7-Day Maldives Tour: Snorkel, Sand & Sun
Most people think of the Maldives as honeymooner territory — overwater bungalows, private villas and price tags that could sink a dhoni boat. But the 7-Day Maldives Tour: Snorkel, Sand & Sun is the antidote to that postcard version. This one’s about local island life, marine encounters and staying in a guest house, not a resort.
I first jumped off a water transfer shuttle to Maafushi years ago, chasing whispers of coral atolls open to independent travellers. What I found was better — crystal clear seas, coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and locals who treated visitors like mates, not meal tickets. Since then, I’ve been back more times than I can count, usually with a snorkel mask around my neck and sand in my shoes.
Operates
Highlights
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Speedboat ride to and from Male Airport, offering stunning ocean views.
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6 nights at a 4-star guest house or Hotel for a cozy, comfortable stay.
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Guided walking tour of Maafushi to explore local life and culture.
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Snorkel safari trip with opportunities to swim alongside grey nurse sharks and vibrant tropical fish.
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Lounge on a secluded sandbank island and enjoy some complimentary lunch and breathtaking views.
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Access to a floating bar with unlimited boat shuttle transfers for sunset cocktails surrounded by ocean views.
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Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking available for active beach days.
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2 fabulous dinners (welcome & farewell) with fresh seafood and beachside vibes.
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Professional underwater photos to capture your epic moments.
Trip Inclusions
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Round-trip speedboat transfers to and from Male Airport
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6 Nights Accommodation in a 3 Star Guest House/ Hotel or Similar
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6 x breakfasts, 1x lunch 2 fabulous dinners (welcome & farewell)
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Guided walking tour
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Snorkel Safari Trip
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Professional underwater photos (so your selfies can rest for once)
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Swim with Grey Nurse Sharks & Beautiful Tropical Fish
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Dolphin Spotting
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Stingray spotting and photo opportunities
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Lunch on an exclusive pristine sandbar
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Visit one of the other islands by boat
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Unlimited shuttles to the floating bar
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Swim or relax on Bikini Beach
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Stand-up Paddle Board Hire
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Canoe or Kayak Hire
What to Bring
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Your sense of adventure
- Waterproof rain jacket or windbreaker
- Water bottle
- Comfortable hiking shoes (closed-toe)
- Swimmers and beach towel
- Hand sanitiser
- Hat and sunscreen
- Torch or headlight
- Warm clothing as sunset is on the beach, exposed to the elements
Google & TripAdvisor Reviews
- I joined the Western Australia tour (Perth to Exmouth) last week to see the whale shark and had a truly amazing experience. The route was well-planned and gave us the chance to see some of the most beautiful views along the way. The scenery was stunning, and it made me completely fall in love with the ocean.Bethany was an incredible guide — Thank you for the ride, food and the warmth. She made everything feel smooth and enjoyable throughout the journey.Thanks to her encouragement, I’m even thinking about learning to dive in the future. If I have the chance, I’d love to travel with this team again!read moreread less
Zhiqi Tian6/05/2025
Great trip! We just completed the 16 day Best of East Coast Australia tour with Via Travel. The amazing Cara was our tour guide throughout. She was passionate, knowledgeable, funny and personable. The tour was well paced, informative and beautiful. Via Travel also went out of their way to fly us north, past the flood ravaged regions, at no additional cost and with little impact on the itinerary. I would strongly recommend Via Travel when considering your many travel options.read moreread less
Grant A2/27/2025
