Ukulhas
Ukulhas is a local island in the Maldives, located 72 km from the capital Male. It belongs to the Alif Alif Atoll.
The island is quite developed and the village takes up almost all of the island. However there are still many trees around to give you the exotic island vibe and the beach is as stunning as on any other island.
The island has everything you need: a hospital, a school, a fitness center, a football field, several shops and cafes. Near the pier is a small mosque. There are a handful of shops on the island, but the choice of products is limited. However, here you can buy drinks, fruits, cookies and other groceries.
How to reach Ukulhas
The easiest way to reach the island is by a one and half hour speed boat ride. There is a shared speedboat leaving Male on a regular schedule, but to be on the safe side, always check with your guesthouse. They will be happy to help you and share with you all information required.
The price is $40 per person one way.
You can also take the local ferry, but that is very slow and will take over 4 hours. It leaves only certain days and costs 4 USD one way.
Where to eat on Ukulhas?
The island offers a good amount of restaurants and cafes to choose from. All dishes are mainly Indian, Thai, Western cuisine, with local characteristics.
We definitely had a blast during our time on Ukulhas and can recommend it to anyone looking for a great experience on a local island.
Things to do on Ukulhas
Beach
This island is a perfect place for families with small children because the distance from the beach to hotels is a maximum of 100 m.
The beach is the main attraction of Ukulhas. Its length is almost 1 km! Therefore, it occupies almost the entire western part of the island. There are a lot of sunbeds and umbrellas. Despite a large number of tourists, there is enough space for everyone.
Snorkeling
Opposite the bikini-beach, there is a long and beautiful house reef with live soft and hard corals. Many fish, including huge schools of parrotfish can be seen there. Also, almost every day you will see stingrays, small cuttlefish, turtles and octopuses. Sometimes there are even mantas!
Excursions
Each guesthouse offers a variety of excursions. Those can be quite pricey, so sometimes it is better to try to find other travelers sharing the adventure and price with you.
There are many water activities such as guided snorkeling tours to see manta rays, whale sharks or dolphins.
You can also explore uninhabited islands and sandbanks and even spend a night there.
If you want to enjoy some luxury, you can also opt for a day visit to one of the resorts nearby. You will definitely not get bored.
Where to stay on Ukulhas?
There are many guest houses on Ukulhas in a price range from 70 USD to 150 USD per night for two persons, including breakfast. All of the guesthouses also offer half or full board options and the possibility to buy single meals in their restaurants.
Some of the guest houses have direct access to the beach and some are a bit further, but as the island is relatively small, it is always close to the beach.
