
  • Cost: Around $20 USD each for a full, satisfying meal.
  • Why we liked it: Great setting near the beach, professional service, fresh seafood.

2. Beach View Café

  • Atmosphere: Casual and simple.
  • Food:
    • Lunch was OK (basic dishes, quick service).
    • Dinner was amazing — we pre-ordered a full fresh BBQ whole fish and it was absolutely worth it.
  • Tip: You need to preorder the BBQ fish earlier in the day if you want it for dinner!

3. Shell Restaurant

  • Atmosphere: Small and local, perfect for quick stops.
  • Food: Great for snacks — delicious samosas and fish cakes.
  • Perfect for: Light bites between snorkeling trips or beach sessions.

4. Tasty Wheel

  • Atmosphere: Best enjoyed at sunset.
  • Food: Fresh coconuts and small snacks like samosas and sandwiches.
  • Why we liked it: Chilling out here with a coconut in hand while watching the sun set over the beach felt magical.

 

5. Hermit’s Café

 

  • Atmosphere: Very cozy and welcoming.
  • Food: Excellent — one of our favorite food experiences on the island.
  • Hospitality: Outstanding — super friendly staff who made us feel at home.

 

Day 1: First Impressions and Island Exploration

The island itself is long and narrow — a strip of sand floating in the southern Ari Atoll, surrounded by turquoise water. Our host, Ali, picked us up in a brand-new electric mini-van and gave us a quick island tour before dropping us at the guesthouse.

We spent the afternoon swimming at Bikini Beach, the tourist-friendly zone where swimwear is allowed. It was nearly empty and unbelievably beautiful — soft white sand, calm water, and a peaceful breeze.


Before sunset, we hiked west through what we now call the alien jungle — a lush equatorial forest filled with banana trees, papayas, and giant bats overhead. Emerging from the forest, we reached the sandbank just in time for our first Maldivian sunset — golden skies, warm light, and pure stillness.


That evening, we tried a restaurant called Beach Fresh Dhigurah, but honestly, the food wasn’t great. (Don’t worry — we found better options later.)

Top 5 Things to Do in Dhigurah (With Prices)

Here are the activities we tried and would absolutely recommend — listed in the order we’d do them again.

Whale Shark Snorkeling – $115 per person

This was our #1 favorite. We left early morning on a speedboat and swam next to gentle giants, some over 6 meters long. It’s surreal, humbling, and something we’ll never forget.

Total: $230 for two people

2.Manta Ray + Turtle Snorkeling – $60 per person

We saw dozens of mantas gliding in open water, then stopped at a coral reef filled with turtles. The reef was stunning and full of life — a highlight of the trip.

Total: $120 for two

3. Nurse Shark Snorkeling – $115 per person

Don’t let the name scare you — nurse sharks are harmless and beautiful. They circled slowly beneath us in shallow waters.

Total: $230 for two

4. Trip to an Inhabited Island – $100 total

This half-day tour took us to a nearby local island where we met families, explored neighborhoods, and learned about traditional Maldivian life. A peaceful, cultural contrast to the beach life.

Total: $100

Full Maldives Cost Breakdown

Item

Cost (USD)

Guesthouse + Speedboat

$1,098

Whale Shark Safari (2 pax)

$230

Manta + Turtle Safari (2 pax)

$120

Nurse Shark Safari (2 pax)

$230

Inhabited Island Tour

$100

Laundry

$9

Total

$1,787

For two people — for one full week in paradise.

Comparing Dhigurah to a Nearby Luxury Resort

Right next to Dhigurah sits a luxury private resort island, where a 7-night stay would have cost us around: $5,000 USD — and that’s without food included.

At the resort, meals would easily cost $100+ per meal for two, compared to our average:

  • $16 USD per full meal for two people on Dhigurah.
  • Fresh grilled fish, rice, curries, tropical fruits — all delicious and incredibly affordable.

In short:

For the price of one week at a resort, we enjoyed a full Maldives experience — plus excursions, meals, and activities — twice over.

And we wouldn’t have traded the authenticity of Dhigurah for anything.

Local Customs: Respecting Dhigurah’s Muslim Traditions

 

Dhigurah, like all local islands in the Maldives, is a Muslim island. There are a few respectful customs to be aware of:

  • Bikinis and swimwear are allowed only on designated “Bikini Beaches” (like the one on the north side of Dhigurah). 

  • In the village or public areas (shops, restaurants, streets), it’s respectful to cover your shoulders and knees.
  • Alcohol is not permitted on local islands — but trust us, the experiences and sunsets are intoxicating enough without it.

That said, the atmosphere on Dhigurah is very relaxed. While the rules exist, they’re not strictly enforced for tourists, especially around the tourist beach areas.

You’ll have plenty of space to relax in your swimwear — and still enjoy the island without feeling restricted.

 

Pros and Cons of Staying on Dhigurah

We loved Dhigurah, but we also believe in sharing the full, honest picture:

Pros

  • Incredible snorkeling and diving — whale sharks, mantas, turtles, nurse sharks and reef easily to explore.
  • Affordable accommodations and tours compared to resort islands.
  • Genuine local experience with friendly people.
  • Bikini Beach available for tourists to enjoy freely.
  • Quiet, relaxed atmosphere without mass tourism. People here are super friendly and welcoming.
  • Spectacular sunsets and pristine beaches.

 

Cons

  • Limited restaurant quality:Food across the island is generally low-quality at most places. There are about 4-5 restaurants on Dhigurah, but aside from the fresh fish BBQs (which are delicious and must-try!), the overall variety and freshness are limited. Don’t expect gourmet cuisine unless you’re cooking yourself or booking a special seafood grill night.
  • Alcohol is not available on the island (true for all local islands, but some travelers might miss it).
  • Limited shopping: Basic needs are covered, but no large supermarkets or shopping streets.
  • no seaplanes available so you’ll cross the ocean with a speedboat for 1:45h.
  • no nightlife
  • there is an incinerator plant, which often you don’t see and smell, but if you go to the sand bank you will notice
  • there are a lot of mosquitos, specially at night close to the plants.
  • even with pristine beaches there is a lot of plastic and plastic waste on the shores and sometimes in water.

How to travel the Maldives?

Fly into Velana International Airport (MLE) in Malé. From there, take a speedboat or public ferry to a local island like Dhigurah.

How to travel the Maldives on a budget?

Skip luxury resorts. Stay in guesthouses on local islands, take shared speedboats, eat at local cafés, and book group snorkeling tours.

When is the best time to travel to the Maldives?

The dry season (December to April) offers the best weather. But even in the wet season (May–October), rain is often short and sweet — and prices are lower.

Where to travel in the Maldives?

  • Dhigurah: Best for wildlife and budget travel
  • Maafushi: Great nightlife and backpacker scene
  • Thoddoo: Quiet and green, perfect for couples
  • Baa Atoll: Top choice for luxury resort seekers

What Maldives island is the best?

We vote for Dhigurah — for its balance of nature, wildlife, affordability, and culture.

What is the Maldives currency?

The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the official currency, but USD is widely accepted, especially in tourist areas.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering whether you can visit the Maldives without spending a fortune, the answer is: Yes — and Dhigurah is proof.

This island gave us more than we expected — real connection, untouched nature, and unforgettable wildlife encounters — all for a fraction of the typical resort price.


We’ll be back.

And we hope this guide helps you get there too.

 

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