12-Day Wild Maldives Expedition
Women Only
Max Group 12
Lifetime Deposit
Solo traveller friendly
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
THE OTHER MALDIVES
Behind every glitzy resort-style paradise, there’s the heart and soul of the local community. On this trip, you’ll be right there – feeling the warmth and charm of the locals and not a resort in sight.
MANTA RAYS
Help the Manta Ray Trust, protect the Maldives’ Manta ray population. Not only does some of your trip price go into supporting their efforts in environmental protection, you’ll be participating in collecting crucial data for their studies.
LIVE ABROAD A BOAT
Can you imagine taking a dip in the sea whenever you like and dangling your feet in the moonlit water for some after-dinner chilltime? The water baby in you needs this trip – 100%!
LEARN FROM THE PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Take a knowledge dive with the experts that are on the ground (and in the water) bringing positive change to the region’s waterways and beaches – from a coral nursery to whale shark research… even a beachside cleanup crew.
THE FEMALE CONNECTION
You’ll not only learn how to cook one of The Maldives traditional dishes, you’ll be making heartfelt connections with local women and supporting them to implement further initiatives for community development.
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
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Price
- $1,900 AUD deposit.
- 2 week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: $2,993 AUD, max 2 spots
Trip length
12 days, 11 nights
Meeting point
Male International Airport, Maldives
Ending point
Male International Airport, Maldives
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
Please see our “Is this trip right for you?” section under the Participation Tab.
Included
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 11 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation, speedboat transfers, cruising
- 6 nights premium accommodation
- 5 nights small cruising boat
- Mangrove kayaking, snorkeling sessions, sandbank hopping
- Mashuni cooking class
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International Flights and travel insurance (necessary)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Click the tabs to find out more
Day 1: Welcome to Paradise!
Welcome to the Maldives! Your adventure kicks off the moment you land, with one of our friendly team ready to whisk you onto a two-hour speedboat ride to the dreamy island of Goidhoo in Baa Atoll. It’s an arrival fit for James Bond!
You’ll check in to your island home for the next three nights and get chatting to the rest of your new travel crew. You’ll be spending the next twelve days together, and it’s mind-blowing just how close you’ll become with these impressive women in under two weeks. Tonight, while you’re enjoying your first Maldivian dinner, you’ll get a crash course about the Maldives’ ecosystem, including the role we all play in keeping it pristine. Sleep well – you have a big day tomorrow.
Accommodation: Olive, Goidhoo (or similar)
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Goidhoo
Today’s your intro to the Maldives’ wonderful underwater worlds! With our expert guide leading the way, you’ll don a snorkel, mask and flippers and get up close to everything from playful turtles to gliding reef sharks. No worries if you’re a snorkelling newbie – our team has got your back, making sure you’re kitted out and comfortable before you dive in.
Once you’re back on dry land, you’ll switch gears and take the most interactive history lesson you’ll ever have, exploring the town of Goidhoo from top to bottom and learning some cool facts along the way. Here’s something not everyone knows: this island was home to the first female slave to be freed by a king in the Maldives, and many locals today can trace their ancestry back to her!
After a jam-packed day, kick back with your new pals and watch the stars come out. It’s the island’s way of tucking you in after a day well spent.
Accommodation: Olive, Goidhoo (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Mangrove Kayaking
Rise and shine, it’s kayak time! Shake off your sleep this morning by paddling through one of the island’s oh-so-lovely mangrove lakes. As the sun sparkles on the water and laughter from your fellow Patchies fills the air, you’ll agree that this is a more effective start to the day than any cup of coffee!
As you glide, your guide will teach you all about the crucial role these mangroves play in the Maldives’ ecosystem. Even if you’ve never sat in a kayak in your life, you’ll still be paddling through the water with ease in no time.
Post-lunch, it’s time for a scenery change. Hop on a speedboat to Fulhadhoo, a beach village in the Baa Atoll that’s sure to steal your heart. Once you’ve settled into your homely hotel, we have one more surprise up our sleeves: let’s just say Fulhadhoo really knows how to put on a natural spectacle…
Accommodation: Island Luxury Dive Hotel, Fulhadhoo (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Sandbank Hopping
This morning is about the Maldives beyond the beaches, with a community cooking class that’s all for a good cause. Led by the inspiring women from the Women’s Development Committee, you’ll learn how to make mas huni, a fiery Maldivian breakfast staple you’ll soon become very familiar with. These women are the backbone of the community, running development projects for other local women, and introducing you to them is one of those only-with-Patch experiences we pride ourselves on.
