Your trip will come up fast, as it does you will see reminders come through your inbox with your balance becoming due 90 days prior to travel. You have a number of ways to pay the balance.

INTERNATIONAL BANK TRANSFER

You will find our USD banking details on the invoice. This is an international transaction, please select the sender to pay fees as only the amount received in our account will be applied to the invoice.

AUD bank transfer (Australian residents only $50AUD fee to be added to the transfer amount) 

You will find our AUD bank details on the invoice also.

Please use the NAB foreign exchange calculator (link below) to work out how much AUD you need to transfer and then add $50AUD so we can transfer it into our USD account for you. *You may get better rates doing the international transaction yourself but for some, this is simply easier and less hassle.

*The AUD / USD rates fluctuate by the minute, while we endeavour to transfer the AUD funds we receive as soon as possible the rate may have changed in the meantime therefore the rate and amount you send us is not 100% guaranteed to cover the USD amount required. Generally, it’s going to be close but if there is a shortfall we may ask you to make another AUD transfer.

https://www.nab.com.au/personal/travel-and-overseas-banking/foreign-exchange-rates

Wise money transfer. Money transfer services likewise have become more popular and generally offer better rates than regular banks. A number of clients have used this service with good results but you need to do your own research and decide if this type of service are good for you. We can’t advise you on this.

https://wise.com/au/send-money/

Credit or Debit card. 

We accept Visa and MasterCard BUT there is a 4.5% merchant fee that can’t be avoided on USD transactions which will be added to the amount being paid.

It is a requirement of Moon Tours that you have private travel insurance which covers cancellations,  emergency medical attention and evacuation, the rest is important but inconsequential compared to the aforementioned if you need it. Moon Tours insurance does not cover you. We recommend you invest in Travel Insurance as soon as you have booked and confirmed your holiday. Brett from Hello World can assist if you chose.

When choosing your cover you might first look at your equipment cover when actually you should be looking at medical cover and emergency medical evacuation. This is the number one thing to consider when booking any travel insurance.

We recommend Cover More if you’re travelling from Australia.

Click here >> TRAVEL INSURANCE – COVER MORE

Let us know what you plan to bring.

”If you’re a surfer riding a smaller board or simply love riding your favourite board, we encourage you to bring it! There is no problem bringing your own board and it’s pretty easy travelling with airlines like Singapore, Qatar and Air Asia for example”

If you want to leave your board at home and book one of our SUNOVA SUPs for sole use you can do so for $250USD included in the fee is one minor deck repair. No there will not be a refund if you don’t damage the board but it gives you some piece of mind that we’re fair and reasonable when you book one of our boards.

BOOK A SUP BOARD HERE: https://www.moontours.com.au/product-category/hire-maldives/

This service is for people who don’t want to or can’t travel with their own SUP, we do not offer boards for sole use if you are bringing your own. We generally have some spares on the boat if you break your board beyond ridable (which hasn’t happened yet) or if there is a board available that you would like to demo. Repair terms apply and would be expected you use it once or twice to try, any more than that and you will need to pay the hire rate.

Please check with us to see if we have something suitable available. Our SUPs are on a first come first serve basis and subject to availability. If you chose to book a Moon Tours SUP it is your responsibility to inspect the board prior to use and note any pre-existing damage to your guides and Moon Tours hosts. You are responsible for the equipment loaned to you for the duration of the trip as if it were your own and you will be required to cover any repair costs.

Minimum $50USD for small deck dings, punctures or cracks that can be repaired on the boat without major work.

Rails / major repairs minimum $100USD. Most of the time we can temporarily repair a board on the boat to keep you going but that doesn’t mean it is not a major repair. The board may have to be repaired on land or carried back to Australia or Thailand for repairs in rare circumstances.

Snapped / creased written-off boards (which hasn’t happened yet) will be charged at the current second-hand market rate and you get to keep it as a memento.

Please note that boards can become unavailable at any time due to damage. We will try our best to supplement to the closest available board. 

Pack your favorite SUP. It’s easy to travel with boards up to 9’6, with some airlines claiming up to 9’8 and even 10′ – make sure you check with your airline before booking flights.

For easy traveling with multiple SUPs, we use and recommend ‘ Flying Objects SUP roller bags’ they come in a few sizes 8’0, 8’6, 9’0, 9’6. Check with your local SUP shop.

