Surf Trips Maldives Southern Atolls

The Southern Atolls Are A True Surfer’s Dream

The Southern Atolls are a real gem and one of the least explored surf destinations on the planet. Deep in the Indian Ocean and a 45min flight from the hustle and bustle of Male, the Southern Atolls are as remote as it gets. There isn't much around other than empty world-class waves, a few resorts and even fewer boat charters. More exposed to the far-traveling Southern groundswells the Southern Atolls have a more extended surf season that starts in early February and doesn't end until November.

  • Swell magnet
  • Pure surf destination
  • Less crowded and explored than further North
  • Romantic luxury resorts and getaways
  • A popular route for surf charters
  • A short flight from Male
Why Book with Us

LUEX offers the most extensive and best selection of surf trips worldwide.

Provider independence and quality are our mission.

Our goal is that our customers can find the perfect surf trip, tailored to their needs, in one place.

All our experts are surfers and part of the lifestyle.

Our experts know the destinations/spots personally or are in close contact with local surfers or suppliers.

We are supplier-independent. We only offer trips that fit the needs of our customers.

We guarantee to beat any price on the market.

It is not cheaper to book directly with the supplier.

We do not charge a fee for our expert advice.

We offer professional booking tools for our customers.

Secure payment functions for all currencies.

Payment options for groups and instalments.

You're talking to real people, not automated chats or bots.

We'll stand up for you when the going gets rough.

We are insiders and want you to enjoy the surf lifestyle as much as we do.

Unbiased, independent, technology driven! We don't own, run or control any of the trips but rather connect travelers with operators/suppliers of once-in-a-lifetime sports travel experiences and products. Your trip - orchestrated according to your taste, budget, style and skill level and backed by our technology-driven booking services and support

Get the lowdown on surfing in our new LUEX FM Podcast

Meet your Experts

Surfers for Surfers! What makes LUEX stand out from the crowd is our team’s competence and personal approach to YOU.

We all surf and understand YOUR Needs. Combined with our intimate knowledge of each Maldives Surf Trip we will find and tailor YOUR perfect Maldives Surf Holiday, whether it be in a resort, a camp or on a surf charter.

A taste of our expert advice right here

Some of our favorite waves in the Southern AtollsFind more waves and detail information in our Maldives Wave Guide

Southern Atolls
Beacons
Probably the heaviest break when it's on and not a wave you want to mess with unless you are an expert in the barrel. A super exposed reef break that is both fierce and fickle. Only really works in a clean southwest swell and any other direction almost always causes the wave to close out.
Reefbreak
Righthand
N - NW
Pro
S - W
March to October / Prime; March / April
Southern Atolls
Love Charms
A comfortable 5-minute boat ride from Ayada Resort, this ultra-consistent lefthander turns on the charms on a medium, southwesterly swell and N / NE winds. An instant love affair for every goofy footer, Love Charms is a long beautiful wave with two sections.
Reefbreak
Lefthand
N - NE
Advanced
S - W
March to October / Prime; March / April
Southern Atolls
Madihera
Madihera is just East of Approach Lights, off the tip of Madihera islet. The set up is magic! Although a reef, Madihera breaks more like a pointbreak with a few take off sections and a long, sectiony wall through the inside. It’s pretty exposed and picks up a ton of swell, however, it picks up plenty of wind too. It’s a wave you want to hit early before the wind gets too strong as it completely kills the wave.
Reefbreak
Lefthand
NE
Advanced
SW - SE
March to October
Southern Atolls
Viligili Left
Viligili Left is a fast, zippy lefthander that is offshore when Viligili Right gets too windy. It breaks right opposite the airport landing strip and truly comes to live with a Southern push and West - Northwest winds. Although the take off is on the faster side, the wave mellows out quite a bit as through the inside with a pretty safe end section.
Reefbreak
Lefthand
W - NW
Intermediate
S
March to October
Southern Atolls
Kottey
A fast-breaking lefthander (main wave) with a pretty potent lip breaks off Hithadhoo, a small but thriving local island that up until 1976 was a British military base. The reef formation is quite large, and other waves break along the shallow inside, but nothing really matches the quality of the wedgy left at the outer corner.
Reefbreak
Righthand
S - SE
Advanced - Pro
S - W
March to October
Be Aware...

Some waves in the Maldives are private! You need a surfpass for them and can NOT book them, when you are already there.

