​5 Best Beaches in the Maldives You Need to See

 The Maldives to many is an exotic, high-end over water bungalow floating on top of bright, turquoise water. But when your feet touch the sand, you’ll realize that each island in the Maldives has its own unique atmosphere. Some islands are more primitive and untouched than others, while others are more geared towards people watching and marine life.

Veligandu Island Beach

This is also the spot where you can come face-to-face with sea turtles, which swim around the coral just a few steps away from the beach. Imagine how wonderful it would be to stroll out onto the sandbank (it does feel like you’re in the middle of the sea, but the water is wonderfully calm and still warm), look into the water and watch as turtles swim gracefully past. It’s a very peaceful, quiet beach, perfect for couples seeking somewhere relaxing.

Fulhadhoo Beach

I highly recommend the beach on this little local island to anyone who really wants a quiet spot. You can stroll along the beach for half an hour and not see another person. There are no big, glitzy resorts here to drag in crowds of tourists. The clean sand and calm, shallow waters, with their expansive feel of a natural pool, welcome swimmers and walkers in complete serenity. And you just love those green, swaying palm trees!

Dhigurah Beach

One of the top attractions for visitors to Dhigurah is its marine life. In fact, the ocean surrounding Dhigurah island is home to whale sharks and manta rays throughout the year, being one of the only places in the world you can experience this! Dhigurah actually means "Long Island", with its beach continuing for almost two miles to a sandbank, and its bordered with the lush, green jungle on one side of the island and the open ocean on the other.

Bikini Beach, Maafushi

Because it is an inhabited island, there are local laws about dressing modestly. For this reason, Maafushi has a tourist beach where you are allowed to wear a bikini and swimwear. The tourist beach is bustling and fun, not quiet and secluded. The beach is busy with lots of cafés, loungers and water sport shops where you can rent paddleboards or jet skis. The beach is also ideal for meeting other travelers and for watching the sunset. The area is full of budget-friendly accommodation, and it is easy to organize trips by boat.

Reethi Beach, Fonimagoodhoo

The beach takes its name from the local word for beautiful – “Reethi”. The green stretches all the way down to the sand and the canopy of trees provides welcome shelter form the hot sun. The atmosphere here is peaceful and quiet, ideal for relaxing on the beach. One of the main draws to this beach is its proximity to Hanifaru Bay which is internationally renowned for the dozens of giant manta rays that feed here between May and November.