Island Hopping Maldives Adventure - 8 Days

Male - Kamadhoo. Meet your Tour Leader at Malé International Airport for assistance with your public speedboat transfer to the local island of Kamadhoo in Baa Atoll. The speedboat operates daily and departs Malé in the morning and afternoon, taking just over two hours to reach Kamadhoo across the Indian Ocean. Enjoy views of the many passing islands and keep watch for dolphins along the way.

After checking in to your guesthouse, you can head to the beach for a sunset swim. Over coffee, your Tour Leader will discuss the threats facing the Maldives' rich marine life, highlighting harmful human activities and introducing the coral reef rehabilitation efforts led by NGO Save the Beach. You'll also learn simple ways to reduce your environmental impact. Please note: Latest Arrival by 11 am.

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.

This morning, you'll explore Kamadhoo's house reef for your first snorkelling experience. Your guide will provide a safety briefing on responsible snorkelling and act as your spotter, pointing out marine life that might otherwise go unnoticed. They will support less confident swimmers and ensure you feel safe and comfortable in the water.

Later, as the afternoon cools, you'll explore Kamadhoo on foot with your Tour Leader. Discover daily island life and learn about the essential services that support the community, including the mosque, school, medical centre, and police station. Stroll along sandy roads lined with fruit trees before stopping at a local café to sample traditional hedika - a variety of Maldivian savoury and sweet short eats served with black tea.

This evening, your Tour Leader will introduce the work of the Olive Ridley Project, providing insights into their environmental monitoring and turtle research. Be sure to bring your underwater camera when snorkelling, as images will be shared with their database to support identification efforts.

Today you head out by boat to snorkel at another vibrant reef. Look out for fish, turtles, and sharks as you explore these marine-rich waters. If you encounter turtles, you'll follow the code of conduct to ensure respectful interactions, while capturing ID images for the Olive Ridley Project.

The afternoon is yours to relax. You might choose to unwind on the bikini beach or join your Tour Leader for another snorkelling session at Kamadhoo's house reef.

In the evening, you'll learn about the work of the Manta Trust. Your Tour Leader will share details of their manta ray studies and explain how to have responsible, positive encounters.

Kamadhoo - Maalhos. After an early breakfast, you'll transfer to the local island of Maalhos. Your focus today is snorkelling at Hanifaru Bay and Dhonfanu. Both locations are known for encounters with manta rays and whale sharks, although sightings are not guaranteed. Always be on the lookout - marine life can appear when least expected.

Access to Hanifaru Bay is regulated by the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office. Local islands receive access on alternate days, and guides must be registered Hanifaru Bay guides or Marine Park Rangers.

To maximise your chances of marine encounters, the itinerary may be adjusted based on conditions and wildlife activity. You'll begin by exploring Maalhos' house reef, where you may spot shoals of blue stripe snapper, red tooth triggerfish, butterfly fish and more. Keep watch for turtles and elusive moray eels.

Later, you'll explore the island with your Tour Leader. You might see locals preparing palm fronds for weaving or picking moringa leaves for traditional dishes. Enjoy a refreshing drink at a café before relaxing by the sea as the sun sets.

After dinner, your Tour Leader introduces the work of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, offering insights into whale shark monitoring and research ahead of your next encounters.

Maalhos - Hanifaru Bay - Maalhos. Today you visit Hanifaru Bay - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the Maldives' top marine hotspots. Between May and November, plankton blooms draw large numbers of reef manta rays and occasionally whale sharks. Accompanied by your guide, snorkel among these gentle giants while following strict guidelines to protect this delicate ecosystem.

As activity in the bay can vary day-to-day, each visit is unique. Tidal movements around the full and new moons often bring the highest plankton concentrations, increasing the chance of sightings.

In the late afternoon, you'll take to the water again for sunset kayaking. Paddle through the calm lagoon and enjoy the colours of the setting sun - you might even spot an eagle ray or a reef shark gliding beneath you.

Maalhos - Dhonfanu - Maalhos. This morning, you'll snorkel off Dhonfanu island - a known location for whale shark sightings, especially during the migration season. As you explore this open-water reef, keep your eyes peeled for any signs of marine activity. While sightings cannot be guaranteed, the opportunity to encounter the ocean's largest fish adds a sense of excitement to the day.

Maalhos - Hanifaru - Maalhos. Today offers another chance to snorkel in Hanifaru Bay. Each visit reveals something new - from shifting visibility to different marine activity. A second visit increases the likelihood of seeing manta rays and deepens your appreciation for this extraordinary ecosystem.

Later, you have the option to take part in a beach clean - a meaningful way to give back to the community that has welcomed you. Afterwards, enjoy a refreshing kurumba (coconut water) and a swim in the sea.

Maalhos - Male. Following an early breakfast, you'll board the public speedboat for your return journey to Malé.