How to Navigate the Maldives Public Ferries – A Complete Budget Travel Guide
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 19 May 2025
Are you trying to plan an affordable trip around the Maldives islands, but are confused by, well, everything? Read on for a detailed guide on navigating the Maldives public ferries, including buying tickets, costs, reading timetables, departure locations, what they are like, and much more, to help you plan your budget Maldives experience!
The Maldives is an isolated archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, consisting of almost 1200 islands and sandbanks across 26 rings (or atolls). This means that to get around, especially on a budget, the best way is by using the Maldives public ferries.
For a tiny fraction of the cost of a seaplane or Maldives speedboat, you can transit across the country comfortably the way the residents (and supplies) do!
Below we’ve detailed everything we learned after spending several weeks in the Maldives visiting six inhabited islands across four atolls (while getting lost and confused on the way). This means we have used a lot of public ferries and have figured out their mysteries!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Maldives Public Ferries Guide
WHAT ARE THE MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRIES?
MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRY VS SPEEDBOAT
WHEN DO MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRIES OPERATE?
HOW TO READ THE FERRY TIMETABLES
HOW MUCH DO THE FERRIES COST?
WHAT ARE MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRIES LIKE?
MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRY LOCATIONS MAP
DEPARTURE POINT FOR MALDIVES PUBLIC FERRIES
AMENITIES AT THE MALE FERRY TERMINAL
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
PRIVATE RESORT ISLAND FERRIES
FINAL THOUGHTS
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What are the Maldives Public Ferries?
The Maldives public ferries are operated by the government run Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). They have been in operation for over 20 years, providing the primary transport for goods and people across the country.
These ferries transport local residents, the occasional tourist and a lot of supplies between island chains (or atolls).
Maldives Public Ferry vs. Maldives Speedboat
Realistically, it is likely that most visitors with complex itineraries will end up taking a Maldives speedboat (or two) if travel schedules don’t align exactly with the ferry timetables. However, if you have the option of either for a particular route, here are some pros and cons to help you decide:
+ The Maldives public ferries are far, far more affordable than any alternative transport option, including speedboats.
+ Ferries are how many residents travel, which is far more interesting as an experience.
+ Some speedboat routes are absolutely awful – those sick bags and life jackets exist for a reason!
+ Ferries have beautiful island views and provide the possibility of seeing aquatic life (I spotted dolphins).
+ Ferries do not need booking in advance, however it is advisable to book speedboats prior to departure.
– Ferries might get cancelled due to engine breakdown, which is less likely with speedboats.
– Maldives speedboats are far faster (a speedboat can do a journey in a third of the time of a ferry).
– The public ferries do not sail on Fridays due to religious reasons (Maldives speedboats do).
– Generally, more Maldives speedboats operate each route per day than ferries.
When do Maldives Public Ferries Operate?
Not on a Friday!
The more popular the ferry route, the more journeys it does. So some, like the boat to Maafushi, operate every day except Friday whilst others only go once a week. Some routes don’t have a return journey on the same day as the outbound trip; others still operate, but just between part of the islands within an atoll on specific days. It’s a little complicated!
If you are heading to islands in the more distant atolls of the Maldives, be sure to check the ferry schedule extremely carefully, especially since a mistake could result in a 75 US dollar per person speedboat. Honestly, one of the only challenging parts of planning a do-it-yourself, budget trip to the Maldives is figuring out the transport!
You can find a ferry schedule on the MTCC website which has a list of all the ferries, the islands they stop at and the times of departure. Be aware that some islands, like Maafushi, are serviced by more than one ferry route, but other islands in the atoll might not be.
How to Read the MTCC Maldives Public Ferry Schedule
I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the ferry schedules, I was a bit confused. However, they’re actually pretty simple to understand and I feel like, at the time, I was being mildly overly dramatic.
Tip | the current ferry schedule is a 55-page document, with each page listing an island route and number. Use the PDF search function to find the island name you want (it may be within the route, rather than in the title).
Route number | at the top of each ferry schedule, there is the number of the route, e.g. 308, the first and last stop and the day(s) of operation. The Maldives is split into seven zones and the first number of the route denotes the zone the ferry serves (e.g. 308 is in zone three).
Reading the timetable | read the Maldives public ferry timetables from right to left to find out when the ferry will leave one island and arrive at the next. The left column is the arrival time and the right column is the departure time. If there are separate days for the return journey, this will be shown in a separate box, e.g. on route 306, or the return may be on a different route number altogether, such as route 402 and 404.
See examples below for the routes mentioned here.
How Much do the Public Ferries Cost?
MTCC Maldives public ferries are very reasonably priced, usually costing between $1-10 dollars per journey (unless you’re going somewhere super far away).
The cost depends on the atoll route. The lowest we paid per person was 22 MVR (1.42 USD) to the North Malé Atoll one way and the most we paid was 53 MVR (3.43 USD) to the Vaavu Atoll.
