The MTCC public ferry from Malé to Gulhi runs five days a week, departing Malé at 9am and returning from Gulhi at 3pm, for around $3.50 one-way.The ferry to Gulhi is the cheapest and most authentic way to reach a Maldives local island from Malé, with a 1 hour 30 minute crossing through South Malé Atoll and a stop at Maafushi on the way. Gulhi is a small local island 20km south of Malé, known for its traditional dhoni-building boatyard, a dedicated bikini beach, a house reef for snorkelling and a calm lagoon. This guide covers the live Malé to Gulhi public ferry schedule, the ticket price, the journey time, the Malé ferry terminal, the island experience, and everything you need to book the rest of your Gulhi trip — flights, hotels, car rentals, eSIMs, bikes and Maldives GetYourGuide tours.
Gulhi is one of the best public-ferry day trips from Malé: you leave the city at 9am, arrive at the island at 10:30am, and have around four and a half hours on the island before the 3pm return ferry. That is plenty of time to walk to the bikini beach, swim and snorkel the house reef, visit the boatyard and have lunch at a local cafe. The ferry runs on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday — there is no service on Monday or Wednesday. This guide shows you the full Malé to Gulhi public ferry schedule, the ticket price, the journey, the terminal, and the easiest way to book the rest of your trip. Use the search above to see the flights to Malé and the onward transfers for your date.
Malé to Gulhi Ferry Timetable
The MTCC public ferry to Gulhi runs on the South Malé Atoll route, which calls at Maafushi, Gulhi and Guraidhoo. The ferry departs Malé at 9am and returns from Gulhi at 3pm. These are the daily departure and return times for the Malé to Gulhi public ferry, with the days the ferry runs and the days it does not.
| Day | Malé → Gulhi | Arrive Gulhi | Gulhi → Malé | Arrive Malé |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 09:00 | 10:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 |
| Monday | — | — | — | — |
| Tuesday | 09:00 | 10:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 |
| Wednesday | — | — | — | — |
| Thursday | 09:00 | 10:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 |
| Friday | 09:00 | 10:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 | 10:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 |
Times are indicative and can change with the weather and the season — confirm at the MTCC ferry terminal the day before you travel. The ferry does not run on Monday or Wednesday.
The Malé to Gulhi Ferry: What to Expect
The public ferry to Gulhi is a working boat for the locals, not a tourist transfer. It is the cheapest and most authentic way to reach a Maldives local island from Malé. These are the four things you need to know about the ferry, the ticket, the terminal and the arrival on Gulhi.
The MTCC public ferry to South Malé Atoll
The public ferry from Malé to Gulhi is run by MTCC (Maldives Transport and Contracting Company) on the South Malé Atoll route, which calls at Maafushi, Gulhi and Guraidhoo. The ferry runs on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with no service on Monday or Wednesday. The ferry departs from the MTCC ferry terminal at the northwestern end of Malé, near the Villingili ferry terminal. The one-way ticket costs around MVR 53 ($3.50) for a foreigner, payable in cash at the terminal or on board.
The journey and the boat
The Malé to Gulhi ferry takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, with a stop at Maafushi on the way. The boat is a large wooden public ferry with open-air bench seating on the upper deck and a covered lower deck. There is no air-conditioning and no food on board, so bring water, sunscreen and a hat for the crossing. The ferry is a working boat for the locals — you sit alongside islanders heading home with shopping, and the ride is calm on a flat day and rough in the southwest monsoon swell.
The Malé ferry terminal
The public ferry to Gulhi departs from the MTCC ferry terminal at the western end of Malé, a short walk or taxi ride from most Malé hotels. The terminal is signposted and there are ticket booths for each atoll route. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before departure to buy your ticket and get a seat on the upper deck — the lower deck fills up first and can be hot. The terminal is a 10-minute walk from the Velana International Airport ferry jetty, or a 5-minute taxi ride.
The Gulhi jetty and the island
The ferry arrives at the Gulhi island jetty on the north side of the island. Gulhi is a small local island in South Malé Atoll, 20km south of Malé, known for its traditional boatyard (where the Maldivian dhonis are built), a dedicated bikini beach on the western shore, a house reef for snorkelling and a calm lagoon. The island is walkable end to end in five minutes — you arrive at the jetty, walk to the bikini beach, swim and snorkel, and catch the 3pm ferry back to Malé the same day.
