8 days tour

Maldives Uncovered

Maldives Uncovered

This tour includes:

Accommodation

7 nights guesthouse accommodation: 1 night Hulhumale Island 3 nights Guraidhoo Island 2 nights Maafushi Island 1 night Gulhi Island

Hygieneprotocol

This tour will be operated in line with our โ€™Safer Encountersโ€™ scheme which covers a wide range of additional hygiene precautions as well as social distancing rules and other measures to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

Others

Boat trips, snorkelling over the coral reefs Uninhabited islands & sand bars Cultural shows Beach barbecues Dining with local families Diving options 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service. Free 30-day tourist visa on arrival to all nationalities.

Transport

Arrival arrangements: All our tours include an airport meet and greet and transfer service on the first day of your tour. Our rep. will be holding an Encounters Travel or Uncover the World signboard with your name displayed for easy identification. If you canโ€™t find our representative, our emergency contact numbers are given on your tour confirmation voucher. No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to incorrect flight details being provided or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense. Local island tours: Private vehicles are used for sightseeing tours and airport transfers. Public ferries are used for crossings between Male, Guraidhoo and Maafushi. Domestic flights are used between Male and Gan. Speedboat transfers or sea-planes are used for transfers to and from island resorts. A range of motor boats and Dhonis are used for the water based activities included in our tours. All boats carry sufficient life jackets for our travelers. Safety/emergency procedure briefings will be provided by your guide or the boat crew at the start of each journey. Departure arrangements: Our local island tour itineraries will return you to Malรฉ airport from Maafushi Island in time for flight departures after about midday. If you have an earlier flight departure, please let us know as soon as possible as you may need to book an extra speedboat transfer (at extra cost). If you have a late afternoon/evening flight departure, then we offer a range of options to help fill your day. Please see the tour dossier for details. If your tour includes a domestic flight back to Male at the end of the tour (for example from Gan) then this flight will be timed to ensure you catch your international flight. Most of the resort extension options that we offer are based close enough to Malรฉ airport that the resortโ€™s own standard boat transfer service will be able to get you to the airport in time for flights departing at any time of day. However some resorts may charge extra for very early departures, especially if sea plane transfers are required. Please contact us for details and any extra costs if you have an early flight departure before confirming your flight arrangements. Sailing safari tours will be customised to ensure you are at the airport in plenty of time for your departure flight(s). There is currently a departure tax in place at Malรฉ airport. Please ensure you have US$13 p/p in cash on you to pay this tax when you leave. If your flights arrive/depart before/after the tour starts/ends then we will be very happy to arrange additional accommodation and airport transfers for you. We will aim to book these in the same hotel as the main tour, though this will be subject to availability (upgraded hotels are also available on request). If you do not book your additional accommodation through us, then our arrival/departure service is not included and you will need to make your own airport transfer arrangements.

Meals

7 Breakfasts. 1 Lunch. 4 Dinners.

Guide

We provide a fully trained local guide to escort you throughout this tour. Tour guiding in the Maldives is a fairly new concept but our guides are keen, friendly, speak good English, and are delighted to be able to provide tourists with a different experience of the Maldives to the normal resort island holiday. A range of boat crews are also used for the various water-based activities. A permanent rep is based in Hulhumalรฉ to assist at the start and finish of the tour. At Encounters Travel we aim to only use local tour guides as we feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing as well as supporting the local population.

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included but may be available on request

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost. Full-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi - This full day boat trip includes three dives at some of the Maldives great scuba-diving locations. Destinations and species targeted vary day by day. Tanks, weights, boat fees and guides are included. Wet suits, BCD, regulators, fins, masks and snorkels are not included, but are available for hire locally (budget around USD 30 per dive). This option is available to certified divers only - please ensure you bring your logbook with you. Half-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi - This boat trip includes two dives at one of the Maldives great scuba-diving locations. Destinations and species targeted vary day by day. Tanks, weights, boat fees and guides are included. Wet suits, BCD, regulators, fins, masks and snorkels are not included, but are available for hire locally (budget around USD 30 per dive). This option is available to certified divers only - please ensure you bring your logbook with you. Speedboat departure transfer - If your flight departs Male airport before 1pm on Day 8, then you will need to book a speedboat transfer from Gulhi to the airport instead of using the local ferry as per the standard itinerary. Scheduled speedboat departures currently leave Gulhi at 08.00, 12.00 and 17.00 each day, getting you to the airport in around 40 minutes. If you have a very early morning flight departure then a private speedboat transfer will be required at extra cost. 3-night resort island extension - Why not extend your tour with a fabulous 3-night stay on a resort island. Ideal for those wanting some more luxury for the end of their stay. Relax and enjoy a perfect end to a perfect holiday. Our preferred options are located close enough to Male airport that expensive sea plane transfers are not required. Please contact us for current prices to fit your dates, preferred resort and number of travellers. Single room supplement - This tour is based on twin-share accommodation, with single bookers paired up with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If the final group make-up means that no room share is available, you do not need to pay this supplement. However, if you would like to guarantee yourself a single room throughout the tour, then please add this option to your booking.

