Maldives Group Trip: 1st- 9th Nov 2026
Irish on the Run · Group Expedition
Maldives
Island Hopping
2026
Nine days across two of the Maldives’ most extraordinary local islands — nurse sharks, manta rays, private sandbanks, a sunset bonfire at sea, and an award-winning eco boutique hotel. $2,999 USD per person — 14 spots only.
Nov 1 – 5 · Nights 1–4
Dhiffushi
Stone Hotel · 4 nights
Nov 5 – 9 · Nights 5–8
Thinadhoo
Ecoboo Hotel · 4 nights
Two islands.
Eight nights.
A lifetime of memories.
This isn’t a resort holiday where you’re handed a wristband and left to the buffet. This is a real Maldives experience — staying on authentic local islands, waking up in a boutique award-winning eco hotel, and getting into the ocean every single day with encounters that most people only see in documentaries.
We begin four nights on Dhiffushi at the Stone Hotel — manta ray snorkelling, a full day at a 5-star resort, and a farewell beach BBQ dinner to send us off in style. Then we island-hop to Thinadhoo and Ecoboo Hotel — the Maldives’ Most Sustainable Small Hotel (EU PROMISE Programme), a stunning bamboo-architecture boutique property right on the beach — for our final four nights, with nurse sharks, stingrays and a sunset bonfire at sea.
Small group. Curated experiences. Zero stress. Just add you.
Two islands,
one adventure
Dhiffushi
Stone Hotel · 4 nights
The first chapter of your adventure. Dhiffushi is a picture-perfect Maldivian island famed for its long white-sand beach and laid-back energy. Stay at the stylish Stone Hotel with its iconic rooftop bar overlooking the lagoon. From here, swim with manta rays, spend a full day at a 5-star resort and send off this first island with the most epic sunset BBQ of your life.
- Stone Hotel with rooftop sunset bar
- Famous white-sand beach
- Manta ray snorkelling expeditions
- Base for the 5-star resort day
- Farewell beach BBQ dinner
Thinadhoo
Ecoboo Hotel · 4 nights · Vaavu Atoll
Thinadhoo is one of the Maldives’ most authentic and untouched gems — surrounded by coconut palms, white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Ecoboo Hotel is a boutique 43-room property built using a beautiful bamboo-based architectural concept, awarded Most Sustainable Small Hotel in the Maldives under the EU PROMISE Programme. Your base for nurse sharks, stingrays, the iconic Bodumohora full-day tour and a sunset bonfire ceremony at sea.
- Award-winning eco boutique hotel, beachfront
- 43 bamboo-architecture rooms — sustainable & stunning
- Free paddle boards & kayaks
- Private yoga & activity areas
- Sunset boat trips & Ecoboo Cruise access
- Authentic Maldivian local island life
Your full
9-day itinerary
Every day has been thoughtfully designed to balance extraordinary ocean adventure with genuine island downtime. No overscheduled tourist checklist — just unforgettable moments, back-to-back, for nine days straight.
Welcome to the Maldives
Touch down at Velana International Airport in Malé and meet your private speedboat transfer at 10 am to the island of Dhiffushi. Check in to the stylish Stone Hotel and take your first swim in that impossibly blue lagoon. Spend the afternoon exploring the island’s famous white-sand beach and snorkelling the surrounding reef at your own pace, then join the group on the Stone Hotel’s iconic rooftop bar for sunset drinks with panoramic lagoon views. This evening, enjoy a welcome drink on arrival before gathering for a private welcome dinner set up for us on the beach — the perfect start to what’s going to be an unforgettable week.
Manta Ray Snorkelling
Today we head out by boat to the best manta ray sites in the area — where these majestic creatures glide gracefully just beneath the surface. Snorkelling with manta rays is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife encounters in the world, and with expert local guides reading the conditions, we’ll find the very best spots. Afternoons are yours to relax by the beach and swim, with dinner included this evening.
Full Day at a 5-Star Resort — All Inclusive
The day everyone’s been looking forward to. Transfer to a stunning 5-star Maldivian resort for a full day experience — and we mean all-inclusive. Food, drinks, cocktails, the pristine resort beach, overwater facilities — all covered. This is your one day to live that classic Maldives resort fantasy, with the added bonus of knowing you’re spending the rest of your trip on a far more authentic adventure.
