Photo: Frédéric Ducarme ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The atolls the resorts never show.
The Maldives from the water are not a resort but a thousand uninhabited islets, sandbanks and channels between atolls where currents bring in manta rays and whale sharks. A catamaran lets you sleep in lagoons the excursion boats never reach and lunch on a sandbank without a footprint. We sail from Malé through North Malé and Rasdhoo to Ari and return via South Malé.
- Mantas and whale sharks off South Ari
- Nights in the lagoons of uninhabited islands
- Hammerheads at dawn off Rasdhoo
- Lunches on sandbanks in the middle of the ocean
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · 15 nautical miles
Malé and boarding
Land at Velana and board the catamaran off Hulhumalé. A short 15 miles into a lagoon in the north of North Malé Atoll and a first snorkel at sunset.
Overnight: Yacht, North Malé lagoon - DAY 2 · 30 nautical miles
Across the channel to Rasdhoo
A 30-mile leg west across the open channel between atolls. Anchor at Rasdhoo, with an evening on the local island among the fishermen.
Overnight: Yacht, Rasdhoo lagoon - DAY 3 · 20 nautical miles
Dawn sharks and Ukulhas
A dawn snorkel on Rasdhoo’s outer reef, where hammerheads cruise below. Then 20 miles south to Ukulhas and a night by a sandbank.
Overnight: Yacht, off Ukulhas - DAY 4 · 30 nautical miles
Down Ari Atoll
Thirty miles south inside the Ari lagoon. Snorkel a ‘thila’, an underwater pinnacle covered in soft coral, and lunch on an uninhabited islet.
Overnight: Yacht, central Ari - DAY 5 · 12 nautical miles
Dhigurah and the whale sharks
A short hop to Dhigurah. Whale sharks stay year-round along South Ari’s outer reef; we look for them from the boat and swim alongside, keeping our distance.
Overnight: Yacht, off Dhigurah - DAY 6 · 40 nautical miles
Across to South Malé
The longest leg: 40 miles east across the channel into South Malé Atoll. Anchor in a lagoon off an uninhabited island and dine on deck by candlelight.
Overnight: Yacht, South Malé - DAY 7 · 15 nautical miles
Guraidhoo and back to Malé
A morning snorkel in Guraidhoo channel with turtles, then 15 miles north to Hulhumalé. Boat return and a farewell dinner in Malé.
Overnight: Yacht, Hulhumalé - DAY 8 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast on board and transfer to Velana airport.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a 40–45 ft catamaran
Skipper and a local deckhand-cook
Full board on board
Velana airport — yacht transfers
Snorkelling kit and a kayak
Cruising permits and local island landing permissions
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty for fuel, water and dinners on local islands
Maldives tourist and green taxes
Drinks
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No experience needed: dry-season winds are light and lagoons are flat. Snorkelling is the main activity, so Ivan asks everyone to bring a well-fitted mask and be confident in the water.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.