Highlights of Addu Atoll - 5 Days

Male - Gan. Upon arrival at Malé International Airport, your tour leader will greet you and escort you to your connecting flight, which crosses the Equator en route to Gan in southern Addu Atoll.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation, where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure. you can explore the beaches, take a swim, or relax with the facilities on offer.

Please note: Please ensure that you arrive before midday on day 1 at Velana International Airport. The Maldives is a Muslim country, so alcohol is unavailable on local islands. Bikinis are not permitted on local beaches but can be worn in private guesthouse areas such as gardens, balconies, or designated tourist beaches. We strongly recommend you bring your own mask and snorkel on this tour, both for hygiene reasons and to ensure a proper fit.

Gan - Addu Nature Park - Gan. This morning, you’ll travel by vehicle to the western edge of Addu Atoll to explore Addu Nature Park, home to the Eydhigali Kilhi wetlands and the UNESCO-protected Koattey area. Koattey, meaning "fortress" in Dhivehi, is a haven for nearly 30 bird species and various mangrove habitats. Eydhigali Kilhi, one of the Maldives’ largest wetlands, offers excellent birdwatching, with regular sightings of the eastern grey heron, endemic Maldivian pond heron, little egret, and white tern. Accompanied by a Park Ranger, you’ll enjoy a guided walk through the park, learning about its historical importance and unique biodiversity.

After a picnic lunch, you’ll paddle through Bedhi’s red mangroves by kayak, spotting baby stingrays and juvenile sharks along the way. Then, snorkel the surrounding reef in search of turtles, lobsters, clams, sponges, and possibly even a rare seahorse. This evening, over coffee, your tour leader will discuss the human impact on marine life in the Maldives and share ways you can help reduce your environmental footprint.

After breakfast, you’ll set off by boat for a guided snorkelling adventure. Your guide will give a full safety briefing and support you throughout, helping you feel confident in the water while pointing out marine life you might otherwise miss. You’ll explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with fish, with chances to spot turtles and reef sharks. If you're lucky, you may encounter one of Addu’s resident adult manta rays—these giants, with wingspans reaching up to five metres, are unique to this atoll and monitored by the Maldives Manta Conservation Programme, which launched a base here in 2022.

In the late afternoon, as the sun begins to soften, you’ll head out on foot to explore Gan with your tour leader. Discover the island’s layered past and its connection to British history, stopping by the old cinema and local remembrance monuments. You’ll round off the walk at a local café, sampling traditional hedika—a delicious spread of Maldivian savoury and sweet bites served with black tea.

Gan - Feydhoo - Meedhoo - Hulhudhoo - Gan.This morning, you’ll set off by bicycle to Feydhoo and take a public ferry across the atoll to Hulhumeedhoo. Though one island, Hulhumeedhoo is split into two districts—Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo. Meedhoo, one of the Maldives’ oldest settlements, offers a glimpse into the past with ancient relics and traces of World War II. You’ll cycle along peaceful sandy paths to Koagannu Cemetery, the country’s oldest and largest. With over 1,500 tombstones and remnants of seven mosques, it also features one of the tallest coral grave markers in the Maldives, believed to date back to the 18th century.

Your ride continues into the atoll’s farmland, where you’ll visit Zuvaan Dhanduveriya, an ambitious agricultural project growing dragon fruit, grapes, and passionfruit using techniques like grafting. You’ll finish the day at Mathikilhi Eco Garden, once home to freshwater lakes and now a serene landscape of green sedge. The area’s last remaining lake, Fenfila Koaru, was protected by the local community, creating a peaceful and scenic end to your exploration.

Gan - Male. After your final breakfast, you can unwind at your accommodation by soaking up the sun on the beach or relaxing by the pool before your transfer by domestic flight to Male International Airport or your onward destination. Safe travels!