Stays in Gan
Gan is the southern end of Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, just below the equator, and it works nothing like the resort atolls near Malé. You arrive at Gan International Airport after a domestic flight of about 90 minutes from Velana, and the island is joined by causeways to Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo, so the onward trip is by road, not by boat or seaplane. The one hotel on this page, Equator Village Maldives, sits on the former Royal Air Force station, about five minutes by van from the terminal; it has a guest score of 8 from 31 reviews. Addu's appeal is underwater and on two wheels. The atoll became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in October 2020; the British Loyalty, a 140-metre tanker scuttled in the lagoon in 1946, lies between 16 and 33 metres; reef mantas are reported at Manta Point through the year. On land, a bicycle along the Link Road reaches the Eedhigali Kilhi wetland in Hithadhoo. The catch: this is an inhabited island, not a private resort, so local island rules apply outside the hotel.
Gan is where I would send divers and curious travellers who want the Maldives without the private-island bubble. It is the southernmost island of Addu Atoll, reached by a domestic flight from Velana of about 90 minutes, and its causeways tie it to Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo, so you can cycle between islands rather than book boats. The old RAF runway still serves the airport, and the barracks became Equator Village Maldives. It suits divers aiming at the British Loyalty wreck, families who want a short land transfer and travellers interested in island life. It does not suit anyone after an overwater villa, a white-sand private island or a seaplane landing.
Gan in numbers
What to expect
- Equator Village Maldives, on the former RAF station, is about five minutes by van from Gan International Airport.
- Addu Atoll, with Fuvahmulah, became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in October 2020, the second and third in the Maldives after Baa.
- The British Loyalty tanker, scuttled in Addu's lagoon in 1946, is an advanced dive between 16 and 33 metres.
- Causeways join Gan to Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo, so the atoll can be explored by bicycle along the Link Road.
Local tips
- Rent a bicycle at Equator Village and ride the causeways north towards Hithadhoo: the Eedhigali Kilhi wetland, with mangroves and birdlife, is the best land excursion in the atoll.
- The British Loyalty wreck needs an advanced certification or equivalent experience, as it lies between 16 and 33 metres; log a check dive first if you have not dived for a while.
- Gan is an inhabited island: outside the hotel, cover shoulders and knees, expect quiet Friday mornings, and remember that alcohol is served only on resorts and boats.
- Equator Village family rooms are 52 square metres for up to six guests, a rare setup in the Maldives for families travelling with three or four children.
Where to stay
Frequently asked
How do you get to Gan from Malé?
By a domestic flight from Velana International Airport to Gan International Airport, which takes about 90 minutes. From the terminal, Equator Village Maldives is roughly five minutes by van. Because Gan is linked by causeway to Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo, other hotels in Addu are reached by road too, not by seaplane.
Is Gan in the Maldives worth visiting?
Yes, if you care more about diving and island life than about an overwater villa. Addu Atoll is a UNESCO biosphere reserve since October 2020, it holds the British Loyalty wreck and a manta site, and you can cycle across four linked islands. If your priority is a private island with a soft sand lagoon, the atolls near Malé suit better.
What is the British Loyalty wreck?
A 140-metre British tanker torpedoed twice during the Second World War, in 1942 and 1944, then scuttled in Addu's lagoon in January 1946. It now lies between about 16 and 33 metres. Dive centres rate it an advanced dive because of the depth, so plan it after a few warm-up dives.
Can you see mantas in Addu Atoll?
Reef mantas are reported at Addu's Manta Point throughout the year, which makes it one of the few places in the Maldives without a strict manta season. Sightings depend on currents and are never guaranteed on a given day. For large summer aggregations the reference stays Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll.
What was Gan before tourism?
Gan was a British military base. The Royal Navy used Addu's lagoon during the Second World War, and the Royal Air Force ran a station on Gan until 1976. The runway became today's airport and the base buildings were turned into Equator Village Maldives, which explains its low, barracks-style layout among gardens.