Addu Atoll Maldives Gan Island
Maldives
Frequently Asked Questions
In the lagoon, sheltered year round by the ring of islands: one of the finest natural anchorages in the Indian Ocean. Tenders then land passengers on Gan island, at the south of the atoll. There is no monumental terminal here, but smiles, bicycles for hire and a network of taxis and minibuses.
It is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, more than 500 kilometres from Malé, just south of the equator. Crossing the line is still celebrated aboard many ships, and the ceremony often takes place as they approach Addu.
Hire a bicycle and follow the causeway. That is Addu's distinctive feature: a road links Gan to the neighbouring islands of Feydhoo, Maradhoo and then Hithadhoo, over several kilometres laid between lagoon and ocean. Allow a half day for the return ride to Hithadhoo, translucent water on one side, the colourful village houses on the other.
It shows a face the resorts never do: living villages, shaded roads, schools, mosques and fishermen's jetties. Many cruise passengers leave Addu feeling they have finally met the real Maldives, the one the residents live in, after so many images of overwater villas.
Hangars, a jetty and converted former messes, including the Equator Village hotel, set in the old officers' quarters. The British fleet anchored in these sheltered waters during the Second World War, and the Royal Air Force occupied Gan until 1976. Lawns, straight avenues and large trees planted three quarters of a century ago give the island a singular look in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
It is a protected area at the northern end of Hithadhoo, holding habitats that are rare in the Maldives: freshwater lakes, mangroves and reed beds where seabirds and herons nest. You move through it by bicycle or kayak, among aerial roots and still water.
Yes. On the lagoon, watching trips very regularly meet pods of dolphins. Divers come here for manta rays and for a large reef that has stayed well preserved, less visited than those in the north of the archipelago.
Shoulders and knees covered in the inhabited villages, out of respect. Swimwear is for hotel beaches and marked bathing areas only. This is not a formality: Addu is an inhabited atoll where daily life carries on, not a resort island.
The Maldivian rufiyaa, though US dollars are accepted in most shops. Bring small denominations: neighbourhood shops and bicycle renters cannot always give change for large notes.
Yes, Gan's pale sand beaches are a few minutes from the jetty and make an excellent fallback for anyone who prefers a day without a plan. It is also the option to keep in mind if the heat discourages the causeway bike ride.
