Sands Garden Thoddoo

Sands Garden is a small guest house on Thoddoo, a farming island in North Ari Atoll known for its watermelons, papaya and two bikini beaches. It has a swimming pool, a garden and a rooftop, and it is about an hour and a quarter from the airport by shared speedboat.

It suits couples, friends and small groups who want a quiet local island with a pool to come back to, not resort facilities. Every price includes the room, your meal plan, the return speedboat and every Maldivian tax, green tax included.

What you pay

There are six room types. The Deluxe Room and the Queen Room are priced for two people. The other four take a minimum of three guests, so they are priced for three adults, with the third on an extra bed: the Double Deluxe Room with twin beds, the two Superior King Rooms (garden view or balcony) and the Family Room, which has a king bed and a single bed.

Half board adds dinner and comes to about a quarter more than bed and breakfast on a three-night stay. Full board adds lunch as well, about half as much again. The speedboat is a fixed part of every stay, so each extra night adds less than the first three. The season does not move the price on the dates priced here.

What's included, and what isn't

In the price: your room for the nights you pick, breakfast, dinner or all three meals as chosen, the return shared speedboat from Velana airport, Wi-Fi, and every Maldivian tax including the green tax.

Not in the price: excursions, snorkelling trips and diving, room service, a private speedboat if you want one, your international flights, travel insurance, Indian TCS, and anything not named above.

Who this isn't for

Anyone who wants a drink, nightlife or a choice of restaurants. Thoddoo is an inhabited island, no alcohol is served on it, and most meals will be at the guest house. Dress modestly in the village and away from the bikini beaches.

Anyone after a resort-style beach on the doorstep. The swimming is at the island's bikini beaches, a walk or a bicycle ride from the guest house.

Anyone who suffers badly from seasickness. The crossing is open water and can be rough in the wetter months.

Before you book

The speedboat runs to a timetable, not to your flight, and the afternoon boat is the last of the day. Send us your flight times and we will match you to a boat, or plan a night near the airport if you land late.

Two nights is the shortest stay, and stays over the festive season and the weeks after it need four. The festive period is not priced on this page and carries compulsory gala dinners.

Every room has a private balcony, air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a flat-screen TV, a hair dryer and Wi-Fi. Some rooms have hand-painted tropical murals.

The kitchen cooks European and Asian dishes alongside local seafood, and vegetarian and other dietary requests are looked after on request. Children under three stay and eat free.

Send us your dates, who is travelling and when you land. Message us on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry, and we will come back within 24 hours with the right room, the boat that fits your flight and one price for the stay.