The warm tropical waters of the Maldives support an extraordinary diversity of marine life and provide some of the very best whale and dolphin watching on the planet. This special 10 night cruise explores the little-visited waters of the remote southern atolls using a simple but comfortable safari boat.
Cruises are timed to coincide with migrating cetaceans and are accompanied by Dr Charles Anderson, a professional marine biologist who has lived and worked in the Maldives since 1983. Typically there will be around 50 separate sightings of cetaceans – from one large whale to a school of over 200 dolphins – and up to 10 different species should be seen. Although marine life is the focus of the cruise, the schedule is flexible and leisurely and there will be plenty of time to snorkel, birdwatch and visit uninhabited islands.
Trip Highlights
- The Maldives also has an international reputation for its rare and elusive beaked whales
- Dolphins are regularly seen in their hundreds with sightings normally at close range
- A pioneering professional marine biologist, the cruise is led by Dr Charles Anderson
- There is an plethora of marine life to see including reef fish, manta ray and whale sharks
- If lucky, hawksbill, green and olive ridley turtles will be spotted out in the open ocean
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today depart the UK on the Emirates flight to Dubai.
Day 2
Arrive Male / Begin Maldives Explorer Cruise
Arrive into Dubai and connect onto the Emirates flight to Male. On arrival you will be met and taken to board the MV Keana Safari Boat for the 10 night Maldives Explorer Cruise of the Southern Atolls. Depart after midday and in the evening anchor in a sheltered atoll where the vessel will spend the night. Time permitting it may be possible to include some snorkelling or an island visit and hopefully, at some point today, our first cetacean sightings will be made. Later there will be an orientation talk to explain about the cruise and the marine and bird life that will be encountered.
Expedition Leader
All trips will be led by Dr Charles Anderson, a professional marine biologist who has lived and worked in the Maldives since 1983. He is the foremost authority on both cetaceans and fishes in the Maldives and the pioneer of whale and dolphin watching in the region. In addition to numerous scientific papers, he has published six guides to the marine life of the islands. Dr Anderson will present a series of evening slide shows on marine life during the course of each trip and on some cruises he may be assisted by his wife Susan Anderson who is a qualified nurse as well as an experienced and enthusiastic whale spotter.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Day 3-5
Maldives Explorer Cruise
Over the next three days cruise towards the remote southern Thaa Atoll whilst searching for dolphins, whales and seabirds. The Maldives is blessed with an extraordinary diversity of whale and dolphin species and it is not uncommon to see upwards of 10 different types of cetaceans on the cruise. Many of these species, such as the dwarf sperm whale, are exceptionally rare outside of the Maldives and, since many other species bowride, it will be possible to view them at a close range. No wild animal viewings can be guaranteed but there is an excellent chance of multiple sightings every day. Each night anchor in the lagoon of an atoll where there will be a chance to snorkel or make an island visit.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Day 6-8
Maldives Explorer Cruise
Arriving in the isolated southern atolls, there will be three full days devoted to cetacean watching, swimming, island visits and snorkelling the pristine coral reefs. Fish life is abundant and over 200 different fish species can be seen. It is almost guaranteed that flying fish will be seen whilst cruising the atolls and, if lucky, manta rays and whale sharks may also be spotted, as well as three species of turtle including hawksbill and green turtles in the atolls and olive ridleys out in the open ocean.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Day 9-10
Maldives Explorer Cruise
Leaving the southern atolls, over the next two days the MV Keana will cruise slowly back towards Male all the time looking out for dolphins, whales and manta rays. Although sightings of marine life are the undoubted aim of this cruise, there will also be an opportunity for birdwatching – especially seabirds of which over 40 species have been recorded, and at some point there may be the chance to chum for Storm-petrels and Shearwaters.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Day 11
Maldives Explorer Cruise
Enjoy one further full day of dolphin watching in Male Atoll before anchoring close to Male and the international airport. There will be a farewell dinner for the last night on board.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Day 12
Male to the UK
After breakfast you will be taken to Male Airport in good time to catch the Emirates flight to Dubai. On arrival connect onto the Emirates flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Cruise Schedule
The Whale and Dolphin Company run a limited number cruises ranging from of 9 to 17 nights. These are operated using the MV Keana which is 30m long and has a fully professional crew, experienced captain and full-time cook. The MV Keana has eight guest cabins and can accommodate 16 guests.