Be aware that prices do not always translate to the length of time a journey will take. Our cheapest journey was also our longest.
These prices are worth comparing to the equivalent Maldives speedboat routes that can cost 25-75 US dollars for the same journey – the ferries really are a fantastic bargain!
THE MALDIVES DHONI
Maldives public ferries are also colloquially known as slow dhoni transfers.
The Maldives dhoni is a traditional wooden wind-powered sailing vessel with triangular (lateen) sails. Original Maldives dhonis were built by scooping out a single log which was utilised for fishing. In the present day, functional dhonis are motorised and are also used for cargo transport, ferries and even diving trips.
The locally inhabited island of Alifushi in the Raa Atoll, north of Malé, is the primary site for building Maldives dhonis. A traditional wooden Maldives dhoni takes around 60 days to make.
It is possible, if you have the money, to take a cruise around the Maldives on a traditional dhoni!
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What are the Maldives Public Ferries Like?
The wooden, motorised Maldives public ferries are based on the Dhoni boats used by Maldivian fishermen and are similar to Omani dhows. They feel spacious, with seats arranged in rows along the middle with a ring of seats around the outside. There are also other styles of boats with benches arranged in rows.
Seating | most of the public ferries we took on our journeys had soft cushioned seats and were surprisingly comfortable – I slept comfortably for three hours on one of them. There is no ‘first class’ option onboard.
Weather | air conditioning is unnecessary on Maldives Dhoni boats. As they are completely open air, cooling breezes keep them comfortable even on very warm days (most days in the Maldives!). In the event of rain, there are large plastic sheets which roll down, attaching to the sides which keep the water out. They can be tied halfway down to provide shade, whilst allowing a steady airflow. Some also have proper closable windows.
Bathroom facilities | there is a toilet onboard. On the older wooden style Dhonis the attendant ‘unfurls’ the toilet, which is kind of like opening a gate and lifting a lid. You then take your shoes off and walk down some stairs into the depths of the boat near the engine. The ‘lid’ is then replaced for privacy, and you come back up and knock or make a noise to get back out. We didn’t use one – it honestly looked terrifying!
Capacity | from our experience, the boats have a capacity between 50 and 100 people, but never got really packed.
Speed | apparently the ferries travel at a speed of between 12 and 20 knots. This, to me at least, seemed quite fast at times!
Getting on the Public Ferries
At the Malé Ferry Terminal, we’d recommend arriving around 30 minutes before your scheduled ferry. The doors leading to the ferry open around 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time (maybe less).
Parcels, letters and provisions for other islands are loaded on board, along with the passengers. Tickets are checked at the entrance and luggage placed in the centre of the vessel.
There are no assigned seats – choose anywhere you like. We always sat on the outside edge by a window, which was sometimes smart, sometimes less so. If there are larger waves, you might get wet and if the sun is shining, you may get burnt! However, the views are often beautiful, you can spot sea life and the breeze is best.
Tip | take sunscreen, snacks and water for the journey, especially during the hotter months (which is all of them). Some boats have a small section selling sundries like water, biscuits and crisps; one even sold coconuts.
Seasickness on the Public Ferries
I guess this problem depends on how prone you are. We found all the Maldives ferry journeys to be smooth and calm. None of the other passengers appeared to struggle with the ferries either and there weren’t many obvious sick bags lying around.
We did have rougher weather on one journey but the boat didn’t sway much – they’re quite large and pretty resistant to the impact of the waves.
Speedboats | if you struggle with travel sickness, the Maldives speedboats are probably more of a issue. We took one from Fulidhoo that was absolutely awful – honestly though we were going to die and the weather wasn’t even bad. The waves felt bigger than the boat (it was a small, two- by two-person speedboat and we all had to wear life jackets). We don’t get seasick, but if we did, that route would have been horrendous. This speedboat trip actually left us with bruises!
Travel Tip | a lady who lives in the Maldives told us never to use our phones on speedboats and don’t lie down, even if you really want to. Also, take your usual travel sickness medications in advance.
Maldives Public Ferry Locations Map
Below is a savable Google Map that highlights where the places mentioned in the directions below actually are. The marked points on the map include notes that give some useful information.
To save the map, select the star next to the title.
Maldives Public Ferries Departure Location in Malé
Most tourists arrive in the Maldives via Velana International Airport, situated on an island adjacent to the capital city, Malé. This means that the public ferries you need to use will depart from Malé, where all the various ferry routes to different atolls originate from. (Bear this in mind when planning an itinerary – there will be some backtracking).
Ferry terminal confusion | the port in Malé that services the public ferries is known by many names! One is ‘Henveyru’ or ‘Henveiru’, which is the name on the big blue sign outside the ferry terminal. On Google Maps it is also labelled as ‘Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal’. To avoid confusion and for clarity (because you do not want to find yourselves at the wrong place waiting for a boat – it happened to us!), in this post, we will refer it as the (MTCC) Malé Ferry Terminal.
