Manta Stay Thoddoo
A family-run nine-room stay on Thoddoo, 69 km into the Ari Atoll
A place to stay on Thoddoo
Manta Stay is a small, family-run guest house on Thoddoo Island in the northern Ari Atoll, roughly 69 km from Malé. Nine rooms keep the scale genuinely intimate, and the team handles the property personally rather than through a management layer. The on-island focus is activities: snorkelling, diving excursions, fishing trips, island hopping, sandbank picnics and even fruit harvesting are all arranged through the guest house. Rooms start from around $55 per night, and the property holds a 4.9/5 Google rating across 59 reviews.
The honest verdict
A small, affordable guest house on a local Maldivian island where the hosts arrange excursions and meals are available on site.
Best for
- Travellers wanting a local-island experience over a resort
- Families — dedicated family room with bunk beds
- Divers and snorkellers on a budget
- Visitors after arranged island-hopping and sandbank trips
Maybe not ideal for
- Those wanting a private beach or overwater setting
- Travellers who prefer a large, amenity-heavy property
Thoddoo Island setting
Thoddoo sits in the northern Ari Atoll, about 69 km from Malé. It is a local island rather than a resort island, which means daily life and agriculture — Thoddoo is known for fruit farming — are part of the backdrop.
Nine rooms, garden outlook
All rooms look onto the garden and have a patio. Each has an open-air bathroom with hot water, air conditioning, minibar, flat-screen TV and soundproofing. The scale means the hosts know guests by name.
Outdoor spaces and dining
The garden has outdoor furniture and a dining area. A BBQ facility is available on site, and the property has a restaurant. Room service runs to the guest rooms for those who prefer to eat in.
Arranged excursions
The guest house coordinates snorkelling, diving, fishing, island hopping, sandbank picnics and fruit harvesting with local operators. These are off-property boat trips — not on-site facilities — but the booking is handled for guests.
Rooms & suites
Double Room with Garden View
sleeps 3 · 1 single bed / 1 extra-large double bed
- Garden view
- Air conditioning
- Patio
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
Deluxe Triple Room
18 m² · sleeps 3 · 1 single bed / 1 extra-large double bed
- Garden view
- Air conditioning
- Patio
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
Family Room with Garden View
18 m² · sleeps 4 · 1 extra-large double bed / 1 bunk bed
- Garden view
- Air conditioning
- Patio
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
Inside Manta Stay Thoddoo
Amenities at Manta Stay Thoddoo
Great for your stay
- Restaurant
- Private bathroom
- Air conditioning
- View
- Bath
- Free WiFi
- Family rooms
- Airport shuttle (free)
Bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Bidet
- Towels/sheets (extra fee)
- Bath or shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet
- Free toiletries
Bedroom
- Linen
- Wardrobe or closet
View
- Garden view
- View
Outdoors
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- BBQ facilities
- Patio
- Garden
Kitchen
- Dining table
- Electric kettle
Getting there
Thoddoo is approximately 69 km from Malé and reached by seaplane transfer. Once on the island, the guest house provides a free airport shuttle. Seaplane schedules are typically tied to daylight hours, so arrival and departure timing is worth confirming when you book.
Seaplane transfers typically run $250–600 per person round trip, booked through the property. A few islands in this band are also served by a domestic flight to a nearby regional airport plus a short boat — ask the property which routing is faster for your dates.
On the map
With 59 Google reviews and a 4.9/5 score, Manta Stay Thoddoo sits at the high end of what guest houses in the Maldives typically achieve. The volume of reviews is modest given the property's nine-room scale, but the rating is consistent and points to a property where guests leave satisfied.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How do I get to Manta Stay Thoddoo from Malé?
The transfer is by seaplane. Thoddoo is roughly 69 km from Malé, and the guest house arranges a free airport shuttle on the island side once you arrive.
How many rooms does the property have?
Manta Stay has nine guest rooms in total, across three room types: a Double Room with Garden View, a Deluxe Triple Room and a Family Room with Garden View.
What room types are available, and what do they sleep?
The Double Room with Garden View sleeps up to three. The Deluxe Triple Room also sleeps three across 18 m². The Family Room with Garden View sleeps four and has a bunk bed alongside the main double.
Is there a restaurant on site?
Yes. The property has a restaurant and also runs room service. Breakfast options include continental, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and breakfast-to-go formats.
What meal options are available at breakfast?
Breakfast covers continental, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free options, as well as a breakfast-to-go format for early departures or excursion days.
Can I go snorkelling or diving from the guest house?
Snorkelling and diving excursions are arranged through the guest house with local operators. These are boat-based trips departing from Thoddoo, not on-site facilities.
What other activities can be arranged?
The guest house coordinates island hopping, sandbank picnics, fishing trips, fruit harvesting and canoeing. All are organised through local operators and booked via the property.
Is Manta Stay Thoddoo suitable for families?
Yes. The Family Room with Garden View sleeps four with an extra-large double and a bunk bed. The Deluxe Triple Room also works for a family of three. Family rooms are listed as a facility.
Is there WiFi, and what in-room amenities are included?
Free WiFi is available in all rooms. Each room also has air conditioning, a minibar, flat-screen TV, soundproofing, a private bathroom and a patio with garden view.
What is the price range?
Rooms start from around $55 per night for the Double Room with Garden View, rising to approximately $61 for the Deluxe Triple Room and $109 for the Family Room.
Is alcohol available at the property?
Thoddoo is a local island, and local islands in the Maldives are alcohol-free. The guest house facts do not list a bar or alcohol service.
Does the guest house offer late check-out?
Late check-out is listed as an available option. It is worth confirming directly with the property when booking, as availability will depend on the day's occupancy.