Forthcoming cruise dates are as follows:
8 to 19 November 2026 - Maldives southern atolls (11 nights)
5 to 22 April 2027 - Maldives northern atolls cetacean survey (17 nights)
21 October to 3 November 2027 - Maldives southern atolls (13 nights)
The routing detailed on our website is for a 10 night cruise. This should be seen as an indicative itinerary since the routing is dependent on the location of the cruise as well as the seasonal movements of cetaceans. Please contact us for full details and further information on each of the different lengths of cruise available.
Guide to Price
12 days from £4995 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Cruise accommodation and sightseeing with other passengers
- Services of a naturalist
- Airport transfers to the MV Keana
- All meals, teas and coffee onboard the MV Keana
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £4995
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways currently fly non-stop from London to the Maldives. There are a range of alternative airlines which include Emirates, SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airlines connecting in Dubai, Colombo or Doha.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from London to the Maldives take approximately 10 hours. Flights with stops en-route take from 12 to 15 hours.
Time Zone
The Maldives are +5 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
British nationals can obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in the Maldives.
Do’s & Don’ts
Alcohol is available only on the resort's islands but is prohibited elsewhere. It is advisable not to buy any on the flight or at the duty free shops en route to the Maldives as it will be confiscated on arrival at customs.
The use, possession or distribution of vaping products is prohibited. If found with a vaping device, it will be confiscated.
If you need regular medication a valid medical prescription, issued by your registered medical practitioner, is required. Without one you may not be able to take the medication through customs.
Dress standards are generally informal but tourists should be sensitive to local dress requirements when visiting non-resort areas. A degree of modesty while sunbathing is required even on resort islands.
Money
The Maldives' currency is the rufiyaa, which is made up of 100 larees. Notes are available in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or 500, although the two and five-rufiyaa notes are rare. Coins are in denominations of one and two rufiyaa and 10, 25 and 50 larees. However, many visitors to the resorts will never see rufiyaa with US dollars commonly used and accepted everywhere. Cash and credit cards are accepted and, unless otherwise specified, US dollars are preferred. Some resorts which are popular among European visitors will also accept Euros.
Tipping
There are no clearly-defined rules to tipping in the Maldives. A service tax of 10-12.5% is added to almost everything, from minibar drinks to snorkelling trips. In many places, this means there is no need to tip additionally but, in some cases, the people serving you personally will expect a tip. Leave a tip for room staff including the butler if there is one. Acceptable currencies for tips are US dollars, local currency and Euros. It is not usually necessary to tip bar staff or waiters as the tip is added to your bill.
Food & Drink
The resorts in the Maldives usually offer a wide variety of international cuisine. Locally, fish is common and the most popular is tuna, including skipjack, tunny, yellowfin and frigate. All is caught locally and prepared in several ways including boiled, sun-dried or smoked. Tuna is also used as a filling. Another popular local delicacy is garudiya, a traditional fish soup, often with chillies, onions and curry flavourings. It is served with rice, onion, lemon and chilli. Coconuts are also used in many recipes – in particular for desserts – and rice too is popular either boiled or ground into flour. A flat bread called roshi, like an Indian chapatti, generally accompanies meals.
Accommodation
There is a huge range of accommodation to choose from in the Maldives from exclusive island retreats offering barefoot luxury to larger more family-friendly resorts. As each hotel is a self-contained island resort they all have their own restaurants and bar and, depending on the specific property, spa and water sport facilities too. The Anantara Dhigu Resort is a fantastic option if you wish to travel with your family, Baros Island Resort is perfect for those seeking intimate luxury whilst the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa is consistently known to be one of the best five-star options and is a short speedboat ride Male Airport.
Shopping
Shopping on the Maldives is limited as the majority of visitors spend most of their time on the resort islands. Local gifts at the hotel can be bought and if visiting the main island of Male local jewellery and fabrics may be found.
Suggested Reading
The Footprint and Rough Guide offer a good general introduction to the Maldives. Some other suggestions include: ‘Maldives: The Very Best Of’ by Michael Friedel ‘A Brief Guide to the Maldives’ by Adrian Neville ‘Maldives’ by Stefania Lamberti ‘Maldives, God's Masterpiece on Earth’ by BK Adhitya
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on the Maldives the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Looking for something more bespoke?
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
Thank you for an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday
SC & DC - Maldives - April 2023
Just wanted to say thank you for such an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday experience. We made some fantastic family memories...and it was exactly what I wanted and needed.
Thank you so much...for the time and effort that you spent on getting this right for me and dealing will all my questions and emails.
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