Private Tour
4-Night Maldives Guided Local Experience from Male' Airport
Overview
Available languages
120 hours
Mobile ticket
Your 4-night Maldives experience provided by TripAdvisor's leading Hulhumale based tour company, allows you to travel inexpensively or combine a local island stay with a traditional resort holiday.
View the beauty of the Maldives islands, snorkel, enjoy optional water sports, and become acquainted with local customs through food and interaction with locals. Your tour offers an excellent way to combine both styles of vacation, particularly because your tours begins and ends at the Male International Airport. Your guided private tour can accommodate up to 8 guests. Round-trip shared transfer from Male International Airport included.
Private tours available upon request.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Maldives is a Muslim country and therefore alcohol is not available on local islands. Subject to availability day/evening, visits to resorts can be arranged.
The Maldives is a Muslim country and care needs to be taken in relation to the dress code on local islands. While it is acceptable for men to wear t-shirts and shorts or swim shorts, females should avoid causing offence by maintaining a more conservative approach to clothes by wearing t-shirts, loose shorts or sarongs. While the islands we visit are more tolerant of guests wearing traditional beachwear, females should avoid wearing bikinis and swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, picnic island, sandbank, screened off tourist beach, dive boat or resort island
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
No prior visa arrangements are required. Tourists are issued a 30-day visa on arrival. A passport valid for 1 month and travel documents (flight tickets) are necessary
Safety has always been important to our business, this is why our guides are Emergency First Responders & Life Guard Certified. We are pleased to offer safe travel and hygiene standards as required by the World Travel & Tourism Council and Maldives Safe Tourism Guidelines. Private tours available upon request.
The online traveler declaration form IMUGA must also be completed within the 96 hour period prior to arrival in the Maldives
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
Round-trip shared transfer by public speedboat
All Local Tax
International flights
Travel insurance
Gratuities
Personal Expenditure
Lunches from $10 and are taken independently
What To Expect
ARRIVAL & MALE CITY TOUR
Accommodations
Tropic Tree Selected to provide comfort, local feel and value for money.
Food and Drinks
DINNER
Dinner
Maldives
Arrive Velana International Airport (MLE) where you will be greeted by your guide, who will assist you with your public public ferry transfer to your local island in South Male Atoll. The speedboat takes 45 minutes to journey across the Indian Ocean to Gulhi where you can view the beauty of the many Maldives islands that pass you by, keeping your eyes open for dolphins.
Male
With your Tour Leader, visit key places of interest including the fish market, local market, President's Palace and Friday Mosque. Wandering through the narrow roads of Male provides a wealth of opportunities to gain a deeper understanding about the culture, history and daily life of this unique capital city and its people.
SNORKELING & ISLAND TOUR
Accommodations
Tropic Tree
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
DINNER
Dinner
Gulhi Island
Following breakfast, accompanied by your guide, we head out by boat to nearby reefs for your underwater encounter! Your tour leader will provide a safety briefing on responsible snorkeling and act as your ‘spotter’ pointing out marine life that may not have caught your eye. Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems so learning how to snorkel responsibly can help minimize your impact on the marine environment and protect the delicate balance of marine life. Keep your eyes open for turtles, sharks and rays you never know what may be in the blue! Your Tour Leader will assist less confident or inexperienced snorkelers, ensuring your equipment is comfortable and you feel safe in the water.
Gulhi Island
As the heat of the day cools down, join your tour leader on a tour of the island. Visit the boat yard to stand in awe at the size of the boats under renovation, perhaps chat with the ladies sweeping the streets and experience traditional ‘hedika’ - Maldivian savoury and sweet snacks served with black tea at a local cafe.
TURTLE SNORKELING, SANDBANK & TREE PLANTING
Accommodations
Tropic Tree
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
DINNER
Dinner
Gulhi Island
Following breakfast, you will be taken by speedboat to snorkel in search of turtles. The soft corals available on this reef usually mean it's lunchtime all the time for turtles! Before entering the water, your tour leader will share the turtle snorkeling code of conduct, ensuring the experience is memorable for both you and the turtle. We stop off at a sandbank, a natural wonder that epitomizes the breathtaking beauty of this tropical paradise. Picture a pristine stretch of glistening white sand emerging from the crystal-clear turquoise waters, forming a tiny, isolated island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Here you have the opportunity to swim, snorkel or just lie back and relax. On the return journey to Gulhi, cruise the Indian Ocean and hopefully spot dolphins.