Dolphin Cruise, Turtles, Sandbank & Beach BBQ Dinner
The best last day on Dhiffushi imaginable. Begin with a dolphin cruise through the open ocean, watching pods of spinner dolphins leap and play around the boat. Then snorkel with sea turtles gliding over vibrant coral gardens before being dropped at a remote sandbank with fresh tropical fruit and snacks — nothing but white sand and ocean in every direction. As the sun sets, gather on the beach for a farewell BBQ dinner under the stars before tomorrow’s island transfer.
Hello Thinadhoo — Ecoboo Hotel
Time to island-hop. Transfer from Dhiffushi to the island of Thinadhoo in Vaavu Atoll and settle into the beautiful Ecoboo Hotel — the Maldives’ Most Sustainable Small Hotel (EU PROMISE Programme), a stunning bamboo-architecture boutique property right on the beach. Spend the afternoon exploring the island and snorkelling the surrounding reef at your own pace, with dinner included tonight as you settle into your home for the next four nights.
Bodumohora & Private Island BBQ
Board the boat and head out to the breathtaking Bodumohora — a sandbank surrounded by one of Vaavu Atoll’s most spectacular lagoons. Snorkel the reef, explore the shallow turquoise waters and then settle in for a fresh BBQ lunch on your own private uninhabited island. Afternoons are yours to relax, swim and soak it all in back on Thinadhoo — dinner is included back at the hotel this evening.
Island Life, Dive Day & Sunset Bonfire at Sea
Your free day on Thinadhoo — and it couldn’t be more perfect. Spend the morning on the water with complimentary paddle boards and kayaks included for all guests. For those who want more, an optional scuba diving excursion is available (at your own cost) — Vaavu Atoll’s dive sites are world-class. In the evening, the night comes alive with something truly special: a sunset bonfire ceremony aboard the Ecoboo Cruise liveaboard, anchored at a private sandbank. Think open ocean, fire at dusk, and the Maldives sky above you. Drinks are available at your own cost. Dinner is included back at the hotel to round out the evening.
Nurse Sharks & Stingray Snorkelling
Rise early and get in the water. This morning’s guided snorkel expedition takes you to Vaavu Atoll’s most incredible marine sites — gliding alongside friendly nurse sharks in their natural habitat and swimming above graceful stingrays in crystal clear shallows. These are the encounters that make the Maldives legendary, and you’re doing them with expert local guides by your side. Dinner is included this evening before tomorrow’s departure.
Last Morning & Airport Farewell
Savour your final Maldivian morning — one last breakfast, one last dip in the lagoon, one last look at the turquoise horizon. Then it’s time for your speedboat transfer back to Velana International Airport in Malé. Exchange numbers with your new favourite people, and start planning when you’re coming back.
Inclusions &
exclusions
What’s included
- ✓ 8 nights accommodation — 4 nights Stone Hotel (Dhiffushi) + 4 nights Ecoboo Hotel (Thinadhoo)
- ✓ Breakfast & dinner daily throughout all 8 nights
- ✓ Welcome drink on arrival at Stone Hotel
- ✓ Private beach welcome dinner setup — Day 1
- ✓ Private snorkelling tour — Swim with Nurse Sharks, Stingrays & Sandbank (Day 8)
- ✓ Private Dhoani full-day tour with lunch at Bodumohora (Day 6)
- ✓ Private floating breakfast setup on the beach — Ecoboo
- ✓ Sunset bonfire ceremony — Ecoboo Cruise liveaboard + sandbank
- ✓ Private sunset onboard Ecoboo Cruise
- ✓ Snorkelling sets included during all tours
- ✓ Free paddle boards & kayaks (Thinadhoo)
- ✓ Private areas for yoga and group activities
- ✓ Rooftop sunset drinks — Stone Hotel, Dhiffushi (Day 1)
- ✓ Manta ray snorkelling expedition — Dhiffushi (Day 2)
- ✓ Full day at 5-star resort, all food & alcohol included (Day 3)
- ✓ Dolphin cruise + turtle & coral snorkel + sandbank with fresh fruit & snacks (Day 4)
- ✓ Farewell beach BBQ dinner (Day 4)
- ✓ Private speedboat transfers to/from Velana International Airport
- ✓ Inter-island speedboat transfer (Dhiffushi → Thinadhoo)
- ✓ Expert local guides throughout all marine activities
- ✓ All taxes included — VAT (17%), Service Tax (10%) & Green Tax
- ✓ Free Wi-Fi (10GB per room)
- ✓ All non-alcoholic beverages during meals & excursions
Not included
- ○ International flights to/from Maldives
- ○ Travel insurance — mandatory, must be arranged before travel
- ○ Maldives visa (free on arrival for most nationalities)
- ○ Soft drinks, mocktails & alcohol at Ecoboo Hotel and Ecoboo Cruise (available at own cost)
- ○ À la carte menu items outside included meals
- ○ Spa treatments
- ○ Water sports (beyond included paddle boards & kayaks)
- ○ Optional scuba diving (Day 7)
- ○ Souvenirs & personal shopping
- ○ Gratuities for guides and hotel staff
- ○ Lunches throughout (except the Bodumohora BBQ lunch on Day 6, resort day on Day 3 & sandbank fruit/snacks on Day 4)
- ○ Any additional optional activities
💡 Spending money tip: Budget for 6 lunches throughout and one dinner (except the Bodumohora BBQ lunch on Day 6 and the full day at the resort), any alcohol outside included events, souvenirs and guide gratuities. USD cash and Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted on local islands.
