Self Guided - Yours to Explore

Relax & Rejuvenate

Experience Island Life

A Yoga Retreat in Paradise With Opportunities For Numerous Water Activities

This yoga-focused Maldives holiday is the perfect option for eco and wellness-conscious travelers. All yoga classes are conducted by an International Yoga teacher and can be practiced by beginners and intermediate yogis alike. Classes are tailored to students’ abilities and interests. The Barefoot Eco Hotel is not designed to be solely a yoga retreat, guests visit to relax and enjoy activities like SCUBA diving, self-indulgent spa treatments, or the chance to explore local life. It is the quintessential Maldives ‘no news no shoes’ style of holiday!

Trip Details

Trip Details

Price

  • From USD 1,899 per person based on double share

Availability

  • Available all year-round

Start

  • Check-in available on day one from midday

Meeting point

  • Velana International Airport (MLE)

Duration

  • 8 days & 7 nights
  • Additional nights can be added upon request

Included

  • 7 nights Seaside room hotel accommodation
  • 7 breakfasts and dinners
  • Airport and transfer assistance
  • Return transfer by domestic flight
  • Up to 12 complimentary morning yoga classes
  • 3 sessions of Chi Gong yoga (session timing to be confirmed following arrival)
    3 sessions of Hatha yoga (session timing to be confirmed following arrival)
  • Complimentary bicycle rental
  • 3 snorkeling trips by dhoni with the marine biologist on the house reef
  • Local tax ($6 green tax per person per night, 10% service charge, and 16% GST)

Not included

  • 7 Lunches
  • International Flights
  • 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

By booking this tour:

  • Your travel spend sustains the local economy and the livelihoods of locals, including our local suppliers.
  • Stay in an accredited eco-hotel where actions and processes benefit the environment and the community.
  • Participate in dolphin and turtle research snorkeling trips with a marine biologist and assist in monitoring biodiversity and track changes in marine ecosystems.
  • Contribute to the income of island families, when you enjoy hedikaa – evening tea at a local cafe.

Carbon Footprint

780Kg 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 guides 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 yoga schedule shown is an example itinerary. Actual classes may vary depending on the level of the participants and the day of arrival.
  • 1:1 private sessions are available subject to request.
  • The Maldives is a Muslim country and therefore alcohol is not available on local islands.
  • A bar boat is anchored in the lagoon at Barefoot with complimentary evening speedboat transfers.

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

Ease into the day with rejuvenating morning yoga sessions.

Enjoy activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, bicycle tours, dolphin & manta watching, & paddle boarding.

Relax completely and treat yourself to a spa treatment.

Dine on delicious food and learn about the island culture.

Book a private yoga class to further your practice.

Stay in a 4-star eco-friendly hotel on the beach.

What to Expect

Arrive at Malé International Airport for the start of your Maldives Yoga Holiday. Here you will be greeted by your guide and transferred by domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo.

Day 2:
8:00 Sun Rise yoga designed to balance your body for the day.
Free time to chill out on the beach or participate in optional tours and excursions on offer. Activities include:

  • Snorkeling trips by boat
  • SCUBA diving
  • Kayaking
  • Kitesurfing
  • Paddleboarding
  • Beach volleyball
  • SCUBA diving
  • Environmental and cultural guided bicycle tour
  • Utheemu sultan palace guided visit
  • Dolphin watching boat trip
  • Manta monitoring boat trip
  • Night trips
  • Desert island trip
  • Sunset romantic cruise
  • Stargazing
  • Big game fishing
  • Private excursions

08:00 Sunrise yoga designed to balance your body for the day.
Free time to relax on the beach or participate in optional tours and excursions on offer.

Day 4:
08:00 Sun Rise Yoga designed to balance your body for the day.
Free time to relax on the beach or participate in optional tours and excursions on offer.

08:00 Sun Rise Yoga designed to balance your body for the day.

Free time to relax on the beach or participate in optional tours and excursions on offer.

Day 6:

08:00 Sun Rise Yoga designed to balance your body for the day.

08:00 Sun Rise yoga designed to balance your body for the day.
Free time to relax on the beach or participate in optional tours and excursions on offer.

Day 8:
Transfer to Velana International Airport (MLE) and your onward destination.

Barefoot Eco Hotel

Room accommodation for the yoga holiday

Barefoot is located within an almost untouched forest on the local island of Hanimaadhoo in the preserved deep north of the Maldives. This 4-star eco-hotel is well connected to Malé international airport by numerous daily 45-minute flights which are included in the package. The dense vegetation allows not only privacy but the opportunity to experience untouched nature and the genuine and natural Maldives along with all the amenities expected from a charming accommodation option. With a half-mile, private sandy beach and a turquoise lagoon frame, we invite you to experience an authentic and relaxing holiday at an outstanding value.

The hotel offers numerous activities to enjoy your time on the island:

  • Snorkeling trips by boat
  • Kayaking
  • Kitesurfing
  • Paddleboarding
  • Beach volleyball
  • SCUBA diving
  • Environmental and cultural guided bicycle tour
  • Utheemu sultan palace guided visit
  • Dolphin watching boat trip
  • Manta monitoring boat trip
  • Night trips
  • Desert island trip
  • Sunset romantic cruise
  • Stargazing
  • Big game fishing
  • Private excursions

We have handpicked the best local island properties throughout the Maldives to provide you the greatest experience while enjoying your Maldives Yoga 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 woman prepares a fruit with a giant pestle and mortar
A diver checks out sustainable coral projects
Guests work on the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme