Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Maldives: local islands, guesthouses and whale sharks
7 days from Male: a morning walk in the capital, two nights on Maafushi and three on Dhigurah in South Ari Atoll, with a whale shark snorkel and dinner with a local family.
7 days · Round trip from Male · up to 12 guests
The Sinamale Bridge, which links the airport island to Male Photo: Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sinamal%C3%A9_Bridge,_barge,_and_mosque_under_construction.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Male
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Short walks on flat sand and village lanes, never more than about 3 km at a time. Three boat days with open-water snorkelling from a boat, for which you need to be able to swim; life jackets are provided and anyone can stay on board and watch instead. Boat crossings of up to about 2 hours can be bumpy.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 730 (estimated price)
- Season
- November to April
Highlights
Why this trip
- Male at 8 am: the tuna landing at the fish market and the coral-stone Old Friday Mosque (seen from outside if it is closed)
- The public ferry to Maafushi with island families (weekdays only; on a Friday we take a shared speedboat)
- A dhoni morning on the reefs of South Male Atoll, with turtles and a bare white sandbank
- Three nights on Dhigurah, a 3 km island with one village and a sandbank off its tip
- Snorkelling with whale sharks in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, included
- Dinner cooked by a family in their home: mas huni, fish curry and roshi
- Hedhikaa tea on the beach and a whole slow day on the bikini beach
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 730 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Male
Velana International Airport over the Sinamale Bridge to your hotel in Male
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Male
- Drive about 18 min
Fly into Velana International Airport (MLE), which sits on its own island, Hulhule, next to the capital. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you across the Sinamale Bridge, opened in 2018, to your hotel in Male: about 15 to 20 minutes, the only road transfer of the trip. Male is small, about 2 km long, and almost every metre of it is built on, so you can walk anywhere in the centre in a quarter of an hour. If you land early, rest, then wander the waterfront by the ferry jetties, where dhonis and speedboats come and go all day.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a briefing on the week: the ferry and speedboat plan, the dress and alcohol rules on local islands, and what to pack for the reef. Then we walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of Maldivian fish curry, rice and roshi flatbread.
Included
- Pick-up at Velana International Airport (MLE), at any time
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in Male
Free time: Free until the early-evening briefing
Male on foot, then the ferry to Maafushi
Male walking tour, then public ferry or speedboat to Maafushi (South Male Atoll)
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Maafushi
- By ferry
Morning
We start at 8 am, before the heat, at the fish market, where the morning catch of skipjack and yellowfin tuna is carried in from the boats and cut on tiled counters. Next door the local market sells areca nuts, chillies, smoked fish and sweet bananas. From there we walk to the Old Friday Mosque, Hukuru Miskiy, built in 1658 from carved coral stone, which we see from outside if it is closed to visitors, and through Sultan Park to the gold-domed Grand Friday Mosque; cover shoulders and knees for the mosques.
Afternoon
Lunch is at a local cafe at about 12.30. The public ferry to Maafushi leaves mid-afternoon (about 3 pm on current MTCC listings, confirmed at booking), so there is an hour or so after lunch to rest at the hotel, where the bags wait, or sit in the shade by the harbour. The crossing takes about 90 minutes, with island families and their shopping. Public ferries do not run on Fridays, so on a Friday, or if the sea is rough, we take a shared speedboat, about 45 minutes.
Evening
The evening is free on Maafushi.
Included
- Guided walk in Male: the fish market, the local market, the Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy, from outside if closed), Sultan Park and the Grand Friday Mosque
- Lunch at a local cafe in Male
- Public ferry from Male to Maafushi (shared speedboat on a Friday or in rough seas)
Free time: An hour or so after lunch in Male before the ferry; evening free on Maafushi
Activity: The Old Friday Mosque is often closed to visitors; when it is, we see it from outside and the cemetery of carved coral headstones around it. Shoulders and knees covered for the mosques. Ferry time and terminal are confirmed with your final itinerary.