Choose your
room type
Twin Share
per person · USD · twin beds
- ✦ Twin room shared with another guest
- ✦ Both Ecoboo Hotel & Stone Hotel
- ✦ All inclusions as listed
- ✦ Best value option
- ✦ Perfect for solo travellers or friends
Double Room
per person · USD · double bed
- ✦ Double room shared with your travel partner
- ✦ Both Ecoboo Hotel & Stone Hotel
- ✦ All inclusions as listed
- ✦ Ideal for couples or friends travelling together
- ✦ Ensuite bathroom at both properties
Single Supplement
per person · USD · sole occupancy
- ✦ $2,999 base + $800 single supplement
- ✦ Your own private double ensuite room at both hotels
- ✦ All inclusions as listed
- ✦ Perfect for solo travellers wanting privacy
- ✦ Subject to room availability — enquire early
This trip is capped at 14 guests.
💳 $700 — Deposit due at booking ·
💳 $800 — 1st payment Jun 26 ·
💳 $800 — 2nd payment Aug 28 ·
💳 $499 — Final payment Sept 30
Frequently asked
questions
Is alcohol available on the islands?
The Maldives is a Muslim country, so alcohol is not sold on local islands. However, drinks are available at your own cost during the sunset boat cruise (Day 7). On Day 3, all alcohol is fully included at the 5-star resort — so you won’t go without!
What should I wear on the islands?
On the water and at the beach, your usual swimwear and island attire is perfect. When walking through the local villages, please dress respectfully — cover shoulders and knees. There are designated bikini beach zones on both islands for tourists. Swimwear should be covered when dining at hotel restaurants.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You don’t need to be an Olympic swimmer, but confidence in the ocean is important — the majority of this trip takes place in the water. Basic snorkelling ability is all you need. If you have any specific concerns, reach out before booking and we can chat through the activities in detail.
Is scuba diving experience required?
All marine activities are based on snorkelling, so no diving experience is needed. The optional scuba diving on Day 7 requires at least an Open Water certification. If you’d like to try a discover dive (beginner dive with an instructor), this may also be arranged — ask us for details.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, absolutely. Travel insurance is compulsory for all guests on this trip. Given the ocean-based nature of activities, your policy must cover marine activities, snorkelling and medical evacuation. Please arrange this before your departure date and share your policy details with us.
What’s the best way to get to Malé?
Most guests from Australia fly via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Dubai to Velana International Airport in Malé. We recommend arriving on November 1st in time for your speedboat transfer to Dhiffushi. We’ll share full travel guidance once you’ve booked your spot.
How much extra spending money should I bring?
Budget for lunches on free days, alcohol outside included events, optional activities (like scuba diving), souvenirs and guide gratuities. USD cash is recommended alongside Visa or Mastercard — both are widely accepted on local islands.
What is the payment and deposit structure?
Payments are made across four instalments: $700 deposit at booking · $800 due Jun 26 · $800 due Aug 28 · $499 final payment due Sept 30. Custom payment plans available on request.
What is the cancellation policy?
The $700 deposit is non-refundable. If you need to cancel: 12+ weeks before — deposit only. 8–11 weeks before — 50% non-refundable. 4–7 weeks before — 75% non-refundable. Less than 4 weeks — no refund can be given.
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes — whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or have any other dietary needs, the hotels and restaurants on this trip can accommodate you. Please let me know your requirements in advance when booking so we can make sure everything is arranged before you arrive.
What is the group size?
This is a small group trip — numbers are intentionally capped at 15 guests to keep the experience intimate, personalised and high quality. Once we sell out, we sell out. If you’re keen, don’t leave it too long before enquiring.
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