Rasdhoo Island - The Hidden Paradise of the Maldives

Hello friends. Our next stop in the Maldives was Rasdhoo Island and it took us 70 minutes to get there. As soon as we arrived, we settled into our room. It was a cozy room overlooking a football field, so we could watch matches in the evening. The room was cool, with air conditioning, a TV, a sofa, of course, a bed, a small safe, a small wardrobe and a refrigerator. We rested, had some snacks and the next day, it was time to explore the island.

Morning came, it was 7:30 am and we went for breakfast. Our accommodation included breakfast and dinner, meaning it was half-board. Our hotel was small, with only seven rooms, but it was very comfortable. There was a reception area and relaxation spaces where you could even lie under sunshades, but that wasn’t really necessary since the beach was only 100 meters away. There was also a small area where you could borrow fins and masks for free and I even saw a kayak. Rasdhoo Island is famous for its diving spots. Another nearby island is also famous for its sandy beach. There was a tide chart here, showing that on Monday, low tide was at 6:18 am, high tide at 11:40 AM and low tide again at 6:23 pm. So, diving was best around 11:00 am when the water was just right.

We set out to explore Rasdhoo Island, starting from the dock where we arrived. From there, we moved inland. Rasdhoo Island is small, with a population of 1200 people, though you wouldn’t really notice it. The locals are probably hiding from the sun or busy with work, so the island doesn’t feel crowded. However, for such a small area, 1200 people do seem like a lot. Rasdhoo Island belongs to the Northern Atoll and has a well-developed tourism infrastructure. There is a hospital, several pharmacies, over ten cafés, many hotels and even some souvenir and clothing stores where you can buy hats, t-shirts and snorkeling gear if you forgot yours. One thing that surprised me was the presence of a gym.You can actually work out here, which is great.

After walking around a bit, we stopped for coffee. We found a café with a good coffee machine and they accepted credit card payments. It might have been opened by some Europeans, but the local staff worked there. The iced coconut coffee was excellent and it cost 4.30 dollars including tax. Sitting there, sipping coffee while looking at the ocean, I realized how happy I was. I believe the Maldives and islands in general, are the best vacation spots for those who love water activities. If you’re not into water sports, you might find the Maldives boring. But if you love the sea and the underwater world, the Maldives is perfect for you. Since there are many tourists here, the island is actively developing. For example, our hotel was initially two stories, but after gathering some funds, they built a third floor. As they save more money, they plan to add a fourth floor. High-rise buildings are not allowed here, but two- to three-story buildings are common.

The island is organized in a square grid pattern, with streets running parallel to each other, making it easy to navigate. If someone tells you, It’s on the second street from the beach, you immediately know which street they mean. We were able to pay with Apple Pay and our card was accepted. There were a few markets selling ice cream and even frozen chicken, but cooking wasn’t really an option here. The locals mostly get around on scooters, some use bicycles and there are even a few cars. The hospital has a car and its premises are quite spacious, with a beautiful tree growing on the grounds. Construction is ongoing, likely due to the increasing number of tourists, which brings in money that is reinvested. There’s also a children’s playground and a small palm grove, a great spot for taking photos.

We loved our hotel Quicksand. It was very close to the ocean and men could walk there shirtless. Of course, in town, you need to wear a shirt, but for this short walk, it wasn’t a problem. However, for women, wearing shorts and a shirt is more appropriate. Personally, I prefer to dress modestly to protect myself from the sun, especially to avoid sunburn. The only downside was the weak breakfast: usually eggs, toast, butter, jam, coffee, tea and small sausages. It wasn’t filling, but we made up for it with big lunches after swimming. Since there are plenty of cafés on the island, you can always go somewhere else for breakfast or buy extra food. While walking around town, we saw some interesting dried items and asked what they were. It turned out they were Maldivian nuts, cut with special tools and dried.

The local youth were training. There were football teams and girls were playing volleyball. Many people think the Maldives is very expensive, especially for food. We went to a restaurant to check lunch prices. Since our hotel included breakfast, we tried different places for lunch. We counted at least ten restaurants on Rasdhoo Island. We went up to the third floor, which had an amazing view of the beach, the neighboring island, palm trees and the surroundings. You could sit on the terrace, but it could get hot. Still, the view was worth it. The internet was fast everywhere because almost every island has a signal tower. Once you buy a SIM card at the airport, you won’t have internet issues.

The Fresh Juice menu had options for 5, Chinese dishes, Tom Yum soup and wings for 6 dollars. Tofu with papaya was 8 dollars. The place felt like a Thai restaurant. Prices ranged from 8 to 10 dollars, which was quite reasonable for a restaurant with a great view. Other islands had cheaper places where meals cost around 5–6 dollars. So, it wasn’t as expensive as many think. The kebab was well-cooked and the 10 dollars meal was really delicious, so we recommend this place. Maybe it was slightly pricier, but the view made it worth it.

After dinner we tested our Bikini beach. It was only 100 meters from our hotel. Bikini Beach wasn’t very big, about 100 meters long, but there were free public sun loungers, though some were in bad condition. The water was stunning in the sunlight. The sandy part was small and then dead corals began, so I recommend wearing reef shoes here.

Rasdhoo Island has three dive centers, which is rare for an island. There are 17 dive sites here. We chose Reason Dive Center. A single dive for certified divers costs 60, two dives cost 135 dollars, including all equipment and boat fees. For regular tourists, a single dive costs 150. You can also take an Open Water course for 550. Alcohol is banned on local islands, only available on private resort islands. However, tour boats offer beer, wine and cocktails between 5 and 9 PM. We decided to respect the local rules and saw it as a detox.

The water was a stunning blue-green. We got on a catamaran and it felt like a private tour with just us, a dive instructor, a snorkeling guide and a driver. We saw many fish and a few sharks. One was huge and we panicked a little. The snorkeling experience was fantastic, with so much to see. We swam with a turtle for 15–20 minutes.

For lunch we ate at Bamboo Hut next to our hotel. The prices were reasonable and the food was tasty, though we had to wait due to the crowd. One day, we spent 10 dollars on lunch. Another day 30. You can eat well on any budget here.

The next day we took a boat to Sandbank. We saw two turtles on the way. The beach was beautiful and we swam 700 meters to another island. At the coral reef, we saw many fish. My husband even spotted a massive stingray.

Our three-day stay cost 380 dollars for two people at Quicksand Hotel (half-board), plus transfer fees and excursions. In the end we realized the Maldives isn’t as expensive as it seems.

That’s all for today. See you soon.