How to Get from Malé Airport to Ukulhas Island: Speedboat & Hotel Transfer Guide

Duration: 14:23 2127 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The video provides a practical guide for travelers arriving at Malé International Airport who are heading to Ukulhas Island via the Koala Beach Hotel. The narrator emphasizes that visitors should not simply head directly to the jetty, as this often leads to confusion among the numerous boats and docking areas. Instead, guests must locate their specific hotel's designated transfer counter or information booth before leaving the airport terminal; in this case, it was Counter E19. If a resort does not have a dedicated counter, there is usually an information desk nearby where representatives wait with transport vehicles to assist travelers upon arrival. Once on board the speedboat, which took approximately one and a half hours despite some initial delays, passengers are dropped off at Ukulhas Island where they can immediately connect with hotel staff for pickup. The island itself is described as smaller and more organized than other local islands like Dharu, featuring over a kilometer of designated bikini beaches accessible within five minutes from anywhere on the island. Unlike larger resorts that may have restricted areas or specific rules about construction, Ukulhas offers a blend of tourist facilities and residential life while maintaining cleanliness and orderliness throughout its layout. For tourists interested in marine activities, Ukulhas is highlighted as an excellent snorkeling destination due to its house reef being located less than five minutes from the shore, allowing for easy daily exploration without long boat trips. The waters are home to a variety of species including stingrays, turtles, and various shark types like black tips and white tips, which can often be seen near small fishing bait cages that attract large schools of fish. Additionally, the island boasts diverse dining options ranging from Italian and Thai cuisine to local Maldivian food, along with grocery stores, dive centers, and even a hospital for medical needs. Beyond its natural beauty, Ukulhas offers comprehensive amenities including outdoor gyms, sports courts like football and volleyball fields, spa services, barber shops, and 24/7 health facilities managed by a tourist police desk to ensure visitor safety. The island's infrastructure includes both main roads connecting the harbor area with residential zones where schools are located, as well as protected bush areas that serve as habitats for local wildlife such as cats and mice rather than wild animals found in jungles. Overall, the video concludes that Ukulhas is a safe, clean, and highly accessible destination perfect for those seeking an affordable yet luxurious island experience without getting lost or missing out on essential services.