Reef, turtles and a sandbank
Maafushi by dhoni to the reefs of South Male Atoll and a sandbank, then back to Maafushi
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Maafushi
- By boat
Morning
After breakfast we board a dhoni, the traditional wooden boat of the Maldives, for a morning on the water with a local snorkel guide. The first stop is a reef where hawksbill and green turtles often feed among the coral, the second a shallower coral garden with parrotfish, butterflyfish and, sometimes, black-tip reef sharks in the shallows. Masks, fins and life jackets are provided, and the guide stays in the water with anyone who is less sure.
Afternoon
We finish on a sandbank, a strip of white sand with nothing on it, for a swim and an hour in the sun before lunch back on Maafushi. The afternoon is free. Maafushi was one of the first inhabited islands to open guesthouses, after the law changed in 2009, so it is busier than most; the bikini beach, the village lanes and the harbour are all within a ten-minute walk.
Evening
In the evening some guests take an optional sunset trip to look for spinner dolphins.
Included
- Half-day dhoni trip with a local snorkel guide: two reef stops and a sandbank
- Snorkel gear and life jackets
- Lunch on Maafushi
Optional experiences
- Sunset dolphin trip by dhoni (price shown at booking)
- Scuba dive with a licensed local dive centre (certified divers or a try-dive)
Easier option: Stay on the boat or on the sandbank and watch from the surface; the reef is visible through the clear shallows.
More active option: A second afternoon snorkel at a reef near Guraidhoo, the neighbouring island, if the group wants it and the sea allows.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: Snorkelling is in open water from a boat. You need to be able to swim; life jackets are provided.
Across to South Ari Atoll
Maafushi to Dhigurah (South Ari Atoll) by chartered speedboat
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Dhigurah
- By boat
We leave Maafushi at about 9 am in a speedboat chartered for the group, the only practical way to cross from South Male Atoll to South Ari Atoll in one go: about 80 km of open water and roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the sea.
Afternoon
There are no scheduled boats on this route; if the crossing is too rough, we go back through Male and take the afternoon shared speedboat to Dhigurah instead. Dhigurah means long island in Dhivehi, and it is just that: about 3 km of sand, palms and a single village, with a sandbank that runs out from its southern tip. We arrive in time for lunch at the guesthouse, then the afternoon is yours. Walk the long beach to the sandbank at low tide, swim from the bikini beach, or sleep off the boat. This is our base for three nights, so you unpack once and leave the bags alone until the last morning.
Included
- Chartered speedboat from Maafushi to Dhigurah for the group, with luggage
- Lunch on Dhigurah
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: Sea crossings depend on weather. If the direct crossing is not safe, we route via Male on the scheduled speedboat and arrive later in the afternoon.
Whale sharks, and dinner with a family
Dhigurah by boat into the South Ari Marine Protected Area, then back to Dhigurah
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Dhigurah
- By boat
Whale sharks live in the waters off South Ari Atoll all year, one of the few places in the world where that is true, and the area is a Marine Protected Area. We go out at about 8 am, before most boats, with a local guide who knows the reef edge where they feed. When one is spotted, you slip in from the boat and swim alongside; the rules are three metres away, no touching and no flash. Sightings are likely but never certain, so we also stop at a reef for turtles and, from December to April, at a point where manta rays sometimes come in to be cleaned.
Afternoon
Back on Dhigurah for lunch, the afternoon is free.
Evening
In the evening a family on the island cooks dinner for us at home: mas huni (tuna, coconut and chilli), a fish curry, rice, roshi and sweet tea, and the chance to ask what island life is like after the guesthouses came.
Included
- Whale shark snorkel trip in the South Ari Marine Protected Area with a local guide
- Reef stop for turtles; manta point when in season
- Lunch on Dhigurah
- Home-cooked dinner with a local family
Optional experiences
- Scuba dive at a South Ari site with a licensed local dive centre
Easier option: Watch from the boat: whale sharks feed near the surface and are often visible from deck.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: Whale shark sightings are not guaranteed. If the sea is rough we swap days 5 and 6 so the boat trip goes out on the calmer day.
