Think coconut palm-fringed islands, sparkling white beaches, tranquil lagoons, turquoise blue waters studded with coloured corals, and an abundance of marine life, and you’re on the right track! The Maldives is the destination of dreams. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Who wouldn’t want to spend 8 days here, island hopping all your troubles away! Some might even say it’s tropical heaven, but we’ll let you decide that one. Spend your days immersed in Maldivian life, learning all about the culture and traditions of this island while tingling those tastebuds with delicious cuisine. Encounter an array of unique and diverse wildlife, from dolphins to sea turtles and manta rays to whale sharks. Uh-huh, sounds incredible, right? Snorkel, swim and sunbathe all your troubles away while in the Maldives as we island-hop! Just wait until you see the sunsets; they’re world-famous for a reason! Treat yourself to this epic Maldivan island-hopping adventure. Trust us; you won’t regret it.
When we say classic, we mean the perfect balance of culture, adventure, beaches and parties. High number of inclusions, low cost. Tru-ly authentic experiences from home-stays & hostels to beach huts, hotels and boats. A classic tour means maximum adventure, minimum hassle. Built for backpackers by backpackers.
Presidents Park & Mosque visit
Reef Conservation Project visit
Snorkel with Reef Sharks & Turtles
Whale Shark Snorkeling
Manta Ray Snorkeling
Beach Clean
Sea Kayaking
Paddleboarding
Cultural Dinner & Dance
Forest Trek
Cultural Dinnner & Dancing
Many people visit the Maldives but don’t get a Tru feel for the local life. Immerse yourself in the rich culture of the locals and learning their way of life. This TruExclusive has us heading to a small island in the Maldives where the locals will have us spicing us some mouth-watering food! Salt Bae, where you at? We learn to cook traditional mashuni and roshi before indulging over dinner tonight. Delish. This TruExclusive doesn’t stop there; we welcome the local Bodu Beru Culture dance group to show us some moves. Try the food, loosen those hips and experience everything the Maldives has to offer.
We start as we mean to go on as our 3-star hotel in Malé is located a short 1-minute walk from the beach! Dreamy right?! So, as soon as you get to The Maldives you can dump your bags and hit the beach straight away.
All the rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, TV and a private bathrooms with free toiletries.
Ukulhas is stop number two on this tour of paradise. This 3-star hotel is located just a 1-minute walk from a private white-sand beach with the beautiful crystal blue ocean that the Maldvies is famous for. The hotel is also set among lush green palm trees and gardens so you can fully immerse in the ultimate island life. TruTravellers will have access to free bikes to roam around.
Each room has a TV (not that you'll need that when you're in the Maldives!!!) and a private bathroom with free toiletries.
Just 30 m walk Dhigurah's 4.5km long white sandy beach, our 3-star hotel is nice and modern and has restaurants where you can feast on all the best Maldivian delicacies. Wi-Fi is available in public areas of the hotel so if you reaaaally need to contact home, you can but this is the perfect spot to disconnect and fully enjoy your trip! Relax on the terrace and marvel at the incredible Maldivian scenes.
Each room is air-conditioned and has a TV and en suite bathroom.
Welcome to the Maldives! One of the most beautiful places in the world. Fly into Velana International Airport, Male & we’ll meet you there! Beach life is calling! So we grab a speedboat to our guesthouse on the local island of Ukulhas North Ari Atoll. It’s around a 2-hour journey, so enjoy every minute as we speed James Bond-style along the crystal clear waters taking in the stunning surrounding islands. The boat leaves at 15:30 and this is the last boat of the day so arrive with plenty of time! Keep your eyes on the prize! Dolphins are about! See if you can spot these fun-loving marine life as island hop. We’re here! Settle in before feeling the gentle white sand between your toes and gawp at our hotel in a tropical urban paradise. Surrounded by luscious greenery, white sandy beaches and known to be one of the best diving spots in the world, Ukulhas is bucket list bliss, so it’s only right it’s where we spend our first night, ya feel? We have a delicious first dinner together; get to know the TruFam and your Travel Ninja (that’s your awesome tour guide btw) before running through our plans for the week! Trust us, it’s life-changing!
