Giving Back opportunities
Engage with the local community
Environmental Awareness

A Maldives Experience Without Resort Prices

Our short stay private tours allow a mix of cultural experiences, beach and ocean activities, as well as plenty of time for relaxation because surely that is what holidays are all about!

Chill out on perfect beaches, paddleboard around the lagoon, and explore the rich reef life on guided tours. Contribute to ongoing coral reef rehabilitation and waste management projects and immerse yourself in local life. With a variety of cafes and restaurants, Maafushi provides the ideal destination to meet locals and tourists alike and discover the Maldives on a budget.

Trip Details

Trip Details

Price

  • Private Double Room – 2 Adults USD2598
    Comfort and privacy, a room just for the two of you
  • Private Single Room USD2249
    Enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own room

Availability

  • Available all year round

Departure dates & Start time

  • Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
  • Arrival on day 1 by 09:00

Meeting point

  • Velana International Airport (MLE)

Duration

  • 5 days & 4 nights

Group size

  • Minimum 1 person per booking
  • Maximum 8 people per booking

Included

  • 4 Night Deluxe Room accommodation including breakfast

  • 4 Dinners

  • Airport and domestic transfer assistance

  • Return transfer by public ferry

  • Island orientation tour and Hedika Experience

  • 2 Point Snorkeling tour included equipment

  • Coral Nursery and Seagrass snorkeling tour including equipment

  • Sandbank visit, snorkeling and dolphin cruise including equipment

  • Visit to Maafushi including island tour and return transfer

  • Male City Tour

  • Services of English speaking Secret Paradise Tour Leader

  • All Local Tax (10% service charge, 17% GST and $6 Green Tax per person per night)


Not included

  • 3 Lunches
  • International Flight
  • Travel Insurance

What to bring

  • All this together with full details on everything you need to know about travel within the Maldives will be provided in our welcome information pack.

Your Impact

  • Your travel spend sustains the local economy and the livelihoods of locals, including your tour leader and our local suppliers.
  • Contribute to the protection of coral reefs and marine life by learning about the Green Fins code of snorkeling conduct.
  • Participate in fish ID data collection which assists in monitoring biodiversity and track changes in marine ecosystems.
  • Become an advocate for the protection of vital ecosystems, helping preserve seagrass meadows and their crucial role in mitigating climate change.
  • Plant a tree and help combat climate change, improve air quality and provide essential habitats for wildlife.
  • Foster cultural exchange and mutual respect when dining with our local family.
  • Through interactions with local communities help preserve traditional customs, crafts, and cuisines.
  • Participate in a beach clean-up, directly removing debris and protecting marine life from pollution.
  • Using the provided reusable water bottles reduce the amount of plastic waste in the Maldives.

Carbon Footprint

1430Kg of CO₂e – average carbon emission per person
Find our more about our Carbon Management here


About Your Guide

One of our experienced and professionally trained local tour leaders will accompany you for the duration of the activity. All our guides hold First Aid and Lifeguard qualifications and have completed Travelife Online Sustainable Tourism Certification.

Meet the team


Important note

  • The Maldives is a Muslim country and therefore alcohol is not available on local islands.
  • Subject to availability, day/evening visits to resorts can be arranged.
  • Bikinis are not allowed to be worn on local island beaches; however, all of our guesthouses offer either private gardens or balconies and tourist beach areas for guests where bikini swimwear can be worn.

WHAT ARE THE MALDIVES ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?

  • Travelers must have a confirmed accommodation/tour booking.
  • Travelers must have a passport or travel document valid for a minimum 30 days from date of entry to the Maldives.
  • Travelers must have a return flight ticket.
  • The online traveler declaration form IMUGA must be completed within the 96 hour period prior to arrival in country.

Highlights

Snorkel on some of the area’s best reefs and see rays, sharks, and turtles.
Taste Maldivian cuisine freshly prepared by a local family.
Enjoy a picnic lunch on an idyllic sandbank in the Indian Ocean.
Discover the seagrass beds and coral gardens when exploring Maafushi, vital habitats that protect marine life and support a healthy ocean.
Explore famous landmarks and off the beaten path secrets in Malé.
Enjoy a magical dinner on the beach under the stars.
Learn how the locals maintain the biodiversity of the Maldives and protect marine life.

What to Expect

Meet with your tour leader at Velana International Airport who will accompany you on a tour of the capital city, visiting key places of interest including the fish market, local market, President’s Palace and Friday Mosque. 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 lunch transfer by local ferry to your guesthouse on the local island of Gulhi, South Male Atoll, 45 minutes from Male.  View the beauty of the many Maldives islands that pass you by whilst keeping your eyes open for dolphins!  Upon arrival at your guesthouse you will have time to settle in before a sunset swim.

The Maldives is rich in marine life but unfortunately, our marine life is under threat because of activities carried out by us humans. Over a coffee your tour leader will highlight the harmful practices that are pushing the balance in the ecosystem and what we can do to limit the impact.

Following breakfast, accompanied by your guide, we head out by boat to nearby reefs for your underwater encounter! Your tour leader will provide a safety 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. Keep your eyes open for turtles, sharks and rays you never know what may be in the blue! Your Tour Leader will assist less confident or inexperienced snorkelers, ensuring your equipment is comfortable and you feel safe in the water.

As the heat of the day cools down, join your tour leader on a tour of the island. Visit the boat yard to stand in awe at the size of the boats under renovation, perhaps chat with the ladies sweeping the streets and experience traditional ‘hedika’ – Maldivian savoury and sweet snacks served with black tea at a local cafe.

After dinner 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!

