Gan (Addu Atoll) Island

Address: Gan, Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll), Maldives

Gan is an island at the southern end of Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll) in the Maldives, notable for its airfield and historic role as a British military base. It is part of Addu City and functions as one of the southern population and transport centres in the country.

The island hosts an airstrip and airport facilities that originated with Royal Air Force operations and were later adapted for civilian use as Gan International Airport. Built infrastructure and some British-era buildings remain alongside more recent developments serving residents and visitors.

During the mid-20th century Gan was operated by the British military as a strategic staging base; after the military period the airfield supported commercial flights linking the southern atolls with the rest of the Maldives and international services at times.

Gan lies in the far south of the Maldives within Addu Atoll, connected by causeways and short ferries to adjacent islands in the atoll and roughly 400 kilometres south of the capital, Malé.

• Military and civil history: Used by the Royal Air Force as RAF Gan during the mid-20th century and later converted to civilian airport use, forming part of Addu City in the south of the Maldives.

What to See#

• Airport and airstrip: Contains Gan International Airport facilities and a paved airstrip that served as a Royal Air Force staging base in the mid-20th century and later as a civilian airport hub for southern Maldives.
• Historic RAF structures and causeways: Cluster of British-era buildings and infrastructure from RAF use alongside later civilian developments and causeways linking Gan to neighbouring islands in Addu Atoll.

Gan is accessed by domestic flights from Malé to Gan International Airport (Seenu Atoll), or by sea connections arranged seasonally. Flights and ferries should be booked in advance during peak season.

• Book flights or ferries in advance - inter-atoll connections can be irregular and sold out during peak season.
• If staying on Gan, take time to see British-era airfield relics and the island's WWII heritage.