Manta-ray is floating in bubbles at the cleaning station, S. Ari Atoll, Maldives

Maldives Trips

Name: Maldives
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (19 reviews)

An island nation home to a dizzying array of aquatic life – it’s time to dive in

Trips to Maldives

When you embark on our Maldives trips, a picture-perfect paradise awaits. With cyan seas stretching out to the horizon in every direction, scattered with 1,190 sparkling white-sand islands and coral cays, the Maldives is a haven for those looking to relax and unwind. The resorts here are famously luxurious and will pander to your every need. Aside from snorkelling – which is a magical underworld experience – and gazing at swathes of stars in the night sky, there are few distractions here.

Maldives holidays may be utterly idyllic, but there’s much more to the country than luxury villas and honeymoon hideaways. For marine-life lovers, there’s nowhere better. Awake to the sun rising over the azure Indian ocean and snorkel in areas of stunning beauty to see exciting creatures such as manta rays and whale sharks; green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles; and bottlenose and spinner dolphins. Surrounding the atolls, you’ll also find incredible coral reefs home to diverse wildlife.

There’s no more relaxing place to enjoy a wildlife holiday than on Maldives trips. During the day, stroll along pristine beaches, enjoy a whale shark safari or cruise to the picturesque island of Guraidhoo where you might be lucky enough to spot dolphins frolicking in the ocean. One of the best ways to explore the Maldives is on a gulet, a traditional Turkish yacht, where you can spend evenings gazing up at the starry skies.

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Maldives

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Our travellers rate our Maldives holidays as

4.7 / 5 based on 19 reviews

Maldives Holidays

7 Days from £ 2799

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Amazing marine wildlife including whale sharks and manta rays

Wildlife

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Wildlife highlights of Maldives trips

Turtles:The shallow reefs in the South Malé Atoll create ideal conditions for turtle snorkelling and on our Maldives trips you’ll have the opportunity to swim alongside these amazing creatures. There are five species of turtles in the Maldives with the Hawksbill mostly found swimming along the coral reefs. Its distinctive patterned shell acts as a camouflage to conceal it from larger sea creatures.
Whale sharks:These graceful creatures are found throughout the ocean surrounding the Maldives, however, the region of South Ari Atoll is very fortunate to boast a year-round population of whale sharks. Of course, there’s no guarantee of sightings, but on a whale safari you can expect to see one or two sharks every half hour, and it’s even possible to snorkel beside them. Owing to the perfect conditions, South Ari provides a rich feeding hasbitat for the sharks.
Dolphins:There’s something so magical and spiritual about dolphins that attracts wildlife lovers. These beautiful creatures are often seen leaping through the waters between Malé and Guraidhoo in South Malé Atoll. There are more than 20 species of dolphin inhabiting the archipelago of the Indian Ocean, making the Maldives a popular destination for boat trips. The species that you’re most likely to spot include the spinner, spotted, rough-toothed, striped and Risso’s dolphins.
Tropical fish:Beneath the Indian Ocean surrounding the Maldives lies a kaleidoscopic world of tropical fish. As you dive below the waves, you’ll encounter an underwater realm like no other. The water around the reefs is particularly busy with a vast array of species such as the canary-yellow polka-dot boxfish, the amusingly shaped porcupine fish and schools of black-and-white-striped banner fish.
Manta ray:To optimise your chances of seeing manta rays in the Maldives, head to Madivaru between the months of February and April. This is a protected marine area, and our expert guides use a radio network to improve your chances of spotting the manta rays. If you’re a qualified diver, you’ll also have the opportunity to dive at Madivaru and swim alongside the rays.