Swim With Giants: Inside InterContinental Maldives’ Exclusive Manta Retreat
- Rebecca Nicholson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Luxury travel in 2026 is about more than just beautiful villas and turquoise views, it’s about access, purpose, and experiences you simply can’t replicate anywhere else. Case in point: InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced the return of its highly anticipated Manta Retreat, an immersive marine experience created in partnership with The Manta Trust.
Taking place from 24–27 March 2026, the retreat coincides with Maamunagau’s peak manta season, when these extraordinary creatures glide through the waters just moments from the resort’s shoreline. For guests, it’s a rare chance to step into the world of marine biology, without sacrificing comfort, privacy, or five-star service.
A Marine Biologist’s Dream: With Barefoot Luxury Built In
This is not a standard snorkelling excursion. The Manta Retreat has been designed to offer genuine insight into the lives of manta rays, guided by experts actively working in conservation and research.
Across four days, guests will take part in:
Guided reef snorkelling led by marine specialists
Dedicated manta ray excursions during peak sighting times
Educational workshops hosted by The Manta Trust, offering behind-the-scenes insight into manta behaviour, identification and conservation
The opportunity to adopt a manta ray, directly supporting ongoing research and protection efforts
The experience is intentionally intimate and educational, allowing guests to learn how mantas are identified, tracked and protected, and how tourism, when done responsibly, can actively support marine ecosystems.
Why Maamunagau Is One of the Best Places in the World to See Mantas
Set within the Raa Atoll, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort sits beside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, an area known for its rich biodiversity and seasonal manta populations. During the spring months, nutrient-rich waters attract mantas in impressive numbers, often visible close to shore.
Unlike more crowded manta hotspots, Maamunagau offers something increasingly rare: proximity without pressure. Sightings are frequent, conditions are calm, and the resort’s partnership with The Manta Trust ensures that all encounters are conducted ethically and responsibly.
Conservation With Meaning, Not Marketing
What elevates this retreat is its authenticity. The collaboration with The Manta Trust is rooted in real research, not surface-level sustainability messaging. Guests aren’t just observers, they’re contributors, helping fund vital conservation work while gaining a deeper understanding of the species they’re encountering.
For travellers seeking luxury with substance, this is exactly the kind of experience redefining high-end travel.
How to Book the Manta Retreat
The Manta Retreat runs 24–27 March 2026, with limited availability to maintain the intimacy of the experience. Full details, including booking information, can be found via the resort’s official channels and the attached press materials.
For those planning a Maldives escape next spring, this is an opportunity to experience one of the ocean’s most mesmerising creatures, guided by the people working hardest to protect them.
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