Note | all MTCC Maldives public ferries leave from the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal, which is opposite the Maagiri Hotel in the north east of Malé. They used to leave from the Villingili Ferry Terminal in the south west of Malé. If you catch a privately run ferry to Malé, it will still arrive here – we had this happen once.
Travel tip | it is worth reiterating that the MTCC ferry terminal in Malé is often referred to as the Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal. This is puzzling, since there is also a Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal on Hulhumalé, just a little north of Malé. It’s unnecessarily confusing. Sometimes taxi drivers get this mixed up too so be hyper-alert when telling people to ensure they understand where you want to go!
How to get to the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal
To get to Malé Ferry Terminal from Velana International Airport, Malé or Hulhumalé, you can take a taxi, the public bus or ferry.
By Taxi to MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal
Taxis in the Maldives are inexpensive and abundant. We took several and had only good experiences.
It is common procedure to hail a taxi on the street; any hotel will also be able to arrange an immediate pick-up. There are also Maldives taxi apps such as Avas Ride, PickMe and a ride share option called CabMv.
The fare for street taxis is fixed by the government:
◊ A taxi from Hulhumalé to the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal should always cost 85 MVR.
◊ A taxi from within Malé island to the Malé Ferry Terminal should cost 30 MVR.
◊ A taxi from Velana International Airport to the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal should cost 75 MVR.
Personally, our experience was that finding a taxi on the street near the ferry terminal was difficult unless you wanted to take a longer journey. The drivers were a little bit scammy and wanted far more than the fixed prices above. No driver would even agree to take us to the other side of Malé and we ended up walking (luckily Malé is only a few miles across).
By Public Bus to MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal
The Maldives public buses are run by the RTL Bus Service (Raajje Transport Link, part of MTCC). These buses are amazingly modern, air-conditioned and comfortable, with cashless payment and live online route tracking. They travel between Malé and Hulhumalé and to the airport.
The buses are seating only, with no standing allowed. They have electronic signs onboard showing the next stop and there are QR codes onboard to scan for a route map. It is probably one of the nicest bus services we have used across the world and the drivers were so helpful!
Bus tickets can be bought online up to seven days in advance or you can pay onboard using a credit card or prepaid bus card.
Maldives Bus Routes
To get to the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal by bus, the bus stop for the terminal is called Carnival. On Google Maps, it is unhelpfully called ‘Bus Stop Henveyru/Hulhumale’. From Velana International Airport (VIA), Malé or Hulhumalé, here are some useful routes:
R2 bus route (Carnival to HM Phase 1) | runs between the southern half of Hulhumalé and the bus stop outside the Malé Ferry Terminal (Carnival). This costs 10 MVR for a single ticket.
R8 bus route (HM Phase 2 to Carnival) | runs from the northern half of Hulhumalé to the Malé Ferry Terminal/Carnival bus stop. This costs 15 MVR for a single ticket.
R10 bus route (Orchid) | runs from Villingili Ferry Terminal on Malé up to the top of Malé and around to the Carnival bus stop. This costs 7 MVR for a single ticket.
There are buses from the airport to Malé, but not directly to the Carnival stop for the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal. It is a far more efficient option to get the ferry if you are travelling directly from the airport (see below).
If you are heading to a hotel in Malé or Hulhumalé, other useful routes from the airport include:
R9 bus route (HM Phase 2 to VIA) | runs between the north half of Hulhumalé and Velana International Airport. This costs 15 MVR for a single.
R3 bus route (West Park to VIA) | runs between Malé and Velana International Airport along the west and south sides of Malé. This costs 10 MVR for a single.
R4 bus route (HM Phase 1 to VIA) | runs between the south half of Hulhumalé and Velana International Airport. This costs 10 MVR for a single.
By Ferry from Velana International Airport to MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal
If you are arriving at Velana International Airport, there is a public ferry route that runs to the Malé Ferry Terminal.
It costs 15 MVR per trip (20 MVR first thing in the morning), taking just 10 minutes (Hulhule Ferry on Google Maps). The ticket counter is at the exit of the airport building – look for the sign ‘Ferry to Malé’.
Note | only three pieces of luggage are allowed per ticket on this route, but additional luggage allowance can be purchased.
It is not necessary to reserve seats in advance as there are departures every 15 minutes from 6am until 7pm which arrive directly at the MTCC Ferry Terminal on Malé. From 7pm until 12am, the Velana Airport ferries run every 30 minutes. These ferries depart directly outside the airport and are by far the best way to travel if you need to catch an MTCC public ferry.
AMENITIES AT THE MTCC MALÉ FERRY TERMINAL
The terminal is considerable, with two floors and disabled-friendly access. On the ground floor is the ticket counter and three seated waiting areas with electronic screens.