Gulhi Island: What to Expect on Arrival
Bikini beach and house reef
The Gulhi bikini beach is on the western shore, with white sand, sun loungers, a cafe and clear water for swimming. The house reef is a short swim from the beach, with coral, reef fish and the occasional turtle. Bring your own snorkel gear — there is no rental on the beach. The beach is small but quiet, and the water is calm and shallow, perfect for a long swim.
The traditional boatyard
The Gulhi boatyard is one of the last traditional dhoni-building yards in the Maldives, where carpenters still build the wooden boats by hand. The yard is on the eastern shore, a short walk from the jetty. Ask before photographing the carpenters at work — they are proud of the boats but the yard is a working site. The boatyard is the reason Gulhi is famous in the Maldives.
On arrival at the Gulhi jetty, you walk south to the bikini beach in a few minutes. The island is small — walkable end to end in five minutes — with the boatyard on the eastern shore, the bikini beach on the western shore and the jetty on the north. There are no cars and no taxis on Gulhi; everything is a short walk. There are a few guesthouses and local cafes on the island if you want to stay overnight, and the cafe at the bikini beach serves fresh fish, snacks and cold drinks. The 3pm return ferry gives you around four and a half hours on the island for a day trip — plenty of time to swim, snorkel, see the boatyard and have lunch.
When to Take the Ferry: Best Days & Months
Nov–Apr
Calmest seas
1h 30m
Crossing time
5 days/wk
No Mon/Wed
The calmest crossings on the Malé to Gulhi ferry are in the dry season from November to April, when the seas are flat and the visibility on the reef is best. The southwest monsoon from May to October brings rougher seas and a bumpier crossing — check the forecast if you get seasick and consider a seasickness tablet before you board. The ferry runs year round, but the schedule can change at short notice in severe weather. For a day trip, plan for a Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, and catch the 9am ferry out and the 3pm ferry back the same day. Avoid the public holidays, when the ferries are busy with locals and the seating fills up fast.
Tips for the Malé to Gulhi Ferry
- The MTCC public ferry to Gulhi runs on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with no service on Monday or Wednesday
- The ferry departs Malé at 9am and arrives at Gulhi at around 10:30am, with a stop at Maafushi on the way
- The return ferry departs Gulhi at 3pm and arrives back in Malé at around 4:30pm
- The one-way ticket costs around MVR 53 ($3.50) for a foreigner, payable in cash at the terminal or on board
- The journey takes around 1 hour 30 minutes on a large open-air wooden ferry — bring water, sunscreen and a hat
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before departure to buy your ticket and get a seat on the upper deck
- The ferry departs from the MTCC ferry terminal at the western end of Malé, near the Villingili ferry terminal
- Gulhi is walkable end to end in five minutes — the bikini beach, the boatyard and the jetty are all a short walk
- The bikini beach is on the western shore, with sun loungers, a cafe and a house reef for snorkelling
- The Gulhi boatyard is one of the last traditional dhoni-building yards in the Maldives — ask before photographing the carpenters
Gulhi in Pictures
A preview of the journey — Gulhi island from the air with the bikini beach and lagoon, a Maldivian public ferry crossing the atoll, a traditional dhoni under construction in the Gulhi boatyard, and the bikini beach on a local island.
Flights to Malé
Search live fares to Velana International Airport (MLE), the gateway to the Maldives and the start of your Gulhi ferry trip. Real-time availability on each airline and the cheapest day to fly.
Gulhi & South Malé Atoll Hotels
Book guesthouses on Gulhi and resorts across South Malé Atoll — from local island guesthouses a short walk from the bikini beach to overwater villa resorts on the nearby islands.
Book Gulhi HotelsMalé Cars & Transfers
Book a car or airport transfer in Malé — the easiest way to reach the MTCC ferry terminal, the seaplane terminal and your Malé hotel from Velana International Airport.
Maldives eSIM
Install a Maldives eSIM before you fly so you have data and messaging the moment you land at Velana International Airport — no airport SIM queue and no roaming charges on the way to the ferry terminal. Coverage on Gulhi and across South Malé Atoll is good at the guesthouses and the bikini beach.
Get a Maldives eSIMRent a Bike in the Maldives
Gulhi is walkable end to end in five minutes, but a bicycle is a fun way to explore the larger local islands of South Malé Atoll on a day trip. Book a bike ahead for any island-hopping day trips from Malé, from Maafushi to Guraidhoo — a bike gives you the freedom to explore beyond the ferry jetty.