Gulhi Island
Back on land we leave a positive impact by planting a coconut palm for each guest and your tour leader.
SEAGRASS & CORAL NURSERY SNORKELING, BEACH CLEAN & LOCAL DINNER
Accommodations
Tropic Tree
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
DINNER
Dinner
Maafushi Island
This morning, we journey to Maafushi to snorkel the seagrass beds and discover their importance to the ecosystem. Despite being one of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, sea grass is considered unsightly, and is often deliberately removed. Your Tour Leader will help you understand the importance of seagrass and why we call it the hero of underwater protection. Following time in Maafushi for lunch we head back to Gulhi where you can choose to head to the tourist beach or for the more energetic join your guide for a final snorkeling opportunity on the house reef of Gulhi.
Gulhi Island
As the afternoon cools down there is the option to give back to the community that has welcomed us by completing a beach clean. Our reward will be a refreshing fresh Kurumba (coconut water) followed by an ocean swim!
Gulhi Island
Dinner is taken at the home of a local family, just don’t expect silver service as traditionally meals are eaten without the aid of a knife and fork!
DEPARTURE
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Following breakfast transfer by public ferry to Velana International Airport, where after your tour ends.
Options
Deluxe Room
Tropic Tree Gulhi: All of our accommodation is handpicked to provide a balance of comfort, service, local atmosphere and value for money.
Duration: 5 days
4 Breakfast, 4 Dinner
Male - Gulhi - Male
Public Ferry
Accommodation: Price based on private single occupancy or double/twin sharing rooms
Reviews
15 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Stress free travel
658louisea,
Dec 5, 2024
- Tripadvisor
5.00The resort was friendly as well as beautiful and had the best reef we saw for our whole trip. All pick ups and transfers were on time and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble for the Secret Paradise team. I recommend Ruth and the team very highly.
Give this company a try
tahitinights,
May 3, 2023
- Tripadvisor
5.00Ruth did a wonderful job helping me build a great trip. I was very happy. My only regret is not staying two more night to enjoy the sand bank and Shell Island more. I recommend this company totally. I can’t remember the man’s name who met me at the airport but he was very nice and I appreciated his help.
Secret Paradise in Maafushi
nathanhR6050DT,
Jun 28, 2022
- Tripadvisor
5.00My Guide Zaff made my week in Maafushi and the surrounding area AWESOME! The excursions were fun too! I highly recommend Secret Paradise for Budget Travelers looking for a real Maldives Experience. First I was picked up at the airport and given a tour of Male. Zaff even found me the islands best smoothies per request. I then made it over to Maafushi and enjoyed a huge room at Stingray Inn. I got to enjoy 2 really cool days of snorkeling, visiting 2 other islands, and plenty of time to chill out and enjoy the beach at Maafushi. Meals were good, the guide was great, and Ruth with Secret Paradise was excellent at accommodating all of my travel needs. 10/10 recommend!!
A view into paradise
ShilpeeS10,
Jun 28, 2022
- Tripadvisor
5.00I had booked the 4-day tour through Secret Paradise not really anticipating the amount of adventure and fun it would involve :-) Our guide Zaffran promptly received us on the booked date and from thereon it was a journey of discovery of the beauty that is Maldives. Zaffran was a very knowledgeable with whom we discussed the history, geography and wildlife of Maldives. He took time out to show offbeat places on the islands. The best parts of the trip were the snorkeling and scuba diving tours. We got to see so many breathtaking views underwater that was teeming with life. He ensured that my son was comfortable in all that he was doing considering his age. He went out of the way to help us in a medical situation as well. And add to that, we had a great time getting to know all the cats on the island as well as in Male. The 4-day tour is very well-crafted and makes you experience the best of Maldives at the right price. I had some delays in getting the wire transfers but Ruth from Secret Paradise was so patient and comforting that our great experience started even before reaching Maldives. We would highly recommend Secret Paradise.