This section has no air conditioning but there are dozens of ceiling fans which we found cooled us adequately despite the temperatures. There are separate western style bathrooms for men and women, as well as a prayer area and a water fountain. There is no public WiFi.
On the upper floor is a Burger King, a coffee shop and a restaurant serving a variety of overpriced food and drink options.
Around Malé Ferry Terminal, there are plenty of shops, cafes and ATMs. Several minutes south of the ferry terminal, at the Carnival/Malé Ferry bus stop area, there are a number of restaurants, some offering very reasonably priced set menus for breakfast and lunch. We bought a bunch of really affordable, incredible tasting (spicy) snacks from these restaurants for each of our longer ferry journeys.
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RELATED POST | UKULHAS, MALDIVES – A GUIDE
How to Buy Tickets for the Maldives Public Ferries
Tickets for the Maldives public ferries must be purchased in person as there is no online ticket option available.
If travelling from Malé, they can be obtained at the counters just inside on the left at the MTCC Malé Ferry Terminal. Purchasing public ferry tickets in advance is recommended on public holidays (this is what we were told – we did not travel during any holidays though and none of our ferries were very busy).
The employees spoke a little English and it was very simple to get the correct route. We paid in cash for all our tickets. On the islands, the tickets are purchased during or after boarding the ferry.
The tickets are written in Dhivehi and English, so it’s super easy to figure out your departure time.
EXPLORE MORE OF THE MALDIVES
Go island-hopping:
Ukulhas | are these the prettiest beaches in the Maldives?
Thoddoo | why you should explore this magnificent agricultural island
Maafushi | a guide to the Maldives’ most popular spot
Thulusdhoo | experience the surfer paradise of the Maldives
more tips for your trip:
How strict is the dress code in the Maldives?
Read a summary of the best Maldives local islands
Remove the complexity of planning an island hopping itinerary around the Maldives
Quirky things to know for Maldives budget travellers
How much does a two week trip to the Maldives cost?
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Are There Maldives Public Ferries to Private Resort Islands?
There are no public ferries which service the private resort islands in the Maldives – they only serve the locally inhabited islands.
Unfortunately, only expensive options are available to resort customers! Speedboats run from the resort islands to the public islands and, unlike the public ferries, do run on Fridays.
You can book your speedboat to public islands online through 12GoAsia, a transport aggregator we use often throughout Asia.
Final Thoughts – Maldives Public Ferries
Visiting the inhabited Maldives islands is a fantastic budget choice for a paradisical beach trip, but it will involve studying some local ferry timetables if you want to plan an ambitious route. This method of transport is reliable, comfortable and super affordable, but it definitely takes some advanced organisation!
We fully recommend taking the local route and using the ferries – it’s all part of the experience when visiting the Maldives. If there are scheduling issues with your chosen route, maybe consider taking one speedboat as part of your itinerary (we did this because we messed up our plans). Taking as many local boats as possible will help keep the overall average price way down and will be far more fun.
Are you ready to plan a budget Maldives trip? If so, we hope you have a fantastic time!
Hi, thanks for visiting our blog! If this post has been of help to you, or you’ve just enjoyed our random ramblings and musings, say thank you by buying us a coffee! It helps keep The Restless Beans blog up and running.
Thank you, Claire + Nick
Very well documented. Could you please tell if we can stay at Maafushi ?
Hi! Thanks very much for you comment! Yes, you can stay on Maafushi. This island has a lot of hotels and guesthouses to suit all price ranges – we stayed there for several nights.
Thank you for the comprehensive information. May I know which terminal provides the government ferry to Maafushi. Is it the MTCC Ferry Terminal or is it the Villingili Ferry Terminal. Thank you in advance.
Hi Fattimah! Thanks for your comment. The government ferry to Maafushi leaves from the MTCC Ferry Terminal on the north east of Male every day, apart from Friday, at 3pm. I hope that helps 🙂
Hi,
I got information that ferry for Maafushi is from Villingili Ferry Terminal.. Does MTCC and villigili are two different terminal ?we r travelling next thrusday ?
Any suggestion for taxi from airport to these terminal cost ?
Hi Bharati, the MTCC terminal and Villingili terminal are in different places. The MTCC ferries from Male to Maafushi will leave from the MTCC terminal in the north east of Male (opposite the Maagiri Hotel). A taxi from the airport to the MTCC terminal should be around 75 MVR. Hope that helps!
Hello Thank you for information. What about Rasdhoo and Thoddoo? From which terminal leaves public ferries?
Hi, Thanks for your comment. The Rasdhoo and Thoddoo MTCC public ferry is number 303 and leaves from the MTCC Male Ferry Terminal, also labelled Hulhumale Ferry Terminal on Google (the one opposite the Maagiri Hotel). Hope this helps!
hello
i would like to take the speed boat to Maafushi and then go to Fulidhoo for a few days then back to Male. I dont see a way of doing this, could you please advise.
we are going for a week and would like to do 2 easy to get to islands , and was hoping to swim with whale sharks.