• Bring your shortboard, mini mal, foil, bodyboard whatever surf craft you like
• Warm water/tropical wax
• Leg rope; plus a spare
• Fins; plus spares
• Paddle; plus a spare if you have one
• Fishing, rod lures
• Comfortable and lightweight clothes for the tropics. Casual dress code, with one or two nice outfits for dinner party nights. Laundry is available on board so you can pack light. On local inhabited islands, it is respectful for all women to cover your shoulders and knees while walking the streets and visiting local establishments.

• Sun protection UV Rash guards x 2 min – The sun is HOT. We would be very very surprised if anyone needed any kind of wetsuit or neoprene tops while surfing, paddling, swimming, and snorkelling. Should you like a wetsuit for diving we can provide one on the boat with prior notice.

• Sun / Surf Hat & Sunglasses
• Drink Bottles. You will be given your own reusable water bottle on board with access to unlimited filtered water and ice. If you have an insulated drink bottle do bring it along.
• Hydralyte ia great to have in your water bottle while being active in the tropics.
• Lots of sunscreen; please think ocean-friendly products, like SurfMud which also offers the best protection for your face.
• Beach towels, bath towel, shampoo & soap are provided. BYO any other personal toiletries and medication. Please think of ocean friendly products when choosing your toiletries.

FROM AUSTRALIA

You have a few options but if it’s Surfboards and Surf SUP’s you want to bring then we recommend flying with Singapore Airlines or Air Asia to Male who have been taking boards up to 9’6 for us and our clients since 2017 without incident.
Singapore Airlines leave regularly from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane – Male via Singapore. Singapore Airlines have a generous standard allowance with up to 30kg / 9’6 max length in economy. Don’t go over the limit though, you can not pre-purchase additional luggage and excess is charged at $42USD per kilo.
Air Asia leave regularly from Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast via Kuala Lumpur.
Air Asia offer pre-purchased additional sporting allowance making it easier to bring multiple boards.

FROM THE UNITED STATES

The easiest way to get to the Maldives is through Dubai on Emirates who take boards up to 300cm / 10′.
Emirates fly regularly from Los Angeles – Dubai – Male, the shortest route takes about 27hrs including stops.

Please see itinerary details for your boats departure/arrival times, you may be required to arrive the day before to align with departure times.

*Remember to double check your airlines luggage allowance, we can not be held responsible for any refusal you may encounter from an airline.

Whether you are arriving the day before your tour or you have a few hours to fill, you can store your boards at the airport in the luggage room upon arrival – $12 a day, we will pick them up when we board the yacht.

WHERE IS THE LUGGAGE
Easy to find, when you walk outside the arrivals doors turn left and you will see the storage office about 100 meters away. Next door to the public toilets.

Almost all Visitors get a 30 days Visa on arrival at no charge. Visitors entering the Republic of Maldives should fulfill the following requirement for the grant of an entry permit into the country. Valid international travel document issued by the Government of a Sovereign State. Return air ticket. Minimum of US$30.00 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation.

*It is important to double check the Visa requirements of the country you are travelling from and your passport country of origin.

Lightweight clothing is best. Prepare for hot & humid conditions. To respect the Muslim culture women should dress modestly covering shoulders & knees however the airport is very westernized.

If you have time to spare you might like to visit the bustling Male City. Take the local ferry, approx $1US each way or a cab across the new bridge linking the two islands together, approx $10USD each way. The ferry ticket booth is in front of the Coffee Club/Burger King and taxis can be easily accessed at the airport taxi rank.

Alternatively, you can take a 15min bus ride around to Hulhule Male where it is much quieter. There are nice restaurants & cafes along the beach. Note there are no bikinis on this beach.

At the Hulhule Island Hotel by the airport, you can purchase a pool pass (bikini friendly) for a swim, a cold beer and somewhere to relax if need be. There is a frequent free shuttle to the hotel from the front of the airport.

Our tours start and finish at Male, Valena International airport. Unless your tour states otherwise.

If you’d like a hand with flights our flight agent’s details are below. Let Brett know your travelling with Moon Tours and include your tour dates, who you’re travelling with and date of birth if you want a travel insurance quote. He knows what’s up and books most of our client’s flights.

Most guests arrive on the start day, (Singapore Airlines) SQ 11:50 am which aligns well with the boarding time of 1pm, however an overnight to catch up on sleep before the trip starts is good.

On the last day SQ flight at 12:50 works well for departure and we will have everyone back at the airport at 10:30-11 to align with this flight check in.

