Whale sharks from Dhigurah · 6 nights

Day 1: Arrive in Dhigurah

Dhigurah

• Walk to Dhigurah's sandbank tip · 2 h. The long, narrow island ends in a sandbar that extends at low tide; check tide times and take water.
• Sunset dolphin cruise · 2 h

Local tip: The long, narrow island ends in a sandbar that extends at low tide; check tide times and take water.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Dhigurah

Dhigurah

• Turtle reef snorkel trip · 2.5 h
• Whale shark snorkel in the South Ari Marine Protected Area · 4 h. Year-round but never guaranteed. Book a licensed operator that follows the MPA code: keep at least 3m from the shark and 4m from the tail, no touching, no flash, limited swimmers per shark. Open water with current — confident swimmers only.

Local tip: Year-round but never guaranteed. Book a licensed operator that follows the MPA code: keep at least 3m from the shark and 4m from the tail, no touching, no flash, limited swimmers per shark. Open water with current — confident swimmers only.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Dhigurah

Dhigurah

• Dhigurah bikini beach · 3 h. Swimwear only on the designated beach; the reef is close to shore for snorkelling.
• Fun dives in South Ari (Kuda Rah Thila, whale shark reef) · 4 h. Divers may not approach whale sharks on scuba in some zones; follow the guide. Don't fly within 18–24 hours of diving.

Local tip: Swimwear only on the designated beach; the reef is close to shore for snorkelling.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Explore Dhigurah

Dhigurah

• Manta snorkel at a South Ari cleaning station · 3 h. Most reliable about December–April on the west side of the atoll; often combined with the whale shark trip.
• Night fishing trip · 3 h

Local tip: Most reliable about December–April on the west side of the atoll; often combined with the whale shark trip.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Dhigurah

Dhigurah

Free day in Dhigurah — wander, café-hop, or ask us to add something.

Day 6: Dhigurah → Hulhumalé

Hulhumalé · Dhigurah to Hulhumalé, Shared speedboat ~2–2.5h (about US$50–70), or domestic flight to Maamigili ~25 min plus a short boat

• Sandbank picnic and snorkel trip from Hulhumalé · 4 h. Sandbanks have no shade; take water, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.

Local tip: Sandbanks have no shade; take water, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Depart from Hulhumalé

Hulhumalé

• Hulhumalé beach swim and promenade · 2 h. Inhabited island with no bikini beach: swim in shorts and a T-shirt or a modest swimsuit with a cover-up. The beach faces east, so mornings are calmest.

Local tip: Inhabited island with no bikini beach: swim in shorts and a T-shirt or a modest swimsuit with a cover-up. The beach faces east, so mornings are calmest.

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps