If you’re expecting pastel resorts and curated sunsets, reset your expectations. Gan is the Maldives unplugged layered in history. Anchored by strategic importance, and vibrantly alive in ways few postcards reveal. For real travellers craving context and character, Gan is a gem waiting to be discovered.
What Makes Gan Island Different
1. A Secret Military Backdrop Turned Gateway
Built in 1941 as a covert naval base called “Port T,” Gan’s airstrip and infrastructure were key to the British Eastern Fleet during WWII. Later, it became RAF Gan until the British military pulled out in 1976.
Today, the runway is Gan International Airport. A rare civilian site built on wartime foundations.
Walk past the airport and you’ll see echoes of that past: garrison buildings, art deco cinema, a “Naafi” store, even war memorial guns. It’s not a styled museum, it’s simply how the island grew.
2. The Southernmost Tip of South Asia
Gan is the southernmost island of both the Maldives and the entire South Asian landmass. It’s remote, but not disconnected. GIA connects it to Malé and Colombo.
3. Rich Marine Access Without the Crowds
Gan is a haven for divers:
- Manta Point rivals the legendary Hanifaru Bay, offering reliable manta encounters
- The British Loyalty wreck. Torn apart in WWII and sunk intentionally in 1946, with coral clad interiors and vibrant marine life.
- Beginner divers can explore “Gan Inside”. Shallow and full of turtles, reef sharks, and stingrays.
- Reddit accounts say dive guides can literally call mantas over to divers: “They’ll glide inches above your head”
4. Small Scale Luxury & Local Living
Equator Village is the standout. The island’s only full-fledged resort built in old RAF quarters. Expect villas, spa treatments, evening entertainment. All a 5 minute ride from the airport.
But Gan also delivers authenticity: fishermen at the harbor, fruit stands, and a guesthouse vibe if you walk past resort fences
What to Actually Do (for Real, Not for the ‘Gram)
- Wander the RAF era relics. Discover what postwar life looks like in corrugated roof barracks turned guesthouses.
- Dive deep: Book a wreck dive to the British Loyalty or more mellow reef time at Gan Inside.
- Cycle the causeways: Gan links to Feydhoo, Maradhoo, and Hithadhoo via 14 km of paved road. Ride it at golden hour for a quiet, local vibe
- Chase manta rays, whether you’re scuba certified or snorkelling, Gan’s not shy about showing off its underwater stars.
- Relax in real time: Equator Village offers polished comfort, but step out for local tea shops or shrimp curries by the jetty.
Final Word
Gan isn’t your postcard Maldives. It’s the ocean’s end and the island’s spine, stitched together with WWII era grit and underwater grace. Think runway run history, manta highway, and dive bullets. If you want to know the Maldives, Gan is your starting point.