North Male Island Hopping

Upon arrival at Male International Airport you will be greeted by your tour leader and transferred by vehicle to your guesthouse on Hulhumale, just 15 minutes away.
Settle in after your flight before taking your first steps on the sands of this suburban tropical paradise. The public beach is just across the road, with several local cafes and local restaurants close by, plus a water sports centre. So, there is plenty to keep you busy!
For guests arriving before 5.00pm there is an option to join your guide at a beachside cafe for coffee, a very popular daily activity for Maldivians and chance to gain your first insight into the local side of this island paradise.

Following breakfast served at the guesthouse you will transfer to Male, a 20-minute journey, where your tour leader will accompany you on a tour of the capital city, providing opportunity to visit places of interest including The Friday Mosque, local markets and Sultan Park. Wandering through the narrow roads of Male provides a wealth of opportunities to gain a deeper understanding about the culture, history and daily life of this unique capital city and its people.
After time for lunch transfer by local ferry to your guesthouse on the local island of Dhiffushi, North Male Atoll, 3 hours from Male. 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 at the guesthouse or on the local beach to watch the sun go down.
The Maldives is rich in marine life but unfortunately, our marine life is under threat because of activities carried out by us humans. Following dinner at your guesthouse, 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.

Following 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 ‘spotter’ 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 Dhiffushi 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 ‘hedika’ - Maldivian savoury and sweet short eats served with black tea.

Today immerse yourself in a cooking experience with local Maldivian ladies as they teach you how to prepare a traditional Maldivian dish. The Maldivian ladies will guide you through the steps of preparation, demonstrating how to skillfully grate fresh coconut using a traditional ‘Huni Gondi'. The ingredients reflect how Maldives cuisine is
characterize by tuna in its many forms, locally grown coconut and chili.
Following time for lunch, snorkel the seagrass beds with your tour leader 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.
This evening there is the option to join the fishermen at the harbour and learn how to fish the traditional way with just a line. Fishing is the second largest industry in the Maldives after tourism and the Maldives has one of the most sustainable fishing industries. “Fishing is the lifeblood of our nation, it is inborn. From the soil on which we live, to the sea around us, it remains an integral part of our existence“. These words will always be in the fisherman heart.

We take the early morning local ferry to Thulusdhoo where after checking in to your guesthouse there will be the opportunity to explore Thulusdhoo accompanied by your tour leader. Thulusdhoo is home to the world’s only desalinated Coca-Cola production plant and an optional tour (subject to availability) will take you behind the scenes of
this facility.
The afternoon is free for relaxation on the many hammocks and day beds that can be found along the shoreline of this island. If you’re an experienced surfer, try out the surf breaks or, if you do not hold your diving certification, why not take your first steps by booking a discover scuba dive.
End the day getting active in the water with a kayaking or SUP tour. As we navigate through the calm waters, be sure to remain attentive, as you never know, we may be joined by the presence of a graceful eagle ray or a mesmerizing shark gliding by beneath us.

Today is a rest day! Relax on the bikini beach, or for those feeling energetic participate in the various optional watersport activities on offer.
As the afternoon cools down there is the option to spend time on the beach, giving back to the community that has welcomed us by supporting a beach clean. Our reward will be a refreshing fresh Kurumba (coconut water) followed by an ocean swim!

We take the morning public ferry to the local island of Huraa. Discover the mangroves and freshwater lake and learn more about this fragile ecosystem. Kayak the mangrove lake and learn why the mangroves play such an important role in the Maldives. Your tour leader will coach you on how to paddle and manoeuvre the kayak before setting off to explore this unique Maldives ecosystem. Discover how fish is dried and cured and taste fresh rihakaru paste, a love-it-or-hate-it delicacy! Take lunch at a local cafe and spend some time relaxing on the beach before returning to Thulusdhoo on the afternoon ferry.

Following breakfast, join the public ferry for the return journey to Malé and on to Malé International Airport where your tour ends.