Itinerary
- Day 1
Malé to Maaenboodhoo
You'll arrive at Malé International Airport and take a public speedboat to Maaenboodhoo, a fishing island in Dhaalu Atoll. After settling in, there's time for a sunset swim before your tour leader goes over marine conservation work during coffee. It's a relaxed first evening to adjust and get oriented.
Included Activities
- Public speedboat transfer to Maaenboodhoo
- Sunset swim on the beach
- Marine conservation briefing with tour leader
Optional Activities
- Domestic flight to Kudahuvadhoo Airport (traveler arranges and pays for ferry/speedboat transfer)
Landmarks/POIs Velana International Airport Maaenboodhoo - Day 2
Maaenboodhoo
Following breakfast, you head out by speedboat for a snorkeling safari where your tour leader helps you spot turtles, reef sharks, and colorful fish. The afternoon involves walking around the island to see the mosque, harbor, and traditional dhoni boatyard. You'll wrap up with local hedhika snacks and black tea at a café, which gives you a feel for island life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Snorkeling safari with marine wildlife spotting
- Safety briefing for responsible snorkeling
- Guide support for less confident snorkelers
- Island exploration including mosque, harbor and boatyard
- Hedhika experience - sweet and savory Maldivian snacks with black tea
Landmarks/POIs Maaenboodhoo Mosque Maaenboodhoo Harbor - Day 3
Rinbudhoo - Maaenboodhoo
A boat takes you to Rinbudhoo, known for its silversmiths and goldsmiths who you can watch at work. You'll wander through colorful street murals painted by local artists, then join local women to learn how to make mashuni and roshi before eating what you've prepared for lunch. The day finishes with learning Bashi, a traditional women's game.
- Meals
- Lunch (Prepared dishes made during cooking class - mashuni and roshi)
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to Rinbudhoo
- Tour of jewel makers' workshops
- Island tour including street murals
- Maldivian cooking class - making mashuni and roshi
- Lunch with prepared dishes
- Bashi playing - traditional women's game
- Boat return transfer to Maaenboodhoo
Landmarks/POIs Rinbudhoo - Day 4
Kudahuvadhoo - Buruni - Gaadhifushi
You travel by slow boat from Dhaalu Atoll to Kudahuvadhoo, the capital, to check out ancient Buddhist temple mounds and well-preserved mosque ruins. After lunch, you take a public ferry to Buruni island where there are historical sites connected to a classic romance tale. Then a speedboat brings you to Gaadhifushi with a welcome drink.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Slow boat transfer to Kudahuvadhoo
- Exploration of hawittas - ancient Buddhist temple mounds
- Exploration of old mosque ruins with coral-stone carvings
- Public ferry to Buruni
- Island exploration including Kamana Beach and Koamas fields
- Speedboat transfer to Gaadhifushi
- Welcome drink - local kurumba
Landmarks/POIs Kudahuvadhoo Kudahuvadhoo Old Mosque Buruni Kamana Beach Koamas fields Gaadhifushi - Day 5
Gaadhifushi
After breakfast, you pick between kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding to reach a private uninhabited island for your own Robinson Crusoe experience. There's a traditional Maldivian beach picnic, time to relax on the sand, and the option to help clean the island if you want. Swimming and returning to Gaadhifushi round out the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Choice of kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding
- Paddling coaching and instruction
- Transfer to uninhabited island
- Traditional Maldivian beach picnic - majja
- Free time for relaxation and sunbathing
- Optional beach cleaning activity
- Ocean swim
- Return transfer to Gaadhifushi
- Day 6
Gaadhifushi to Thimarafushi
You head west by speedboat to Thimarafushi, an island with the atoll's domestic airport and a fish processing facility where you can see operations. In the afternoon, you snorkel near a young shipwreck at 5 to 8 metres depth, exploring marine life like fish, corals, and possibly turtles, rays, or reef sharks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Thimarafushi
- Island exploration
- Snorkeling at shipwreck site
Landmarks/POIs Thimarafushi Shipwreck Thimarafushi - Day 7
Thimarafushi
Your tour leader shares research insights from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program. Then you head out by boat to search for whale sharks using traditional methods. If spotted, you snorkel carefully alongside these creatures and help log the sightings into the MWSRP database for conservation purposes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Maldives Whale Shark Research Program presentation
- Whale shark search safari by boat
- Whale shark snorkeling experience (if spotted)
- Sighting documentation and database entry
- Day 8
Thimarafushi to Malé
After your final breakfast, a speedboat transfers you back to Malé and escorts you to Velana International Airport for your departure. It's a straightforward morning to wrap up your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Malé
- Airport escort and check-in assistance
Optional Activities
- Domestic flight from Thimarafushi to Malé International Airport (traveler arranges and pays for onward transfers)
Landmarks/POIs Velana International Airport
