7-Night Discover the Deep North of the Maldives

Following a relaxed tour briefing at our hotel base in Hulhumale to Villimale to join “Save the Beach” and discover the quieter side of city life. Wander the quiet streets, learn the names of local trees and learn more about the coral reef conservation work and waste management practices being carried out by NGO “Save the Beach”. Before returning to Hulhumale we take time to sample traditional ‘hedika’ at a local café on the beach.

Explore & discover Male city accompanied by your guide. Traditionally Male was the King’s island, from where the ancient royal dynasties ruled the country and where their palace was built; now it is a commercial hub of the island nation.

Taking the ferry to the airport we board our domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo. The flight time will soon ‘fly’ by as you admire the picture-perfect archipelago from a bird’s eye perspective. From Hanimaadhoo it is a 30 minute speedboat journey across the ocean to Kelaa where you will have time to settle in and freshen up before dinner.

‘Kelaa’ meaning sandal wood, is a unique island situated geographically in Haa Alif Atoll. This 3 km island is home to a population of over 1600 people and consists of distinct bio-geographical features on different parts of the island. The local community inhabit less than one third of the island, while the rest is the forest to explore. You can find powder fine white sandy beach on one side of the island and a rocky coral shore on the other side.

Following dinner your guide will provide a presentation giving an insight into Waste Management in the Maldives and the work Parley play in the war against plastic.

Following breakfast we take a walking tour of the village which includes a mosque built during the reign of Sultan Mohamed Ibn Ali.
There is time after lunch to relax in the comfort of the guesthouse, take a short stroll to the beach and sit in the shade of a palm tree or join a guided house-reef snorkel.

As the heat of the day subsides we will take a walk with a member of the Island Development and Environmental Awareness Society (IDEAS) They will introduce us to the mangroves that run along the rocky beach of Kelaa, one of the biggest small leafed orange mangrove areas in the Maldives and we will learn about the interesting history of ‘kandoo’ as a food source in Kelaa and why it gained particular importance during the Second World War.

Following dinner a presentation by your guide provides an understanding of the importance of seagrass in the Maldives and why locals are campaigning to protect it.

Following a presentation made by your guide on Maldives Coral Reefs and Marine Life, we take a speedboat to a nearby reefs in search of turtles, reef sharks and tropical marine life.

This afternoon we journey to the island of Vashafaru a small but beautifully formed island famous for its long white sand spit Vashafaru-thundi. Accompanied by your guide, explore more of this island, the community has many skilled carpenters and boat-builders who are known throughout the Maldives and we may be lucky enough to find them at work.

We have an early start today taking a short speedboat journey to the historical island of Utheemu.
We will first visit Utheemu Ganduvaru and Kandhuvalu Mosque before the main heat of the day. Utheemu is famed as the birthplace of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu, who with his brothers and his companions fought an eight-year-long war to drive out the Portuguese invaders who occupied the Maldives from 1558 to 1573. Utheemu Ganduvaru is the wooden palace in which Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu lived and grew up. It is well preserved and evokes more than any other existing building in the Maldives, the lifestyle of the rich, centuries ago.

The afternoon is free for you to relax on the beach in the shade of a palm tree or participate in optional excursions available including snorkeling and fishing.

Following breakfast we make a short speedboat journey to the island of Baraah. Historically, Baarah was the island where the vessel Kalhuohfummi was built in the latter half of the 16th century.
The Maldives is known for its coral reefs and beaches while mangrove ecosystems in Maldives are overshadowed by these environments and oftentimes neglected. Mangroves create unique ecological environments that host rich assemblages of species.

Following our exploration of Baraah we take a short speedboat transfer to Hanimaadhoo and the Barefoot ECO Hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax.
Following dinner Barefoot’s Marine Biologist will provide an insight into their environmental monitoring and marine life studies.

This morning we take a guided tour of Hanimaadhoo Agricultural Centre. Lush with an impressive variety of crops, discover local favorites such as watermelon, banana, and papaya, as well as more exotic varieties such as grapes, aloe-vera and dragon fruit. Dedicated to enriching local diet and knowledge, the Agricultural Centre also boasts a goat pen and a greenhouse and a small team of interns.
Following a stop at a local café for refreshment we walk back along the beach to Barefoot.

The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach and surroundings of the property.

Departure flight to Male or the option to extend your stay at the Barefoot Eco Hotel.