Engage with the local community

Environmental Awareness

Historical & Cultural Insight

Explore the Maldives Capital Area From Hulhumale

The perfect tour to explore the capital area of the Maldives. Based on the island of Hulhumale this 3 night tour provides an insight into the local way of life, history and the fragile environment of the Maldives. It is the perfect self-contained budget Maldives experience or the start to a longer independent stay in the archipelago.

Meet NGOs with a mission to protect the beaches and coral reefs of the Maldives. Discover beautiful sandbanks and snorkel tropical marine rich waters all with your personal Secret Paradise guide.

Trip Details

Trip Details

Price

  • USD 649 per person based on double/twin share

Availability

  • Available all year round

Start

  • Arrival on day 1 by midday

Meeting point

  • Velana International Airport (MLE)

Duration

  • 4 days & 3 nights

Group size

  • Minimum 1 person

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

  • 3 nights deluxe room guesthouse accommodation
  • 3 breakfasts & 1 local dinner
  • Airport and domestic transfer assistance
  • Return vehicle transport
  • Malé city tour
  • Villimalé eco-tour and hedhika experience
  • Services of an English-speaking Secret Paradise guide
  • All local tax ($3 green tax per person per night, 10% service charge, and 16% GST)

Not included

  • Lunch
  • 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.


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. There is no access to a tourist beach within the Greater Male area.

Carbon Footprint

475Kg of CO₂e – average carbon emission per person
Find our more about our Carbon Management here

Highlights

Explore the 3 islands of Greater Male.

Taste authentic Maldivian cuisine

Experience local culture from a meal with a Maldivian family.

Visit Malé landmarks on a guided city tour.

Learn about conservation with Save the Beach on Villimalé.

What to Expect

Arrive at Malé International Airport where you will be greeted by our representative who will assist you with your public bus transfer to your guesthouse on Hulhumale.

Upon arrival at your guesthouse, you will have time to settle in after your flight before taking your first steps on the sands of this tropical urban paradise with a guided tour of the island.

Late afternoon join your guide at a beach side cafe for coffee, a very popular daily activity for Maldivians and a chance to gain your first insight into the local side of this island paradise.

This morning accompanied by your guide explore the capital on foot. Visit the fish market and local markets Presidents Palace, Sultan Park, Friday Mosque and take a few steps off the beaten track. Stop for a drink at a café, frequented by locals. Complete your tour of Male with a bird’s eye view from one of the city’s tallest buildings before being introduced to the authentic flavors of home style Maldivian cooking at a local café.

Following lunch take the public ferry to Villimale. Here we join NGO Save the Beach and discover the quieter side of city life by exploring the smaller island of Villimale, located south west of Male. Wander the quiet streets, learn the names of local trees. Find out about the conservation work being carried out by Save the Beach and the challenges faced by the Maldives through development and reclamation. Sample traditional ‘hedika’ at a local café on the beach – traditional sweet and savory snacks served with black tea and taken between 3.00 and 5.00pm before returning to Male.

This morning is free for you to explore Hulhumale, relax over a beachside coffee or participate in the variety of watersports offered by local operators.

Following time for lunch set out on an ocean adventure not to be missed! We journey by speedboat to a beautiful tropical sandbank nestled in a blue lagoon where you can relax on the shoreline with the waves lapping your feet or snorkel the house reef to spot colorful, tropical fish. On our return journey we stop off at a snorkeling site where 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. 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 we cruise the Indian Ocean 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 complemented by the amazing colors of a Maldives sunset.

Following breakfast on day 4, you are free to do as you please until your transfer to Male International Airport or your onward destination.

Planktons Beach

Planktons Beach guesthouse

Located on the beachfront in Hulhumale, Planktons Beach boasts views of the lagoon and sea. The hotel has a terrace and water sports facilities. Guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and the beach area as well.

Each room at this hotel is air-conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a kettle in the room. All rooms come with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.

Car hire is available at this hotel and the area is popular for snorkeling. The nearest airport is Male International Airport, 4 km from Planktons Beach.

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:

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.

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A woman paddles in the shallows of clear blue water
A woman prepares a fruit with a giant pestle and mortar
A man snorkels alongside a sea turtle