Typical Itinerary Male Atolls surf charter

Transcription

1 Typical Itinerary Male Atolls surf charter DAY 1 You will be greeted at Velana International Airport in Male by a representative of The Perfect Wave and taken to your hotel, domestic flight or the boat. If you have any problems, your local contacts (The Perfect Wave Maldives representatives) are: Liuttey, Manager Nathu Ayya The Perfect Wave surf charters Cobia, Hamathi, Naera and Surf Sojourn normally start their trips at night (22:30 in front of Burger King at Male Airport) and end at 18:00. Therefore the first day of your trip is a nonsurfing day, but you can surf on the last day of your Perfect Wave Cobia, Hamathi, Naera or Surf Sojourn surf trip. In case you arrive in Male earlier in the day, and you have a few hours to spare before you meet The Perfect Wave crew in front of Burger King at 22:30, there are some options for you to spend your time. Our representative will greet you if you arrive early, and the time until 22:30 is at your own leisure. Other boats: Carpe Diem trips start at 12:30pm and end at 8am. Carpe Vita trips start at 14:30pm and end at 9am. Carpe Novo trips start at 2.30pm and end at 8.30am. The same information as per below applies if you arrive with time spare before your trip starts. The main difference is the early check-in time, and the early check-out time. This means that you cannot surf on the last day of your Carpe Vita, Novo or Diem trip because of the early check-out. General info: No US dollars available in Maldives, only local currency. Make sure you bring USD with you, and note that they do not accept old USD with small head anymore. Airport island is separate from Male' and Hulhumale, no other facilities except for airport terminal. The only place that serves alcohol at the airport is the airport hotel.

2 Please ask The Perfect Wave about a dhoni or speedboat hire for a surf trip for the day, if you have lots of spare time before the trip start. There are 5 options for you if you arrive at Male International Airport early and have a few hours to spare 1. Go surfing for the day The Perfect Wave will help you organize a dhoni surf trip hire for the day (or longer), if you have lots of spare time before the trip start: Surf trip Dhoni hire (N. Male, Himmafushi region) - Rate: US$350 (07:00am to 05:00pm) Accessible surf breaks: Jails, Honkeys, Sultans Surf trip Dhoni hire (N. Male, Cokes region) - Rate: US$400 (07:00am to 05:00pm) Accessible surf breaks: Chickens, Cokes, Ninjas, Sultans, Honkeys, Jails, Full day Speedboat hire (N. Male, Cokes region) - Rate: US$1,000 (08:00 AM to 05:00 PM) Accessible surf breaks: Chickens, Cokes, Ninjas, Sultans, Honkeys, Jails Inclusions: Boat/Dhoni hire, service of surf guide, drinking water. You can buy lunch at the airport food court prior to trip, or visit a local island (Himmafushi or Huraa) for lunch. 2. Stay at airport terminal Burger King, Thai Express and Coffee Club (all with air conditioning). ATM providing local currency only. Pharmacy. Information desk. 2 phone company offices for local SIM card purchases. Baggage storage room: 6 USD per bag and 12 USD per board bag. 3. Take local ferry to Male' Pay to store extra bags at airport. 1 USD one way to/from Male'. Restaurants, shops and sights. One surf break: Towns (local surfers not always welcoming to visitors). 4. Purchase a day package at Hulhule Island Hotel Free shuttle to/from airport. Day packages for pool use, showers, Wi-Fi access, baggage storage, etc. Full service restaurants and bars. 5. Book a hotel room for the day Hotels are available on the islands of Male' and Hulhumale. Ferry transfers required for Male' hotels. Land transfers required for Hulhumale hotels. Most hotels allow maximum of 4 people per room for day booking (policies vary for each hotel). Contact us for list of suggested hotels (some of the ones we recommend are Surf View Raalhugandu and Hotel Octave in Male, or Sunny Suites Hotel in Hulhumale).

3 Once you get on board the boat, the surf guide will welcome everyone and will give you a pre-trip briefing, tips, safety advice and will answer any questions that you may have. You will sleep on the boat in the harbour on the first night and your first surf session is next morning. DAY 2 onwards (charter lengths vary in the Maldives between 7 nights 14 nights). This is your opportunity to ask the surf guide questions and express your interests and what you want to do for the trip. The guide will tell you how the waves have been and what s expected over the course of your stay, so make sure to ask as many questions as possible so you are aware of what s happening on your charter. The surf guide will determine where the best surf will be to start off with, but most of the time you ll head to the North Male atolls to begin the charter. In this area you can expect to surf waves like Tombstones, Jailbreaks, Sultans, Honkey s, Cokes, Ninjas and Chickens. Midway through your charter, or maybe earlier depending on conditions, your guide will offer the opportunity to head south (you can, of course, stick with North Male if the waves are good). The waves you can expect to surf in the South Male atoll are: Foxys, Riptides, Natives, Kates, Tucky Joe s & Quarters. Riptides Tucky Joes FINAL DAY On your last day, you might be able to surf for the day, unless you booked a flight that departs earlier in the day. The boats in the Maldives aren t allowed to sail at night so they need to be back in port by 6pm, before it gets too dark. This means if you have a flight departing Male at 10:30pm you will have a few hours wait before you need to check in for the flight. We can arrange for the boat to take you to the Hulhule Hotel where there is a nice bar and restaurant. If you have an earlier flight, we will make sure you