Others

Meals not indicated in the itinerary Drinks, snacks, tips and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry) Any other items not mentioned above

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory but not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Maldives Uncovered

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrive In Malรฉ, Transfer To Hotel
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrive In Malรฉ, Transfer To Hotel

      Upon arrival at Male International Airport you will be greeted by our representative and transferred by the airport shuttle taxi to your guesthouse on Hulhumale, just 15 minutes away. Settle in after your flight before taking your first steps on the sands of this tropical paradise. The beach is 3 min walk away, with several local cafes and local restaurants, plus a watersports centre. For guests arriving before 5.00pm there is an option to join your guide on the beach for coffee, a very popular daily activity for Maldivians and a chance to gain your first insight into the local side of this island paradise. OVERNIGHT:. Hulhumale guesthouse. MEALS:. NULL. EXTRAS:. Extra day in Hulhumale - pre-tour. Single room supplement (MASHMM)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Male Tour, Ferry To Guraidhoo, Free Time & Dinner
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Male Tour, Ferry To Guraidhoo, Free Time & Dinner

      Following breakfast served at the guesthouse you will transfer by public ferry to Male, a 20-minute journey, where a guide will accompany you on a tour of the capital city, providing opportunity to visit places of interest including The Friday Mosque, The National Museum and Sultan Park. After lunch transfer by local ferry (approx. 14.30) to your guesthouse on the local island of Guraidhoo, South Male Atoll, 120 minutes from Male. Sit up top on the ferry to view the beauty of the many Maldives islands that pass you by whilst keeping your eyes open for dolphins!. Upon arrival you will have time to settle in before either relaxing in the garden at the guesthouse or on the local beach to watch the sun go down. Dinner this evening is at your guesthouse before your guide will give some information on how the local marine life is under threat because of activities carried out by us humans. Your tour leader will highlight the harmful practices that are pushing the balance in the eco system and what we can do to limit the impact. OVERNIGHT:. Guraidhoo guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Dinner. EXTRAS:. NULL

  • Day 3 Day 3: Snorkelling Trip, Free Time, Beach Bbq
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Snorkelling Trip, Free Time, Beach Bbq

      Following a local style breakfast we travel by speedboat to two of the best nearby reefs. The coral reefs of the Maldives are inhabited by diverse marine life and are teaming with colourful fish and corals. Keep your eyes open for turtles, sharks and rays you never know what may be in the blue! Your tour leader will provide a briefing on responsible snorkeling and act as your โ€˜spotterโ€™ pointing out marine life that may not have caught your eye. Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems so learning how to snorkel responsibly can help minimize your impact on the marine environment and protect the delicate balance of marine life. They will assist less confident or inexperienced snorkelers, ensuring your equipment is comfortable and you feel safe in the water. As the afternoon cools down accompanied by your tour leader time is spent exploring Guraidhoo with the opportunity to learn about the local way of life including a visit to the Mosque. Visit the harbour, maybe there will be fishermen with their catch. Watch children playing in the street. Discover local fruit trees as you wander the narrow maze of sandy roads. Finally, stop by a local cafe to sample traditional โ€˜hedikaโ€™ - Maldivian savoury and sweet short eats served with black tea. This evening while you listen to the sound of the waves enjoy a Maldives style beach BBQ under the stars. OVERNIGHT:. Guraidhoo guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Dinner. EXTRAS:. NULL

  • Day 4 Day 4: Ferry To Maafushi, Coral Nursery Visit
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Ferry To Maafushi, Coral Nursery Visit

