Wander Women Maldives:
Cultural Extension
Malé, Maldives
September 12-13, 2025
Join us for an unforgettable journey as we kick off Wander Women Maldives with an overnight immersion in the vibrant tapestry of Maldivian culture! This is a unique, off-the-beaten-path (not to mention practical!) experience, with an exciting new twist, before sailing into luxury aboard our floating spa liveaboard.
Most tourists rush right through the nation’s capital, the smallest in the world, missing a unique opportunity to experience the history, culture, and daily pulse of this fascinating island nation. Relax knowing you have nothing to fear in flight delays or missed connections, a built-in buffer in case of waylaid luggage, and indulge in the opportunity to board the boat feeling fresh.
For our just right third edition of this pre-retreat extension, we’ve once again partnered with a female-owned and operated local tour company to create a warm welcome to the Maldives. But fresh up this year? A hotel Wander Women practically willed into existence — a stylish brand new spot with the first and only ocean front pool in the city, a full spa, a shisha bar on the roof, and photo backgrounds abound!
Three islands make up the Maldivian capital, and we’ll explore them all with a guided tour of Malé’s mosques and brightly colored buildings, a traditional Maldivian meal on Hulhumalé, and a visit to Villimale’s Save The Beach, a successful marine conservation project run by local conservationists who will provide a comprehensive briefing on the mesmerizing underwater world awaiting us in the week ahead.
Along the way, our local guides will offer insider perspectives on Islam, teach us a few words of Dhivehi, and answer all our questions about life in the Indian Ocean. This is a rare chance to authentically experience the heart of the nation, a stark contrast to the remote atolls we’ll visit later in the trip.
The Details
The Malé Cultural Extension takes place immediately preceding Wander Women Maldives from September 12-13, 2025. The cost, including just about everything, starts at $750 USD for a shared room and $900 USD for a single.
What’s Included
• One night accommodation in a boutique waterfront hotel
• One breakfast and one dinner
• Guided tour of Malé
• Guided tour of Villimale
• Guided shopping of our favorite local hidden gems
• Beach clean up + marine conservation presentation with Save The Beach
• All local transportation, including airport transfers
• Tips for our local guides
• Professional photos
What’s Not Included
• Alcohol, which is in fact banned in the capital — we’ll have a drink when we board our yacht!
• Meals not included in the itinerary
• International flights
• Mandatory travel insurance
The Itinerary
Subject to change, but you’re going to have a magical time — here’s the general idea!
Day 1:Arrive in Malé and be whisked to our waterfront accommodation only 10 minutes away for a well-deserved post-travel rest. For those on early flights, this newly opened hotel is kitted out with a rooftop pool and a swish spa complete with sauna, so you can rejuvenate yourself in style while rooms are being readied! Or, for those who prefer to power through their jet-lag, there’s a fully equipped gym with views worth writing home about. At lunch time, make your way to one of three exceptional restaurants on site as the nation observes Friday prayer; the call to which we’ll hear from our dreamy perch. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the sights of one of the most densely populated cities in the world such as the Fish Market, the former Sultan’s palace, the Tsunami Monument, and The Old Friday Mosque — the country’s oldest mosque built from coral-stone, making it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most restaurants in the Maldives serve international cuisine, so cap off the day with a unique dinner experience, savoring a traditional Maldivian meal amid the vibrant atmosphere on the neighboring isle of Hulhumalé, reached by public bus (we pretty much guarantee you’ll be the only travelers aboard!)
Day 2: Rise, shine, and venture off the beaten path to Villimale, Malé’s neighboring island, where Save The Beach will enlighten us about the unique Maldivian ecosystem, conservation challenges, and the progress at their coral nursery; after which we’ll show our gratitude with a local beach clean up. In the afternoon, we’ll be whisked to our private yacht to kick off our liveaboard, feeling relaxed, adjusted to the local time zone and ready to relax and explore in luxury!
Where We’ll Stay and What We’ll Eat
We’ll stay at the Barcelo Nasandhura Malé, a shiny new — we’ll be among the first guests! — boutique hotel in the heart of Malé. Boasting the only waterfront pool in the nation’s capital, and also featuring a swish spa — this hotel is a dream come true. Shared rooms have two twin beds, while private rooms have one large bed. All rooms boast breezy balconies where you can sip your morning coffee — standard rooms have Malé skyline views, while superior rooms boast panoramic ocean front views.
For dinner, we’ll be treated to a traditional Maldivian meal at a restaurant new to our itinerary this year, similar to what you’d find locals enjoying in their own homes. Breakfast, we’ll enjoy in the hotel’s chic rooftop restaurant. While the Maldivian fare is limited by the remote nature of the islands and heavily fish-based, all diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Meet Your Hosts
On this trip, you’ll be traveling with Alexandra Baackes as your host and Malé enthusiast and Rayna O’Nan as your documentarian, always capturing its beauty through her lens! Additionally, you’ll be hosted by Jillian Blakken-Strauss, a passionate traveler and culture absorber. See their full bios on the main retreat page.
Stay tuned; more hosts may be added!
Join Us
A 50% deposit is required to secure your spot for this extension to the Wander Women Maldives: A Freedive + Spa Liveaboard, with the second installment due in one month. Don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions regarding this extension!
Please note that there is a minimum booking requirement, so please refrain from booking air travel until the guaranteed departure quota has been met. You will be notified when this is a guaranteed departure.
Can’t make this one? Don’t sweat — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats and extensions. Don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you. We’d love to chat!
Wander Women Maldives: Malé Cultural Extension 2025
$750.00 – $1,000.00
F.A.Q.
What time do I need to arrive in Malé for the extension?
Before noon. Most international flights arrive early morning into Malé, and our hotel boast plenty of comfortable amenities like a rooftop pool and spa to make your transition to island life as smooth as possible.
What happens if my arrival to Wander Women Maldives is delayed?
One benefit of this extension is it gives you a buffer for flight delays and cancellations or lost luggage, a familiar concern for anyone who loves liveaboards or cruises! If you miss the boat on the 13th due to airline delays, the captain will arrange a speedboat transfer for delayed passengers to meet the liveaboard. Depending on the distance a $200-1000USD speedboat charge will apply.
Is it worth it?
We sure think so! Our guests from last year’s Cultural Extension shared that they felt like they had a more immersive, fully representative trip to the Maldives having been able to experience this off-the-beaten-tourist path look at real Maldivian life.
