Marine Wildlife of the Maldives

Name: Marine Wildlife of the Maldives
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (14 reviews)

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7 Days from

8 Days from

CAD 4,775

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

4.8/5 from

Wildlife

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Wildlife

Activity Levels :

1 out of 7 - Leisurely

Group Size :

6 - 12

Ages :

18+

Trip Code :

WOY

Discover the marine wildlife of the Maldives

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

Spend 6 nights on a gulet in the Maldives
Discover unspoilt islands, pristine beaches and idyllic atolls
Snorkel with Whale sharks, sea turtles, a variety of marine life and Manta rays (in season)

Key Information

6 nights in twin cabins on board the Felicity, all en suite facilities
Full day Whale shark safari included
All meals included whilst on-board
26 November 2023: special departure in collaboration with The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP)

Countries visited: Maldives

What's Included

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

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request- very limited)
Visas or vaccinations

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
Our local operator in the Maldives only use locally owned and operated guesthouses, dive schools and excursion providers all of which have been developed by locals. This ensures that profits go back into the hands of the local community. They also support businesses indirectly through associated services and activities. These include laundry services, local fishing industry, speedboat operators, cafes, and supermarkets.
Although this trip is largely nature and water based, we make time to stop at locally inhabited islands where you will have the opportunity to explore Maldivian culture and to support the local economy.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
“A treasure trove of marine life” is perhaps the best way to describe the Maldives, however this ecosystem is fragile. A single touch can kill coral or infect marine life. Our local operator encourages safe and responsible snorkelling and diving practices, and guests can expect information and demonstrations on correct snorkelling/diving practises throughout the trip. For example, they do not touch underwater creatures (including coral) or pollute the water with litter.

On this trip, the main organisation that are local operator supports is the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP). The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) is a research-based conservation charity dedicated to studying the Whale shark and fostering community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives and the greater Indian Ocean. We spend time with a representative of the MWSRP 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.

Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.

We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste. Currently in the Maldives, bottled water is the only option on board liveaboards. Tap water is desalinated but not suitable for drinking. Therefore, plastic bottle consumption has been an ongoing issue. Our local partner uses larger bottles in order to minimise the amount of plastic bottles they need to use. They do not throw away any used bottles and ensure they are collected and handed back to the distributor for recycling in conjunction with recycling firms such as Taza. The MV Felicity remains only one of a half a dozen vessels that operate in this environmentally focused way.
Whilst local islands are not always as pristine as resort islands, they are catching up and are still beautiful. However, there are still some growing pains and some room for improvement across the islands in terms of waste management. Our local partner work closely with NGO Save the Beach to increase awareness of both waste management and coral reef protection, and recently sponsored and supported waste management presentations in local schools. They are also heavily involved in monthly beach or city clean ups in Hulhumale and are dedicated to growing awareness and encouraging youth involvement.

The Exodus Travels Foundation has launched the Community Kickstart Project to help our destination communities recover and rebuild following the impact of COVID-19. In the Maldives, we’ve contributed to the Whale shark conservation initiative, more details can be found here.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
Whilst some produce has to be imported, locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances is used as much as possible.

Vegetarian and vegan options are available on board the MV Felicity.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Cultural respect:
- The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country so modest dress is required on this trip when visiting local islands and sites (i.e., legs, shoulders, and upper arms to be covered).
- When eating on local islands it is worth noting that Maldivians traditionally eat with their fingers and therefore food is not always served ‘piping hot’.

Itinerary

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 snorkelling and diving in the Maldives a unique experience that you will not forget.

MV Felicity

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 1: Start Male; board our boat, the Felicity; cruise to South Ari Atoll.
Following the arrival of the group flight, we board the MV Felicity, our home for the next 6 days, arriving in time for a light lunch. Today we cruise south to Ari 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 snorkelling and diving in the Maldives a unique experience that you will not forget.

On this special departure, it is imperative that we board the MV Felicity by midday.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

MV Felicity

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

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