Rent a BikeMaldives Tours & Experiences
Before or after your Malé to Gulhi ferry trip, book a Maldives experience — a Malé walking tour for your layover, a sandbank picnic, a snorkelling trip on a nearby house reef, a sunset dhoni cruise, or a dive on a South Malé Atoll thila. Browse and book top-rated Maldives experiences below, all with free cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Malé to Gulhi public ferry schedule?
The MTCC public ferry from Malé to Gulhi runs on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with no service on Monday or Wednesday. The ferry departs Malé at 9am, arrives at Gulhi at around 10:30am, and the return ferry departs Gulhi at 3pm and arrives back in Malé at around 4:30pm. The ferry stops at Maafushi on the way in both directions. There is no advance booking — buy your ticket at the MTCC ferry terminal in Malé on the day, 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
How much is the Malé to Gulhi public ferry?
The one-way ticket on the MTCC public ferry from Malé to Gulhi costs around MVR 53 ($3.50) for a foreigner, payable in cash at the terminal or on board. The round trip is around MVR 106 ($7). There are no advance bookings and no online tickets — you buy the ticket on the day at the MTCC ferry terminal in Malé, before you board. Bring exact change in Maldivian rufiyaa if you can; dollars are sometimes accepted but the rate is worse.
How long is the ferry from Malé to Gulhi?
The public ferry from Malé to Gulhi takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, with a stop at Maafushi on the way. The boat is a large wooden public ferry with open-air bench seating on the upper deck and a covered lower deck. There is no air-conditioning and no food on board, so bring water, sunscreen and a hat. The ride is calm on a flat day and rough in the southwest monsoon swell (May to October), so check the forecast if you get seasick.
Which days does the Malé to Gulhi ferry run?
The MTCC public ferry to Gulhi runs on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is no service on Monday or Wednesday. Friday is a working day for the ferry in the Maldives (the weekend is Friday and Saturday, but the ferries still run on Friday morning). If you want a day trip to Gulhi, plan it for a Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, and catch the 9am ferry out and the 3pm ferry back the same day.
Where does the Malé to Gulhi ferry depart from?
The public ferry to Gulhi departs from the MTCC ferry terminal at the western end of Malé, near the Villingili ferry terminal. The terminal is signposted and there are ticket booths for each atoll route. It is a 10-minute walk from the Velana International Airport ferry jetty, or a 5-minute taxi ride from most Malé hotels. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the 9am departure to buy your ticket and get a seat on the upper deck.
Can I do a day trip from Malé to Gulhi on the public ferry?
Yes — Gulhi is one of the best public-ferry day trips from Malé. The 9am ferry arrives at Gulhi at around 10:30am, and the 3pm return ferry gets you back to Malé at around 4:30pm. That gives you around four and a half hours on the island, plenty of time to walk to the bikini beach, swim and snorkel the house reef, visit the boatyard and have lunch at a local cafe. Bring your own snorkel gear and a towel, and pack water and sunscreen — there are no shops on the beach.
What is there to do on Gulhi island?
Gulhi is a small local island in South Malé Atoll, 20km south of Malé, known for its traditional boatyard (where the Maldivian dhonis are built), a dedicated bikini beach on the western shore, a house reef for snorkelling and a calm lagoon. The island is walkable end to end in five minutes. The bikini beach has sun loungers, a cafe and clear water for swimming, and the boatyard is one of the last traditional dhoni-building yards in the Maldives — ask before photographing the carpenters at work.
Is the Malé to Gulhi ferry safe in the monsoon?
The public ferry runs year round, but the southwest monsoon from May to October brings rougher seas and the crossing can be bumpy. The ferry is a large wooden boat and the crew are experienced, so it runs in most weather, but check the forecast if you get seasick and consider a seasickness tablet before you board. The calmest crossings are in the dry season from November to April. The ferry does not run in severe weather warnings, and the schedule can change at short notice — check at the MTCC terminal the day before if the forecast is rough.
Book Your Malé to Gulhi Ferry Trip
The Malé to Gulhi public ferry runs five days a week, departing Malé at 9am and returning from Gulhi at 3pm, for around $3.50 one-way. Once you know your ferry day, the rest is one batch of bookings: your flight to Malé, a guesthouse on Gulhi or a hotel in Malé, an airport transfer, a Maldives eSIM and any reef or sandbank trips you want to lock in ahead. Start below.