4 Wonderful Days
anncH5818KL,
Jan 29, 2020
- Tripadvisor
5.00We have just returned from a 2 centre trip with Secret Paradise visiting Maafushie and Gulhi. We loved the snorkelling and felt very safe with our guide Kamey. At the same time the tour gave us first hand experience of every day life on the islands, a meal with a local family, hedikaa (afternoon tea and snacks) and accommodation in local guesthouses. All the arrangements were well organised and we had a good balance of free time and organised time. Very many thanks David and Ann
Best way to visit Maldives: Local Island
Monica A,
Aug 19, 2019
- Tripadvisor
5.00Secret paradise has supported us so much in organizing our trip to Maldives I think they made eveything so easy by email, and then even easier when we met them LIVE.I recommend to book through them to have a great experience and forget about all problems! We arrived in Malè airport and Mashir was there waiting for us, super friendly maldivian guy! He carried my heavy luggage up to the office and then brough us around Malè. The walking tour in Malè increased our overall experience of maldives and I highly suggest it to everyone. Then we had the trip to Dighurah and the Whale Shark tour which was amazing! One afternoon we got the tour on the island by a local young guy, very interesting. We loved our stay! Digurah is such a nice island and is long enough to allow trekking! after this tour we went for some days to a resort, but going back in time I would have made my full vacation in the local island!
We loved it!
LinaEE,
Jul 14, 2019
- Tripadvisor
5.00We went on this tour and were absolutely not disappointed. The snorkeling trips were stunning. We saw eels, plenty of colorful fish, turtles, manta rays and dolphins! The sand bank was breath taking with white sand. The water was clear as crystal. We saw a peace of heaven for a reasonable price. This trip was worth every penny and my husband and I will be coming back! By the way, our tour guide, Marsh, was a sweetheart and the best guide we’ve ever had! He went above and beyond to help us out with everything!!!! E.g when we found out our luggage had missed the plane, he organized everything to get our luggage back. Marsh, thank you for everything. We had a great time with you and the tour! You guys made my husband‘s 40th birthday unforgettable! Cheers Minh und Lina
Honeymoon in Maldives
CarlG1246,
Jul 6, 2019
- Tripadvisor
5.00A very wonderful experience in Maldives... we are currently here.. in one of the local islands in Dhigurah. We have a private guide Ub from Secret Paradise with us who is making our dream come true.. leading us to the best places and activities around the island, giving us tips and help whenever we need. He even takes pictures of us and is really nice to be with. Those of you who would like to come to a local island, be not afraid ..since you find serenity and friendly people. You also find anything you need with well equipped guesthouses and food for international cultures (not just traditional food). Thumbs up Ub !!
Worth Every Penny
KenishaC3,
Dec 27, 2018
- Tripadvisor
5.00I reached out to Ruth (Secret Paradise Maldives) a week before my trip to the Maldives. This trip was a last minute decision to swing by the Maldives after attending a wedding in Mumbai, India. The Maldives was very last minute trip and I wanted to make the best out of the short time there. Ruth responded right away via email, via phone, and also via Facebook! We had several exchanges before Ruth came up with an itinerary that included everything I’d asked for. Fast forward to the actually trip and both Ruth and my travel companion greeted me at the airport. Everything went as planned and my travel companion Kamey was able to further customize my experience on the go if I was too tired to complete all the activities. It was well worth every penny. I had a peace and was able to go on auto pilot knowing that my travel companion, Kamey, would ensure we covered the full itinerary. Kamey knows everything about everything. His wealth of knowledge is far beyond any guide I’ve interacted with. Kamey was able to tell me how my body works when swimming leading me to snorkel without a life vest for hours! There were many firsts on this trip including the night fishing where I got to eat my catch. I couldn’t imagine a better trip to the Maldives. Thank you Secret Paradise.
Solo Trip in Maldives
natalial411,
Dec 3, 2018
- Tripadvisor
5.00Unforgettable experience, Since I was looking what to do , secret paradise agent , answer all my questions by Fb , they recommend me the best about what I was looking for , they send me different offers and at the end I chose Mafushi island , the hotel has the best view just in front of bikini beach , they give me best attention since I arrive to the airport in Male until I finished my trip . They always answered my messages on time . I did many activity’s and I hangout with locals , I swim with sharks , I made new friends . Service , food , hospitality.. all Good even that I travel on a budget . Thanks to secret paradise !!
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Operated by Secret Paradise Maldives