Mantas, Dolphins & Coral Reefs - A Maldives Cruise

Tour Code: MDV01

A 10-day holiday, including a 7-night cetacean-watching cruise through the warm, turquoise waters surrounding the Maldives.

10 days from
£6,495
Land only price from
£5,795
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

The Maldives comprise nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean that are world famous for their warm turquoise waters, coral reefs and white-sand beaches. Our holiday begins with a flight to the capital, Malé followed by a night on a nearby island. We then board our home for the next seven/eight nights, the MV Keana, and head out to explore the multitude of atolls and and islands. Each night we will anchor in a sheltered lagoon, and we will start each day with a chance to snorkel on the reef, keeping our itinerary deliberately flexible. Typically on a week-long cruise we could see as many as 12 species of cetacean and some 200 species of fish, as well as some interesting birds such as White-tailed Tropicbird and Lesser Frigatebird.

  • Exclusively chartered small ship cruise (max 16) focusing solely on searching for dolphins and whales, plus daily snorkelling
  • Led by marine biologist Dr Chas Anderson & a Naturetrek naturalist
  • Up to a dozen species of dolphin & whale possible
  • Chance to snorkel with Manta Rays
  • Species may include rarely seen Dwarf Sperm Whale & Longman’s Beaked Whale
  • Snorkel over some of the world’s most stunning coral reefs
  • Chance of encountering Whale Shark
  • Escape the northern winter to a tropical island paradise
  • Pre-cruise night on a beautiful resort island

Grading

Grade A. All island walks and snorkelling excursions are optional.

Far out in the Indian Ocean, nearly 600 kilometres to the south-west of India, lie the beautiful coral atolls of the Maldives. These really are the desert islands of our dreams — warm turquoise waters lapping against white sandy beaches edged with gently swaying palm trees! Many of the 1,192 islands that make up the archipelago (only 300 are inhabited) are also ringed by pristine coral reefs, famed for their marine-life which attracts divers and snorkellers from around the world. For many people these exquisite islands and encircling coral reefs require little introduction, but the waters surrounding the Maldives hold a less widely known, but equally exciting natural attraction, cetaceans. Over the past few years, 18 species of whale and dolphin have been recorded in these waters. Spinner, Bottlenose and Risso’s Dolphins are all common, as are Short-finned Pilot Whales, Sperm and Dwarf Sperm Whales. Even the Blue Whale, the largest animal thought to have ever inhabited the Earth, is seen regularly; and in recent years there have been increasing sightings of several of the beaked whale species, that group of rarely observed, deep ocean cetaceans that we still know very little about.

With such an abundance of marine-life on offer, the best way to explore this archipelago is by boat. We have therefore taken the exclusive charter of MV Keana — a comfortable cruise vessel that accommodates just 16 guests in en suite, air-conditioned cabins — for this voyage. This will be our home for seven nights as we explore the many bays, atolls and reefs in search of cetaceans, huge Manta Rays, graceful White-tailed Tropicbirds and an abundance of other marine-life.

Our holiday begins with a flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives. After a night to enjoy our first taste of this tropical paradise, we will board the MV Keana and head out to explore the multitude of islands and atolls that dot these turquoise seas. Our exact itinerary will be kept flexible and in the hands of our guide, Dr. Chas Anderson, a professional marine biologist who has lived and worked in the Maldives since 1983. Each night we will anchor in a sheltered lagoon within one of the many atolls and start each day with the opportunity to snorkel on the reef. We will then head out to sea in search of cetaceans and other wildlife, returning to shelter once again in the evening, to snorkel, eat and sleep.

The great attraction of whale and dolphinwatching in the Maldives is the diversity of species that can be seen here. Past Naturetrek groups have seen as many as a dozen species, the calm clear waters often allowing unrivalled views. Large pods of Spinner Dolphins are a common sight leaping out of the water and twirling in the air as their name suggests. Risso’s and Striped Dolphins are also regularly seen, together with Cuvier’s Beaked Whale and Short-finned Pilot Whale. Dwarf Sperm Whale, the smallest ‘whale’, is common in the Maldives, but rarely seen elsewhere. Indeed, this cruise probably offers the best opportunity to see this elusive species anywhere in the world! Other species to look out for include Bryde’s and Sperm Whales, pods of False Killer Whales and a few rarities such as Rough-toothed Dolphin and Blainville’s Beaked Whale. For the very fortunate there is the ultimate goal of a Longman’s Beaked Whale, one of the rarest species in the world, but one that Dr. Anderson has seen, and photographed, several times in these waters!

Birdlife on the Maldives is not prolific, but there are some interesting and beautiful species to look out for. The graceful White-tailed Tropicbird is likely, along with Audubon’s Shearwaters and the menacing outlines of Lesser Frigatebirds. Of all the bird families, however, it is the terns that dominate here and we could see 10 or so species including Saunder’s Little Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Black-naped Tern and Lesser Noddy.

The Maldives are rightly famous for their sea-life and, in addition to the cetaceans, our cruise will introduce you to a wealth of marine creatures from the diminutive clown fish to the mighty Manta. Over 1,000 species of fish have been recorded here and you can expect to see over 200 of these whilst snorkelling. Hawksbill and Green Turtles are another treat to look out for on the reefs, whilst flying fish are abundant in the open water and regularly flushed into the air as we cruise from one atoll to the next. Even a Whale Shark or two is possible! There will also be the opportunity to snorkel with Manta Rays, one of the ultimate marine experiences. The sight of one, or more, of these magnificent creatures (which have a wingspan of over two metres) effortlessly gliding past beneath will not only fill your thoughts on the long journey home but be sure to remain in the memory for life.

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London
Day 2
Malé
Day 3/9
Maldives cruise
Day 10
Fly London
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    For this voyage we have exclusively chartered the MV Keana. Cabins are air-conditioned and en suite. For additional information, and details of the different cabin types available, please refer to the tour itinerary. In Malé we use a comfortable tourist resort on one of the palm-fringed islands near the airport.

  • Food:

    All meals are included in the price, except for lunch and dinner in Malé.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 1st Feb – Tue 10th Feb 6 £6,495
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Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,795
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Female sharing available
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Sara Frost
Sara-sailing-to-St-Kilda-headshot.jpg

Tour Leader: Sara Frost

Sara works full time in Naturetrek's busy office as the Website and Marketing Manager. However, by training, she is a Zoologist, graduating from Newcastle University where she was also the president of the university's Zoological Society. Prior to working at Naturetrek she lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, as a wildlife rehabilitator caring for Black Bears, Coyotes, River Otters and Raccoons on a daily basis. When she wasn't providing medical care to injured wildlife she could be found hiking in the mountains, photographing wildlife, howling with wolves and avoiding bears (usually successfully). On her return to the UK she moved to the Scottish Hebrides, where she spent three years working at sea as a wildlife guide, finding Minke Whales, Otters, dolphins and eagles for her guests on a daily basis! She also spent her summers as the Senior Wildlife Officer on a ship in the North Sea, collecting sightings data on whales and dolphins, and delivering marine biology lectures to guests.

Always keen to be involved with media, Sara has presented on both live radio and TV, has had her writing and photos published in multiple wildlife and travel magazines and has worked as a guide for Ray Mears and TV film crews for several natural history documentaries. A keen cetacean spotter, Sara specialises in leading Naturetrek's cruises in the Hebrides, Indonesia, the Maldives, Baja California and Arctic, as well as our holidays in the Azores. 

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!