Are we dreaming? Have we really just woken up surrounded by the calming sound of the Indian Ocean? Hell yeah, we did! We’re in the Maldives, baby! We kick start today with a presentation on Maldives Coral Reefs and Marine life before cruising via speedboat to nearby reefs. The home to turtles, reef sharks and an array of tropical marine life. If we’re lucky enough, we may even encounter the oceans majestic giants - manta rays! Snorkeling in the Maldives is out of this world, and it’s a story you’ll be telling for years to come! We have a safety briefing on responsible snorkeling before grabbing our gear and jumping into the warm azure waters. Late afternoon we explore Ukulhas. Time to experience the local way of life. Immerse ourselves in community agriculture before visiting a Mosque to understand how Islam plays a large part in Maldivians’ daily lives. Fishing plays a vital role in this island's history, so we listen to local fishermen’s tales. What an experience! We’ve worked up an appetite, so we end our island tour with traditional afternoon tea - Hedika, of course. Delicious bite-sized balls of tuna, onions and grated coconut wrapped in flatbread type dough followed by black tea. Now that sounds gooooood; our stomachs are rumbling at the very thought. Later in the evening, we grab dinner together with our TruFam, followed by stopping for coffee in a local cafe to discuss the importance of seagrass in the Maldives.
It’s a beautiful morning, so slap on that biodegradable ocean-friendly suncream, grab your favourite sunnies, and we’re up and out to meet the locals responsible for developing a coral nursery. We’re here to learn about their exciting projects and give a helping hand where we can! A tru-ly unique, educational experience. We also have the opportunity for house reef snorkeling. The area is known to be home to our favourite green-shelled, humble, long-living pals - Sea turtles, so keep an eye out. How do you round off a perfect day? We board a fishing dhoni late afternoon, and as the golden orange sun goes down, we spend our evening with the locals learning the art of line fishing before devouring a delicious dinner onboard.
Feel the white sand between your toes, listen to the tropical sway of the tall palm trees surrounding you. Today is your day. It’s been an epic few days exploring local islands, so it calls for a beach day! If energy is bursting out of you outrageously or you get wriggly just laying on a sunlounger for too long, try out the hotel's water sports activities or diving expeditions! Late afternoon, rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard; we’ll show you the moves and how to perfect your balance skills before gliding across the aqua blue lagoon where we can enjoy the world-famous Maldives sunset. In the evening we head to the beach with a couple of our local friends to share Maldivian folk tales and even learn a Maldivian song or two. Warm those vocal cords up.. Oooooohhh, ahhhhh.
After a delicious breakfast, we take a private speedboat south through the Southern part of the Ari Atoll to the island of Dhigurah. Fun fact Dhigurah actually means long island, and at 3km, it’s the longest island in the atoll! Postcard worthy, stunningly picturesque, Dhigurah has a long white beach, a protected turquoise lagoon and a white sandbar. When you think of the Maldives, this is it. A tropical paradise. Lay out on the glistening white beaches knowing there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. Dhigurah is a haven for divers and snorkelers as the surrounding areas are home to whale sharks, mantas and the world-renowned reefs making this location one of the best for diving in the Maldives. Take a stroll and explore, feel the sun on your shoulders as you walk this tropical bliss. Grab those snaps for the gram before checking into our idyllic guesthouse located a short walk away from the island’s hub. With a population of about 600, Dhigurah is an authentic local experience not to be missed. When in paradise, explore paradise, right? We’re heading out on a forest exploration walk. Time to get hot and sweaty! After exploring the luscious green vegetation, learning about local agriculture, we head back to the beach to watch the beautiful sunset and have a refreshing dip in the ocean. Relaxation vibes 10/10. After indulging in some tasty Maldivian cuisine, we have a presentation on the Maldives Whale shark research program to prepare us for our Whale shark safari tomorrow! Let’s do this!
Wake up feeling refreshed, sunkissed and ready for a big day ahead, you’re in the Maldives of course! It’s going to be a whale of a time! This morning we head out on the boat in search of the ocean’s largest fish. Whale sharks! An unbelievably magical experience. Feel the excitement as we attempt to spot these humongous natural giants surfacing through the water. If we do spot them, we put on our masks, dive in and snorkel carefully alongside them. Although whale sharks are enormous in size, they are gentle animals that only eat small shrimp, fish and plankton. So live in the very moment because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Tru-ly spectacular. As the afternoon cools, we spend some time on the beach, giving back to the wonderful community that has welcomed us by supporting them with a beach clean. Protecting our oceans, sipping Kurumba (coconut water) and swimming in the crystal clear waters, now that sounds like a perfect day. This evening, as the sun begins to set, we have the option to join a night snorkelling trip on the house reef. Torches at the ready as we snorkel in the dark, watching the colourful corals and marine life come alive.
Wake up and seas the day! It’s a beach kinda morning, so do your thang. We have the morning to spend as we please, so take a snooze under a palm tree, snorkel the sparkling clear lagoon or master the art of kayaking and stand up paddleboarding as you perfect your balance out onto the lagoon. Whatever you do, you’re in paradise, so enjoy it. This afternoon we will be joined by local ladies from the village for a demonstration on making mashuni and roshi, a typical Maldivian dish. After cooking up a storm, the end result will be added to tonight’s cultural dinner! Subject to Safe Tourism, we will also welcome the local Bodu Beru Culture dance group and loosen our hips to learn some traditional Maldivan moves! Learn the dance and show everyone when you’re back home.
After 8 life-changing days of learning, exploring and experiencing all the Maldives has to offer, it’s time to say goodbye. We’re not crying; you are. We say Dhanee! (That’s goodbye in Maldivian btw) and transfer via speedboat back to the airport. Your TruNinja is on hand for any onward plans you may have. Your memories will last a lifetime, your stories told for years to come. It's been one heck of an island-hopper adventure! You’ve become TruFamily now, and that means it’s not goodbye forever; it’s just see you later! Bring it in; it’s been real.
Thank you for your interest in this Tour.
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WHERE DOES THE TRIP START & FINISH?
The trip starts and finishes in Malé.
WHICH AIRPORT DO I NEED TO FLY INTO?
You will need to fly into Malé International Airport (MLE).
What if I want to arrive before the trip starts?
If you have booked your own pre-accommodation elsewhere in the Maldives, on another local island or at a private island resort please arrange to be transferred back to VELANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MLE) on the start date of your tour. Please check the most up to date information on travel restrictions before you arrive.
WHAT IS THE CLOSEST AIRPORT TO THE END DESTINATION?
The closest airport to the end destination is Malé International Airport (MLE).
WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATION IS INCLUDED ON THIS TRIP?
The accommodation on this trip is twin/double shared rooms.
What is the local currency?
The currency is Malidivan Rufiyaa (MVR).
Is WIFI available throughout this trip?
Yes, WIFI will be available throughout this trip, however, we do recommend that you purchase a 3G sim card once you arrive to ensure you can keep in touch and stay connected (if you wish).
Are there many solo travellers?
Yes, lots of people come on our trips as solo travellers, it's a great way to meet new people and you’ll never feel alone from the moment you arrive as you will instantly be travelling with an awesome group of like-minded people.
What are the restrictions on alcohol in the Maldives?
As the Maldives is an Islamic nation and mainly a ‘’dry’’ country. This tour specifically will not be able to purchase alcohol on the islands we visit and you will not be allowed to purchase/bring alcohol from duty free.
What luggage do you recommend? Backpack VS Suitcase.
We would always recommend a backpack. Suitcases are not ideal for Asia as even if your suitcase has wheels it's very hard to pull it across the beach. If it's your first time with a backpack, you’ll never look back after.
Are there any COVID precautions in place for my trip?
Yes! We’re doing everything we can to make your trip as safe and stress- free as possible. All trips are run with enhanced safety and hygiene protocols advised by the FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office) & WHO (World Health Organisation) including only working with partners who uphold the same standard and are taking the maximum amount of precautions. From switching to private transport where possible to offering private room upgrades, we’ve got all areas covered to ensure your trip is an amazing one! Click here to read more about our COVID policy.
What happens If I can’t travel due to COVID?
We’re only operating in countries that are open without quarantine and are safe and easy to travel in. That being said if you could no longer travel due to COVID or if something were to arise, we’re offering complete flexibility for our TruTravellers. From free date changes to lifetime deposits. The TruCrew are always here to give you some TLC and to go through your options. Think of us as ya BFF’s, the fun auntie/uncle of the family who loves a drink or your travel guardian angels. Were not fussed.
Is my money protected?
Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe. We’re offering free date changes or to keep your deposit on file for as and when you’re ready to travel, 2 months, 2 years or even 20!
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