Hi Shelley, thanks for getting in contact! Maafushi and Fulidhoo are definitely two of the easier-to-reach local islands. Assuming you’re starting in Male, there are two ferries to consider:
MTCC 306:
The MTCC 306 operates between Male, Maafushi and Fulidhoo, departing every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00. It departs from the MTCC Male Ferry Terminal (also labelled Hulhumale Ferry Terminal on Google, opposite the Maagiri Hotel). This ferry arrives in Maafushi at 11:30, then departs at 11:35, arriving in Fulidhoo at 13:20. From Fulidhoo back to Male, the MTCC 306 departs every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 10:45. You’ll arrive in Male at 14:05, via Maafushi.
MTCC 309:
There’s also the option of the MTCC 309 ferry which only runs between Male, Gulhi, Guraidhoo and Maafushi, but will save you getting a speedboat! It leaves from the same ferry terminal above, daily at 15:00 (except Friday!) and arrives in Maafushi at 16:40.
If the ferry days don’t work for your schedule, then speedboats are available daily from all the islands and are easily arranged through your accommodation (send them a message in advance). Although more convenient, they cost *a lot* more than the public ferries.
I’ve actually written more about this particular ferry route in our Maldives itinerary post (there is a map in there of this route too to help make it clearer). Check it out if you think it would be of some help!
I hope you have a fantastic time visiting the Maldives! 😊
You are amaaaazing, thanks so much! 😃
Hi Claire,
We are planning on visiting Fulidoo our flight arrives at 3 on Thursday. Is there a way we can take ferry else any alternative plan.
Thanks in advance
Hi Anup,
Thanks for your question. The only public ferry to Fulidhoo from Malé is the MTCC 306 service which sails from Malé every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 10:00. This will have departed before you arrive.
If you want to get to Fulidhoo as soon as possible, you may be able to get a speedboat when you arrive (these are about 50 USD per person – check with your perspective accommodation as they will be able to arrange this for you). Otherwise, you could stay a night on Hulhumalé or Malé and get a speedboat the next day.
Another option is to instead take a speedboat to Maafushi and then board the MTCC 306 service to Fulidhoo from there on Sunday.
I hope this helps!
Hi Claire,
I am going to Maafushi next week on Friday (Dec 1), can I take the ferry going there from MLE Airport?
I will arrived at the airport around 7:00 – 8:00 am.
Thank you in advance for answering and for making this blog, it is really helpful.
Hi Angielyn, thanks for your question 🙂
The public ferries don’t run on Fridays, so to reach Maafushi on the same day, you will need to arrange a speedboat transfer with your accommodation (about $25). There are a number of speedboats every day and your accommodation will be able to tell you exactly where to go to get yours. It will likely be from the jetties nearby the MTCC Ferry terminal, or possibly directly at the airport ferry terminal (some speedboats do stop there).
Hope you have an amazing trip!
Hi Claire,
We’re going to Dharavandhoo on 2nd Saturday of December. We don’t know if there are local ferry to arrived there. The mtcc schedules are very caos and the hosts a little bit too.
Could you give us information?
Thank you and best regards!!
Your blog is very interesting and helpful! Congratulations!!
Hi MaiTea,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m really glad our blog has been useful for you!
Unfortunately there are no ferries from Malé to the Baa Atoll (that we know of), which Dharavandhoo is on. The MTCC 205 service runs everyday (except Friday) within the Baa Atoll itself, but not from Malé.
The best option is to contact (or chase) your accommodation about arranging a speedboat (I think this might be your only option). These typically leave from the jetties on the north of Malé, to the west of the public ferry terminal.
I hope you have a fantastic time in the Maldives 🙂
Hello. Just a noob question. Is there a difference between K.Maafushi and Maafushi? I checked the complete table and just noticed that Table 306 is K.Maafushi while Table 309 is only Maafushi. Hope you read this can give an answer. Thank you so much!
Hi Ian,
Not a noob question at all, the MTCC ferry schedules have confused us a number of times!
K.Maafushi and Maafushi are the same island. My best guess is the K refers to Kathu, the atoll Maafushi is on.
Hope you have a great trip 🙂
Hey, having read your blog I feel inspired to attempt backpacking around the Maldives! I’m looking for budget options and will be studying the ferry timetable (eek!) to help plan.
I’m just curious, where would you say is a ‘must visit’?
I like walking/swimming/eating local food and am happy to just explore. Did you see any options for kayaking or SUP rental on your travels?
Hello Aimee! I think if you like exploring and want to have a bit of a wander, a larger island like Thoddoo would be amazing (it was my favourite!). Thoddoo could also be paired with Ukulhas, Rasdhoo or Mathiveri on the same ferry lines. There were definitely kayaks available on most islands we visited (and I think SUP too).