4 are back to the airport in time on the last day to check in and board your flights. Group airport transfers are at no charge, but if your flight leaves earlier in the day and the rest of the group stays on the boat until 6pm checkout, you will have to pay for individual airport transfers. The fee is between US$ , depending on the location of boat, and it can be shared between more people. It is customary, and very much appreciated by the staff, to tip on surf charters in the Maldives. The Perfect Wave recommends that if you are happy with the service you received and had a great experience, you should leave a small tip. For charters, US$10 per person per day, given to the captain to distribute, is a good amount.

5 DAY 1 Typical Itinerary Maldives Central and Southern Atolls surf charter You will be greeted at Velana International Airport in Male by a representative of The Perfect Wave and taken to your hotel, domestic flight or the boat. If you have any problems, your local contacts (The Perfect Wave Maldives representatives) are: Liuttey, Manager Nathu Ayya The Perfect Wave surf charters Cobia, Hamathi, Naera and Surf Sojourn normally start their trips at night (22:30 in front of Burger King at Male Airport) and end at 18:00. Therefore the first day of your trip is a nonsurfing day, but you can surf on the last day of your Perfect Wave Cobia, Hamathi, Naera or Surf Sojourn surf trip. In case you arrive in Male earlier in the day, and you have a few hours to spare before you meet The Perfect Wave crew in front of Burger King at 22:30, there are some options for you to spend your time. Our representative will greet you if you arrive early, and the time until 22:30 is at your own leisure. Other boats: Carpe Diem trips start at 12:30pm and end at 8am. Carpe Vita trips start at 14:30pm and end at 9am. Carpe Novo trips start at 2.30pm and end at 8.30am. The same information as per below applies if you arrive with time spare before your trip starts. The main difference is the early check-in time, and the early check-out time. This means that you cannot surf on the last day of your Carpe Vita, Novo or Diem trip because of the early check-out. General info: No US dollars available in Maldives, only local currency. Make sure you bring USD with you, and note that they do not accept old USD with small head anymore. Airport island is separate from Male' and Hulhumale, no other facilities except for airport terminal.

6 The only place that serves alcohol at the airport is the airport hotel. Please ask The Perfect Wave about a dhoni or speedboat hire for a surf trip for the day, if you have lots of spare time before the trip start. There are 5 options for you if you arrive at Male International Airport early and have a few hours to spare 1. Go surfing for the day The Perfect Wave will help you organize a dhoni surf trip hire for the day (or longer), if you have lots of spare time before the trip start: Surf trip Dhoni hire (N. Male, Himmafushi region) - Rate: US$350 (07:00am to 05:00pm) Accessible surf breaks: Jails, Honkeys, Sultans Surf trip Dhoni hire (N. Male, Cokes region) - Rate: US$400 (07:00am to 05:00pm) Accessible surf breaks: Chickens, Cokes, Ninjas, Sultans, Honkeys, Jails, Full day Speedboat hire (N. Male, Cokes region) - Rate: US$1,000 (08:00 AM to 05:00 PM) Accessible surf breaks: Chickens, Cokes, Ninjas, Sultans, Honkeys, Jails Inclusions: Boat/Dhoni hire, service of surf guide, drinking water. You can buy lunch at the airport food court prior to trip, or visit a local island (Himmafushi or Huraa) for lunch. 2. Stay at airport terminal Burger King, Thai Express and Coffee Club (all with air conditioning). ATM providing local currency only. Pharmacy. Information desk. 2 phone company offices for local SIM card purchases. Baggage storage room: 6 USD per bag and 12 USD per board bag. 3. Take local ferry to Male' Pay to store extra bags at airport. 1 USD one way to/from Male'. Restaurants, shops and sights. One surf break: Towns (local surfers not always welcoming to visitors). 4. Purchase a day package at Hulhule Island Hotel Free shuttle to/from airport. Day packages for pool use, showers, Wi-Fi access, baggage storage, etc. Full service restaurants and bars. 5. Book a hotel room for the day Hotels are available on the islands of Male' and Hulhumale. Ferry transfers required for Male' hotels. Land transfers required for Hulhumale hotels. Most hotels allow maximum of 4 people per room for day booking (policies vary for each hotel). Contact us for list of suggested hotels (some of the ones we recommend are Surf View Raalhugandu and Hotel Octave in Male, or Sunny Suites Hotel in Hulhumale).