After the morning’s cooking, you can choose to snorkel or just chill before meeting with the group once again for a dose of island time, hopping from one perfect sandbank to another. The only way to cap off this perfect day is with a sunset BBQ on a Robinson Crusoe-style beach. If the weather gods are on our side the sky will erupt into neon pinks, oranges and reds. What is a given fresh fish sizzling on the BBQ and the too-crazy-to-be-real travel stories starting to flow. You’ll realise: this is the life.
Accommodation: Island Luxury Dive Hotel, Fulhadhoo (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Snorkelling
Start your day right with a good breakfast, then head over to Fulhadhoo’s coral nursery where you’ll get the scoop on their coral rehab projects – essential for keeping the local seas healthy and colourful. Keep your eyes peeled because, if the timing’s right, you might bump into Sendi, the local diving celeb who knows these waters better than anyone!
In the afternoon, it’s time to roll up your sleeves for an island clean-up. It’s our little way of saying thanks to this beautiful spot. And of course, we wouldn’t expect all that hard work without a reward: how does another ocean dip sound? You could do this a thousand times and it would never get old!
Accommodation: Island Luxury Dive Hotel, Fulhadhoo (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Beach Day
Today’s agenda? Absolutely nothing – or everything, depending on how you play it. It’s your free day to do whatever you like, so make the most of it! Feeling adventurous? Book an excursion – your guide will give you some recommendations. More in the mood to chill? Grab a spot by the pool and let the world drift by at its own pace. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a little ‘me’ time.
As the sun dips and night draws in, cap off your last evening on dry land with a Maldivian feast to remember. Tuck into traditional dishes, each more unusual and tastebud-teasing than the last, as the soundtrack of live local music accompanies you under a star-spangled sky. It doesn’t get much better than this, so make tonight count!
Accommodation: Island Luxury Dive Hotel, Fulhadhoo (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Baa Atoll
All aboard! The MV Keana is departing this morning and only your tight-knit group of Patchies will be on it! You’re cruising to Baa Atoll, where the views are as endless as the horizon. Islands unfold before your eyes like dollops of paradise, so keep your camera at the ready: you’re about to collect shots that scream “wish you were here”. After you drop anchor, you don’t need to resist the temptation to dive into the water any longer. The marine life you’ll see here is just waiting to knock your snorkels off.
Come evening, your crew will gather around for a sea-side chat about the heroes at Manta Trust, learning all about their mission to protect the manta rays here in the Maldives, and how every snorkel or dive you take helps contribute to their efforts. Snorkelling for a good cause? Don’t mind if we do!
Accommodation: MV Keana (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Hanifaru Bay
Today’s the day we hit Hanifaru Bay, a manta ray hotspot like no other. From May to November, this funnel-shaped bay becomes a buffet of plankton that attracts not just manta rays but whale sharks too. Wow! The best way to see these creatures up close is by snorkelling (obvs), so it’s time to get back into the water.
No promises, as wildlife’s always on its own schedule, but if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see both while gathering crucial data for their protection in the process.
This afternoon, you’re off to an uninhabited island. It’s just you, your group of fellow Patchies and the wild, with endless beaches to explore. You lucky things!
Accommodation: MV Keana (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Manta Rays
Strap on those snorkels – you’re diving back into the blue for round two with the manta rays. As you follow them through the water, you’ll be helping the Manta Trust by noting down their size, behaviour and unique markings – contributing to research that protects these gentle giants. It’s mind-boggling to learn they munch through about seven kilograms of plankton each day. Being a manta doesn’t come easy!
Accommodation: MV Keana (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Maalhos
Another day, another chance to do some world-class snorkelling. Once you’ve got your fill of the underwater world, the local island of Maalhos is calling your name. Here, you’ll get a firsthand look at how the community embraces sustainability, all thanks to the Soneva Namoona project which encourages locals to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as they can. It’s surprising just how much effort goes into preserving these perfect islands.
Learning about sustainability is thirsty work, so cooling off at a local cafe and sipping on a fresh Kurumba sounds like the tropical twist you need to finish a perfect day, before boarding the MV Keana – your boat-home away-from-home, once more. There’s nowhere quite like the Maldives!
Accommodation: MV Keana (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: All-Day Cruising
Let’s hope for smooth sailing as you spend today cruising from Baa Atoll back to Hulhumale. Grab your spot on deck, kick back and make the most of the journey, double-checking that all the awesome data you’ve gathered in the last few days has been captured and recorded accurately.
