Floating Around the Maldives — Self-Launched

Arrive at Velana International Airport (MLE) before 9am. Clear immigration (Maldives grants visa-on-arrival free to most nationalities — check yours in advance). Head to the public ferry terminal at the nearby Malé ferry jetty. Book a half-day snorkelling trip independently via GetYourGuide or direct with a local operator at the marina — these typically depart around 10–10:30am and visit the same South Malé reef systems used by commercial tours, including turtle and reef shark spots. Expect to pay around £25–35pp. After snorkelling, take an afternoon public ferry to Maafushi (45–60 min, ~£1.50) — the most popular budget island in South Malé Atoll, with a great strip of guesthouses, bikini beach, and water sports. Check into your guesthouse, grab dinner, and watch the sunset from the beach.

🚌Public ferry from Malé to Maafushi — departs Malé Public Ferry Terminal, ~£1.50pp. Timetables at maldivesferry.mv

🛏Budget guesthouse on Maafushi (e.g. Kaani Beach Hotel, Maafushi Inn, or similar) — ~£25–35pp per night for a shared/twin room with AC and breakfast

• →Half-day snorkelling trip from Malé marina (book via GetYourGuide or direct at the jetty, ~£25–35pp)
• →Public ferry from Malé to Maafushi (~£1.50, 45–60 min)
• →Bikini beach swim and sunset at Maafushi

Spend the morning snorkelling directly off Maafushi's house reef — one of the best free snorkel spots in the atoll, accessible without a boat trip. Rent snorkel gear from your guesthouse or a local dive shop (~£5–8/day). In the afternoon, explore the island on foot (it's tiny — walkable in 20 minutes), browse the local cafés and shops, and consider booking a sandbank excursion or sunset fishing trip for the evening through your guesthouse (~£15–20pp). Most guesthouses on Maafushi can arrange snorkelling day trips, dolphin cruises, and island-hopping for competitive rates. Eat at a local café — tuna curry, mas riha, and short eats (hedhika) are cheap and delicious.

🚌On foot / no transport needed

🛏Same guesthouse on Maafushi (~£25–35pp)

• →Free snorkelling at Maafushi house reef (rent gear ~£5–8/day)
• →Walk the full island loop and explore local streets
• →Sunset sandbank or fishing trip via guesthouse (~£15–20pp)
• →Dinner at a local café — try mas riha (tuna curry) and hedhika short eats

Take the public ferry from Maafushi toward Felidhu Atoll. Fulidhoo is a small, charming fishing island in Felidhu Atoll and one of the highlights of any Maldives trip — the same island visited on the Gap360 tour. The journey involves either a direct public ferry (check the weekly government ferry schedule at maldivesferry.mv, ~£3–5pp) or a speedboat transfer (~£20–30pp). Fulidhoo is famous for its Bodu Beru (big drum) performances — check with the local council or your guesthouse about evening cultural shows, which are often open to visitors. Spend the afternoon walking the narrow coral-sand streets, visiting the local community, and watching fishermen bring in their catch. Dinner is best taken at a local guesthouse — fresh grilled fish is the staple.

🚌Government public ferry from Maafushi/Malé to Fulidhoo (~£3–5pp, check weekly schedule) or shared speedboat (~£20–30pp)

🛏Small guesthouse on Fulidhoo (limited options — book ahead; e.g. Fulidhoo View or similar, ~£20–30pp)

• →Public ferry or speedboat transfer to Fulidhoo (~£5–30pp depending on service)
• →Explore Fulidhoo's fishing village on foot
• →Watch traditional Bodu Beru drum and dance performance (check with local guesthouse or island council for evening shows)
• →Swim and snorkel off Fulidhoo beach

Take a short boat ride or inter-island ferry to Felidhu Island, the administrative capital of Felidhu Atoll. This is a larger, more populated island that still feels completely unspoilt. Wander the quaint streets, visit the local market, and keep an eye out for traditional dhoni boat builders — Felidhu is one of the last places in the Maldives where you can watch skilled craftsmen building wooden dhonis by hand. Pick up a small souvenir (woven palm crafts, lacquerware). Grab lunch at a local café and spend the afternoon snorkelling or relaxing on the beach. Arrange a snorkelling trip to nearby reef sites through your guesthouse (~£20–25pp).

