The trip was an absolutely fabulous way to explore southern Sri Lanka and the northern Maldives atolls. Brilliant CEOs, lovely accommodation and amazing sights. What an experience. I would heartily recommend this tour
Embark on an unparalleled journey through the Maldives, where ultimate island hopping, marine conservation, and snorkelling adventures await. This meticulously crafted cruise itinerary is ideal for couples, solo travellers, and families who share a deep appreciation for the ocean and responsible travel. Discover the unique charm and natural splendour of the local islands of Dhangethi, Dhigurah, and Gulhi, both above and below the captivating surface.
Dive into the crystal-clear waters to snorkel alongside majestic whale sharks, gaining incredible insights from a Maldives Whale Shark Research Project (MWSRP) coordinator who will be on board. You'll have the invaluable opportunity to assist in data collection, help identify individual sharks, and even take underwater measurements. Engage with the local NGO Save the Beach, visit a vital coral nursery, and learn first-hand about local initiatives to regenerate coral reefs and how you can contribute to these crucial efforts.
With your expert local tour leader, delve into the ecological importance of seagrass in sea turtle conservation. You'll also enjoy an invigorating tropical forest walk, explore pristine deserted sandbank islands, participate in rewarding beach cleans, witness breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and, of course, completely unwind as you sail away your worries on the charming MV Felicity gulet.
Your knowledgeable tour leader will also immerse you in all things Maldivian, from guided tours of local islands and villages to sampling delicious afternoon tea snacks known as 'hedhikaa', and experiencing an authentic Maldivian theme night featuring a traditional 'Bodu Beru' musical drumming and dance performance.
Our primary goal is to maximise your chances of incredible marine life encounters. To ensure this, we will adapt the itinerary flexibly, taking into account prevailing conditions, weather forecasts, and the presence of marine life.
This cruise operates with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 passengers, with limited departures throughout the year. Early booking is recommended
The trip to Sri Lanka followed by the dhoni cruise in the Maldives was absolutely amazing. So many different experiences and so much variety. I absolutely loved all of it, from temples and elephants to swimming with sharks. The 2 different tour leaders on the 2 parts of the tour were both excellent as were their support staff. They went out of their way to give us a fantastic experience.
Explore leader: for Sri Lanka only satisfactory. Not easy to understand, didn't seem to feel part of the group, didn't join us for meals, a poor communicator (relative to past explore trips)
For the dhoni Maldives cruise: Moosa was excellent in every way.
Looking back at our photos now we've returned to the UK we can't believe the amount we saw and the amazing experiences we had on this tour. Sri Lanka is an amazing beautiful country with some much going on - we only scratched the surface. Our tour leader Cham worked so hard to make sure that we had everything we needed, resolving our problems and sorting out food for our fussy son! His knowledge about Sri Lankan history and wildlife was immense. He even found the best place to buy genuine Sri Lanka cricket shirts for the sporty members of our group. The only thing we'd change was the pace of the second half of the Sri Lanka leg of the trip. The first half gave us time to chill and bond as a group, as well as hang out in the pool at Giritale and play cricket. The second half we moved every night and covered a massive distance, though interesting, this was quite tiring (especially for the kids), so we'd suggest that a two night stop in the middle of this element would resolve this issue easily. This was clear in the notes, however, as was the high chance of not getting the train. The pace did slow considerably for the Maldives element, with a lot of time on our boats travelling between reefs. The snorkelling was quite frankly mind-blowing, and even the more nervous swimmers loved it. The crew were fantastic, and the food was delicious. The guide knew his stuff, and made sure we had great snorkelling experiences. Our only criticism of this part of the trip was that splitting the group when we'd got to know each other and were getting on really well was disappointing. There were larger boats, and we'd have preferred to be on a single boat given how long we spent travelling separately. The crew did what they could to mitigate this by tying the boats together when we moored for snorkels, meals and overnight and that was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and with a few very small tweaks it'd be perfect!
It was a wonderful adventure full of insights, learnings, fun, beauty and a sensory smorgasbord of experiences. I loved the diversity within the cities and villages, the cultures, the activities offered and the modes of transportation. It was well organised and brilliantly led by Giri.