Brett Robinson | Helloworld Travel Leopold
Shop 31, Gateway Plaza

641-659 Bellarine Hwy, Leopold, VIC, 3224

P +61 (03) 5250 1210   E:brett.leopold@helloworld.com.au

TRAVELLING FROM THE USA & EUROPE 

We have lots of guests that come from the US and Europe.

The are a number of flight options with

Qatar via Doha

Singapore Airlines via Singapore.

Emirates via Dubai

With the long travel times, we suggest arriving the day before so you have some time to catch up on sleep before getting onto the boat and into the surf.

If you are in Australia our travel agent Brett Robinson has looked after our client’s flights for a couple of years now. He knows exactly what you need. You can contact him directly when you are ready to get some flight quotes. Let him know you are traveling with Moon Tours and if he needs any additional information he can contact us as well.

We recommend you arrive the day before to ensure you are on time for departure, you can sleep off any jet lag and unwind a little before jumping into the water for a surf.

Please note Brett can only book Air Asia with an additional fee, the budget carrier is an online direct booking only service.

Brett Robinson

Helloworld Travel Leopold
Shop 31, Gateway Plaza

641-659 Bellarine Hwy, Leopold, VIC, 3224

P +61 (03) 5250 1210   E: brett.leopold@helloworld.com.au

You definitely don’t need a car, Male and Hulhumale, are very small islands you can walk across in a few minutes. Everything is 15 minutes from the airport. It’s actually worth walking around, to give you some perspective of how the Maldivian ‘city’ folk live and Muslim lifestyles and culture. Rooms are comfortable, but not always quiet, so always travel with ear plugs and an eye mask, is my hot tip. It’ll also make you appreciate the boat more!

Space is a premium on the island, so most rooms are small to standard size, enough for a bed and bathroom. If you want more than that, you have to pay premium prices and/or leave Male for a resort.

I’d look at H-78, I always find them to have the best service, clean modern rooms and most importantly for me, the best breakfast! They have a range of western and local food.

If you want more than that, jump on trip advisor or Bookings.com and have a look at places to suit your needs. They will usually always include airport pick up and drop off.

Tip: if you are travelling with a SUP or surfboard it’s easiest to put it in storage at the airport and grab when we meet back at the airport for boarding the yacht.

See some other accomodation options below. 

“Coconut Tree Hulhuvilla” Beach provides a comfortable setting in Hulhule male.
It offers clean simple accommodation with air-conditioned rooms and satellite TV. Recently refurbished you get free Wi-Fi and very basic breakfast. Room service can be ordered from the adjoining hotel. Under different names but the same company, you will need to settle room service bills at the time.

A hotel airport shuttle or taxi can be pre-arranged with reception to and from the airport for $10.

The breakfast is very basic, we recommend walking to a nearby cafe like ‘Family Room’ or ‘Bread Matters’, they both do a lovely breakfast.

NOTE: No alcohol is served here

“Simry Beachside Maldives” is another option which is next door to Coconut Tree.

Simry Beachside Maldives offers 3-star accommodation in Male. It also provides massage services, room service, express check-in and check-out feature.

On-site dining options include a restaurant which is an ideal spot to have a meal within a 10-minute drive of Male International Airport.

NOTE: No alcohol is served here

Please arrive by 12pm midday, if you arrive later than this you will need to arrive the day before and overnight in Male. We plan to board the yacht at 1pm, if everyone is on time we can get on earlier.

We will generally get off the yacht around 10am to be at the airport by 11am. This aligns with SQ flights.

If you need to leave earlier please let us know in advance so we can arrange a private transfer. Please note private transfers are an additional expense.

Non surfers welcomed. Bring your partner, friends and family, there are lots of activities to entertain everyone.

Children 13+ welcome, anyone younger will be considered upon application.

If you have 10+ in your family / group ask about a group discount and the options of a private charter.

Please let us know if you have dietary requirements and especially medical conditions like allergies. Gluten free is not a problem as a lifestyle choice or mild intolerance but if you are diagnosed celiac with severe reactions please let us know so we can make extra allowances.

Every meal served will give you a wide range of choices from light and bright, vegetarian to hot and heavy and carnivore suitable.

We have some 5 non-surfing surfing spots available for partners, family and friends. Non-surfers will enjoy a luxury cruise around the Maldives and can partake in all non-surfing activities such as flat water paddling, plenty of fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving (learn to dive with PADI), island hopping, local island interactions, a luxury resort visit, beautiful food, sunset drinks and music on the sundeck as well as the opportunity to learn how the chefs prepare a mixture of local dishes.

Depending on the tour we do offer daily yoga and pilates classes although some self-guided yoga on the sundeck is a pastime many enjoy regardless.

At the end of the day non surfers can be kept reasonably busy, I think it goes without saying that surfing comes first but we can and do cater for non-surfers all the time. If a non-surfer struggles to relax, likes to run 10 mile a day and needs constant organised or guided activities they may struggle on a cruise.

If you would like to add a non-surfer to your booking please let us know.

• Cash & Cards: We recommend bringing at least $500 USD in cash and a VISA debit card for settling bills on the boat and withdrawing local currency from ATMs if needed.

• Tipping: While not mandatory, tipping is a standard part of any boat charter. We cover a small portion in our surf trips to support the crew, but we highly recommend guests contribute at least $150 USD per person to the communal tip box, which is shared among the crew and guides. You can also tip individuals or guides directly, but remember—it takes the whole crew to make this trip an unforgettable experience.

• Carrying Cash: It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand, whether it’s USD or local Rufiyaa, as you never know when you might need it.

• Local Currency (Rufiyaa): If you’re heading to Malé or shopping on local islands, having Rufiyaa will come in handy. The coins make for great souvenirs, though smaller denominations are rarely used.

• Currency Exchange & ATMs: You can exchange major currencies at the airport forex exchange on arrival or withdraw local currency from ATMs. Any leftover Rufiyaa at the end of the trip can be used to partially settle your account on the boat.

• Using USD: USD is widely accepted in the Maldives, but not great for small purchases like ice cream at a corner store.

• Settling Expenses On Board: Bar tabs, dives, and additional expenses on board can be paid by credit card, but this generally incurs a 5% surcharge, which is standard for overseas transactions.

• Leftover USD Cash: If you return home with leftover USD cash, it’s not a bad thing! You can always convert it back into your home currency at a decent rate, making it a useful travel reserve for your next adventure.

The boats and cabins are fitted with UK type G three pin square outlets. There are a few universal outlets on board and generally some universal adapters around the place.

Duty-free alcohol will not be permitted to enter the Maldives, if you do purchase Duty-Free it will be taken off you on arrival and you can pick it up on your flight out.

Legally, if you’re 18 and not a Muslim, you can buy and drink alcohol on licensed boats and resorts. However since the Maldives is an Islamic nation, alcohol is effectively banned for the local population.

The only place near Male, aside from resorts, where people can drink alcohol is at the Hulhule Island Hotel, commonly known as HIH or the airport hotel.

See your doctor for some basic medications; pain relief, antibiotics for coral cuts, gastro-stop / Imodium and Azithromycin (prescription) in the event of severe diarrhea, nausea tablets if you are prone to motion sickness although rare on our tours.

Swell size is consistently around 2-4ft, it travels far, so it has good period and energy, so generally not soft crumbly walls, but well shaped waves, prime for whacking and progression. It is not fiji or Indonesia and we don’t chase hollow, critical barrels, that is risky and survival surfing, although I have been barrelled many times and there are some waves that, if we go past will test how well you read waves. Atolls waves notorisly start at a steep peak and wind of down the reef wrapping back towards you, with fast and steeper sections. The inside is usually hollow and fast and I often advise guests to pull off before this section, if not confident.

It does also pull some swell and we’ve had it well over 6ft and plenty enough to get your hear rate up and check your legrope. I’ll attach some photos, but please peruse the website via the link to Jakes trip below. There is also a frequently asked questions tab on each trips page.

Again the Maldives are notoriously consistent, hence it’s a mecca of tropical surfing. It is monsoon season, which brings the swell, so you can get squalls and tropical storms that blow through, but primarily it is glassy to offshore. We wouldn’t go there unless the likely hood of amazing waves, is extremely high, which it is.

We can get in the water up to three times a day, with 2-3 hour windows. This often tests out the hardiest surfer and has most of us reaching for the Ibuprofen and massage gun by day 3. Atolls have tides, but can be surfed through, the only thing that really affects waves is the current at peak tide, can send a chop through the wave. The currents move in and out, but for SUP we can manage it better than surfers and a bit of current often clears out the surfers.

Quarters, Mushrooms, F1’s, rip tides, Mikados, just to name a few.

There most definitely is! the waves only get bigger and better as we leave the central atoll.