Huvadhu Atoll, Coral atoll in Upper South Province, Maldives.
Huvadhu Atoll is a coral ring in the Indian Ocean featuring around 255 islands spread across a large expanse of water in the southern Maldives. The islands sit within this extensive lagoon system where fishing communities have settled and adapted over many generations.
The atoll formed part of a brief independent republic in the mid-1900s that lasted only a few years before reintegrating with the rest of the nation. This episode shaped how the region sees its own past and identity.
Craftspeople across these islands continue making traditional items like woven mats and wooden goods using methods passed down through generations. You can observe these skills in action and purchase directly from the makers.
Most visitors arrive by boat since there are no direct flights to all islands in the group. The best time to visit is during the drier months when rain is less common.
People here speak their own dialect with distinctive sounds that you won't hear elsewhere in the Maldives. These differences developed because of how isolated the islands have been for many centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