Make sure your passport is valid long enough for your stay.

Not all islands have easy access to surf, so the transfer to the spots is important!

The Maldives are alcohol-free, since they are an islamic nation. However most boats, resorts and camps have a licence, so you can consume your beer or cocktails there.

Please inform yourself about the local laws and restrictions before your trip!

What our customers say

"Relaxing and great family vacation. And also super good surfing"

Helena
(Four Seasons Explorer – Maldives)

"It’s stylish, comfortable, super-luxurious and stops wherever the best waves are. I could not ask more from the greatest trip to Maldives that I’ve been to ..."

David
(Gurahali – Maldives)

"Luex definitely found the boat that suited our group perfectly, especially since we were a small group and wanted to have our own boat."

Eduardo
(Koimala – Maldives)

"Wooohoo :) We had really the best time on the boat. Just 4 of us and super crew. This wasn't our first at Maldives, but it completely blew our minds again. ..."

Eddy
(Koimala – Maldives)

"The Southern Atolls were amazing, awesome sea life with some challenging surf as well as some mellow smaller days. ..."

Jamie
(Sea Farer - Maldive)

"I think it is the perfect boat because you can have it with three other friends which means you're not bringing the crowd with you. ..."

Johnny
(Kethi - Maldives)

"Just had a BLAST on the blue star boat !!! Spent 11 days in heaven with a great bunch of people from all around, japan, australia, spain, france, england, switzerland..."

Arnaud
(Blue Star - Maldives)

6 Reasons Why You Can Find The Perfect Surf Spot in Maldives Southern Atolls

01

The Southern Atolls are the Maldives’ swell magnet

The Southern Atolls are the region that picks up the most swell from every direction, the result being highly consistent conditions and well-groomed surf. Although year-round surfing is possible here, the optimum season for surfing the Southern Atolls is considered to be March – April, and September to November when the south facing spots are at their best. In May-August, when these spots are affected by predominantly southerly winds, the east facing spots may be more favorable although these typically receive less swell.

02

The Southern Atolls are home to some of the Maldives best waves

There are a host of named high-quality spots including Love Charms, Tiger Stripes, Blue Bowls and Castaways – predominantly left-handers - and countless more left and right breaking secret spots and unnamed gems. Gaafu Dhaalu, the southern half of the Huvadhoo Atoll, is often described in surfing circles as offering up the country's best conditions, with the highest quantity and widest wave variety found throughout the Maldives. If tricky and challenging get your adrenalin pumping then the hollow-sectioned, heavy, powerful waves slamming over shallow reef are going to appeal. If on the other hand, you are looking for rides of the soft and playful type or longboard suitable waves then you are also going to be kept happy.

03

You find a surf charter paradise in the Maldives Southern Atolls

There’s not much other than really amazing surf, and the best way to explore it all is by boat. Southern Atoll surf trips are particularly popular with groups both small and large because they offer the very real possibility of a surf-mates-only trip with a boat all to yourselves – some boats start with as few as 4 to 6 surfers on board. Surf charters offered by Southern Atoll surf operators come in a wide variety of types and sizes, small and intimate with that addictive traditional Maldivian charm.

04

Get to experience that true Maldivian paradise feel

The beaches are silky white sand and the crystal clear quality of the waters, combined with incredibly rich marine life in every color of the rainbow, makes for a snorkeling and scuba-diving heaven. There's not a high rise building in sight and sound is mostly of the breaking wave and sighing wind variety. The word “paradise” gets dropped on a daily but no other place deserves the label quite like the Southern Atolls in the Maldives.

05

Ultimate Luxury aboard and on land

Almost all the trips offered by our Southern Atoll surf operators come in the form of surf boat charters with a hint of sophisticated and luxurious surf resorts added to the mix. Full on pampering, fine dining and exclusive services can be found onboard and on land. The few resorts found in the South offer a parallel world comprised of luxury and breathtaking surroundings most of us can only dream of.

06

You can swim with sharks in the Maldives

Forget what you saw on TV. Experience the exhilaration of swimming with gigantic and majestic whale sharks along with smaller-sized reef sharks lurking peacefully in the coral atolls and also on the surrounding lagoons of the resorts. The Southern Atolls marine life is just spectacular and if “close encounters” with some of the ocean’s most majestic creatures is a little bit too much thrill for you, you can always opt to enjoy watching them arrive daily at selected resorts.

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