Sometimes escaping the stress of everyday life means jetting off to a tropical paradise. However, discovering the perfect unspoilt destination can prove challenging, with rising tourist numbers leading to overcrowding and diminished local character in many locations.
One traveller shared details on Reddit of a tiny secluded island they stumbled upon whilst exploring South Asia. Their photographs revealed stunning sandy shores fringed with palm trees, pristine turquoise waters, and virtually no other visitors. The Reddit user explained: “My girlfriend and I were in the area (Sri Lanka) and decided to extend our trip with a new country, so flew to Malé and took a local ferry to an island two atolls away.”
They added: “(We) arrived in a little unspoilt paradise called Dhigurah, which only opened up to non-Muslim foreigners recently (at the time, 2023).”
Dhigurah sits within the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, a chain of 49 islands across the Maldives. Stretching 3km in length, it ranks amongst the Maldives’ longest islands, whilst measuring merely 250 metres across at certain points, reports maldives-magazine.com.
The surrounding waters host abundant gentle whale sharks, the website notes, alongside stingrays and diverse marine creatures. Whale sharks feed exclusively on plankton and minuscule fish, presenting zero threat to humans, reports the Mirror.
The Reddit user continued: “We spent our time snorkelling (the water, especially the closer to the shore, is literally teeming with sea life), swimming with whale sharks and stingrays and drinking freshly cut coconut juice on the beach.
“Seems like the local population were clearing the rainforest (which covered 90 per cent of the island at the time of our visit, 2023) at an alarming rate to make room for new hotels, some of which apparently already have appeared on Booking.com.”
Reddit users were left in awe by the pictures. One commented: “Man I wish I could be there now. Looks amazing.”
Another chimed in: “Oh man I’m heading to Sri Lanka in about a month and was considering hopping over. I even booked a ‘just in case hotel on this exact island but cancelled and thought I shouldn’t rush Sri Lanka. Now I’m second guessing!!”
The original poster responded: “It’s indeed best to not rush Sri Lanka, it deserves your full time and attention!
“We were in Sri Lanka for 23 days and five days in the Maldives, so only three full days on this particular island, since the transport to/from the capital city and its only international airport took almost a full day on the local ferry – if you still decide to go opt for the speedboat option!
“The local ferry involves a transfer or two at other local islands and is bound to make you seasick, and takes three times as long as the speedboat.”
The island also boasts glowing reviews on Booking.com, with one visitor declaring: “The most beautiful sea I have ever seen in my entire life.”
Yet when questioned about returning, the Reddit user expressed concern, writing: “The locals are clearing the islands’ palm tree forest at an alarming rate, already at the time of our visit (see picture 13 for a glimpse into that). So maybe it’s best to not spoil our fond memories of Dhigurah by being confronted with a vastly changed island.”