Land ho! After a full day at sea, you’re back in Greater Male, stopping at the Hulhumale lagoon for the chance to shake off your sea legs and take in one last glimpse of the beach. It’s crazy how fast this adventure has flown by!
Accommodation: MV Keana (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Farewell Friends!
Following an early breakfast, you’ll hop aboard a speedboat for the coolest airport transfer you’ll ever have. Pulling up to Male International, snag your last chance to share final bear hugs, exchange contact info and maybe even shed a tear or two as you say goodbye to your Patchie pals. See you next time!
Included: Breakfast
Trip Map
The Essential Info
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
Traditional food in the Maldives is rich in flavors, featuring basic ingredients such as fish, coconut, rice, and various tropical fruits. Over time, Maldivian cuisine has embraced modern influences, yet the authentic flavors rooted in seafood-based dishes and coconut preparations are carefully preserved by locals. Popular dishes include garudhiya (a fish soup), mas huni (a tuna and coconut mix), and rihaakuru (a fish paste), which reflect the nation’s deep connection to the sea and its tropical environment. These dishes are often served with rice or flatbread like roshi, maintaining the balance of traditional and contemporary flavors.
Is This Trip Right For You?
You love to travel but don’t like being herded around B-grade attractions… just the mere idea of joining a ‘big bus’ tour makes you want to run for the hills.
You also know, however, that some places are worth the wait.
You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
You also love the idea of living a day fully, and then returning to unique, interesting accommodation!
You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that could involve trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.
If that sounds like you, you’d make a great Patchie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:USD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD:0.67 USD.
A deposit of $1,900 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made 110 days in advance.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 95 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
This is the most frequently asked question we get!
Nearly everyone is in their 50s and 60s, with some people above and below (but of course, everyone is welcome!)
Most Patchies come alone and are matched with a room-mate. Remember, you don’t need to pay for a single supplement if you come solo. We will place you with a similarly-aged roommate.
The typical Patchie has travelled a LOT, is a well-seasoned adventurer, and is not easily thrown by small things. However, many Patchies tell us that this is their first ever group tour. Many of our guests have avoided tours to this point as they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
Oh, and one last thing:
Patchies are warm, generous, and kind. We knew it would be like this, but we weren’t expecting it to be *quite* like this. We’re so blessed as a business to have the customers we do; we consider ourselves to be some of the luckiest people in the world.
No visa is required for tourists staying in the Maldives for less than 30 days. However, everyone must complete an IMUGA form within 96 hours of arrival. You can access the form here: IMUGA. To complete the application, you’ll need the name of your guesthouse and the island where it’s located.
Airfares are not included.
Being tour operators (not travel agents), we are not licensed to sell flights. We recommend contacting your trusted local travel agent to book flights if you’re in need of assistance.
There are no direct flights to the Maldives from Australia or New Zealand. However there are 1 stop departures via Singapore from multiple cities, as well as some via Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
All industry purchases (for example cafes, snorkelling, other experiences included in the trip) attract a 10% service charge and this is automatically covered in the trip cost. It’s law in The Maldives that this be distributed fairly amongst employees. Your local tour leader is paid above the industry standard and receives additional employment benefits.
If you are happy with the service and experience provided by your tour leader, and they have ensured your Maldives trip is memorable, a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. As a rough guide, we recommend you budget around $5 to $10 USD per day, to be gifted at the end of the trip.
Will we be picked up at the airport?
Yes! One of our friendly team will be waiting for you in the public arrivals area of the airport. You’ll transfer directly to the hotel. The transfer is free and in a private and air-conditioned vehicle, which you will only share if there is anyone else on your flight joining the tour.
When should we arrive?
Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommended. If possible, come one day early to settle in. We can organise additional hotel nights for you at cost.
Do I need to Bring my Own Snorkel and Mask?
Snorkelling equipment is included on the tours and equipment is available to rent at resorts and guesthouses. However we recommend you bring your own mask and snorkel. Not only will you be assured your mask will fit properly and is comfortable, it will also lower any health risks. A mask and snorkel is small and light and should take up very little space in your suitcase.
What about Fins?
Similar to snorkels and masks, fins are included in the tour equipment, however you may prefer to bring your own.
Due to the ocean current and wind conditions in the Maldives, the use of fins is essential in almost all snorkelling locations and especially during pelagic marine life encounters – you’ll be surprised at the speed a whale shark can swim! We understand that you may have been snorkelling elsewhere in the world without fins, but they are a necessity in the Maldives to make the most of your experience.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
