One of the true highlights of this year’s Tour was our visit to Fuvahmulah. The first time we have stayed on an inhabited island and explored the modern live of the Maldivian islander.
Our itinerary worked exceptionally well and we felt we really had a chance to experience the lion share of the island in a reasonable compact period of time:
DAY 1 –
- Afternoon: Fly from Male to Fuvahmulah on the 3:05 Maldivian Airways arriving at 4:30
- Evening: Settle into AIG Hotel. Take a dip in the pool, drink some mocktail sundowners watching the sunset over the ocean, rooftop al fresco dinner at the hotel
DAY 2 –
- Morning to Afternoon: 3 dives with Pelagic Divers which includes a Deep Dive (to see pelagics like Thresher Sharks), the famous Tiger Shark dive, and a coral reef dive.
- Evening: Dinner at Eden Café
DAY 3 –
- Morning to Afternoon: 3 dives with Pelagic Divers which includes a Deep Dive (to see pelagics like Thresher Sharks), the famous Tiger Shark dive, and a coral reef dive.
- Evening: Dinner at AIG Hotel.
DAY 4 –
- Morning: Visit to Pebble Beach.
- Afternoon: Seaside lunch at Peebles Restaurant
- Evening: final visits around island and lounging by the rooftop pool
DAY 5 –
- Morning: depart on the 5:30 am Maldivian Airways flight (for international connection home or to transfer to a resort).
Here are few tips from our experience:
- Cafes – There are about 30 all over the place, but only a few are distinctive. The ones we researched and we delighted by are…
- AIG Grand – view
- Eden Café – décor
- Pebbles – beachfront locatio
- ·Currency – Most places take cards or phone payments and will convert into dollars. Some will only take cash, but are just as happy with dollars as ruffia. BUT (a) they don’t like $1 notes, (b) they can’t take any torn notes or defaced ones (the banks won’t accept them from them), and (c) don’t expect them to be able to give you change in dollars (though sometimes they might be able).
- Flights – 2 per day on Maldivian Air. There is a ferry to Gan (1 hour) or to Gaafu Dhaalu (1.5 hour) if you wanted to combine with a resort there.
- Excursions – Dhadimagi Kilhi Lake, Pebble Beach and the beaches in general offer lots of picturesque waterside strolling. But there is no real swimming (if the sharks don’t get you, the currents will). Also, there is no real real town centre for shopping, cafes, etc. (instead shops and eateries are widely dispersed across the island).