A slow day on the long island
Dhigurah: village walk, beach and sandbank
- Breakfast
- Stay in Dhigurah
Today is deliberately slow.
Morning
Your guide leads a short walk through the village after breakfast: the harbour where the fishing boats tie up, the school, the island council office, the small mosque and the vegetable plots behind the houses, with a stop to see how the coconut palms are climbed and tapped. Then the day is yours on the bikini beach, the stretch of sand set aside for visitors where swimwear is fine. Bring a book, snorkel the house reef from the beach, or walk out along the sandbank at the south end, which shifts with the tides.
Afternoon
In the late afternoon we meet at a beach cafe for hedhikaa, the Maldivian tea-time spread of short eats: bajiya (fish samosas), gulha (fried tuna balls) and sweet coconut bites with black tea.
Evening
Dinner is your choice; most guesthouses and cafes serve fresh reef fish grilled to order.
Included
- Village walk on Dhigurah with your guide
- Hedhikaa afternoon tea at a beach cafe
Optional experiences
- Kayak or paddleboard hire from the guesthouse
- Sunset fishing trip by dhoni with a handline
More active option: Kayak the lagoon to the tip of the sandbank and snorkel the house reef on the way back.
Free time: Most of the day and the evening free
Speedboat back to Male
Dhigurah to Velana International Airport by scheduled speedboat
- Breakfast
- By boat
Morning
A last swim before breakfast, while the lagoon is flat and the beach is empty. Then we take the scheduled speedboat from Dhigurah to Velana International Airport, about 1.5 to 2 hours across the channel, landing at the jetty right outside the terminal.
Afternoon
Boats on this route usually leave in the morning and early afternoon, and we put you on the one that fits your flight; book a flight leaving after about 2 pm so there is no rush. We reserve the group's seats and luggage space when we confirm your dates; if the scheduled boat cannot take the whole group, we charter a speedboat for the transfer at no extra cost to you. If you are staying on, the speedboat can drop you in Male instead, and we can book extra nights in Male, Hulhumale or back on a local island. Your guide travels with the group to the airport and checks everyone's flight before saying goodbye.
Included
- Scheduled speedboat from Dhigurah to Velana International Airport (MLE), with luggage
Free time: Early morning free
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 2 pm. Boat times are confirmed with your final itinerary; seats are reserved for the group, with a chartered speedboat as the fallback.
- Male1 night
- Maafushi2 nights
- Dhigurah3 nights
- Maleend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: November to April is the dry northeast monsoon, with mostly calm seas and clear water. Whale sharks are in South Ari all year; manta rays come to cleaning stations on the western side of the atolls mostly from December to April. Neither is guaranteed.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Maldives in the water and among islanders, not behind a resort gate
- Confident swimmers who want reefs, turtles and whale sharks
- A slower week with free afternoons and two bases
- Solo travellers who want company without paying resort prices
Not for you if you want
- Anyone who wants a drink at sunset: local islands are dry
- Travellers who want a pool, spa or overwater villa
- Non-swimmers hoping to snorkel; you can still come, but you would watch from the boat
- Anyone who finds two-hour boat rides on open water hard
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Male1 night
- Maafushi2 nights
- Dhigurah3 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights in en-suite guesthouse or hotel rooms with air conditioning: 1 in Male, 2 on Maafushi, 3 on Dhigurah
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Velana International Airport (MLE) and a drive over the Sinamale Bridge to Male
- Public ferry from Male to Maafushi (shared speedboat on a Friday or in rough seas)
- Speedboat chartered for the group from Maafushi to Dhigurah
- Scheduled speedboat from Dhigurah to Velana International Airport
- All boats for the snorkel trips
- Porters for luggage at the jetties
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with licensed local snorkel guides on the boat days
Activities
- Guided walk in Male: fish market, local market, Old Friday Mosque, Sultan Park and the Grand Friday Mosque
- Dhoni snorkel trip from Maafushi: two reefs and a sandbank
- Whale shark snorkel trip in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, with a reef stop and a manta point in season
- Village walk on Dhigurah
- Snorkel gear and life jackets
Meals
- Breakfast daily (6)
- Lunch on days 2 to 5 (4)
- Welcome dinner in Male
- Home-cooked dinner with a family on Dhigurah
- Hedhikaa afternoon tea on Dhigurah
Not included
- International flights to and from Male
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed, including 4 dinners
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities: the sunset dolphin trip, scuba diving, kayak and paddleboard hire, fishing trips
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 730 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in guesthouse rooms, breakfast daily, four lunches, a welcome dinner, a home-cooked family dinner and a hedhikaa tea, airport transfers both ways, every ferry and speedboat between islands, the reef and sandbank trip, the whale shark snorkel trip, snorkel gear, and your See Sight Tours guide all week. Taxes, including the Maldives green tax, are built in.
