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2026

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2027

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2028

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Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
From
US $1,480 per person

Maldives Uncovered

8 days
Start and end in Male
3.6
5 traveler reviews
From
US $1,480 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Booking needs min. 2 travelers

Select Date

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2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
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2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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Plan your adventure:
Active
Thrilling adventures designed to keep you moving
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 2 - 10
Ages 8+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Male to Hulhumale

    Start point
    Malé, Maldives (Airport Transfer is included)

    Optional Activities

    • Beach coffee with guide (for arrivals before 5pm)
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  2. Day 2

    Male - Guraidhoo

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at guesthouse)

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Male capital city
    • Visit to Friday Mosque
    • Visit to National Museum
    • Visit to Sultan Park
    • Evening presentation on marine life conservation
    Landmarks
    Friday Mosque
    National Museum
    Sultan Park
  3. Day 3

    Guraidhoo

    Meals
    Breakfast (Local style breakfast), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Speedboat trip to coral reefs
    • Snorkelling with guide and spotter service
    • Responsible snorkelling briefing
    • Guided exploration of Guraidhoo island
    • Visit to local mosque
    • Village harbour visit
    • Traditional hedika snacks and black tea at local cafe
  4. Day 4

    Guraidhoo to Maafushi

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at local cafe)

    Included Activities

    • Local ferry transfer to Maafushi
    • Island exploration and orientation
    • Guided presentation on island tourism history and impacts
    • Visit to Renee's Coral Garden
    • Snorkelling in seagrass beds with guide
    • Presentation on Olive Ridley project and turtle studies

    Optional Activities

    • Full-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi (certified divers only, includes three dives, tanks, weights, boat fees and guides; USD 30 per dive equipment rental budget)
    • Half-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi (certified divers only, includes two dives, tanks, weights, boat fees and guides; USD 30 per dive equipment rental budget)
    • Manta Ray boat trip from Maafushi
    Landmarks
    Renee's Coral Garden
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  5. Day 5

    Maafushi

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at sandbank), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Speedboat trip to turtle snorkelling site
    • Turtle snorkelling with guide
    • Turtle snorkelling code of conduct briefing
    • Visit to pristine sandbank
    • Swimming and snorkelling at sandbank
    • Picnic lunch at sandbank
    • Return cruise with dolphin spotting
    • Coconut palm planting for each guest
  6. Day 6

    Maafushi to Gulhi

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Speedboat transfer to Gulhi
    • Guided island tour
    • Visit to boat yard
    • Interaction with local residents
    • Coconut refreshment
    • Presentation on plastic waste management and Parley for the Oceans
    • Beach clean-up activity
    • Swimming in ocean

    Optional Activities

    • Snorkelling on Gulhi's house reef with tour leader
  7. Day 7

    Gulhi

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner prepared by local family (traditionally eaten without cutlery))

    Included Activities

    • Dinner prepared by local family

    Optional Activities

    • Relaxation on bikini beach
    • Watersports activities (various options available)
  8. Day 8

    Gulhi to Male Airport

    End point
    Malé, Maldives (Airport Transfer is included.)
    Meals
    Breakfast

    Optional Activities

    • Speedboat departure transfer from Gulhi to airport (for flights departing before 1pm; scheduled departures at 08:00, 12:00, 17:00; approximately 40 minutes travel time; private speedboat transfer available for very early departures at extra cost)
    • Day-use room at Newtown Inn with airport transfer (price includes airport departure transfer)
    • Day-use room and facilities at Hulhule Airport Hotel (includes swimming pool, restaurant, bar)
    • Half-day visit to Vilimale island (15 minutes from Male)
    • Snorkelling trips
    • Watersports activities
    • 3-night resort island extension
    • 4-night Dhoni cruise extension
    Landmarks
    Vilimale Island
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services
4.5
(905 reviews)

Number of tours

106

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

80%

Encounters Travel is an adventure tour operator, based in the UK but with...

Read more

Awards Received

2012 Tour of the Year Winner
Luxury

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

3.6
Overall rating based on 5 Reviews

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  • Maldives Uncovered reviewer 1
    March 5th, 2020
    2
    I don’t think I got my money’s worth, the only good thing was our guide, reefs and warm ocean. Let’s talk about...
    Show more
    Traveled in February 2020
    Reply from: Encounters Travel
    Thank you for sharing your feedback. We deeply regret that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered during your trip. Your concerns about the quality of the hotels, the lack of hand soap, and the choice of restaurants have been noted, and we will certainly review these aspects to ensure that our future guests have a more comfortable and enjoyable stay. We’re also sorry to hear that the last island, Gulhi, did not meet your expectations. We try to provide a variety of experiences across the islands, but we understand that it may not have been the right fit for you. We appreciate your recommendation of Maafushi and will take your comments into consideration when planning future itineraries.
    Show more
  • Maldives Uncovered reviewer 2
    January 23rd, 2018
    4
    I loved this trip. Not just the fact that it was in the stunning Maldives but our guide Zaff was just amazing. He...
    Show more
    Traveled in January 2018
    Reply from: Encounters Travel
    Hi Maria, thanks for taking the time to get back to us with your feedback. We are happy you enjoyed our Maldives on a Shoestring tour and we hope that you'll join us again in the future!
    Show more
  • A
    January 2nd, 2014
    3
    A great way to see a more "real" side of the Maldives. It's not all picture postcards.
    Traveled in January 2014
    Reply from: Encounters Travel
    Thanks for taking the time to get back to us with your tour feedback. We are happy you enjoyed your Maldives holiday. We hope that you'll join us again in the future!
    Show more
  • A
    June 12th, 2013
    5
    We had the most amazing holiday, all activities were awesome. Great tour guide - Kamey - we had lots of laughs. In...
    Show more
    Traveled in June 2013
    Reply from: Encounters Travel
    Thanks for taking the time to get back to us with your tour feedback. We are happy you enjoyed your Maldives holiday. We hope that you'll join us again in the future!
    Show more
  • Maldives Uncovered reviewer 5
    August 31st, 2013
    4
    We went on this trip in March 2013 and we had a wonderful time, as it was a great way to see such a beautiful place....
    Show more
    Traveled in March 2013
    Reply from: Encounters Travel
    Thanks for the great feedback! come and see us at the Sep TNT show for your next holiday?
    Show more

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
  • From Sunday
    15 Mar, 2026
    To Sunday
    22 Mar, 2026
    English
    Check the availability with the operator
    Departure on request
    From:
    US $1,615 per person
  • From Sunday
    5 Apr, 2026
    To Sunday
    12 Apr, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,615 per person
  • From Sunday
    19 Apr, 2026
    To Sunday
    26 Apr, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,615 per person
  • From Sunday
    3 May, 2026
    To Sunday
    10 May, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    17 May, 2026
    To Sunday
    24 May, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    7 Jun, 2026
    To Sunday
    14 Jun, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    21 Jun, 2026
    To Sunday
    28 Jun, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    5 Jul, 2026
    To Sunday
    12 Jul, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    19 Jul, 2026
    To Sunday
    26 Jul, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,480 per person
  • From Sunday
    2 Aug, 2026
    To Sunday
    9 Aug, 2026
    English
    From:
    US $1,535 per person
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
We couldn't find results
Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts
  • D

    Donald

    Asked on February 1st, 2016

    What is the group size?

    Group size
    • Encounters TravelOperatorWritten February 2016

      Our group size is minimum 2 and maximum 18 travellers.

  • B

    Brenda

    Asked on February 1st, 2016

    What activities can I take on Days 5 and 7?

    Other
    • Encounters TravelOperatorWritten February 2016

      On days 5 and 7, you can do one of the following, subject to availability and weather conditions:
      Full-day scuba-diving boat trip from Maafushi

  • R

    Robyn

    Asked on March 10th, 2015

    Are all meals included in this tour?

    Meals
    • Encounters TravelOperatorWritten March 2015

      There are 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners included in the price of the tour. The rest of the meals you'd arrange locally, generally in the guest-house you're staying in, or in a local cafe or restaurant. You're not staying on the private luxury resort islands, so eating out is affordable.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Encounters Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.
From
US $1,480 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Booking needs min. 2 travelers

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 36212

  • Currency
    Rufiyaa
    Maldives
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types L, J, G, K. As a traveler from England you will need an adaptor for types L, J, K.

    Type L
    Maldives
    Type J
    Maldives
    Type G
    Maldives
    Type K
    Maldives
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for Maldives. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Maldives. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Maldives. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Maldives. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Maldives. Ideally 10 days before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before May 15th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after May 15th, 2026, a minimum payment of $250 is required to confirm your booking with Encounters Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Encounters Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Encounters Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

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Encounters Travel

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec