Male Tours in December 2026

This trip is fab for those that like being at sea, chilling out with like minded people, eating great food and most importantly getting in the water to explore the underwater world. Explore know how to put together a great itinerary which looks after the environment and benefits the local community

This was my first trip to Asia and I wanted to get an overview, so the highlights of Sri Lanka really achieved that. The trip was well planned with varied activities, to appeal to most travellers. We did have to put up with Cyclone Ditwah, which made some activities more like an endurance, but nobody could plan for that or do anything to change it. Our Sri Lanka tour guide and his team went way beyond my expectations in order to keep up safe and as comfortable as possible, under difficult circumstances. They deserve their Christmas Bonus! Personally, I would have enjoyed more time at the spice garden and I wonder what the value was of the canoe trip to the curry cooking demonstration. Perhaps it would have been fun in sunshine? The Temple of the Tooth would have been interesting when there was no ceremony going on, to better appreciate the details of the buildings etc. I felt we were intruding on a religious occasion that was of huge importance to local people. Would it be better to spend longer at sites in a smaller geographical area and reduce the travelling between sites. Moving on to the Maldives, this week was great and really hit the spot. We needed sunshine and relaxation and the pace of the week was perfect. Again, the tour guide did an excellent job and supplied us with lovely videos and photos from snorkelling trips. The food on the Dhoni Cruise was excellent, considering the kitchen space and although a bit repetitive, there was a good range to suit all palates. The crew did a great job.

Good combination of two very different weeks. Good food and interesting and varied sights in Sri Lanka. Well organised and led, in very difficult circumstances during severe flooding and landslides! The boat tour of the Maldives was excellent, by far the best way of seeing this country. The boat was comfortable with great food and attentive crew. The main activity is snorkelling so if this is your thing you will love it!

Absolutely loved my Dhoni snorkelling adventure in the Maldives. Magic! The sealife was sublime - the hawksbill turtles, dolphins, tropical fish and sharks were phenomenal. Unfortunately the coral was extensively bleached but trying to rejuvenate. Our guide Teddie was exceptional, skilled at positioning our small group in the best snorkelling spots and capturing it/ us on camera. The crew worked tirelessly - Chef Asitha and Waiter Libee produced delicious banquets for every meal, .Captain Anees took us where we needed to go and Rahul kept a watchful eye whilst we were snorkelling and kept things ship-shape. As expected, the accommodation was very basic, but met all our needs. Tips: 1. Follow Explore!’s recommendation and bring a smallish soft bag - the drawers under the bunks are roomy and you actually need very little ; 2. Ignore Explore!’s recommendations and allow more for tips than the 25sterling recommended. The team work tirelessly to provide outstanding experiences. 3. Bring sunscreen and shirts for sun-protection. I did this trip as an extension to a Sri Lankan tour and it was a fabulous combo: its going to be hard to beat and especially hard to beat the value.

This holiday was absolutely brilliant. The Maldives was not a destination that appealed particularly but seeing so much of it on the boat was perfect rather than just being on one island. The snorkeling was spectacular particularly on the wreck. We could not have had a more helpful crew and the support they provided, especially the captain was excellent. At all times you felt in very safe hands and well looked after. Nothing was too much trouble. Our guide, Hi had a wealth of local knowledge and he was great fun. Swimming with sharks was an amazing experience and one that I will always remember. The level of service and food provided was great. Thank you Explore.

What a week! Everything you might wish for and more. We spent time with whale sharks, mantas, stingrays, turtles, and all reef life. Also had a great laugh in a beautiful place - lovely group who looked after each other, crew were attentive and focussed on all the details of wildlife spotting and safety. A big bonus for me was the diving. Shafi was truly superb as dive leader (and ships captain). Did 4 memorable dives with him.