      Start early today to transfer by local ferry to the local island of Maafushi, just 20 minutes away, where after checking into the guesthouse you will be able to enjoy a relaxed breakfast before exploring the island to get yourself acquainted with the layout and uncover the best spots to take lunch or enjoy a refreshing juice with a view. Your tour leader will explain the history of local island tourism including the positive and negative impacts on the islands and local communities. This afternoon, with your tour leader discover the story of Reneeโ€™s Coral Garden and why coral rehabilitation projects are important in the Maldives. On route to the coral rehabilitation site snorkel the seagrass beds with your guide and discover their importance to the Maldives ecosystem. Despite being one of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, sea grass is considered unsightly, and is often deliberately removed. Your Tour Leader will help you understand the importance of sea grass and why we call it the hero of underwater protection. After dinner at a local cafe, your Tour Leader will introduce you to the work of the Olive Ridley project. Providing an insight into their environmental monitoring and turtle studies preparing you for our turtle snorkeling tomorrow!. OVERNIGHT:. Maafushi guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Dinner. EXTRAS:. Full-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi. Half-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi. Manta Ray boat trip from Maafushi

  • Day 5 Day 5: Snorkelling, Sandbank And Dolphin Cruise
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Snorkelling, Sandbank And Dolphin Cruise

      After breakfast at the guesthouse youโ€™ll take a boat trip, which will stop at a deserted sandbank for a picnic lunch with time to swim or lie back and relax. On the return journey to Maafushi cruise the Indian Ocean and hopefully spot dolphins. Your tour leader and crew familiar with the habits and behavior of dolphins will keep a keen lookout for any signs of these graceful creatures. They will share stories about the different species of dolphins found in the region, their social dynamics, and the role they play in the ecosystem. Itโ€™s an educational and enriching experience that will deepen your appreciation for these incredible marine creatures. OVERNIGHT:. Maafushi guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Lunch. EXTRAS:. NULL

  • Day 6 Day 6: Visit Gulhi For A Change Of Pace, Snorkelling, Island Tour And Family Dinner
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Visit Gulhi For A Change Of Pace, Snorkelling, Island Tour And Family Dinner

      Following an early breakfast we take a short 20 minute public ferry journey to the quiet local island of Gulhi. Once checked in to your guesthouse, your guide will accompany you on a tour of the island. Visit the boat yard to stand in awe at the size of the boats under renovation, chat with the ladies sweeping the streets and finally refresh yourself with a cool Kurumba (coconut) watching the comings and goings at the harbour. Ready for relaxation you can choose to head to the bikini beach or for the more energetic join your guide for a final snorkelling opportunity on the house reef of Gulhi. Optional watersports and diving trips can be organised for certified divers. Dinner this evening is prepared by a local family, just donโ€™t expect silver service as traditionally meals are eaten without the aid of a knife and fork!. OVERNIGHT:. Gulhi guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Dinner. EXTRAS:. NULL

  • Day 7 Day 7: Free Day For Relaxation Or Optional Activities
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Free Day For Relaxation Or Optional Activities

      After an acitve week, today is a rest day where you can head to the Bikini Beach for sunbathing or join one of the various watersports activities available on the island. This evening weโ€™ll enjoy a farewell dinner together, in the quant courtyard of your guesthouse. OVERNIGHT:. Gulhi guesthouse. MEALS:. Breakfast, Dinner. EXTRAS:. NULL

  • Day 8 Day 8: Transfer To Malรฉ Airport For Departure
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Transfer To Malรฉ Airport For Departure

      After breakfast you are transferred back to Male by public ferry (approx. 07.30), across town, and on to Male airport where the tour ends. You should expect to arrive at the airport by around 10.30am. If you have a flight departing earlier than 1pm then we recommend taking an earlier speedboat transfer from Gulhi to the airport (at extra cost). If you have a late afternoon or evening flight departure and understandably do not want to spend a long time waiting at the airport, then day-use rooms are available at the Newtown Inn (price includes an airport departure transfer to meet your flight). Alternatively, you can take an unassisted speedboat transfer from Gulhi to the airport (at extra cost). There are also day package options at Hulhule Airport hotel to use the swimming pool, restaurant, bar etc. or an optional half day visit to Vilimale island which is 15 minutes from Male. Other snorkelling trips or other watersport activities are also available. Those travellers booking a resort extension will transfer from Male airport on to their resort via the resortโ€™s own transfer boat. Our guide will assist you with meeting this transfer though there may be a short wait depending on the resort boatโ€™s schedule. OVERNIGHT:. N/A. MEALS:. Breakfast. EXTRAS:. 3-night resort island extension. 4-night Dhoni cruise extension. Extra day in Hulhumale - pre-tour. Speedboat departure transfer. Day-use room & airport transfers in Hulhumale. Extra day in Hulhumale - post-tour

+5
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 8 / Max: 95

Age range allowed for this experience.

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