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On this holiday we cruise among the remote atolls of the idyllic Maldives aboard a traditional Dhoni. We eat and sleep aboard the boat as we sail between the unspoilt palm-fringed tropical islands of South Male, Felidhoo and Meemu. On the way we visit small fishing villages and stop to swim or snorkel over the beautiful coral reefs.
What we say
Staff Member Prue Payne travelled on this tour in 2012.
"The perfect relaxing holiday surrounded by the beautiful islands of the Maldives. Our days consisted of snorkelling two or three times, eating, relaxing and chatting – the best getaway. The Maldives looked exactly how I imagined, picture perfect."
Ali Butler, our product manager for Middle East & Egypt writes 'The Magnificent Maldives'
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
1
Join tour Hulhule Island; Cruise to South Male Atoll
Arrive at Male International Airport on Hulhule Island. The flight into the airport here is an experience in itself with the runway taking up the entire length of the island and the terminal buildings taking up the remainder of the land space. We walk directly to the waterfront to meet our Dhoni and the captain and crew. Having settled into our cabins, we aim to depart by early to mid-afternoon. We will cruise south for 2 to 3 hours through the Vaadhoo Canal to a nearby island in South Male Atoll; probably Guraidhoo, a small inhabited island where we plan to moor in (or just outside) the small harbour for our first night on board.
7 nights on board Dhoni vessel
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
2
Cruise to Ambaraa
After a relaxed start this morning, we continue to the southernmost point of South Male Atoll before crossing the channel to Felidhoo Atoll. Whilst South Male Atoll is within the ‘tourist zone’, Felidhoo Atoll and the other southern atolls are not. And whereas there are about 20 resorts on the islands of South Male Atoll, there are only two in Felidhoo Atoll. The main industry is fishing and there is a chance that we will see traditional boat-building on at least one of the islands. Our total travelling time will be about 3 to 4 hours, depending on how many times we stop off en route. We should reach the idyllic uninhabited island of Ambaraa by early afternoon, with the remainder of the day free to enjoy the beach and snorkel in the crystal clear waters around the island.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3
Cruise to Fenboa Finolhu; Meemu Atoll
Today we sail south for a further 2-3 hours, crossing to Meemu Atoll. As with the rest of the journey, we are hardly ever out of sight of land (weather permitting) and we actually cruise very close to many of the islands. Meemu Atoll has 34 islands of which 25 are uninhabited. Some of the inhabited ones grow yams, and all of them are almost totally dependent on fishing. Here more than anywhere, we are likely to experience the true Maldivian way of life. Shortly after entering the atoll we arrive at Fenboa Finolhu, another beautiful uninhabited island where we aim to base ourselves for the night – again with plenty of time to enjoy the beach and to snorkel amongst the reefs.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4
At Fenboa Finolhu; cruise to Dhiggaru
After a relaxed start we head east to the inhabited island of Dhiggaru. Here we drop anchor outside the reef, a great area for snorkelling. Late afternoon is a good time to visit this lively village, which often has large dhonis under construction and very few tourist groups visiting it. We enjoy the laid back pace and traditional way of life of its people; as with all the villages that we visit it is important to remember to dress respectfully and behave responsibly. When visiting a house or mosque, shoes must be removed. We hope to be invited in the evening to a performance of Bodu Beru (Big Drum), the traditional folk music of the country.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5
Cruise to Felidhoo
Today we head back to Felidhoo Atoll and its administrative centre Felidhoo. This is the least populated of the administrative centres with a population of about 400 people. Again, we take time to wander through the village; every visit ashore shows us something new and different about the lives of the islanders. Again, this is a great place to enjoy a Bodu Beru performance.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6
Cruise to Emboodhoo Finolhu
Our journey today is the longest of the trip and takes us right back through the islands of Felidhoo and South Male Atolls. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and swim and snorkel or to explore the islands en route. Our destination tonight is Emboodhu Finolhu, one of the northernmost islands of South Male Atoll.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7
Cruise back towards Male
This morning we cruise back towards Male where we leave our Dhoni for the day and explore the capital. We reboard our Dhoni in the evening for the final night on board.
Overnight Basic Cabin
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8
Tour ends Hulhule Island
Included meals: Breakfast
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