3 NIGHT CULTURAL BREAK
Our three night cultural break is designed to either work as a self-contained budget Maldives experience or as a start to a longer independent stay in the archipelago. Staying on Guraidhoo in South Male Atoll, explore this quiet typical fishing island with sandy roads and palm trees. Discover locals going about their daily routine and carpenters at the local shipyard traditionally constructing typical local dhoni boats. Make friends with a local family over breakfast and dinner in their home. Relax on white sandy beaches, snorkel the aqua marine waters and for those feeling energetic participate in Scuba diving, surfing, kiting and windsurfing for which the conditions in this area are excellent in season.
TOUR DETAILS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND EXPLORE GURAIDHOO
Arrive Velana International Airport (MLE) where you will be greeted by your guide who will assist you with your public ferry transfer. Taking 120 minutes to journey across the Indian Ocean to Guraidhoo you can choose to sit up top and view the beauty of the many Maldives islands that pass you by, keeping your eyes open for dolphins. Or sit inside, amongst the fruit and vegetables, mattresses and electrical items that have been purchased that day and chat with the locals.
Upon arrival you will have time to settle in before either relaxing in the garden at the guesthouse or on the local public beach to watch the sun go down. Dinner this evening is spent with a local family just don’t expect silver service as traditionally meals are eaten without the aid of a knife and fork!
DAY 2: LOCAL FAMILY BREAKFAST AND SNORKEL TOUR
A traditional Maldives breakfast is taken at the home of a local family before being taken out by boat to enjoy a 90 minute guided snorkeling trip to nearby reefs to discover the underwater world of the Maldives.
As the afternoon cools down accompanied by your guide time is spent exploring Guraidhoo with the opportunity to learn about the local way of life including a visit to the Mosque, visit the boatyard learn how the common wooden boat known locally as a ‘dhoni’ is built, stop and chat with children playing in the street and watch the ladies of the community begin their evening meal preparations. Stop by a local cafe to sample traditional ‘hedhika’ – Maldivian savoury and sweet short eats served with black tea. Dinner this evening will be taken under the stars on the beach (subject to weather conditions).
DAY 3: SANDBANK PICNIC AND DINNER WITH A LOCAL FAMILY
Following breakfast at your guesthouse travel by speedboat to a a typical Maldives sandbank Here you can swim, snorkel or just lie back and relax before enjoying a picnic lunch and then enjoying more of the same!
This evening enjoy dinner with a local family at their home allowing you to true access to Maldives local life.
DAY 4: DEPARTURE
Following an early breakfast you will transfer by early morning public ferry to Male and on to Velana International Airport (MLE) or your onward destination arriving by 10:00. For those with late flight departures we offer a complimentary Male city walking tour.
