Goidhoo Atoll Experience

Embark on a unique experience and discover the tranquil beauty of the Maldives' Goidhoo Atoll, a set of circular islands that remains off the radar of many tourists.

This quiet atoll of natural beauty, also known as Horsburgh Atoll, sits within the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve. During this trip, we'll visit 4 islands: Hulhumale - our starting point near the airport and capital city of Male; Goidhoo - the atoll's paradisical namesake; Fehendoo - loosely populated and mostly covered by tropical jungle; and Fulhadoo - a long, narrow island home to one of the world's top 25 beaches!

On your journey through Goidhoo Atoll, you'll snorkel through a vibrant marine ecosystem and encounter an array of coral reefs and colorful marine life. On land, you'll delve into the captivating history, rich culture, and tasty cuisine of three local islands (Goidhoo, Fehendhoo, and Fulhadhoo), immersing yourself in their way of life.

What is an "atoll"? An atoll is a type of circular island found in the tropics, wherein the perimeter is a coral reef surrounding a lagoon in the center.

• Explore Goidhoo's heritage through markets, mosques, and island tours
• Get a taste of local cuisine through a "hedika" sampling of sweet & savory small bites
• Snorkel in marine-rich tropical waters to see the vibrant tapestry of ocean life
• Kayak through mangrove lakes and learn about their importance
• Join local women for a cooking workshop as you prepare "maashuni roshi", a Maldivian breakfast
• Learn about conservation efforts & visit a coral nursery to watch coral propagation firsthand
• Complete a beach clean to give back to the island that welcomed you

Witness incredible biodiversity as you explore mangroves, seagrass beds, and island lakes. Engage with inspiring NGOs and connect with friendly locals, gaining insights into their sustainability efforts and community initiatives. This purposeful journey will leave you with cherished memories and a deeper understanding of the Maldivian culture and environment.

• Hulhumale, North Male Atoll, is a suburban island just a 10-minute taxi ride from Male International Airport. This artificial island was reclaimed from the sea to offer alternative living space outside of Male and, while not a 5-star resort, Hulhumale provides the ideal base as a start or finishing point for a trip. There are plenty of local coffee shops and restaurants and a small local shopping area. The public beach along the island's east side is an endless stretch of sand and provides the ideal location to swim or simply sit and watch the world go by. The capital of Male is just a 20-minute ferry journey away or a 15-minute ride by taxi.
• Goidhoo Island is an interesting island paradise waiting to be explored. Experience an island rich in culture with mangrove lakes and agricultural resources, not at all what you expect from a Maldivian island! Enjoy a beautiful beach, vibrant coral reefs, a rich ecosystem, and a glimpse into the traditional way of life in the Maldives. Goidhoo could be described as 'large' compared to many other local islands, but the village community has a population of no more than 500, and much of the island is given over to tropical flora and agriculture.
• Fehendhoo Island is one of the least populated islands in Baa Atoll, with some 150 locals living within its tiny village. The rest of the island is covered with tropical jungle and surrounded by aquamarine waters and coral reefs teeming with schools of tropical fish. With such a small population the island has little in the way of infrastructure; there are a couple of local shops and a small cafe. There are several beach areas on the island, especially for tourists, as well as a few secluded corners where you can relax in a hammock and lie in the shadow of the palms.
• Fulhadhoo Island is blessed with a beautiful beach that ranked in the top 25 beaches in the world! With avenues of swaying palm trees and surrounded by a magnificent turquoise blue ocean, it is indeed paradise. The island is much longer than it is wider, meaning a refreshing sea breeze blows across as you amble to and from the beach. The local village is home to 250 people and is positioned on the eastern part of the island, while the rest of the island features small agricultural land plots, a tropical forest, and white sandy beaches.

With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine, and temperatures around 86°F (30°C) throughout the year, there is never a bad time to visit the Maldives. The Maldives has two distinct seasons:

• January - March: This is the dry season as the northeast monsoons are more common.
• Mid-May - November: This is the wet season, as southwest monsoons are more common. Wet, however, doesn't mean rain all the time, it just means we see more rain during this period than during the dry season. This may be a daily heavy shower, but it's very rare to have days and days of rain in succession or even a full 24 hours of rain. There is usually more wind during this period, but this helps keep the temperature at a nice level and you can still expect plenty of blue skies and sunshine.

The rare thunderstorm in the Maldives (especially around the southwest monsoon months) can be a welcome respite from the sun. Cloudy skies, slate grey seas, and crashing thunder make for lovely reading weather. The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain - the sea will be extra warm.

There can be heavy rain showers pretty much any time of year, but they tend to be short and cannot be accurately predicted seasonally (in other words – don’t worry too much about them – you will quite possibly experience some rain showers, but the majority of the weather should be great, and you will be unlucky to get several consecutive days of heavy rain). Like many places in the world today, the climate and weather pattern is changing, and historical data is less reliable as an indication of what to expect in the here and now.

We are a Travelife Partner, which signifies our compliance with over 100 sustainability criteria.

Sustainable and Responsible tourism has been an integral part of our business model since 2012. We are mindful of ensuring we promote local tourism in line with Maldivian culture and traditions. Through the education of our team, our guests, and locals, we aim to protect the environment and limit wherever possible any negative impact on local life. As a team, we aim to inspire, inform and demonstrate to our partners, our guests, and the tourism industry as a whole, that we are committed to ensuring we offer only responsible and positive travel experiences.

We believe that people, communication, and education are the foundation of Sustainable Tourism. This is the reason that we have built our business around four communities:

• Our Guests
• Our Team
• Local Islanders
• NGOs and charity organizations

We understand that success requires focus, adaptation, and long-term thinking. Change does not often happen overnight, it is a gradual process. Surely in a destination such as the Maldives, it is our responsibility to make that difference.

Environmental Initiatives
Through learning experiences with our guides, we provide guests with awareness of corals, marine life, seagrass, mangroves, waste management, and plastic pollution. We brief all guests participating in snorkeling activities on the Green Fins Code of Conduct, this improves their knowledge of what they can do to help protect the ocean and coral reefs. We follow the Codes of Conduct produced by international marine organizations when encountering manta rays, whale sharks, and turtles while snorkeling and diving.

Sociocultural Initiatives
We ensure that our tours include opportunities to engage with locals and learn about the local way of life. By facilitating interactions between travelers and the local community, we aim to provide enriching and authentic experiences. These not only benefit the travelers by offering a deeper and more meaningful connection with the destination, but they also have a positive impact on the local community. By actively participating in cultural interactions, travelers contribute to the preservation of local traditions, ensuring their endurance over time. Additionally, these interactions have a positive economic impact on the community economy, as they provide opportunities for income generation and sustainable development.

Economic Initiatives
We choose locally owned and operated infrastructure as well as services developed and managed by locals to contribute to the local community's economic development. By doing this, we provide job opportunities for locals making the wheels of the economy spin. In this same line, we opt not to have our own fleet of vehicles but rather use public means of transportation or private locally owned ones. This decision not only supports the sustainability of the local transportation sector but also ensures that the economic benefits of tourism are distributed among the community, promoting more inclusive and balanced growth.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
You can travel safely with the knowledge that you are in capable hands, all our guide team are certified in the care and safety of guests holding First Emergency Response and Lifeguard certifications.