Maldives · 9 nights
The Baa Atoll Crossing
Nine nights inside a UNESCO reserve, timed to the manta aggregation
Two islands, one biosphere
The routing, to scale
5nightsSoneva Fushi
- Season
- June to November for the manta aggregation
- Suits
- Honeymoons · Marine enthusiasts · Photographers
- Rate
- On request, against your dates
Why this routing
More on MaldivesSplit between the wildest island in the Maldives and the most scientifically serious one, with Hanifaru Bay in the middle. Built for the southwest monsoon, when the mantas arrive in numbers found nowhere else on earth.
Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and between June and November a tidal quirk funnels plankton into Hanifaru Bay, drawing manta rays by the dozen and occasionally whale sharks. This journey puts you in the water for it, then gives you the other side of the atoll — Soneva Fushi's dense jungle and barefoot informality — to recover in.
Day by day
9 nights across 2 islands
Stop 01 of 02
Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
Landaa Giraavaru · Baa Atoll
Manta science, Hanifaru Bay, coral propagation with the marine team
Arrive by Seaplane
See Four Seasons Landaa GiraavaruDay 1
Arrive Malé, seaplane into Baa Atoll
Thirty minutes north-west into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so the arrival is timed to the flight rather than the other way round.
Day 2
Manta science
Landaa runs a working marine station — coral restoration, manta identification and a turtle rehabilitation pool you can visit. What is in the water depends on the month.
Day 3
Hanifaru Bay
In season a tidal quirk funnels plankton into the bay and the mantas arrive in numbers found nowhere else. Snorkel only, guided, and the hour is set by the tide rather than the diary.
Day 4
Coral propagation
A session with the marine team planting fragments onto frames. The lagoon here is wide, so the reef is a boat ride rather than a step off the sand.
Stop 02 of 02
Soneva Fushi
Kunfunadhoo · Baa Atoll
Jungle villas, observatory nights, open-air cinema, glass studio
Arrive by Seaplane
See Soneva FushiDay 5
Across the atoll to Kunfunadhoo
A short hop to Soneva Fushi, where fifty-five villas hide inside dense jungle instead of lining a beach. Shoes come off on arrival and stay off.
Day 6
The house reef
It took bleaching damage like everywhere in Baa and the resort has been rebuilding it since; it still hums. Soleni run the dive centre as a valet service.
Day 7
Flying Sauces
A treetop restaurant reached by zipline. There is nothing else like it in the Maldives, and it earns an evening even if you eat lightly.
Day 8
The observatory
An astronomer-led session at the telescope, and dinner beforehand at Out of the Blue, the overwater cluster.
Day 9
A sandbank dinner
A table set on a strip of sand that will be underwater by morning. One evening, private, and weather-dependent by its nature.
Day 10
Seaplane out
Back to Malé in daylight for the evening flight home.
What we arrange
Held, booked and paid for before you land.
- Seaplane transfers throughout, daylight scheduled
- Hanifaru Bay guided snorkelling in season
- Coral propagation session with the marine biology team
- Private sandbank dinner, one evening
- Astronomer-led observatory session
9 nights · rate on request
The Baa Atoll Crossing.
Or something like it.
Take this routing as written, or use it as a starting shape. Either way the quote comes back with flights, transfers and villa categories priced together.
Or call +91 93157 23375 or +91 88607 09211 · 9am – 9pm IST, seven days