Maafushi has the most activities and also a bit of space to walk around, so could be a good option too, although it’s got less greenery and more buildings. I’ve also heard great things about Kaashidhoo, apparently it’s a bit bigger and far, far less visited, plus has lots of opportunities to wander about (but I haven’t been yet).
Hope that helps a little, have a great time!
We arrive in Male on 19th of January 2024. We like to leave on 20th of January 2024 to Maamigili. We would like to take the local ferry with the routes 305 and 304.
What we do not know yet, where to get the tickets ? And what pier we are going to leave. With the current information, ferry is leaving at 09:00 on saturdays. We would like to stay overnight close to the ferry pier.
Hope you can help. Guest house we booked on Maamigili was not responsive so far.
Hi Burkhard,
Thanks for your message.
According to the current MTCC ferry schedule for the 305 service, the ferry leaves at 08:30 from Malé and goes to Mahibadhoo. The ferry terminal is located in the top right corner of Malé, opposite the Maagiri hotel. On Google it is called ‘Hulhumale Ferry Terminal’ but outside the building it says in giant letter ‘Henveyru’. The ticket office is located just inside the building on the left on the ground floor.
For the second ferry, which leaves at 13:30 from Mahibadhoo and goes to Maamigili, you’ll most likely be buying tickets either just before entering the ferry, or when onboard the actual ferry.
I would recommend asking your accommodation on Malé to confirm timings for the ferries just in case there’s any disruptions.
Hope you have an excellent trip!
Hello,
how can I reach Male from Rasdhoo on Friday 9th in February 2024? Are there any speed boats operated on Friday?
Thank you,
Lubos
Hi Lubos,
No public ferries run on Fridays in the Maldives so speedboats are the only way to get back to Malé that day. If you contact your accommodation they can reserve a seat for you on a speedboat.
Hope you enjoy Rasdhoo!
Our flight arrives at Male airport at 19:00. Are there any public ferries to ANY island except Male during the night? If not, is there another way to leave Male after 20:00?
Hi Yiannos,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, there are no public ferries that leave Malé in the evening but there is the option to take a speedboat instead. We haven’t had personal experience with them but there’s a company called iCom tours who go from the airport to Maafushi, with their final speedboat leaving at 22:00. You can always check with accommodation on Maafushi for any other speedboat options.
Hopefully this helps!
Hello,
We are going to Maldives in a few days but we hesitate between Maafushi and Himmafushi. What do you recommend ?
And do you know what time the ferry goes to Maafushi and Himmafushi? And come back to Malé?
Thank you very much,
Your website is very nice.
Sarah
Hi Sarah!
Thanks so much for your comment 😊
If you’re deciding between Maafushi and Himmafushi it depends on what you’re after. Maafushi is the more built up of the two so has larger hotels and generally more things to do on the island. It’s also serviced by two public ferry services whereas Himmafushi has just the one. Himmafushi, on the other hand, is quieter than Maafushi and is best known for its surfing and diving. It is also only 40 minutes by ferry from Malé to Himmafushi, instead of a 90-minute-ish journey to Maafushi.
In terms of the ferries for Maafushi and Himmafushi:
Male-Maafushi (MTCC306): Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 and arrives in Maafushi at 11:30.
Maafushi-Male (MTCC306): Every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 12:35 and arrives in Malé at 14:05.
Male-Maafushi (MTCC309): Every day except Friday at 15:00 and arrives in Maafushi at 16:40.
Maafushi-Male (MTCC309): Every day except Friday at 07:25 and arrives in Malé at 09:05.
To get to Himmafushi from Malé:
Male-Himmafushi (MTCC308): Every day except Friday at 14:30 and arrives in Himmafushi at 15:10.
Himmafushi-Male (MTCC308): Every day except Friday at 08:00 and arrives in Malé at 08:40.
All of the above ferry services run from the ferry terminal in the top right-hand side of Malé, opposite the Maagiri hotel. No public ferries run on a Friday in Malé so if you plan to travel on this day you’ll need to arrange a speedboat through your accommodation.
I hope this helps 😊
Lepo pozdravljeni. Za 14 dni grem na Maldive in glede na vase poznavanje bi vas prosila za nasvet, katere tri otoke bi mi svetovali obiskati, glede na to, da obožujem sanjske plaže in lepo naravo. Pa morda tudi kakšen nasvet glede nastanitve, hvala vnaprej.
Hi Klavdija,
Thanks for your question. If you’re after some amazing beaches in the Maldives then we’d recommend Ukulhas and Thoddoo, and you could add Rasdhoo and Mathiveri. We would recommend booking in advance, as some islands don’t have that much accomodation.
Hope this helps!
