Best tour I have ever had! Very well organised. Great tour guide – fun, knowledgeable and informative. Accommodation comfortable and service impeccable. Loved the local food and culture experiences. Highly recommend traveling with Secret Paradise.
Giving Back opportunities
Engage with the local community
Environmental Awareness
A Chilled Out Experience Without Breaking the Bank
Staying on two islands that offer beautiful beaches, turquoise blue lagoons, and a chilled local vibe this tour is the ideal mix of exploration and activities. Enjoy the combination of local island life, water sport activities and relaxation on the popular local islands of Dhiffushi and Thulusdhoo.
Practice traditional Maldivian crafts. Put your cooking skills to the test in a family kitchen and enjoy local food. It doesn’t matter if you want to relax on the world-famous white sandy beaches, snorkel tropical water, or just explore, this tour has it all!
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
- Scheduled group tour: USD 1099 per person
- No single supplement charged on scheduled tour
- Private tour: USD 1349 per person based on double/twin share
Availability
- Scheduled group tours depart every third Sunday in a month.
- Private tours available all year round and can depart on any day. Contact us to confirm availability.
Start
- Arrival on day one by midday
Meeting point
- Velana International Airport (MLE)
Duration
- 8 days & 7 nights
Group size
- Minimum per booking 1 person
- Maximum per booking 8 people
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.
Included
- 7 night Standard Deluxe room guesthouse accommodation
- 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 6 dinner
- Airport and domestic transfer assistance
- Local island return transfer by public ferry
- 2 Point Snorkeling trip including equipment
- 1 Hour Sunset kayaking
- Male city walking tour
- The Original Villimalé Eco-tour
- Day tour to Huraa
- Island Tours and hedikaa experience
- Beach Clean
- Secret Paradise Tour Leader
- Local tax ($3 green tax per person per night, 10% service charge, and 16% GST)
Not included
- 6 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.
Important note
- The Maldives is a Muslim country and therefore alcohol is not available on local islands.
- Subject to availability, visits to resorts can be arranged.
- Bikinis are also 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.
Carbon Footprint
1625Kg of CO₂e – average carbon emission per person
Find our more about our Carbon Management here
Highlights
Learn about conservation and life on Villimalé.
See the main sights of Malé -- the Maldives’ capital.
Try activities such as snorkeling and surfing on this multifaceted island.
Prepare and eat dinner with a local family in their house.
Relax to the max on pristine beaches, deserted sandbanks, and swinging hammocks.
Watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean on an evening kayak tour.
What to Expect
Arrive at Malé International Airport for the start of your Original North Malé Island Hopping Tour. Here you will be greeted by your guide and transferred by an airport taxi 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.
This afternoon, join “Save the Beach” and discover the quieter side of city life by exploring the smaller island of Villimalé, located southwest of Malé. Your guide will meet you after lunch and travel with you by public ferry to Villimalé. Wander the quiet streets, learn the names of local trees, and learn more about the conservation work being carried out by “Save The Beach”. Before returning to Malé we take time to sample traditional hedhika at a local café on the beach. Hedhika are traditionally sweet and savory snacks served with black tea and taken between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm.
Breakfast on day 2 is served at your guesthouse following which you will transfer by public ferry to Malé, a 20-minute journey, where a guide will accompany you on a tour of the capital city, providing an opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of this tropical destination and visit places of interest including The Friday Mosque, The National Museum, and Sultan Park.
Following free time for lunch, you board the ferry for a leisurely 3-hour journey across the Indian Ocean to Dhiffushi. 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 and chat with the locals. Upon arrival at your guesthouse, you will have time to settle in before enjoying the sunset from the beach and perhaps taking your first swim!
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.
Breakfast on day 3 is served at your guesthouse 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. Your guide will provide a safety briefing and highlight how to protect the reefs by being a responsible snorkeler, they will also act as your ‘spotter’ making sure you do not miss out on marine life encounters. The coral reefs are teeming with colorful fish and corals. Keep your eyes open for turtles, sharks, and rays you never know what may be in the blue!
As the afternoon cools down, accompanied by your guide, spend time exploring Dhiffushi with the opportunity to learn about the local way of life including a visit to the Mosque, learn how the common wooden boat known locally as a ‘dhoni’ is built. Pick jasmine flowers to prepare jasmine tea and moringa leaves for tomorrow’s breakfast omelet! Learn how to open a coconut and remove the husk, chat with children playing in the street and watch the ladies of the community begin their evening meal preparations. Stop by a local cafe for the second round of hedhika, we know this will become a favorite snack for you!
On day four, 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.
Following an early breakfast, you travel by local ferry to Thulusdhoo. After checking in to your hotel, there will be the opportunity to explore Thulusdhoo accompanied by your guide. Thulusdhoo is home to the world’s only desalinated Coca-Cola production plant and an optional tour 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.
As the afternoon comes to an end 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.
Day six is a completely free day to enjoy the white sandy beach on Thulusdhoo. There are optional excursions and watersport activities for those feeling more energetic. A day visit to a resort can also be arranged for those wishing to experience the luxury style of life in the Maldives.
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!
On day 7, following breakfast, join the public ferry for the return journey to Malé. We stop off at the local island of Huraa. After storing luggage, discover the mangrove swamps and freshwater lake and learn more about this fragile 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.
Day 8 brings our tour to an end. Arriving back in the capital at 09:30, you will be assisted with your transfer to Malé International Airport or onward destination.
Your Trip Accommodations
Bibee Maldives
This is a mid-range guest house with 14 rooms across two floors which are modern, clean, and comfortable, and just a few steps away from the beach. Perfect to enjoy the slow, local pace of the Maldives. All rooms offer an en-suite bathroom, AC and fan, flat-screen satellite TV, an in-room safety deposit box, and Wi-Fi.
Dream Inn
A small local-style guesthouse with a private sandy courtyard and 6 comfortably furnished rooms. Located a short walk from the beach and famous surf breaks. All rooms offer an en-suite bathroom, AC and fan, flat-screen satellite TV, an in-room safety deposit box, and Wi-Fi.
We have handpicked the best guesthouses throughout the Maldives to provide you the greatest experience while enjoying your Original North Malé Island Hopping 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 single traveler and prefer a private single room to yourself throughout the tour/cruise, this can be arranged. A single supplement is charged on all our multi day tours except the following:
- 7 Night Whale Shark Snorkeling Conservation Cruise
- 7 Night Sea Turtle Snorkeling Conservation Cruise
- 7 Night South Male Island Hopping scheduled departure
- 7 Night North Male Island Hopping scheduled departure
- 7 Night North Ari Island Hopping scheduled departure
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
Magical! Experiencing local life in its true form from dining with a local family to use local transport to being able to explore nature and the depths of the Indian Ocean.
It really was a trip of a lifetime and the itinerary was absolutely perfect for anyone wanting to really understand the Maldives and the incredible sea life it offers. Absolutely 5⭐️ service and would so highly them.
