---
type: "Article"
title: "Maiden flight with seaplane on the Northern Maldives"
description: "Maiden flight of a Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane from Malé in the northern atolls of the Maldives: What a full-blown reception committee!"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/maldives/maiden-flight-seaplane-maldives"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 4
tags: ["Experience", "Flight", "Maldives"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/maldives"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/resort"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:33:30+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2015-05-01T19:52:21+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: maiden-flight-seaplane-maldives.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:33:30+00:00
---

# Maiden flight with seaplane on the Northern Maldives

> The island of Dhonakulhi in the northern Maldives is home to the luxury Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, now accessible by a direct Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane flight from Malé — a scenic one-hour journey over scattered atolls that is an experience in itself.

## Destination
Dhonakulhi island, northern atolls of the Maldives, over one flight hour north of the capital Malé.

## Getting there
Trans Maldivian Airways operates direct seaplane flights from Malé to Dhonakulhi three times per day (since April 2015). The aircraft used is the DHC-6 Twin Otter, configured for 15 passengers. Soft travel bags are recommended over hard suitcases for easier stowage.

## What to see
- **Atoll scenery from the seaplane** — The low-flying monoplane passes closely over scattered islands, offering outstanding views of turquoise waters and atolls.
- **Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa** — An elegant luxury resort on Dhonakulhi island with a reception jetty for seaplanes and speedboats.

## What to do
- **Seaplane flight from Malé** — Scenic direct flight aboard a 15-seat DHC-6 Twin Otter, piloted by crew famously dressed in Bermuda shorts and sandals — and flying barefoot.

## Good to know
The resort was previously reachable only via a Trans Maldivian domestic flight with a layover plus a 30-minute speedboat transfer. The direct seaplane route was championed by the resort's German General Manager, Carsten Schieck, who has worked in Maldivian resorts for 13 years.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Maldive-atoll-propeller.jpg"
    caption: "Flight over the Maldives"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pilot-twin-otter-Maldives.jpg"
    caption: "Cockpit of the seaplane"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/barefoot-pilot-Maldives.jpg"
    caption: "Barefoot in the air: Maldivian seaplanes"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/seaplane-speedboat-reception-jetty.jpg"
    caption: "Reception jetty for seaplanes and speedboats"
```