Maldives Off-the-Beaten-Path Resident Island Thulusdhoo Island Guide

Maldives has many islands, including grand luxurious resorts and more down-to-earth resident islands. Resorts are certainly beautiful but come with a hefty price tag, and this time I want to introduce a beautiful island with a touch of local life - Thulusdhoo Island. Transportation: There are several ways to get to the resident island Thulusdhoo from Hulhule Male Airport, the most economical being to take the public ferry, which is very cheap. The second option is to charter a speedboat. Arrange with the guesthouse owner in advance for airport speedboat transfer services. The one-way cost of chartering a speedboat is $200, which can be reasonable if shared among several people. The speedboat only takes 45 minutes to reach the island, while the ferry requires going to Male island first and then driving for about an hour and a half, so the total time difference is too great. Coca-Cola Island There is a Coca-Cola factory on Thulusdhoo Island, and the guesthouse owner can book a factory tour in advance. Before entering the factory, you must watch a safety briefing on an electronic screen, then register and store all personal belongings with the security guard. Photography is prohibited inside. So we didn't have any photos during the visit. A staff member led us through the assembly line process, and the most fun part was learning how the beverage bottles are made. Each child was given a plastic rod, which is the raw material for making beverage bottles, and it was very interesting. Surfing Island The Maldivian summer is the rainy season and the off-season, but not for Thulusdhoo, which is famous for surfing. So summer is the time when surfing enthusiasts travel here, and the island is still quite populated. Jelly-Colored Beach One side of the island has a tailing sand beach with jelly-colored water, making it very photogenic.