Day 1: Male Airport Pick-up; Boat to Thoddoo Island
Welcome to the Maldives! Today, your private guide will pick you up upon your landing at Male Airport, and we’ll then take a private car to the dock for the following 1-hour speedboat to Thoddoo Island. As we approach it, you can see lush, green farmlands and orchards surrounded by the Tiffany blue water. Different from other local islands that mostly rely on fishing and tourism, Thoddoo is an agricultural island with Maldives’ largest fruit and vegetable base. Watermelons grow in abundance here, so it is also well-known as the “Watermelon Island!”
► If time permits, you’ll enjoy a short Male city sightseeing with your guide before we head to Thoddoo Island.
After arrival, your guide will escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax on the beach or explore the island. Your dinner will be served by your hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Thoddoo Retreat (3 stars) or similar
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Day 2: Thoddoo Diving & Sightseeing
This morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to embark on an exciting diving excursion by speedboat. Thoddoo, situated in the North Ari Atoll, abounds in marine life, especially turtles. We’ll explore the turtle spot, discover the precious hawksbill turtles, and watch them nibble the seaweed and sponges. Besides, nurse sharks, manta rays and eagle rays are the regular visitors of the coral gardens here. Please follow your guide’s instruction to get up close to these lovely creatures without disturbing them.
► Warm Tips:
1. Please wear rash guards and use reef-friendly sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburnt.
2. Since we’ll be exposed to the intense sunlight for a long time, remember to keep drinking water during the excursion to stay hydrated.
3. You can use your own goggles, snorkel and fins for better snorkeling and diving experiences.
Later, your guide will escort you back to your hotel to escape the midday heat. The rest of the day is free for you. You may just spend a leisurely afternoon on the bikini beach, sunbathing, building a sandcastle or going for a shore diving. Eating locally grown fruit is one of the must-dos on Thoddoo Island! Try some fresh watermelon, coconut or pineapple, or have a refreshing papaya smoothie. In the evening, get ready to enjoy a nice barbecue prepared by your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Thoddoo Retreat (3 stars) or similar
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Day 3: Free Day on Thoddoo Island
Today, enjoy your free time in Thoddoo! In the morning, you may rent a bicycle for USD 5-10 to go around this picturesque island. Riding along the palm-lined sandy lanes, you may see verdant papaya trees and farms, encounter lazy cats sleeping in front of the cafes, and meet with friendly villagers. Immerse yourself in the pleasant rural atmosphere.
In the afternoon, you can join in a sunset fishing. Take a traditional Dhoni wooden boat, and experience hand fishing under the guidance of local fishermen. Enjoy the sea scenery and get back in the golden afterglow.
► Recommended Lunch Restaurant (at your own expense)
Mango House Cafe & Restaurant is only a 5-minute walk from your hotel. It serves authentic South Asian food, such as the Sri Lankan kottu roshi fried rice and Maldivian chili chicken rice. The average cost per person is about USD 15.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Thoddoo Retreat (3 stars) or similar
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Day 4: Thoddoo Rural Tour: Sandbank Relaxation, Agricultural Exploration at a Local Farm
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel and let’s head to a nearby sandbank, where you can enjoy the clean white sand and the pristine sea - a classic image of Maldives.
★ Romantic Rural Tour: Find Thoddoo’s Agricultural SecretLater, follow your guide to visit a local farm on Thoddoo Island. The locals have been irrigating using rain water for hundreds of years. Since the 1980s, greenhouse planting technology has been widely applied on this small coral island. Now, Thoddoo has over 200 farms, producing about 80% of Maldives’ watermelons! And most of Male’s fruits and vegetables are from here. Every Ramadan, the whole island becomes particularly lively as everyone is busy picking ripe watermelons and shipping them to other regions. Among the fields of watermelons and papayas, you can chat with the hospitable local farmers and learn about their farming traditions and modern techniques.
This evening, prepare to enjoy a delicious dinner made by fresh vegetables and fruits from the farmlands. After that, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Thoddoo Retreat (3 stars) or similar
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Day 5: Free Day on Thoddoo Island
Today is another free day for you to tour the island at your own pace! You may experience kayaking on the lagoon to quietly explore the colorful underwater world. Or, head to find the ancient ruins of a Buddhist temple. Due to its secluded location, this 7-century Buddhist legacy has been preserved in this Islamic country.
At dusk, you can go to the northern coast, where the fishing boats are moored with their catch. Nurse sharks, manta rays and eels usually come here for small fish, which is a spectacular scene to see. Or, at the east beach, you can try to find a marvelous bioluminescence. If you are lucky, you might see a charming blue glow on the shore. Note: please pay attention to your safety when you are participating water activities or at the seaside.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Thoddoo Retreat (3 stars) or similar
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Day 6: Thoddoo - Male: Visit Friday Mosque & Sultan Park; Airport See-off
This morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and accompany you to take a ferry back to Male in an hour. After arrival, follow your guide to tour the highlights of the city before leaving.
Let’s first go to the Friday Mosque. Built in 1656 AD, it’s the most historic mosque in Male. The architecture is constructed with coral stones and coconut wood, offering a serene spiritual center for local Muslims. Then, we’ll visit Sultan Park, the former site of the royal palace of Sultanate of the Maldives. In 1968, the over 8 centuries of the kingdom’s rule was over and the palace was burnt down, so now it has been transformed into a city park for locals to relax. Next, we’ll stroll around the local market, discovering different species of fish and featured dry fish.
After that, enjoy a private car transfer to Male Airport, where your guide will see you off and you’ll take your departure flight. Wish you a wonderful journey home!
Meals: Breakfast
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