Following breakfast, you will be taken by speedboat to snorkel in search of turtles. The soft corals available on this reef usually mean it’s lunchtime all the time for turtles! Before entering the water, your tour leader will share the turtle snorkeling code of conduct, ensuring the experience is memorable for both you and the turtle. We stop off at a sandbank, a natural wonder that epitomizes the breathtaking beauty of this tropical paradise. Picture a pristine stretch of glistening white sand emerging from the crystal-clear turquoise waters, forming a tiny, isolated island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Here you have the opportunity to swim, snorkel or just lie back and relax.

On the return journey to Gulhi, 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. It’s an educational and enriching experience that will deepen your appreciation for these incredible marine creatures.

Back on land we leave a positive impact by planting a coconut palm for each guest and your tour leader.

This morning we journey to Maafushi to snorkel the seagrass beds and discover their importance to the 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 seagrass and why we call it the hero of underwater protection.

Following time in Maafushi for lunch we head back to Gulhi where you can choose to head to the tourist beach or for the more energetic join your guide for a final snorkeling opportunity on the house reef of Gulhi.

As the afternoon cools down there is the option to give back to the community that has welcomed us by completing a beach clean. Our reward will be a refreshing fresh Kurumba (coconut water) followed by an ocean swim!

Dinner is taken at the home of a local family, just don’t expect silver service as traditionally meals are eaten without the aid of a knife and fork!

Following breakfast transfer by public ferry to Velana International Airport, where your tour ends.

Tropic tree

All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, AC, ceiling fans and complimentary Wi-Fi, whilst water, tea and coffee is always available. All of our properties are a short walk from the beach often with a terrace or balcony, some are built around a private garden or courtyard and in each you can be assured of a warm welcome.

We have handpicked the best guesthouses throughout the Maldives to provide you the greatest experience while enjoying your Short Stay Gulhi tour package. Personally selected to provide a balance of comfort, good service, local atmosphere and value for money. In each, you can be assured of a warm welcome and know that your holiday money is contributing directly to the local economy and increasing local employment.

We require a minimum number of 6 persons for cruises to operate.

There is no minimum number for any of our land based tours.

Accommodation is offered on a twin/double room share basis.

If you are a solo traveler, on our group tours/cruises we offer the opportunity to share with same gender traveler.

Or if you prefer a private single room to yourself throughout the tour/cruise, this can also be arranged.

 

Yes, we can assist with organising pre and post tour accommodation, including a transit night in the capital area or a longer independent stay on a local island or resort island.

Like many places in the world today, the climate and weather patterns are changing and historical data is becoming less reliable as an indication of what to expect. With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year, there is never a really bad time to visit the Maldives. There are two distinct seasons: the dry season (northeast monsoon) from January to March and the wet season (southwest monsoon) from mid-May to November. ‘Wet season’ doesn’t mean it rains all the time, but during this period there is a higher probability of rain. However, in today’s world we do experience rain even during the ‘dry’ season.

More detailed weather information can be found here

The Maldives are a Muslim nation, therefore care needs to be taken regarding dress on small islands and in local communities.

While it is acceptable for men to wear t-shirts and shorts/swim shorts, women should avoid causing offence by maintaining a more conservative approach. T-shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulders, loose shorts that cover the thighs, or sundresses with a sarong around shoulders are advised.

All the islands we visit are more tolerant of guests wearing traditional beachwear, but women should NOT wear swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, sandbank, private tourist bikini beach (available on all islands you’ll stay on) or on board our cruises and snorkeling boats. Your tour leader will advise when and where this is possible.

No previous experience is needed for any of the included activities – just an average level of fitness and a sense of adventure. The activities aren’t strenuous, the only requirement is that you must be able to climb a ladder to exit the water, be comfortable in the water and be able to swim to participate in snorkeling activities.

We strongly recommend you bring along your own mask and snorkel wherever possible. Not only will you be assured the mask fits your face properly (making it more comfortable and less likely to leak), it’s also more hygienic. A mask and snorkel are small and light, so they should take up very little space in your suitcase! Due to the ocean current and wind conditions in the Maldives, the use of fins is essential for almost all snorkelling and these are included in all snorkelling activities we provide on tour. However, if you want to ensure a perfect fit, you are always welcome to bring your own.

On board our cruises we can cater to most diets providing we are advised at time of booking.  If there is something particularly you eat within your diet that you can’t live without we would encourage you to pack some and be prepared for perhaps more repetition of meals than you would be used to back home. For further clarification drop us a message.

Note to support our sustainable approach to cruises we do not offer beef products on board.

When traveling on land based tours properties can cater for vegan and vegetarian diets but it is worth noting in regard to food on local islands, over 95% of products are imported and then from Male they are transferred once or twice a week to outer islands.

Fruit and vegetables whilst available can be limited and they do not form part of the traditional Maldivian diet in the way you may be used to back home with your 5 a day! Given that tuna is a key component of our diet as vegetarians you will find your diet quite limited in comparison to what you are used to, even a potato curry is likely to have dried tuna added. On local islands you can’t just pop out to the supermarket and what you may see in the convenience store one week is not seen again for months!

Maldivians, as Muslims, are prohibited by law from consuming alcohol; hence there is a total restriction on alcohol being available on inhabited local islands, this includes the capital Male. Please do not bring alcohol through the airport as it will be confiscated and returned to you at time of departure.

Alcoholic beverages are available on our cruise itineraries and are purchased on board. Payment is required in USD cash or local currency to the boat captain.

When staying on local islands, visits to tourist resorts and bar boats in certain areas can be arranged.

 

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our multi day tours. You need to be covered for medical expenses abroad, including any emergency transportation costs to the nearest hospital and any emergency repatriation that may be required due to illness/injury. We recommend your insurance covers flight delays, missing flight connections and lost/delayed luggage.

Hear From Our Previous Guests


See Our Other Tours


A couple hug in front of their boat for the cruise
a woman with a hat walking on on a bridge between the islands