Arriving 10 am and thinking of staying one night in Male and travelling to Feridhoo on Sunday 19/1. I think I have found a Ferry that departs at 6.30 am but conflicting information Can you confirm and then Feridhoo to Rasadu ?? Thank you so much. I am going to try and find the Ferry timetable but!!!! Kind regards Christine Rogers
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question. I don’t think there are any ferries between Malé and Feridhoo. Can you confirm if you meant Fulidhoo or Felidhoo, rather than Feridhoo?
Hey, I have a question, if we arrive on Saturday at 18:10 is there any chance to get on the same day to whatever island? And if we fly out at 10:30am from Male, can we leave the same day first thing in the morning from another island to Male or do we have to be a day early.
Hi Michal,
Thanks for your questions.
I think the last speedboats for the day (unless you can charter your own private one) will have stopped running before you arrive, along with the public ferries. You will be able to get either a public ferry or speedboat the next morning.
If your exit flight is at 10:30 am, I don’t think there aren’t any local ferries that will connect for that flight – the earliest arrival into Malé is 08:40 on the MTCC 308 route, which is a bit tight! Your best option will be to stay on Malé the day before. Be aware that there are no public ferry services on Fridays in the Maldives, so you will have to arrange a speedboat transfer if travelling on this day.
Hope this helps, have a great trip.
Hi dear friends, thanks a zillion for your extraordinary service to travellers community, your write ups are so comprehensive and easy to understand about Maldives where the information on internet is very meagre.
hello, Thanks for your very good explanatory article – it is a gem!!
Hi Natalia,
Thanks for your comment. Glad to be of help!
Hi 😀 do you know if ferries do operate during rainy season? Thank you in advance!
Hi Nicole, thanks for your question.
As far as we are aware, the public ferries run as usual during the rainy season (but not on Fridays) as they are standard local transport. They are more likely to be cancelled or delayed due to bad weather though!
Hello there!
Thank you for your fruitful blog. It helps me a lot to arrange my trip to Maldives.
I stumbled upon your comment above,
“Male-Maafushi (MTCC306): Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 and arrives in Maafushi at 11:30.
Maafushi-Male (MTCC306): Every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 12:35 and arrives in Malé at 14:05.
Male-Maafushi (MTCC309): Every day except Friday at 15:00 and arrives in Maafushi at 16:40.
Maafushi-Male (MTCC309): Every day except Friday at 07:25 and arrives in Malé at 09:05.”
Could you please advice/confirm if this is the latest schedule for public ferry managed by MTCC?
As I checked in their website, https://mtcc.mv/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CTN-Ferry-All-Atolls-16.7.23.pdf, they have no longer schedule for Male-Maafushi & Maafushi-Male for MTCC 309. Now, I’m confused :’)
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Widy,
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad our posts have been useful for you 🙂
That’s the one I have – my PDF is dated the same (valid from April 2023). You should be able to find the MTCC 309 K.GURAIDHOO – MALE’ schedule on page 34 of 55. All the arrival/departure times within the post are from that schedule.
Hope this helps 🙂
Do you have to pay for the public ferry in Maldives currency or can you use USD please?
Hi Steph,
We paid for all of our public ferries with Maldivian rufiyaa which we withdrew at the airport. With the speedboats however, we paid in USD.
It might be possible to buy public ferry tickets with USD as some shops we visited accepted them. I couldn’t say for sure though.
Hope this helps.
Hi Thanks for all the precise information. It is extensively helpful. Planning to visit during Christmas holidays. Have few questions.
1) Water activities like Jet Ski and Para sailing rides available on which islands in Maldives.
2) Are these specific activities available on Dhiffushi or Thulusdhoo ?
3) In case planning to stay on 2 islands , Is it possible to travel from 1 public island like Thulusdhoo to another like Maafushi or reverse direction directly on speed boat for family of 4 on any weekday and at what approx. cost ?
4) Does Thulusdhoo / Dhiffushi hotels have live music or any other entertainment ?
Hi Shweta,
I’m so glad you’ve found our blog helpful!
1+2) All the public islands in the Maldives that we visited had watersports and dive centres, though it’s best to check individually what services they offer. Some accommodations would also be able to organise jet ski rentals or parasailing tours, depending on the island. I believe Dhiffushi has a couple of diving/water excursion places, whilst Thulusdhoo has more.
3) The public speedboats in the Maldives run specific routes within and between the atolls. For your example, there would not be a direct route between Dhiffushi and Maafushi (you would transfer at Male). However, private speedboats are an option, although we didn’t take any of these ourselves. It would be worth checking with your preferred accommodation about these.
4) We didn’t see any live music/entertainment while we were there (but we weren’t looking for it!). I’d check with the larger hotels on both islands to see what they offer.
I hope you have a great time in the Maldives 🙂
Hai, I want to visit thodoo and maafushi, can you explain which public ferry i can use? Please explain in detail because im so clueless about public Ferry route and time
Hi Dea,
Thanks for your question. There is no MTCC public ferry service between Thoddoo and Maafushi, so you’ll need to take separate public ferries from Malé to reach each of the islands.