Incredible Tour with Amazing Adventures and an Outstanding Guide! If you read Vanessa’s review below she is spot on! She was on the 14day extended version of the Intrepid East Coast Australia tour. I joined midway in Brisbane and completed the 2nd week with them on the journey to Cairns. I’ll admit I was a tad nervous being a solo traveler joining a group tour midway, but the group tour guide, Wara Dan, immediately made me feel comfortable to get on the road with then strangers who are now life-long friends. The tour itself packs in A TON of activities in just one week. Looking back I can’t believe we did as much as we did or travelled as far as we did (over 1700km). And I wouldn’t change a thing. Wara (our guide) kept the trip interesting with fun stops along the way and was also extremely knowledgable of Australian history and culture. The trip would not have been nearly as informative or fun without him. Wara also made sure we were comfortable and prepared for each day’s next adventure, from snorkeling at the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, to spotting platypus and waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands and of course the excursion to Fraser Island. In short, I 100% recommend this Intrepid tour of the East Coast ESPECIALLY if you can have Wara as your guide. It’s already on my list to come back to see the west coast of Australia!read moreread less
looloobean710/06/2019 -
East Coast Australia Tour – Small groups East Coast Australia Tour – Small groups We spent 14 Days of the best days of our lives on our East Coast Australia Tour from Sydney to Cairns! This tour is the east coast australia must do! We were in a small group and we saw all the major highlights between Sydney and cairns but our guide Stu made sure we went off the beaten track for authentic Australian experiences - incredible nature, waterfalls, snorkelling – I saw my first turtle and nemo fish! Fraser island 4wding was exciting and we spotted 2 dingoes in the wild! The accommodation each night was very good and we always had an ensuite so that was nice too. Even though we were on a organised tour they made sure we had some time to ourselves to relax or explore without the group so we had ‘me time'. Awesome food experiences too - our guide Stu knew a lot about the local specialities, wine, beer and coffee everyday so we were fed well! We met a super nice aboriginal family who looked after us for an afternoon - we learnt a lot about the culture, their past and had a beautiful refreshing swim in a secluded place too. We could not find any other east coast tours of Australia in a small group like this and we are so glad we decided to go with this east coast Australia road trip! Would happily recommend it to anyone. Thanks guys!read moreread less
Dov Selby11/20/2017 
Trip Itinerary
Say adios to your home city and buckle up for your grand entrance into paradise.
Touch down in Malé and hop onto an express speedboat to Maafushi. You’ll be skimming across waters so
blue they’ll make your ex regret ever leaving you.
Afternoon: Meet your guide at the Maafushi harbour for the ultimate island orientation. Check-in, ditch your
shoes.
6:00 PM: Gather in the hotel foyer for a walking tour around Maafushi. Expect plenty of laughs, charming
local vibes, and snacks that may or may not redefine your taste buds (spoiler: coconut is everything here).
Evening: Wrap up your first day with a sunset dinner by the beach. Picture fresh seafood, fairy lights, and a
chill so good you’ll forget your inbox exists.
Meals: Dinner.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel or similar alternative.
Recommended Optional Activities:After dinner get the scoop on all the epic activities you can pack into
your week.
Rise and shine (yes, you can do it), because today, the ocean is calling!
07:00 08:00 AM: Fuel up at breakfast.
08:30 AM 4:00 PM: Fullday snorkeling adventure featuring:
● Shipwreck snorkelling (because sunken treasures are cool)
● Snorkeling with Sting Rays (get ready for your Finding Nemo moment)
● A visit to Tinadhoo Island (Vaavu Atoll)
● Snorkel with dolphins (because your life is now a wildlife documentary, cue happy tears)
● All the essentials: snorkel gear, lunch, water, towels, and Instaworthy underwater photos/videos.
Evening: Return to Maafushi feeling like a mermaid (or merman), just tired enough to resist “one more
Mocktail.”
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel
By now, you’ve mastered the perfect pancakes to coconut ratio at breakfast. Good job.
All Day:
- Fancy an adrenaline rush? Try:
○ A jet car that looks like a Lamborghini (because, why not?)
○ A whale shark dive to meet the ocean’s gentle giants
○ Parasailing for ultimate aerial bragging rights - Prefer to chill? Plant yourself on a sun lounger and embrace full vacation mode.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4-Star Hote
Another day, another breathtaking ocean adventure.
08:00 AM 2:00 PM:
- Stingray watching (graceful, slightly alien-looking, but very cool)
- Snorkel with nurse sharks (don’t worry, they’re the friendly kind)
- WalkWay experience
- Lunch, water, towel, snorkel gear, and, of course, more epic underwater photos/videos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel
Sleep in (congrats, you’ve earned it), then amble your way to breakfast.
All Day:
- If adventure is still calling, answer with jet skiing, wakeboarding, or scuba diving.
- Prefer a “cultural” experience? Head to the floating bar, because Maldives has a cheeky loophole for
cocktails with a view.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel
Your tan is peaking, your camera roll is exploding, and there’s still more to do.
Morning: Relish your last leisurely breakfast while contemplating never leaving.
All Day: Optional adventures (your call, your expense). Highly recommend a visit to Sun Siyam Olhuveli,
a private island so dreamy it might actually be heaven.
Evening: Gather the crew for a final farewell dinner on an exclusive island, watch your last sunset over the
mesmerising ocean, sit around a beach bonfire, swap stories, share photos, and toast to a week that’ll
make your friends back home weep with jealousy.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel
All good things must come to an end (unless you “accidentally” miss your flight).
Morning: Speedboat back to Malé. Expect a mix of emotions, possibly even a tear or two (it’s fine, we
won’t judge).
Afternoon: Board your flight home with a suitcase full of memories, a camera roll packed with jawdropping
photos, and just enough sand in your shoes to remind you that this trip was everything.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accomm: Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa 4 Star Hotel
| NIGHT | CONFIGURATION | FACILITIES | INCLUDES |
| 1-6 | Twin Share or | Private Ensuite, Coffee, Tea, Bar Fridge, TV, WIFI, | Twin Share |
| Private Double 4* Hotel Accommodation Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa |
Safety deposit box Toilet Bath or shower Hardwood or parquet floors Towels Linen Socket near the bed TV Telephone Ironing facilities Satellite channels Tea/Coffee maker Hairdryer Fan Electric kettle Cable channels Wakeup service Wardrobe or closet Upper floors accessible by stairs only Clothes rack Toilet paper |
Accommodation 18m2 City view Air conditioning Patio Flatscreen TV Free WiFi |
Route details
All bookings are made with Get Lost Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 94 143 929 962). By making a booking, you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. Your booking is considered confirmed upon receipt of your booking confirmation and/or invoice.
These Terms & Conditions are valid from 1 August 2025 until 31 March 2027, though dates and itineraries remain subject to change at any time.
Accredited Bus Number: AC003612.
All bookings must be confirmed within 72 hours of departure via email to [email protected]
Please ensure you:
- Understand the style, itinerary and physical demands of your chosen tour.
- Familiarise yourself with these Terms & Conditions and tour details.
- Disclose any medical conditions, dietary requirements or special needs.
We are not responsible for passengers who fail to review this information prior to travel.
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- All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing. In exceptional cases (e.g. serious medical issues, visa denials, or regulatory changes), requests may be considered with supporting documentation. Approval is not guaranteed.
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We will do our best to accommodate but cannot guarantee all requests, especially in remote regions. We recommend bringing your own snacks for special dietary needs.
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Insurance should include cover for:
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FAQ
Getting There: Maafushi is about 25 km (40 minutes by speedboat) from Male.
Currency: The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the official currency, but USD is widely accepted.
Weather: The Maldives enjoys tropical weather. Dry season (December–April) is ideal, while wet season (May–November) may bring occasional rains but also lower prices.
Local Etiquette: Maafushi is a local island, so respect Muslim customs. Dress modestly in public areas, but Bikini Beach allows swimwear. Alcohol consumption is restricted; drinks are available on nearby floating bars or during resort excursions.
Language: Dhivehi is the local language, but English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas.
Marine Adventures:
Snorkeling and diving with sharks, manta rays, and turtles are must-dos. Popular sites include the Maafushi House Reef and nearby sandbanks.
Dolphin-watching cruises and deep-sea fishing are other highlights.
Island Hopping: Visit nearby islands for a change of scenery, including luxury resorts for day trips.
Maafushi’s restaurants offer a mix of local and international cuisine. Must-try dishes include:
Mas Huni: A breakfast staple of tuna, coconut, and chili.
Garudhiya: A flavorful Maldivian fish soup.
Fresh seafood BBQs are popular for dinner.
Alcohol: Prohibited on the island but accessible on floating bars.
Sustainability: Support local businesses and follow eco-friendly practices to protect the fragile marine ecosystem.
Safety: Generally safe, but always use caution with water activities and adhere to safety guidelines.
































