Current as of: July 27, 2024 - 09:46
Current as of: July 27, 2024 - 09:46
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
Awake to the sun rising over the azure ocean and snorkel areas of abundant marine life including manta rays, whale sharks, turtles (green, hawksbill and olive ridley), plus bottlenose and spinner dolphins. Visit unspoiled islands by day and by night relax on deck gazing at the millions of stars above. A traditionally crafted Turkish gulet sailboat is the perfect way to experience the magic of the Maldives.
Highlights
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Four. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip gradings or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is predominantly a marine adventure. No certifications are necessary, but you should be comfortable in the water and a strong swimmer to participate in the ocean excursions. We take no health and safety risks and our expert staff monitor conditions to take appropriate measures for a wonderful time here.
Getting out of the water and back onto the boat involves a boat ladder. Snorkelling trips are generally for a minimum of 45 minutes in open water. This time is approximate and may be shorter due to ocean conditions or longer due to wildlife encounters. There is a support boat and always the option to get out of the water sooner.
The climate in the Maldives is tropical, which means it can get very hot and humid and you should be prepared for this. The Maldives can experience strong currents, even on the calmest of days and currents may change during a snorkelling activity. It is always possible we may encounter the occasional day of rough seas and therefore an ability to swim is required.
The itinerary listed is only a guideline and may be changed based on sightings to maximise the wildlife-viewing experience.
Snorkelling equipment is available on board. However, bringing your own ensures comfort and fit. If you opt to use the snorkel equipment provided, you must keep the same equipment for the whole trip and not swap/share.
Ship crew: The captain and seven crew are on board to ensure the safety and well-being of the group. They bring many years of mariner experience in the Maldives and offer the warmth and kindness that reflects the beauty and hospitality of the Maldivian people.
Educational staff: The MWSRP team comprises a mix of locals and foreigners and includes a group of volunteers generally made up of marine biology students or people who just have a passion for the ocean. We are accompanied on our whale shark safari by one of the marine biologists whose goal is to provide an unforgettable educational experience.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 6
Max group size: 12
Sail the Indian Ocean in a traditionally crafted Turkish gullet, built in Bodrum and housed in the Maldives. The Felicity is our home for the adventure, with six cabins that comfortably accommodate 12 passengers.
During downtime, relax on the teak sun deck, which is furnished with sun mats and banquette seating, while gazing over the incredible archipelago. The indoor saloon has a dining table and seating and is fitted with an entertainment system and an equipment-charging area.
We sleep in air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms that have showers, small wardrobes, drawers and storage facilities, portholes and a wall fan.
Worth knowing
Single supplement from £ 800
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon snacks are all included on board.
Traditional Maldivian cuisine is based around fish (tuna), chilli and coconuts. White rice and roshi (a flour-based flatbread) are also staples. Fish is normally smoked, fired, barbecued or roasted. Pork products are strictly prohibited and beef is not served on-board. 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 do their best to cater for most dietary requirements.
The indoor saloon bar offers a wide choice of soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits to purchase. Please note, no alcohol is allowed on the islands – it is only permitted in the resorts and on the boats.
Please discuss any dietary requirements with your sales representative at the time of booking.
The Felicity is accompanied by a dinghy with an outboard engine and a dhoni (a traditional Maldivian boat) equipped with two compressors and aluminium cylinders.
With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30C (86F) throughout the year, there is never a bad time to visit the Maldives. The Maldives has two distinct seasons: dry season (northeast monsoon) from January to March and the wet season (southwest monsoon) from mid-May to November.
The Maldives covers a huge geographical area, weather can be sporadic and localised and with weather patterns changing globally, historical averages are less reliable.
For departures between May and October, temperatures are still warm, but rain showers are more likely, but even during this period there are also usually long spells of bright sunshine!
The changeover months between the two monsoon seasons (May and October/November) are more likely to offer the most unsettled weather and strong winds.
At any time of year, although it is more probable between May and October, the channels between each atoll can experience big swells and choppy waves if the weather is not favourable.
Diving is good year-round, although a basic rule is that reef life is more varied and visibility is better on the western side of any atoll from May to November and on the eastern side of any atoll from December to April.
