All resorts
offer excursion programmes, often a weekly program in which a range of
different excursions are organized once a week, and the more popular
ones, twice. However, in almost all the resorts, these are subject to
weather conditions and a minimum level of participation by the guests.
What is offered in the program
often depends on what is accessible from the resort. While resorts in
Male' Atoll may offer regular Male' excursions, resorts in other atolls
organize these on request only. If there are many fishing villages in
the vicinity, they are included in the excursion program. A more
exciting option could be to simply hire a ‘dhoni' or speedboat with crew
or for that matter request for a seaplane and organize your own
excursion with a guide.
Island Hoping
Most resorts
feature island hopping in their programs. This involves a full or
half-day trip to a number of islands, the variety of which depending on
what is available close by. Often, these combine visits to a fishing
village or two and an uninhabited island, where you get an opportunity
to snorkel or swim or simply laze on the beach. Often a barbecue lunch
is served on the beach. The trip is rounded off with a visit to a
resort. In addition to this, there are specific excursions to
uninhabited islands, fishing villages and resorts. Some excursions are
unique; a day and night alone on a private island, or a two-day cruise
for two on a luxury live-aboard are just a few of the possibilities at
some of the resorts.
Aerial Excursions
Aerial
excursions are organized by seaplane operators. You may request to
participate in one organized by your resort. You could also contact the
seaplane operator directly to participate in one of their excursions or
even to organize one of your own. A full day aerial excursion could be
arranged to visit islands far from each other, to combine a variety of
islands.
Aerial
excursions could also take you to famous dive sites far away from your
resort. On these fly & dive excursions, all flights are conducted at
low altitude as a precaution for divers. Many feel that the best of the
Maldives is seen from the air and underwater. A fly & dive
excursion would give you the best of both worlds. For a fly & dive
excursion you may rent dive equipment yourself from the resort or let
the seaplane operator arrange it for you. Taking part in a photo flight
is one way of creating some indelible memories and getting some
incredible shots of the reefs and islands of the Maldives . Excursions
or photo flights start either from the airport or your resort island.