Maldivian Magic

Day 1 Fly overnight from your chosen airport via Doha to Malé.

Day 2 Transfer to MV Yasawa Princess, a 20 minute boat ride from Malé. Enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. (L, D)

Day 3 Depart from Malé and cross Vaadhoo Channel to South Male’ Atoll. Visit beautiful Kalhuhuraa to relax, soak up the sun and take a dip in the warm Indian Ocean. Diving options: Vaagali Caves, an easy dive site with overhangs and an abundance of schooling fish, and Vaagali Thila, a pinnacle in the channel with fine coral and marine life and maybe schooling sharks. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Cruise to Rannalhi Island, a small boutique resort island located on the western edge of South Malé Atoll. Evening fishing trip using traditional hand lines. Diving options: Guraidhoo Corner, a super site known for its reef formation and colourful marine life. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Cross the channel into Vaavu Atoll and cruise to Alimatha on the eastern edge of the Atoll where a beautiful turquoise lagoon surrounds the sandbank. Optional night snorkelling (payable locally $15). Diving options: Miyaru kandu, a channel dive known for larger pelagic, shark, eagle rays and Devana kandu, a channel with a central reef. Turtles have been sighted in the shallower waters. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Morning cruise to Anbaraa located in Vaavu Atoll, with easy access to the reef for snorkellers. Enjoy an evening Maldivian BBQ under the stars, experience the amazing beauty of the area and enjoy a spot of stargazing. Diving option: Rakeedhoo kandu, a corner of the channel with well grown hard coral and overhangs, covered with soft corals overhead. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Cross the channel to South Ari Atoll and Oshagali Finolhu. A tender will be ready on arrival. This is a particular favourite with healthy hard coral. Diving options: Kuda Rah Thila, a protected dive site and small pinnacle with soft corals and overhangs and Machafushi Wreck, a deliberate scuttle of a small cargo freighter, where much fresh coral has grown, making it a healthy artificial reef. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Short cruise from Oshagali to Ariadhoo, a plantation island, with access to its beaches to relax and easy access to the ocean for swimming. Visit Maamagili to experiencing the local lifestyle and perhaps purchase some handicrafts. Optional whale shark excursion (payable locally $15). Diving options: Maamagili Corner and Kudadhoo Beyru. Both are dive sites outside of the atoll and are easy wall dives with the opportunity to spot whale shark. (B, L, D)

Day 9 The boat will be anchored in Maamagili for mid cruise arrivals/departures. At least one excursion will be provided to the guests staying on board. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Short cruise to Hurasdhoo, a small deserted island with white sandy beach surrounding it. Optional manta ray excursion (payable locally $15). Evening fishing trip using traditional hand lines. Diving options: Angaga Thila, a small pinnacle where turtles feed on the corals while sharks cruise in the current. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Full day at Embudu Island, a small island with a long stretch of white sandy beach. Reef around the island is good for snorkelling, with a bit of luck turtles and eagle rays can be seen. Evening fishing trip using traditional hand lines. Diving options: Moofushi Kandu, a channel dive with a manta ray cleaning station. Embudu Thila, a small pinnacle with a healthy coral home for many colourful reef fishes. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Full day at Raiydhigaa Island with a long white sandy beach enabling easy access for snorkellers to swim from the beach. Picnic lunch and BBQ evening. Diving options: Dega Thila, full with soft corals and schooling fish. Miyaru Gaa Thila, an ideal place to dive in search of octopus, scorpion and lionfish. Sharks and sting rays can be found resting on the bottom. (B, L, D)

Day 13 Full day at Alikoi Rah sand bank, surrounded by a well grown reef which houses an array of colourful fish, perhaps spot turtles and rays. Sunset cruise to Maaya sandbank. Diving options: Fish Head, one of the best pinnacles for fish life or Kandu Thila, a narrow submerged reef where white tip and grey reef sharks can be seen. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Full day at Maayafushi sandbank where flocks of common seabirds can be found. Diving options: Maaya Thila, one of the most famous night dive sites in the Maldives, sharks and sting rays hunt at this site at night or Bathala Maagaa Kan. (B, L, D)

Day 15 Cross Alihuras Kandu, at the North Ari Atoll, to Malé. Last swim in the Indian Ocean before cruising back to Malé. Visit the local and fish market of the capital of the Maldives. (B, L, D)

Day 16 Morning return flight from Malé via Doha to your chosen airport.

• Key
• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner