7-Night Original North Malé Island Hopping

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!

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!

Day 4 is free for you to enjoy as you please, you can opt to join your guide on a complimentary house reef snorkeling tour where you will learn about the benefits of seagrass to the ecosystem. Relax on the bikini beach, choose to visit a resort for the day, or for those feeling energetic participate in the various optional water sport activities on offer. Optional diving trips can be organized for certified divers.

Late afternoon you will head out for sunset kayaking. Kayak through the beautiful lagoon as the sun sets in the ocean

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! Around the table, you can share your thoughts about the cooking process, learn more about the Maldives, or you could learn some useful words that you can use during the remainder of your holiday. In the traditional way, we finish our evening with coffee under the stars!

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.

Day 6 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.