Take a 19-day Premium adventure through South Asia where you’ll discover the Pink City of Jaipur, witness the Mughal splendours of Delhi and Agra, wildlife-spot in Minneriya National Park, soak up the ambience of holy Varanasi, explore the ancient ruins of Habarana, sip tea in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya and taste culinary delights in Colombo. Local leaders will bring the magic of India and Sri Lanka to light, from lavish palaces to vibrant bazaars and the incomparable Taj Mahal. Packed with hotspots and hidden gems, you’ll discover the cultural heart of India and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka and India are calling! Want to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise? Try your hand at authentic Sri Lankan cooking? See some of the world’s most incredible animals up close? Well, this is the tour to do all of that and SO. MUCH. MORE! Over the next 23 life-changing days, we’ll discover the best of the best of India’s golden triangle, experience the world-famous safari in Ranthambore and watch the sun go down on Lake Pichola with a sunset sail. And that's all before we head to the jaw-dropping country of Sri Lanka. There we will take you to the hidden gems and hotspots of this idyllic country. Picture this, you're visiting the iconic Sigiriya Rock, immersing yourself in local life with an authentic homestay and marvelling at stunning scenic landscapes on the world famous Kandy to Ella train. India and Sri Lanka are two countries full of bucket-list ticking moments and Tru-ly incredible memories. So, what's stopping you? We'll see you at the airport!
Combine the incredible sites of India's Golden Triangle with Sri Lanka's ancient ruins, verdant jungles, cool mountains and amazing wildlife. Explore the legendary Taj Mahal and pink city of Jaipur, Dambulla's rock temple, sip pure Ceylon tea and discover the bustling city of Colombo.
Journey into the heart of Nepal and experience the colourful sights of this enchanting region. Mingle with local villagers and craftspeople, visit temples and sacred Buddhist sites, travel the cobbled streets of tiny mountain towns and search for unique wildlife. From the whirlwind of Kathmandu to the lush jungle of Chitwan National Park, and with plenty of delightful hidden gems in between, you'll take an unforgettable tour of Nepal then turn your sights to Bhutan, known for its breathtaking natural scenery, quiet towns and few tourist numbers. This 18-day trip offers scenic delights, an insight into the local culture and plenty of adventure.
Discover the delights of two fascinating Himalayan Kingdoms on this 15 day tour of Bhutan and Nepal. From Paro to Kathmandu, explore ancient temples and monasteries, see fluttering prayer flags and spectacular mountain scenery, hike to the incredible Tiger's Nest Monastery, safari in Chitwan and more.
The Nepal and Tibet Tour has been designed to combine the most exciting highlights from both of the countries and give a thorough overview of the life and nature in this fascinating part of the world.
The tour starts off in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the capital of Nepal’s culture, religion and architecture. The vibrant history of this mystical and ancient place has left its mark in the distinctive architecture that ornaments the city. The Himalayan giants are visible from the city itself and combine with the ancient architecture for spectacular views. We'll take you to the edge of the Kathmandu valley to the famous tourist destination of Nagarkot Village, where you will get an even more spectacular view of the Himalayan range.
Nepal is much more than just the Himalayas. We'll take you to Chitwan National park to explore Nepal from a completely different angle. Chitwan is the most visited national park in Nepal, famous for its elephant safari.
After Chitwan, head to Tibet – a secluded piece of land rich in spectacular landscapes, mystical monasteries and vibrant culture. Travel through small Tibetan villages whose inhabitants are one of the friendliest and most welcoming people you will ever meet.
The biggest highlight in Tibet is visiting the capital Lhasa, together with its royal palace and spectacular monasteries. Travelers will visit the famous Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, both of which offer immense spiritual rejuvenation and inspiration. The Potala Palace features an overwhelming array of intricate murals, temples and stupas, in addition to the tombs of eight previous Dalai Lamas, exquisite Tibetan Mandalas and other relics of Tibetan history. The tour continues to Namtso Lake in Tibet.
What we saw and what we did led by our expert guide was very special. It was the sheer variety of the experiences. The stand out being the walk up to the Tigers Nest Monastery. But for me the walks we did through villages where we saw real life going on was just as special.
Bhutan is a special place, full of wonderful people, surrounded by amazing scenery. Accommodation there was of a very high standard. The icing on thd cake was seeing Mt Everest as we flew to Kathmandu.
A special holiday full of great experiences.
