When to go
January – March, and November and December
Price
From £3,549 pp (excluding flights)
Flight time
11hrs 05mins
Introduction
Maldives, an independent island country in the Indian Ocean, has stunning scenery and a diverse marine wildlife, which includes whale sharks, manta rays, bottlenose dolphins, and spinner dolphins. During your 8-day stay in the Maldives, you’ll visit the surrounding smaller islands, enjoy stargazing at night, and sail the open seas on a luxurious Turkish Gulet.
At a Glance
Duration
8 days & 7 nights
Guide price
Group: £3,549pp (including flights)
Cities/Destinations (in order)
Male – South Male Atoll – Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) – South Ari Atoll – Male
Tour Type
Experienced local tour manager and guided sightseeing
Tour Theme
Group Tour
Activity Level
3 out of 7 - Moderate
Age Range
18+
Star Rating of Tour
Superior
Accommodation
MV Felicity
Board Basis
Varied - please see the sample itinerary for details
Min|Max Group Size
Minimum 6 people with a maximum of 12
Start/Finish
Male – Male
Highlights
Live On Board a Luxurious Turkish Gulet
Live on an organized private charter for the full 6 days of your trip. Enjoy spacious and comfortable cabins, including panoramic, 360-degree views of your surroundings.
Snorkel With Marine Wildlife
Get up close and personal with the marine wildlife with a memorable snorkeling excursion. You’ll have the chance to encounter diverse marine life, including turtles, butterfly fish, wahoo, fusiliers, and much more.
Visit Undisturbed Beaches and Tranquil Islands
Maldives is home to hundreds of interconnected sandy atolls, lagoons, and coconut palms. Combined, they create a unique location to explore, one that rewards multiple visits and provides plenty of opportunities to discover marine wildlife.
Recommended Hotels
MV Felicity
Sample Itinerary
Maldives Marine Wildlife Adventure
Spend 6 days on a luxurious private charter exploring the Maldives and surrounding Indian Ocean. Along the way you will encounter a diverse range of marine wildlife, enjoy spectacular views of the coastlines, and learn about the area through educational and informative guided tours. Read on to learn all you need to know about this 8-day sample itinerary.
Day 1: London
Depart London
Day 2: Male | MV Felicity
Arrive in Male and participate in an introductory group meeting. Then board the MV Felicity, a luxurious private charter, multi-cabin cruise boat where you will stay for the next 6 days.
Today you will travel south to Guraidhoo in the South Male Atoll. Along the way you can enjoy free leisure on the boat. Watch out for dolphins skipping along the ocean, participate in a snorkeling session (if time and weather permits), and see what lies beneath the surface of the ocean.
Spend the next 6 nights aboard the MV Felicity.
(L, D)
Day 3: South Male Atoll | South Ari Atoll
In the morning stop by a reef located on the east side of the atoll for live turtle sightings. The area features a wealth of corals, which provides plenty of food for the turtles. You may also encounter an assortment of fish as well, including porcupine fish and banner fish.
Then spend the rest of the day traveling to the island of Dhangethi. Depending on time and conditions there may be room for another snorkeling excursion in the afternoon. Dhangethi is a popular fishing destination, too.
(B, L, D)
Day 4: South Ari Atoll
South Ari Atoll is famous for its large concentration of whale sharks, which are present all year round. Today you will spend time with a representative of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Team, who will share knowledge about these creatures and the conservation efforts being made to protect the species. If you do encounter whale sharks, there may be time to snorkel alongside them.
(B, L, D)
Day 5: South Ari Atoll
Enjoy another day of searching for, and snorkeling alongside, whale sharks in the South Ari Atoll region. After lunch, you will proceed to one of the most popular snorkeling sites around, where you may encounter turtles and various fish species. When not in the water, you can enjoy free leisure onboard the MV Felicity.
(B, L, D)
Day 6: South Ari Atoll | South Male Atoll
If visiting between February and April, you’ll cruise to a marine protected area known as Madivaru. There are 2 cleaning stations here, where you may encounter manta rays, and if you cannot find manta rays you can also try to snorkel with turtles, octopus, eels, and sharks.
Experienced divers can also participate in an optional diving excursion. You can also participate in a beginner Discover Scuba Diving Course to learn the basic safety guidelines and techniques needed to dive with professional supervision.
(B, L, D)
Day 7: Male
Head north and anchor at the island of Hulhumale in the late afternoon. There will be one last chance to snorkel and encounter the different marine wildlife on offer. Otherwise, enjoy free leisure. Upon arriving in Male, go for an optional city walking tour. Then in the evening, watch a presentation on the marine environment in Maldives, including the conservation work being done by the local NGOs.
(B, L, D)
Day 8: Male International Airport
After breakfast, be transferred to the Male International Airport to fly back to London.
(B)