Note as the Maldives is situated so close to the equator, it is possible to burn even on a cloudy day and sunscreen should be applied as a matter of course.
Recommended arrival time: The start location for this tour is at Malé Velana International Airport. All clients are required to be in the arrivals hall on Day 1 before 11am. Groups are met by the tour leader in the arrivals hall and then transferred by dhoni from the airport jetty to board the MV Felicity in time for a midday departure.
Airport: Malé Velana International Airport (MLE)
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
On departure day, all group members are transferred back to Malé Velana International Airport where the trip ends. The transfer back to the airport is usually early morning with arrival to the airport by 9am. Please speak to your sales representative for more information.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Male International Airport
Location end: Male International Airport
You can use your mobile phone but roaming charges can be immense – it is best to check with your service provider before you leave. It is usually cheaper to obtain a 3G sim card, which can be purchased at the airport. Felicity does not have wifi for guests; therefore, it is advisable to purchase a 3G sim card should you wish to keep in touch with the outside world. Do not expect the signal strength and internet speed to be at the level you are accustomed to back home. Weather can at times also influence the connection quality.
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Travellers from most countries normally receive a tourist visa on arrival in the Maldives, provided they meet the entry requirements, which can be found at www.immigration.gov.mv/tourist-visa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies (bat lyssavirus), tuberculosis and typhoid.
You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Proof of polio vaccination may also be needed for some travellers. Please confirm all the above with your doctor or travel clinic.
We are advised that there is no risk of malaria on this trip.
Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Maldives's time zone: Indian/Maldives (UTC +05:00)
The MV Felicity has universal plug sockets, which accepts various plug types, including types A, B, C and G.
Maldives's currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)
Most banks represented in Malé provide ATM and credit card services at several key points in Malé and Hulhumalé. Only local currency is dispensed. There are no ATMs on the islands visited. All major credit cards can be used at resorts, hotels and many shops in Malé. Most restaurants and shops in Malé accept US dollars in payment providing change in local currency.
The Maldivian rufiyaa is a non-convertible currency and cannot be purchased beforehand. Major international currencies can be changed easily at the airport on arrival. It is advised not to exchange currency in Malé where the waiting time can be lengthy.
The US dollar is accepted as legal tender but on smaller islands it is often easier to use rufiyaa. On the boat, all transactions are cash only (either US dollars or rufiyaa).
It is impossible to say exactly what you need during your trip as this varies depending on personal preferences, the number of extra optional activities and souvenirs you may like to purchase. While on board, additional expenses may include alcohol and diving.
While on the islands, approximate prices are as follows:
Optional excursions:
Diving
While this is a snorkeling cruise, there may be an opportunity to offer a single dive on some of the trip days.
As with all diving, it is subject to weather and current conditions as well as cruising time and length of group activities. Please be advised that diving is offered only as an optional excursion at times of non group activities and cannot be 100% guaranteed.
There are several recommended dive sites for the tour, which offer some great dive opportunities, subject to certification level and ability. The links below provide further detail on the sites and diving in general in these two atolls.. There may be the possibility of optional diving on days 2, 3, 4 and 5. Interested guests should highlight at the time of booking and again once on board with tour leader.
South Malé Atoll: www.dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-maldives-south-malé-atoll.php
South Ari Atoll: www.dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-maldives-ari-atoll.php
Approximate prices:
If you intend to participate in scuba diving (other than the Discover Scuba Dive), you must be a qualified diver in possession of a dive certification card and logbook.
Please note, we usually only carry four full sets of equipment on board; therefore, unless divers are recorded at time of booking to allow us to increase equipment requirement, the maximum number of divers is four at any time.
For us to best accommodate all divers, please advise your sales representative if you are interested in the diving option on this trip.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work. You may feel your leader has performed well over the course of your time in the Maldives and want to show your appreciation of their services. If you would like to tip your leader, we suggest a figure of approximately US$5-US$10 per person per day as a reasonable starting point.
The appropriate amount to tip the staff and crew is a personal matter but it is customary to provide an end-of-cruise gratuity (as a rough guide approximately US$10 per day per passenger would be appreciated).
Note that any services provided in restaurants or cafes on local islands visited include a standard 10 percent service charge.
We work hard to create trips that 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.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Cultural respect
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.