THE EXPEDITION
This is not a fixed itinerary through the Maldives. It’s seven days following the ocean.
Each day, our team reads the weather, tides, currents and recent wildlife activity to decide where we go next. We search for whale sharks, manta rays, sharks, dolphins, turtles and thriving coral reefs, but the ocean decides what each day brings.
Along the way, we’ll help you understand the wildlife you’re meeting, explore local island life and experience the Maldives beyond the resorts.
US$1,620 / £1,300 / €1,415
DURATION
6 nights
7 days
COST
Per Person
HOTEL
Milano Hotels
LOCATION
Maafushi / Airport:
Velana International
HOW WE FOLLOW THE OCEAN
YOUR 7 DAY EXPEDITION
( 6 DAYS ON THE OCEAN )
HOW WE FOLLOW THE OCEAN
Wildlife doesn't follow an itinerary.Neither do we.There is no fixed Day 1, Day 2 or Day 3 on a Kandu expedition.
Over 7 days and 6 nights, we search for the wildlife and experiences that make the Maldives extraordinary - whale sharks, manta rays, nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles, stingrays, thriving coral reefs and more.
Each day is decided by the ocean. We look at the weather, currents, tides, wildlife movements and local conditions, then choose where we believe gives us the best experience that day.
Our local team has spent years in these waters. We don't just take you to see marine life - we teach you how to find it, understand its behaviour, enter the water responsibly and experience each encounter with respect.
The animals below are what we'll be searching for throughout your expedition. The order? We leave that to the ocean.
WHAT WE’RE SEARCHING FOR
WHALE SHARKS
MANTA RAYS - DAY & NIGHT
NURSE SHARKS & STINGRAYS
LEOPARD SHARKS
DOLPHINS
TURTLES
CORAL REEFS & REEF LIFE
SHIPWRECKS & FREE DIVING
NIGHT OCEAN & BIOLUMINESCENCE
REMOTE ISLANDS & LOCAL LIFE
SCUBA DIVING
Your arrival day is your first day on the ocean, followed by five full expedition days. Day 7 the expedition ends and no ocean activities are scheduled.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Getting to Kandu is easy. Our airport team will take care of you from the moment you arrive.
Your first and last days work a little differently, so please check your international flight times carefully before booking.
ARRIVAL — BEFORE 12:00 PM
After arriving at Terminal 1, walk approximately 5 minutes to Terminal 2 and meet our airport team at Counter E4. From there, we'll guide you to the earliest available speedboat to Maafushi, where every expedition begins.
Speedboat transfers operate regularly throughout the day, from approximately 7:15 AM until 10:00 PM.
Your arrival day is also your first day on the ocean, so we strongly recommend arriving in Malé before 12:00 PM to join the first expedition activity.
Want to arrive a day early? No problem. You can arrange your own accommodation or contact Kandu and we'll help you organise a room.
DEPARTURE — 9:30 AM OR LATER
Day 7 is the end of your expedition and there are no ocean activities scheduled.
The earliest speedboat leaves Maafushi at 6:30 AM and reaches the airport by approximately 7:15 AM. Please book your departing flight for 9:30 AM or later.
INFORMATION
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Six nights’ accommodation at Milano Hotel, Maafushi, in shared rooms. The expedition lasts seven days; Day 7 is departure day.
All breakfasts and lunches, plus one dinner.
Round-trip airport speedboat transfers on official expedition dates.
Experienced local guides and ocean expeditions.
Two scuba dives for certified divers, or one discovery scuba dive for non-certified guests.
Snorkelling and scuba-diving equipment.
Action-camera photos and videos captured by the Kandu team, at no extra charge. Our focus is exploring and understanding the ocean; specific photographs or footage cannot be guaranteed.
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International flights.
Dinners other than the one included dinner.
Compulsory travel and diving insurance.
Optional solo-room supplement at Milano Hotel: US$65 extra per room, per night.
Optional professional underwater photography: US$15 per edited, colour-graded photo.
Optional professional underwater video: US$30 per colour-graded video.
Optional drone videos: US$15 per person.
Personal expenses and optional purchases.
2027 EXPEDITIONS
Jan 3rd - 9th 10 spot
Jan 13th - 19th 05 spot
Jan 23rd - 29th 12 spot
Feb 2nd - 8th 05 spot
Feb 12th - 18th 11 spot
Feb 21st - 27th 08 spot
March 2nd - 8th 08 spot
March 22nd - 28th 02 spot
April 1st - 7th 06 spot
April 3rd - 9th PRIVATE GROUP — FULLY BOOKED
April 10th - 16th 02 spot
JOIN THE 2027 TRIPS
Milano Hotel, Maafushi — Maldives expedition accommodation.
Milano Hotel, Maafushi — Maldives expedition accommodation.
Milano Hotel, Maafushi — Maldives expedition accommodation.
FAQ
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Send your preferred expedition, departure date, full name and number of guests to Kandu on WhatsApp at +960 9970856. Our team will confirm availability and send a secure bank payment link. A 40% deposit secures your booking, and you will receive a payment confirmation receipt.
The remaining 60% can be paid on arrival by cash, card or bank transfer. Trip payments are accepted in USD, EUR or GBP. MVR is also accepted for optional purchases such as merchandise and photography.
Payments are non-refundable. To request a move to another departure date or year, contact Kandu at least three months before your original departure and retain your payment receipt. Requests received after this deadline cannot be transferred and require a new booking.
Kandu’s own scheduled expeditions have no minimum guest requirement. Departures proceed even with one booked guest.
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It is a requirement to be able to know how to swim in the ocean!
Please remember this is an ocean safari!
You do not have to be a scuba-diver nor a free-diver, you just need to know how to swim!!
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In all our trips, each room has 2 people!
If you are coming with your partner / friend, then you will be put in the same room together!
If you are travelling solo, you will be put with another solo traveller of your same gender!
Rooms alone can always be requested at an extra price.
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We do! This would fall under our “Private” trips category.
We have created and run over 10 private family trips with children ages ranging from 2 - 16! We customise the tour depending on the number of kids, their ages and what you want to see & experience!