Marine Wildlife of the Maldives
Marine Wildlife of the Maldives
Marine Wildlife of the Maldives
7 Days Starting and ending in Male International Airport
Visiting: Maldives
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WOY
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 12
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Awake to the sun rising over the azure ocean, snorkel areas of stunning beauty and abundant marine life including Manta rays, Whale sharks, Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles as well as Bottlenose and Spinner dolphins. Visit unspoiled islands by day and by night relax on deck gazing at the millions of stars above you. A traditionally crafted Turkish Gulet complete with sails is the perfect way to experience the magic of the Maldives.
Highlights
Itinerary
Depart London
Day 2
Following the arrival of the group flight and a short introductory briefing,
we will transfer by dhoni to board by midday the MV Felicity, our home for
the next 6 days, arriving in time for a light lunch.Today we cruise south to
Guraidhoo in South Male Atoll. During this time you are able to do as you
please, relax on the sundeck, sit in the shade of the sun canopy and watch
the beauty of the Maldives pass you by and maybe catch sight of dolphins. Our
crew will try to find an opportunity for you to have your first snorkelling
excursion this afternoon. If the islands of the Maldives are beautiful, what
lies under the water is a veritable wonder of nature. The reefs that encircle
the islands and the Atolls are just as abundant in their variety of coral as
the marine creatures that live in and around them. This coupled with the
amazingly clear water, make snorkeling and diving in the Maldives a unique
experience that you will not forget.
*MV Felicity*
Day 3
This morning our first stop will be a reef located on the east side of the
atoll which offers the strong possibility of a number of turtle sightings.
The reef is shallow but dense with corals which provide turtles with an
abundant food source. As with all Maldivian reefs there will also be plenty
of fish to observe including Box fish, Porcupine fish and schools of Banner
fish. The remainder of the day we will cross into Ari Atoll and head south
towards the island of Dhangethi. Dependent on the sailing conditions if
there is time there, will be the opportunity this afternoon to take a further
snorkel trip before making a visit to the local island of Dhangethi where we
will take a traditional Maldivian afternoon tea. Dhangethi is a typical
Maldivian fishing island with an interesting story to tell concerning the
moon and a Maldives Sultan!
*MV Felicity*
Day 4
The region of South Ari Atoll is very lucky to have a unique year-round
population of Whale sharks. Nowhere else in the world boasts Whale sharks
every single month of the year and furthermore many of the sharks seen are
the same individuals time after time. We spend time with a representative of
the Maldives Whale shark Research Team or a local marine biologist to learn
about these magnificent creatures and how identification can be made before
heading out on our own Whale shark safari. We may see 1 or 2 Whale sharks in
half an hour or given that they are wild creatures in their natural habitat
we may not encounter one for the whole time we are searching. However the
unpredictability all adds to the excitement! If we do spot them we will have
the opportunity to snorkel alongside them, a truly magical experience. Whale
sharks can, at times, swim very quickly – so you may need to work hard to
keep up with them in the water!
*MV Felicity*
Day 5
Today we go in search of Whale sharks once more and if the time of year is
right (December – March) we may also encounter Manta rays. Following lunch
we will be taken to one of the best snorkelling sites in this area where we
may be fortunate to encounter turtles amongst the colourful corals and fish.
The water conditions and currents play an important role in the choice of
snorkel sites. However, it is likely that fish species such as Dogtooth tuna,
Trevally's, Jacks, Sweetlips, Butterfly fish, Wahoo and Fusiliers will be
encountered. When not in the water, the day is one for relaxation on board MV
Felicity.
*MV Felicity*
Day 6
On departures between February and April we will cruise to Madivaru, a marine
protected area with two cleaning stations where we hope to encounter Manta
rays. With a radio network between dive and cruising vessels, our guide and
crew will do their best to encounter Manta rays but should we not be lucky
enough, further snorkelling opportunities to encounter sharks, turtles, eels,
octopus and rays will be offered. Out of season it is still possible to
encounter solitary Manta rays and we will also make the most of a final
opportunity to encounter Whale sharks.
Qualified divers are offered the optional opportunity to dive within this
marine protected area which boasts a number of exciting dive sites (see money
section for prices of the optional diving). For those who have not dived
before a Discover Scuba Diving Course is offered to learn the basic safety
guidelines and skills needed to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI
professional. Those who choose not to dive will be able to snorkel in this
protected marine area.
This afternoon we start our cruise northwards.
*MV Felicity*
Day 7
Cruise north before we anchor in the lagoon off the island of Hulhumale in
the late afternoon. This morning there will be a final chance to snorkel
these tropical waters and whilst cruising we can do as we please: relax on
the sundeck, sit in the shade of the sun canopy, read a book or just watch
the beauty of the Maldives pass by. Once anchored in Hulhumale lagoon there
will be an optional Male city walking tour available for those who would like
to stretch their legs! This evening a presentation provides an overview of
the Maldives marine environment and the work being undertaken by local NGO's
to protect it for the future.
*MV Felicity*
Day 8
After a light breakfast, all clients are transferred this morning back to
Male International Airport in time for the group flight clients to check in
for their flight back to the UK.
What's Included
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Meals
6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners.
* All food included whilst on board
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Single accommodation (available on request- very limited)
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Travel insurance
Food
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon snacks are all included whilst on
board.The traditional food of the Maldivians is based around fish (tuna),
chilli and coconuts. White rice and “roshi” (a flour based flat-bread)
are staple items. Fish is normally smoked, fired, barbequed or roasted. Pork
products are strictly prohibited. Typical ingredients used widely in dishes
and served on board include onion, ginger, garlic, lemon and spices.Menus
include European and Maldivian dishes, freshly prepared on board by our chefs
who will do their best to cater for most specific dietary requirements.The
indoor saloon bar offers a wide choice of soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits
to purchase. Please note that there is absolutely no alcohol allowed on the
local islands – it is only permitted in the resorts and on the boats.Please
discuss any dietary requirements with your sales consultant at the time of
booking.
Accommodation
A traditionally crafted and built Turkish gulet complete with sails, the MV Felicity has a length of 92ft (28m), a beam of 22.5ft (6.85m) and a draft of 8.5ft (2.6m).
With two decks and six cabins, it accommodates 12 passengers comfortably. All cabins are air-conditioned with attached bathrooms including showers, small wardrobes, drawers and storage facilities, portholes and a wall fan. There is an outdoor dining area and an indoor area.
The indoor saloon is furnished with a dining table and seating plus banquette seating and is equipped with a TV-DVD-stereo and an equipment-charging area.
The communal open-air deck is furnished with sun mats and banquette seating.
Please note: The Felicity only has six cabins with a mix of twin and double rooms; we therefore strongly recommend booking early to guarantee availability of the correct room type. If you are a very light sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs in case it is necessary to have the generator operating at night.
A single supplement is available but there is very limited availability.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.