Ukulhas Island is an inexpensive resort in the Maldives. Read our review: description of the island, beach, hotels, snorkeling, excursions, how to get from Male.
Review of Ukulhas island
Ukulhas is a very small local island in the Maldives, smaller than Toddu. It is 1 km long and only 250 meters wide.
It is called the island of fishermen, because the locals are busy fishing. We never saw the fishermen there, although we went to the pier and the beach at different times (including early in the morning).
We read in the reviews that Ukulhas is the cleanest local island, but in fact, Toddu is cleaner and quieter. Paradise this place can be called a stretch, but overall it is not bad here.
There is a lot of construction and household waste, but the beach is clean. There are a lot of construction projects in Ukulhas now. One of them is right by the beach, you can hear and see it well. However, this is a great place for a budget holiday: azure water, white sand, fish, gorgeous sunsets.
Beach on Ukulhas: photo and our review
The bikini beach is not typical for the Maldives - wide and long, about 500 meters. Lots of sun loungers and umbrellas, enough space for everyone. They belong to hotels, but you can borrow any - no one will drive them away.
There are a couple of coconut stalls on the beach and a counter that lists the prices of the entertainment. There is no shower or toilet.
Find out: How much money do you need in the Maldives.
The sand is powdery in places, like on Todda, in places larger. A lot of coral fragments come across, so you can't walk calmly - you have to look at your step all the time. Stepping on a piece of debris is as painful as stepping on a Lego piece, so it's best to wear shoes. There is no household waste, it is removed.
At low tide, entry into the water is difficult due to corals, and there is also a lot of debris, because the house reef comes close to the shore. Very shallow near the coast.
The sunsets here are incredibly gentle, and almost every evening we saw tourists having romantic dinners.
It is better not to come here in the low season, because a lot of garbage takes out on the beach.
Remember that tourists can only undress on the beach. It is forbidden to walk around the island in a swimsuit.
Snorkeling at Ukulhas. The coolest thing on the island is swimming with a reef shark. We were lucky enough to meet her four times! Huge schools of fish near the shore are also impressive.
Approximately 20-30 meters from the coast - a grandiose dip into the blue abyss, where the reef ends. This is where it is best to snorkel, away from the coast.
Ukulhas island hotels
Look for hotels with discounts on Rumguru. Here are the main rules for finding hotels.
Accommodation costs from $ 45 per night with taxes and breakfast, but mostly prices are in the range of $ 55-70. That's more than Todda and Rasdah. The cheapest guest house in Ukulhas is Gunbaru Inn for $ 45 per night, but reviews are mediocre.
We lived in the center of the island at the small Island Vista Inn. It cost $ 60, then they bargained and extended the stay for $ 50 - with all taxes and breakfasts. The guest house is quiet, surrounded by palms and mango trees. There are only 4 rooms. We liked everything: the room is spacious, there is an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a quiet ceiling fan (it is convenient to turn it on at night instead of an air conditioner!), A kettle, a wardrobe, a large table with a chair. And most importantly, ventilation in the bathroom, so there was no mustiness and humidity, and on local islands this is a problem. Minus - the breakfasts are poor, the drinks are not tasty.
How to save money. You can book a room for one night and then renew it directly with the owner - we saved $ 10 per day. Or immediately write to the hotel and book bypassing the system. In both cases, there is a risk of being left without a number - it is better to book through Rumguru.
See also a selection of new hotels in the Maldives.
Where to eat on Ukulhas island
With food on local islands, everything is sad, so choose a hotel with good food. On Ukulhas, they went to only two establishments.
Thai cafe SeaLaVie. Delicious, but prices are not low. Pad Thai costs $ 8, noodle soup $ 6, Tom Yam $ 8, seafood rice $ 10. Salads for $ 5, and juices for $ 3-3.5. Friday is a day off.