🚌Local island-hopping boat or shared speedboat between Fulidhoo and Felidhu (~£5–15pp)

🛏Guesthouse on Felidhu Island (~£20–30pp) or return to Fulidhoo guesthouse

• →Inter-island transfer to Felidhu Island (~£5–15pp by local boat)
• →Walk the village streets and visit the local market
• →Watch traditional dhoni boat builders at work
• →Buy locally made souvenirs — lacquerware and woven palm crafts
• →Guided snorkelling trip to Felidhu Atoll reef sites (~£20–25pp)

Arrange a day trip through your guesthouse to Bodu Mora — a postcard-perfect uninhabited island with powder-white sand and sapphire water, ideal for photos and swimming. Most guesthouses in Felidhu Atoll offer day trips to uninhabited sandbanks and picnic islands for around £20–35pp including boat transfer and sometimes a BBQ lunch. Spend the day swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing on the deserted beach — this is the Robinson Crusoe moment the commercial tour promises. In the spirit of the Gap360 trip, organise a voluntary beach clean with fellow travellers or your guesthouse — many local operators actively support this. Return to your island base in the late afternoon.

🚌Private day-trip boat arranged through guesthouse (~included in day trip cost)

🛏Guesthouse on Felidhu Island or Fulidhoo (~£20–30pp)

• →Full-day boat trip to Bodu Mora uninhabited island (~£20–35pp via guesthouse)
• →Swimming and snorkelling in crystal-clear waters
• →Picnic or BBQ lunch on the beach
• →Voluntary beach clean (ask your guesthouse to help organise)
• →Sunset from the beach

Dedicate your penultimate full day to the best snorkelling Felidhu Atoll has to offer. Book a dedicated snorkelling tour through your guesthouse or a local dive centre — Felidhu Atoll is internationally renowned for its pristine reefs, with strong chances of seeing green turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, and octopus. A half-day snorkelling excursion typically costs £25–35pp and visits 2–3 different reef sites. In the afternoon, relax on the beach, pack your bags, and enjoy a final sunset dinner at your guesthouse. Freshly grilled tuna with coconut rice is the quintessential Maldivian send-off meal.

🚌Boat included in snorkelling excursion

🛏Guesthouse on Felidhu Island or Fulidhoo (~£20–30pp)

• →Half-day multi-site snorkelling excursion (~£25–35pp via local dive centre or guesthouse)
• →Snorkel with turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, and tropical fish
• →Afternoon beach relaxation
• →Final sunset dinner — grilled tuna and coconut rice at a local guesthouse

Check out of your guesthouse and arrange a speedboat or public ferry back to Malé. Speedboats from Felidhu Atoll to Malé take approximately 1.5–2 hours and cost around £25–40pp — book through your guesthouse the day before. Public ferries are cheaper (~£5–8pp) but take longer and run on limited schedules, so check timings carefully. Aim to arrive in Malé by mid-morning if your flight is in the afternoon (the original tour recommends no earlier than 1pm departure). If you have time, grab a coffee and a bite to eat in Malé before heading to Velana International Airport. The airport is a 10-minute speedboat ride from the Malé ferry terminal (~£4 public ferry or £12 taxi speedboat).

🚌Speedboat from Felidhu Atoll to Malé (~£25–40pp, 1.5–2 hrs) or public ferry (~£5–8pp). Airport ferry from Malé jetty (~£4pp public / £12pp speedboat taxi)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Check out and arrange speedboat or ferry back to Malé (~£5–40pp depending on service)
• →Optional: explore Malé fish market and old Friday Mosque if time allows
• →Transfer to Velana International Airport (public ferry ~£4 or speedboat taxi ~£12)