Laamu Atoll Hadhdhunmathi.

01

Laamu in two minutes

Laamu is the administrative atoll of Hadhdhunmathi, in the south of the Maldives. It is one of the quieter atolls, with few resorts and a large share of inhabited islands where daily life goes on much as it does elsewhere in the country. The atoll is known for its seagrass beds and the turtles that feed on them.

The usual way in is a scheduled domestic flight to Kadhdhoo, the atoll's airport, followed by a boat or a road transfer. Several islands along the eastern rim, including Gan, are linked by causeways and roads, so a transfer between them can be made by vehicle rather than by sea.

Yaadhoo is a known surf break in the atoll, and Isdhoo has historical sites, including ruins that are said to predate the arrival of Islam in the Maldives. Details of those sites are best confirmed locally, as access and interpretation can change.

• Usual transfer: domestic flight to Kadhdhoo, then boat or road.
• Known for: seagrass, turtles, the Yaadhoo surf break and Isdhoo's old sites.
• Island types: a few resort islands and many inhabited islands with guesthouses.

02

Getting there

Laamu is beyond comfortable speedboat range from Velana International Airport for most travellers. The standard route is a scheduled domestic flight to Kadhdhoo, which sits inside the atoll, followed by a boat or a road transfer to your island. Domestic flights are timed for daylight and connect with international arrivals, but the connection is not always same-day.

If your international flight lands late, plan a first night near Malé or in Hulhumalé, then take a domestic flight the next morning. Seaplanes do not usually serve Laamu because of the distance, so the domestic flight is the practical option. Your resort or guesthouse will arrange the connection and tell you which boat or road leg follows.

Public ferries link islands within the atoll on set days, and the causeways make some journeys possible by road. Timetables change, so ask your guesthouse for the current ones rather than relying on an old copy.

03

The causeways and eastern islands

One of Laamu's distinctive features is its causeway network. Several islands along the eastern rim, including Gan, are joined by roads and bridges, so you can travel between them by vehicle. This is unusual in the Maldives, where most island-to-island movement is by boat.

The causeways make it possible to visit more than one inhabited island in a day. Villages, harbours, mosques and schools sit close together along the linked islands, and the road gives a view of island life that a boat transfer does not. Guesthouses on the linked islands can arrange transport.

The roads are public, but they are not a tourist circuit with signposted attractions. Treat them as you would any village road: dress modestly, ask before photographing people, and avoid the middle of Friday prayers when many businesses close.

• By road. Several eastern-rim islands, including Gan, are linked by causeways.
• By boat. Other islands are reached by speedboat or public ferry.
• Dress. Shoulders and knees covered on inhabited islands.
• Friday. Midday prayers close many businesses.

04

Surf, seagrass and turtles

Yaadhoo is a known surf break in Laamu. The surf season is roughly March to October, with the biggest swells around June to August during the southwest monsoon. The northeast monsoon months bring smaller, cleaner waves on some breaks. Surfers should check conditions and access with a local surf operator or guesthouse.

The atoll has extensive seagrass beds, which are feeding grounds for green turtles. Snorkellers and divers may see turtles over the seagrass, and the meadows themselves are a habitat worth protecting. Standing on or uprooting seagrass harms it, and touching or chasing a turtle disturbs its feeding.

Recreational diving in the Maldives is capped at 30 metres. Dive sites in Laamu are less documented than those in the central atolls, so a local dive centre is the best source for currents, moorings and what is currently being seen.

05

Isdhoo and the old sites

Isdhoo is known for historical sites, including ruins that are said to date from before Islam reached the Maldives. The details of those ruins, their condition and how they can be visited are best confirmed with a local guide or guesthouse, as access and interpretation can change.

The Maldives converted to Islam in the twelfth century, and older Buddhist and pre-Islamic remains survive on several islands. Coral-stone structures, carved stones and old burial grounds are part of that inheritance. They are fragile and are not theme-park exhibits.

Visitors should treat these sites with care. Do not remove stones or carvings, and ask before entering a fenced or active religious area. A local guide can explain what is known and what is uncertain.

06

Where to stay

Laamu has few resorts, and most of its accommodation is on inhabited islands. Guesthouses on the linked eastern islands and on other inhabited islands give access to village life, local cafes and the causeway road. On inhabited islands alcohol is not available, and swimwear belongs on the designated beaches rather than in the villages.

Resort islands in Laamu are quiet by the standards of the central atolls. One island, one resort, with transfers arranged by the resort and alcohol served on the island. If you want a base for surfing or for visiting Isdhoo, a guesthouse on an inhabited island is usually the more practical choice.

Importing alcohol and pork is not allowed, and during Ramadan eating and drinking in public in daylight is avoided on local islands. Guesthouses can explain the current local rules when you book.

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