To travel to Thoddoo from Malé, the MTCC 303 public ferry leaves every Monday and Thursday at 09:00 and arrives in Thoddoo at 16:20. The return ferry service to Malé operates every Wednesday and Sunday, leaving Thoddoo at 06:30 and arriving at 14:10.
To go to Maafushi from Malé, there are two ferries to choose from:
The first is the MTCC 306 public ferry which departs every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 10:00, arriving in Maafushi at 11:30. The return to Malé leaves on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays at 12:35, arriving at 14:05.
The other option is the MTCC 309 public ferry which runs in both directions every day, except for Fridays. This route out from Malé to Maafushi leaves at 15:00 and arrives at 16:40. The return trip back to Malé from Maafushi departs at 07:25 and arrives at 09:05.
Hope this clears things up for you 🙂
Thank you so much for this comprehensive guide. It’s been extremely helpful while I plan out my trip around the Maldives.
Hey guys! I am going to Mathiveri this October but I’m not really sure if I understood their ferry timetable. I’m reading it that to go to the island, I need to go to Maalhos. So does that mean that I need to get a ferry from MTCC ferry terminal to Maalhos and then from Maalhos to Mathiveri? And then if on the departure column, there’s a departure sched for Mathiveri at 8:35 and Maalhos at 14:40 — am I understanding it correctly that I can catch a ferry from Mathiveri at 8:35 going to Maalhos and from Maalhos back to MTCC ferry terminal at 14:40?
I’m really just trying to plan a ferry trip from MTCC ferry terminal to Mathiveri and back. But I’m really not trusting I’m getting it right.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Diana,
Thanks for your question. We struggled with the timetables a bit at first too!
The times in the departure column are when the ferry departs that island, and the arrival column is when the ferry arrives at the next island. The ferry route is determined by the names next to the ferry route number.
The MTCC 301 ferry is the only one that serves Mathiveri. As this service doesn’t leave from Male, you’ll need to take a connecting boat to get from Male to Mathiveri. There is no public ferry service that runs from Male to Maalhos.
If you’re coming from Male, I think the simplest option will be to use Ukulhas as a transfer island, by taking the MTCC 303 ferry. The route departing Male only runs on Monday and Thursday, leaving at 09:00 and arriving in Ukulhas at 13:05.
If the ferries are on time, you might make the transfer for the MTCC 301 at 14:00 but it might be cutting it too close. If you take the Monday option, you could leave Ukulhas the next day at 14:00 and arrive in Mathiveri at 15:00. If you take the Thursday option, the ferries don’t run on Friday. You have the choice of arranging a speedboat or waiting until Saturday for the next public ferry.
For your return journey, the MTCC 301 runs every day (except Friday) and leaves Mathiveri at 08:35, arriving in Ukulhas at 09:35. The MTCC 303 return journey (every Sunday and Wednesday) leaves Ukulhas at 9:45, and arrives in Male at 14:10.
Hopefully this helps clear things up for you. Have a great trip!
Thanks a lot Nick for taking the time to explain clearly their timetable and routes. I think I’m now starting to get it a little better. And given my travel sched (i.e, Oct 12-15) — I really am left with no other choice but to take the speedboat. 🙁
Again, thanks a bunch!!!
Hello,
you said public ferries dont run on Fridays. Does that also include the Airport to Malé public ferries which you wrote normally depart every 10 Minutes?
Hi Sonja,
The airport ferry transfers still operate on Fridays.
Hallo zusammen wir möchten im Januar von Male Airport nach Maalhos Baa atoll per Public ferry reisen. Ich finde keine Verbindung es geht wohl bis nach Eydhafushi aber da finde ich auch keine Verbindung Bitte um Hilfe Grüße Ivan
Hi Ivan,
Thanks for your question.
Every Monday and Thursday the MMTCC 303 runs from Male at 09:00 A.M and arrives in Ukulhas at 13:05.
The 301 from Ukulhas to Maalhos runs everyday (except Friday) at 14:00 and arrives at 16:35.
Have a great trip!
Hello, we are also going to the Maledives an visit the Island Rasdhoo. We ware going to miss our Ferry by an hour and there is an opportunity to take a speedboat. Is there any posibility to look up a price list or is it less expensive when we contact our accommodation?
Hi Shania,
The speedboats for each route are all a set price for tourists, as far as we are aware. We booked ours through our accommodation.
Hope this helps.
Hi, what you wrote is very useful.
My question: we would like to go to Fuldihoo on Sunday, December 21st, with the 306, is it worth buying the ticket on Saturday?
András
Hi András,
Thanks for your comment 🙂
If you’re able to buy a ticket in advance, you may as well. It means potentially not having to wait in a surprisingly large queue on the day!
Hope you have a great trip.