Day 1: Male Airport Pick-up, Transfer to Hulhumale Island
Welcome to the Maldives! After your arrival at Male Airport, your private guide will warmly greet you and accompany you to take a 15-minute private car transfer to your hotel in Hulhumale. You can have a good rest in your hotel room, or walk north for 15 minutes to the Channel Park by yourself, take a first look at the iconic azure sea of Maldives, and play in the water with locals.
► Why We Arrange Accommodation in Hulhumale for You
Hulhumale is a modern, artificial island next to the capital Male. Compare to the crowded Male city, Hulhumale is more spacious and quieter, and the low prices and competitive money exchange rates also make it ideal for a stopover. You can exchange some Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) for your expenses on local islands.
► How We Deliver a Worry-Free & In-depth Tour
1. All your transportation in Maldives is included in this itinerary, including airport-to-hotel transfers by private car and inter-island boats.
2. Follow us to explore the country’s hidden gems through visiting local islands, less-visited diving spots, and serene sandbanks. Besides, with your knowledgeable guide, you can better understand the culture, customs and traditions of the local communities.
3. The specific island-hopping arrangements of this itinerary can be customized based on your needs and interests.
Accommodation: Newtown Inn, Hulhumale (3 stars) or similar
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Day 2: Hulhumale to Rasdhoo by Boat, Island Walk to Experience Local Life with Afternoon Tea
This morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you on a 1-hour ferry to Rasdhoo Island, one of the best dive destinations in Maldives.
After arrival and hotel check-in, follow your guide to take a walking tour of the island. Your guide will offer you several lunch recommendations around noon. Later, we’ll continue to experience the local island life. With only over 1,000 residents, Rasdhoo is full of an intimate and harmonious atmosphere. Every day, the whole village wakes up to the music from the mosque, with fishermen going out on their Dhoni boats and women preparing meals and doing housework. You’ll have a chance to interact with lovely children, and get a glimpse of the locals’ daily routines.
► Note: Please wear modest clothes that can cover your shoulders and knees, and remember to use your right hand to receive and pass objects, to respect the local Muslim culture.
After that, let’s have an afternoon tea at a cafe. Take a sip of the hot black tea, and savor some Hedhikaa, a traditional salty or sweet snack typically made of tuna and coconut, the most common ingredients in Maldives. Then, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rasdhoo Dive Lodge (3 stars) or similar
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Day 3: Rasdhoo Diving & Kayaking for Sandbank Sunset
Rasdhoo, boasting superb seawater and diverse marine life, is one of the world-class dive sites in Maldives. Today, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and then accompany you to take a boat for a memorable diving excursion!
The vast Rasdhoo Atoll is a paradise for reef fish and schools of barracuda and jackfish. They attract large predators like the nurse sharks, sailfish, and white tip reef sharks, making the sea area one of the few spots in the world to see hammerhead sharks. If it’s during the rainy season from May to November, you may also see groups of manta rays swimming around the underwater cleaning stations, waiting for a body cleaning by small fish.
► Tip: Large sharks, especially the rare hammerhead, usually gather for food early in the morning. If you wish to spot them, please let your guide know in advance and we can adjust the diving arrangement for you.
In the afternoon, let’s go kayaking to a sandbank near Rasdhoo. Sitting on the white sand kissed by the sun, you can embrace the sweeping views of the dreamy blue sea. Enjoy some exclusive leisure time, and watch a unique sunset from here. After that, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Rasdhoo Dive Lodge (3 stars) or similar
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Day 4: Rasdhoo to Ukulhas by Boat, Local Fishery Exploration
Grab your baggage and say goodbye to Rasdhoo. This morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel for your boat ride to Ukulhas Island. We’ll arrive there by noon. After check-in, you may enjoy your lunch at the nearby Basilico Restaurant or Chef the Indian Restaurant at your own expense, which are both popular local choices. Then, follow your guide to unveil the local traditions.
★ Ukulhas Fishery Tradition: Live in Harmony with the OceanFishery has long been the economic backbone of Ukulhas. However, due to global warming, coral reefs are experiencing bleaching and tuna population is declining. So, locals adopt the eco-friendlier “pole and line” technique to catch fish, which can help reducing bycatch and the destruction of corals. Now, ecotourism and waste management are booming on the island, making Ukulhas the “cleanest island of the Maldives”. Corals are planting in the sea and plastic consumption is being reduced, and farmers are trying to use coconut husks instead of soil to grow crops. Every day, there are organized local women cleaning the beaches and roads to maintain the beauty of their homeland. Follow your guide to meet with the local fishermen, and gain an in-depth understanding of their efforts on ecological protection.
After that, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ukulhas Inn (3 stars) or similar
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Day 5: Ukulhas to Mathiveri by Boat, Island Walking & Dolphin-spotting Sail
Start your day with a classic Maldivian breakfast in your hotel. Try mashuni, a mix of coconut, tuna, onions and lime, and pair it with roshi flatbread and a cup of hot tea. Enjoy your free morning on the island. Take a stroll on the bikini beach, or go for a shore diving and see if you can encounter manta rays.
After you have lunch on your own, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the tranquil Mathiveri Island by boat. Upon arrival, your guide will help you with hotel check-in. After a short break, let’s take a leisurely walking tour around this small triangular island. Compared with Rasdhoo and Ukulhas, Mathiveri is a true haven with more authentic local charms. Let’s explore the large shallow lagoons, and enjoy the stunning vistas from the stretches of soft sand. Along the north coast, there are miles of palm trees that add delightful colors to the island. From the bikini beach on the south coast, you can overlook the pristine sandbanks not far away and admire the crystal water with various shades of blue.
After that, let’s embark on an exciting dolphin-watching cruise! Your experienced captain will find the best spot for you to observe dolphins. They often gather together and chase fish at sunset. You can bring a camera with a zoom lens or a pair of binoculars to enrich your experience. After the wonderful cruise, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Royal Reef Stay, Mathiveri (3 stars) or similar
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Day 6: Mathiveri: Guided Snorkeling for Manta Rays
This morning, your guide will wait for you at your hotel, and then accompany you to take a boat for snorkeling.
Manta rays are spotted nearly every day in the sea surrounding Mathiveri. By only a 15-minute boat ride, we’ll reach the manta point. Dive into the water to find the mysterious black creatures which can have wingspan of nearly 7 meters (23 ft.)! Despite their size and frightening appearance, they are actually gentle animals. Looking like graceful dancers, they move swiftly yet quietly in the water. Besides manta rays, you may also see eagle rays, nurse sharks and turtles, which is sure to be an impressive encounter in the sea. Remember to use sunscreen and bring waterproof bags for your electronics and dry clothes.
Then, your guide will escort you back to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you. You may kayak in the island’s lagoons to get close with the blue water, or explore local food and the market in the residential area. Later, you may walk to the Shark View Point in the evening. Nurse sharks and rays often come to the harbor here for a treat from the fishermen, and even the adorable island cats are attracted - by both the fish and the sharks!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Royal Reef Stay, Mathiveri (3 stars) or similar
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Day 7: Return to Male by Ferry; Airport See-off
This is the end of your holiday. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to take a 2.5-hour ferry back to Male. Upon arrival, enjoy a private car transfer to Male Airport, where you’ll take your departure flight. The ferry is expected to arrive around 2 pm, and you can book your flight accordingly. See you next time!
Meals: Breakfast
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