7 If your trip starts in Male, you will be transported by dhoni (local Maldivian transfer vessel) to the charter boat which is located in the Hulhule harbour about 20 mins from the airport. If your trip starts down south in Laamu or Gaafu Dhaalu, you will be escorted to the domestic terminal where you will board your domestic flight to the Central or Southern Atolls. Maldives domestic flights Maldivian Airlines cannot accommodate surf boards longer than 8ft with board bag. Luggage allowance is 25kg. Check in will commence 2 hours prior to departure and will close 1 hr prior departure. Please do report for check in on time. Once you get on board the boat, the surf guide will welcome everyone and will give you a pre-trip briefing, tips, safety advice and will answer any questions that you may have. You will sleep on the boat in the harbour on the first night and your first surf session is next morning. DAY 2 onwards (charter lengths vary between 7 nights & 14 nights). This is your opportunity to ask the surf guide questions and express your interests and what you want to do for the trip. The guide will tell you how the waves have been and what s expected over the course of your stay, so make sure to ask as many questions as possible so you are aware of what s happening on your charter. The itineraries for safaris cannot be guaranteed, as the weather can cause delays to boat movements in and out of harbors and crossing between Atolls in the Maldives. These decisions are at the discretion of the safari boat captain in conjunction with the guide, and will be made considering the safety of the guests, crew and the boat. If your trip is at Gaafu Dhaalu, you will surf within that Atoll. The surf breaks include Beacons, Castaways, Five Islands, Blue Bowls, Tiger Stripes or Love Charms, and the program depends on your surfing level and surf guide s recommendation. If your trip includes Central Atolls, the number of waves is large but they are spread around 4 Atolls Laamu, Thaa, Meemu and Dhaalu. The itinerary is highly influenced by the weather, your willingness to spend time on the boat doing the crossings between Atolls, and the time you have on your trip.

8 FINAL DAY On your last day, you might be able to surf unless you booked your international flight departure earlier than 10:30pm. The boats in the Maldives aren t allowed to sail at night so they need to be back in port by about 6pm before it gets too dark. The standard check out is 17:30 if your trip ends in Gaafu Dhaalu or Laamu and it is 18:30 if your trip ends in Male but it may vary if your flights are earlier. If you have an earlier flight, we will make sure you are back to the airport in time to check in and board your flights. Group airport transfers are at no charge, but if your flight leaves earlier in the day and the rest of the group stays on the boat until 6:30 checkout, you will have to pay for individual airport transfers. The fee is between US$ , depending on the location of the boat, and it can be shared between more people. It is very important for us to know your international flight details if you have not booked them with us, so please do supply them as early as possible. If we book your flights, we cannot guarantee that the flight that leaves Male late at night will be available. If you depart earlier, you may miss some surfing time. You also have an option to book your early departure flight on the day after the end of your surf charter. In that case, please ask as for assistance to book a hotel in Male for your overnight stay. It is customary, and very much appreciated by the staff, to tip on surf charters in the Maldives. The Perfect Wave recommends that if you are happy with the service you received and had a great experience, you should leave a small tip. For charters,$10 per guest per day, given to the captain to distribute, is a good amount.

9 Maldives money & currency information Maldivian banks and currency exchanges are no longer accepting the old design style USD where the picture of a person is small and within an oval shape. They are only accepting the new bills with a big head. For payment of any incidentals (drinks, tips souvenirs etc) these new USD notes have to be brought from your home country. You cannot get USD once you arrive in Maldives. Only local currency is available from the ATMs. ACCEPTED, LEFT ( BIG HEAD ) NOT ACCEPTED, RIGHT (SMALL HEAD)

10 ACCEPTED, LEFT ( BIG HEAD ) NOT ACCEPTED, RIGHT (SMALL HEAD)

11 Maldives domestic flights (Central and Southern Atolls trips) Domestic flights in Maldives Maldivian Airlines cannot accommodate surf boards longer than 8ft with board bag. Luggage allowance is 25kg. Check in will commence 2 hr prior to departure and will close 1 hr prior departure. Please do report for check in on time. Prohibited Items Please note that the import of firearms, liquor, drugs, dogs, pigs, pork products and pornography in to the Maldives is strictly prohibited. Alcohol may be imported only with an official license. Idols of worship, certain animal products, explosive and weapons and alcoholic beverages are not allowed into the Maldives. Drugs are strictly prohibited and the penalty of importing drugs for personal or other use is life imprisonment. Personal pets apart from dogs can be brought with a special permission and all animals require veterinary certificate. The following, among other things, may not be exported in any form: black corals, stony corals, Triton shells, Pearl Oysters, lobsters, Turtles and Turtle shells. Please also note that following animals are prohibited for collection and fishing: Black corals, Conches, Giant Clams, Berried and small lobsters, turtles, napoleon Wrasses, Dolphins, Whale sharks and Whales.