Read the full video transcript

Hey guys, I'm at the Malay International Airport and today we are going to Koala Beach Hotel in Ukulas. So in order to go Ukulas, our hotel told us to come to counter number E19 which is right there and someone from counter E19 will take us to the boat. So we're just waiting for a few more minutes and walking lady is right there and if you need washroom it's right there in the corner. So when you come to Mallay airport, you have to find a designated booth for your hotel, resorts or boat. Now if you just go to the dock or jetty area, you're going to get lost. We made this mistake in the past. They told us to like, you know, just go to the jetty and we went and we couldn't find anything. So I had to call the hotel, go to information desk. Then they told us to go to the designated counter for that hotel, which the hotel actually didn't tell us because maybe they thought we knew. Then we were able to find someone to take to the boat. So before coming here always make sure that you know what counter or information desk you have to go. If they do not have any designated counter then there's information booth and usually they wait there with their like you know representative which is located right around the corner somewhere there. So now we already like you know talked to a representative there for Kimala beach in Opulas E9 and then we're going to the boat very shortly and this is I think they use coral boat so that's what we're going to go to >> so we had to wait a long then our represent we had to wait a little bit then the boat came and our hotel representative is taking us to the right jetty our area so we're going to board the boat in a few minutes. And that's the smoking jetty, the hut right there. and see what I told you. You're going to get confused if you don't know your book number because there are just too many boats, too many jetties. And if you're looking for local fair to Malay, that's their booth right there. And you have to pay cash. And that's like, you know, going to Malay. Oh, I think all these people are going to pulas. >> It's a big boat. >> Yeah, and that's a big boat. So, looks like not just us, a lot more people found out about Maldives's local island where you can enjoy Maldives >> without paying a lot >> at the Yeah, at a fraction of a cost. No, I don't think that's ours. >> Yeah, >> I think maybe with these people >> more ahead maybe. >> Yeah. So, we're still going. Well, it's little it's little far. Mafushi. >> Mafushi. Okay. I come. Okay. I think we have to come here for Makushi. >> Yeah. >> But we're going to go there. Yeah. >> Our hotel. >> I come. A tour company. >> I come. That's the one. >> Yeah, that's a tour company. They have different places. They're going to Mafushi and other island. So, we bought through them. So we kind of now this one is going to rush the UK house full hoodoo. >> Oh maybe this is the one. >> I think this is the one. >> Oh wow. This is the one side. This is the one. So it takes 1 and 1/2 hour. >> So guys, we finally left. There's a 45 minutes delay. So the trip should take about 1 and 1/2 hour. And we are on our way to Kulas. Come on. Come on. Okay. That's the right there. You cannot be mistaken. >> We just arrived in Ukulas and we already found our like you know uh people from the hotel to pick us up. And this is the boat we took. I think it took about 1 and 1/2 hour and looks like a nice area. So we're just in a waiting Peter from side to side. Basically you able to take around by walk around 30 to 40 minutes. So here is a bank. So you can withdraw USD and local currency as well. >> Oh that's really good. >> And uh also uh all the shops and the restaurants they do accept the cards. >> Okay. >> And you can pay by the card as well. In plus we do have 13 different restaurants, 12 different grocery stores. Okay. Uh and you able to get a Thai food, Indian food, uh Italian food and also international rural foods. You able to get it from the from the bus. >> All right. So and also we do have a seven dive centers and more than a kilometer of a tourist beach where you can wear the bikini, sunb, snorkel, swim >> and also we do have some other facilities like outdoor gym, football ground, handball ground, volleyball court as well. >> That's it. >> Can I run back? >> Yeah. >> And also uh uh at the reef edge of the reef we have one uh small platform where you can see a shark without doing snowfall. Where? Right there. >> Go close to the shore. >> There. Over there. >> Over there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So I think in the evening is better, right? >> In the evening is better. Yeah. >> Okay. So here is it like a manta ray too. >> Uh no stingray. >> Oh, stingray. >> Yeah. And sometimes the the sharks used to come this corner as well. >> Okay. Where do you see manta ray? >> M uh manta ray we need to go uh the ground actually don't come closer to the beaches. >> Okay. >> Uh but the stingrays >> Okay. >> They used to live closer to the beaches. Oh, okay. Okay, that's good. Okay, because there's a small fish cage just live baits for fishermans. They used to bring it over there. Because of the live bait, there's so many fish are attracted over that area. So, it's quite nice to do a snorkel. So, basically, you can >> uh see a bigger fish over there. >> Okay. like uh stingray, turtle, nash shark, white tip, black tip shark also parrot fish and some other species of uh fishes as well. You able to see it. >> Oh, okay. So, the beaches are on both sides, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Except harbor all around the island, we do have >> and all beaches are bikini beaches. >> Uh no. Uh it's start from here all the way to the other side the middle of the island we have uh uh bikini beaches. Okay. >> It's more than a kilometer of bikini beaches. >> Okay. I I heard this has the largest bikini beaches. >> Yes. Which was true. Some of the islands they have like quite a small areas like that. Yeah. >> But we have bigger one. >> Okay. >> So that is our luggage there. >> That's our luggage. Yeah. And some people are having a >> it's a very nice guy >> giving us some information. >> Information. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. >> Get of the Yeah. >> Um >> we are coming from Digura. >> Yes. >> So what what do you think are the main differences between Digura and this island? >> Uh actually uh Diguro is a very big slim and long island. Okay. one and they have the sand banks. >> Okay. >> Uh attached to the island. >> Yeah. Yeah, we went there. Yeah. >> Uh yes. And the difference between Ukulas and Ukulas is actually wherever you are, you can reach to the bikini beach within 5 minutes. >> Oh, okay. >> Yes. And it's a smaller and a slim island. And also around the ukulas most of the places you can do one of the beautiful snorkeling because our house reef is >> to the edge of the beach from the beach to the house reef less than a 5 minute snorkel. >> Yeah. >> Which makes uh which makes you do a snorkel everyday activity and you can split the reef. Okay. Today this part, tomorrow that part, tomorrow that part like that. So it's actually a snorkeling island. We we use snorkeling island. Yeah. Yeah. And the our beaches is also very beautiful. >> Okay. >> And it's very easy to uh reach the beach. It's not a walk long walking distance. >> What is the population here? >> Uh 1 1200. >> 1200. Okay. >> Yeah. And also we do have uh more uh more restaurants options and more grocery stores options and also dive centers and the uh suenia shops. I think we do have more of these facilities than the gura. Oh, you have more facilities. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But this is a smaller island than Tigura. >> Uh by the size wise, yes. But by the population, I think we are bigger. Bigger be 100. >> Digura maybe 5 6 700. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And they have a hotels built in uh limit uh they have a kind of a rules and we have a different rules in the hotels. >> Okay. Okay. And some of the facilities like uh roads are also getting because uh yeah we have such a difference in between the ura but the is also a very beautiful island. This is the main road of the island. >> Okay. >> So that's the tourist tip and that the other end is the local residential tip. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Uh at the end we do have our school and also we do have a 24/7 health facilities and pharmacy. Uh we have and also we do have a tourist policy desk in case if you have any issues regarding anything. >> Okay. >> But it is a very safe island. >> Yeah. >> So that's the other side of the beach. >> Okay. >> Behind. Yeah. We will walk on this way. >> Okay. >> And the banana. But it belongs to some >> Oh, okay. The the one thing I'm noticing right away comparing to Digor is more uh it's cleaner and more organized. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you. Is >> Yeah. We don't have a many bushes around and we clean the bushes and we do have a beach bars and beach uh facilities where you can rest and relax on the beach as well. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Cool. >> And we have I think uh more constructions on going which was not a good point but uh >> whatever it is it is there. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's true. >> And this is the Italian restaurant. One of the best in the island. >> Oh, okay. >> This is called Oh, Pepperoni restaurant. Pepperoni restaurant. >> Pepperoni restaurant. We we have a three roads. One is the ring road, other one is the main road and this road. >> So basically is a smaller than if you want also. It's so difficult to get lost. >> Oh dear. [laughter] >> I I I >> And the closest shop will be 5 minutes walk that way. >> Okay. >> Uh to you will be reaching a factory. That's the local shop. >> Okay. >> And also we do have some other shops around the island. >> Oh, okay. >> And that's the protected uh uh bush area. >> Yeah. We used to call that's our jungle part. We have a few animals. >> Okay. [laughter] >> No, we don't have we have a cat, mouse, these people. >> We don't have animal in here. >> Where is there a barber shop here? >> Yeah, we do have a two barber shops. Two spa. >> Okay. How do you go? Which part? >> Uh from at the harbor, we have one. >> Okay. >> And also in the main road all the way to the that side. >> Yeah. Uh we do have >> another one. >> Another one. Yeah. >> Okay. Cool. And there's one hospital. >> Yeah, we do have a hospital as well. >> Oh, okay. >> Place this way. I think next maybe. >> This is the closest way to the beach. >> Oh, okay. >> From >> Yeah. >> Welcome to the beach. >> Wo. >> Have a seat. >> Have Okay. Thank you. >> It's a rocking sofa. >> Okay. >> Rocking. >> Oh, rocking. Okay. [music] >> [music]