How much does the Maldives island hopping trip cost?
The small group starts from CAD 4,295 per person sharing a room, taxes included, and a room of your own is from CAD 730 more. The private version starts from CAD 7,730 per person. Pick a start date when you request to book; we confirm within 24 hours and take no payment until then.
How big is the group and who leads it?
7 to 12 guests, led by a See Sight Tours guide who travels with you from the airport on day 1 to the airport on day 7. On the boat days a licensed local snorkel guide joins us in the water, and the boat crews are islanders from the atolls we visit.
Can I drink alcohol or wear a bikini on local islands?
Not alcohol: Maafushi and Dhigurah are inhabited Muslim islands where it is not sold or allowed, and you may not bring any into the Maldives. Bikinis are fine on the marked bikini beach and on the boats. In the village and at the mosques, cover shoulders and knees.
Will we definitely see whale sharks?
No one can promise it, but South Ari Atoll is one of the few places where whale sharks are seen all year, and sightings on a morning trip are likely. We go out early, follow the protected-area rules, keep three metres away, and swap days 5 and 6 if the sea is better on the second day.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You need to be able to swim and be comfortable in open water from a boat, because the snorkel stops are on reefs away from shore. Life jackets and fins help, and the local guide stays close. If you prefer, stay on the boat: whale sharks and turtles are often visible from the deck.
How do we get between the islands?
By the public ferry from Male to Maafushi, which leaves mid-afternoon on weekdays and takes about 90 minutes (no ferries on Fridays, so a Friday departure takes a 45-minute shared speedboat), a speedboat chartered for the group to Dhigurah, about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the scheduled speedboat from Dhigurah to the airport.
I am travelling solo. How does that work?
Solo travellers share a twin room with another guest of the same gender at the twin price where we can match you, or take a room of their own for CAD 730 more. The supplement is shown before you book and nothing changes at checkout. Dinners and free time are as social as you want them to be.
When is the best time to go?
November to April, the dry northeast monsoon, when seas are calmer for the crossings and the water is clear. We run the small group only in those months. May to October brings more rain, rougher boat days and sometimes cancelled crossings, so we offer it only as a private trip, with that warning.
Do I need a visa for the Maldives?
No visa in advance: every nationality gets a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival with a passport valid for at least one month beyond your stay (check with your airline), a return ticket and confirmed accommodation, which we send you. Fill in the online IMUGA traveller declaration within the 96 hours before your flight.
Can we go on our own dates?
Yes. The private version runs for your party only on a date you choose, with the same islands, boats and guide. If you would rather travel independently without a guide, ask from the dates section and we will quote the guesthouses, boats and whale shark trip for you.
What are the guesthouses like?
Small, family-run guesthouses near the beach: en-suite rooms with air conditioning and hot water, breakfast on site, and no bar or alcohol. They are simpler than a resort and far closer to island life. We select guesthouses against a set standard and name each one when we confirm your dates.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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