12 Electric sockets (plugs) in the Maldives Power is volt at most resorts & boats in the Maldives. Electric sockets are UK or European type. Most places supply adapters, but we recommend you always take at least one of your own. Round pin plugs are used, although square pin plugs are now becoming more common.

13 Frequently Asked Questions Will we be able to recharge camera batteries on the boat? Any adaptor required? A: Yes, most of the boats have power adaptors with multiple country sockets. It is always safe to bring your own just in case the adaptors on board don t work or there aren t enough. The standard plugs in Maldives are UK and Europe types. What time do the charters depart? A: Cobia, Hamathi and Surf Sojourn trips normally start at 22:30 in front of Burger King at Male International Airport. Carpe Vita trips start at 14:30 and Carpe Diem trips start at 12:30 at Male International Airport (arrivals hall). What is the usual schedule on board? A: Generally it depends on the surf conditions and the amount of crossings between the atolls that s required. A typical day would go like this: Wake up at 6am and check out the surf, have a coffee. First morning session at am. Breakfast around 10am, then surf again until 1pm. After lunch, you can take a nap and go surfing again until it gets dark at 6pm. Have a couple of beers, then dinner at 7 8pm. Afterwards: more beers, watch DVDs, go fishing and plan for the next day. What do we do when we are not surfing? A: If the surf is not good enough, or if the group decides to move on to another spot, the boat is cruising (it can be between 30 minutes and 8 hours daily average is about 2 hours). You can also visit local islands (inhabited or uninhabited), go snorkelling, play beach volley, fish or dive (if the boat has the facilities). What food is on board? A: Mix of Maldivian and western food. What happens if I miss my flight or my flight is arriving later than expected? A: Look at your voucher and call the emergency number on that. If you can t get through, call The Perfect Wave number also on your voucher. Is there a surf shop nearby? A: There are no surf shops on local islands in the Maldives, so you need to assure you bring everything you need for the trip. Is there fishing equipment available? A: Basic hand lines are available. If you are a keen fisherman, we recommend you bring your own rod. Spear fishing is illegal in the Maldives. It s best to bring your own fishing rod (short, sturdy, big reel). Thick lines, lures and hooks for potential kingsize fishes 2kg / 40kg. Are there any additional costs? A: Drinks, tips for the crew (usually about $10 per day), individual airport transfers, diving (if available on your boat) and time spent at your own leisure in Male or the airport. How much are beers? A: About $4 per beer depends on the boat. We do not control the prices of alcohol on boats. Can we bring alcohol on the boat? A: No, you cannot bring any alcohol into the Maldives. How many boards are we allowed to bring? A: As many as you can carry but you might get stung by airlines for having any more than 4 boards. Most boats also only like you to bring max 3 4 boards per surfer due to space restrictions.

14 Is there mobile phone service? A: Most places in Maldives have signal apart from more remote areas and crossings between atolls. Does the boat have internet capabilities? A: The best internet access now is a data SIM for a smartphone. You can the set your smartphone as a hotspot to service any tablet or computer. Groups can also use one SIM if they are low users and are willing to share. Carpe Vita and Carpe Diem have a WiFi internet access. Do I need to get vaccinations or take any medicine for malaria or other potential diseases? A: We aren t legally allowed to offer medical advice so we recommend talking to your doctor. What happens if I get cut? Is there a first aid kit? A: Yes. Most boats have first aid kits but they might run out of supplies so we recommend bringing your own personal first aid kit. We offer you to purchase a First Aid Kit specifically built for surfers please ask your consultant. What s the currency used? A: US Dollar only new bills with big heads are accepted in the Maldives these days. What wax do I use? How many leg ropes should I bring? A: Tropical wax. 2 or 3 leggies, depending on how big the surf is and what thickness you like. What do I need to bring? A: Please refer to our passenger checklist in this booklet. Is there any things prohibited? Yes, there are several prohibited items. Please do not bring: alcohol, spear gun or pork products. Upon arrival, your luggage will be X rayed and prohibited items will be confiscated

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