Olhumathi Restaurant. Reviews are good but we ordered 5 different dishes here and all were not tasty. Plus, after the rice, my stomach was twisting. The prices are average and do not match the taste and quality of the food. Main dishes and salads $ 4-10, soups $ 4-6. There is seafood: lobster - $ 30-60 (depends on the size), fried shrimp - $ 10, a plate of grilled seafood - $ 48. Juices $ 2, milkshakes $ 4. When ordering, they immediately bring and open 1.5 liters of water - it costs $ 1.
Try to go to a cafe Royal court - we didn't eat there, but the reviews are good. Tourists praise the fish.
Find out: How not to spoil your vacation in the Maldives.
How to get to Ukulhas island from Male and back
- Ferry. Direct ferries from Vilingili pier take 4 hours to the island. Price - $ 4. Schedule: from Male at 9:00 on Monday and Thursday, from Ukulhas at 9:45 on Sunday and Wednesday.
- Speedboat... The journey takes 1.5 hours. They go every day at different times - both in the morning and in the afternoon. We sailed on it to the airport at 12:00. Price - $ 50 per person.
- Speed-boat... The journey takes 1 hour. Price - $ 300 (accommodates up to 9 people).
- Seaplane... Surprisingly cheaper than a boat. Price - $ 330 round trip (in some hotels it can cost up to $ 1,500!). An excellent opportunity to see the Maldives from above. It flies only during the daytime - from 6:00 to 15:00.
The schedule is not included because it changes quickly. Ask your hotel owner. For example, our internet ferry schedule turned out to be old, and we had to take a speedboat to the airport. Agree on the transfer in advance and ask for a discount - we were thrown off $ 20 for a speedboat. Remember that Friday is usually a day off.
Useful: how to get from Male to Todda for only $ 10.
Weather in Ukulhas. When to go
The high season runs from late November to April. From May, the rainy season is already gradually beginning: rains, winds, waves. Because of this, garbage is taken out to the beach, and the water becomes cloudy. Read more about the holiday seasons in the Maldives.
We lived in Ukulhas at the beginning of April. It was calm, only in recent days a slight wind and light waves rose. One time there was a shower late in the evening. The southern part of the beach was closed by water (this happens in April).
What to do, prices for excursions in Ukulhas
There are few excursions and entertainment, as in other islands of the Maldives. Standard assortment:
- Swimming with mantas - $ 150 for two for 90 minutes.
- Romantic dinner on the beach - $ 70.
- Fishing for big fish (Big Game) - $ 75 per hour.
- Fishing is usual - $ 50.
- Snorkeling - $ 70.
- Diving - $ 70.
- Water skiing - $ 25 for 15 minutes.
- A trip to the picnic island - $ 90.
- Canoe rental - $ 15 per hour for two.
- Windsurfing - $ 20 per hour, training - $ 45.
- Jet ski - $ 35 for 15 min, 1 hour - $ 100.
- Banana ride - $ 15 for 15 minutes.
- A trip to the sandbank - $ 150 for 90 minutes for two.
Other: animals and household issues
Insects and animals... There are many flying foxes, crows, geckos, iguanas on the island. There can be rats running on the roof of the hotel. We saw one, she nimbly climbed up a palm tree to a coconut.
Well, how can it be without mosquitoes! There are a lot of them here. It is impossible to lie near the bushes in the evening, so take repellents or buy on the spot. And sometimes ants and midges interfere.
At sunset, head to the beach - it is better to go where there are no locals. Arrange a crab safari: sit quietly, and after sunset, turn on the flashlight - you will see hundreds of hunting crabs that will run funny along the shore.
The shops. There are many minimarkets where you can buy fruits, juices, water, cookies, snacks, yoghurts and other trifles. The prices are not high. There are also souvenir shops and shops with household goods. On Fridays, shops are open with prayer breaks.
Banks, ATMs, currency exchange. There is no bank or ATM, so bring cash. You can exchange in cafes, restaurants and hotels.
