If the changes in the following conditions have been clearly communicated in writing to the client before the conclusion of the contract and they are properly provided for in the program;
Any changes subsequent to the conclusion of the contract are subject to prior agreement of both the agency and the client, except as provided in the "impossibility of comply" clause.
These general conditions comply with the provisions of Decree-Law 61/2011 of May 6th, as amended by Decree-Law 199/2012 of August 24th.
The general conditions, which refer to an organized trip described in this program, along with the specific conditions provided to the client in the travel documentation at the time of booking, constitute the travel contract that binds the agency and the client.
The technical organization and sale of the activities included on this website are the responsibility of Papa-Léguas, a travel and tourism agency, with home office at Rua Manuel Assunção Mestre, nº22, 7780-199 Castro Verde, registered in the Commercial Registry Office of Lisbon with Taxpayer Identification Number 504163590. It has a share capital of €99,759.60 (ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine euros and sixty cents). Papa-Léguas is also registered with the National Registry of Travel Agents and Tourism Operators (RNAVT) nº2275 and the National Registry of Tourist Animation Agents (RNAT) nº67/2014.
At the time of registration the client must deposit 30% of the service price, paying the remaining 70% up to 21 days before the service begins. If the registration takes place 21 days or less before the service begins, the total price of the service must be paid at the time of registration. Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. reserves the right to cancel any booking that has not been paid for under the conditions mentioned above. Reservations are subject to the obtaining of a confirmation from suppliers for all services.
The prices of tours are presented per person and based on the occupation in a room shared by two people. The organizing agency will group clients who sign up individually for the same tour in pairs, by gender, and in chronological order of registration. Clients who are singled out must pay the respective individual supplement, when required by the service provider.
INFORMATION UNDER LAW N.º 144/2015 OF SEPTEMBER 8:
According to Law No. 144/2015 of September 8th, we inform that the customer may resort to the following Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution Entities:
i) Customer Authority of Travel and Tourism Agencies at provedorapavt.com;
ii) Arbitration Commission of Tourism in Portugal at turismodeportugal.pt;
iii) Or any of the entities indicated in the list provided by the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt, which we recommend consulting.
Complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the agency within a maximum period of 30 days after the completion of the services.
In the event of a complaint regarding non-compliance with contracted services, the customer may activate the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund provided for in DL 61/2011 of May 6, in its current wording, by submitting the respective complaint:
i) To the Customer Authority, as Papa-Léguas, Travel and Tourism Agency Ltd., is a member of the Customer Ombudsman for Travel and Tourism Agencies at www.provedorapavt.com. To benefit from this service, you must submit your written complaint within 20 business days after the end of the trip. Agencies are bound to comply promptly with any decisions issued by this entity.
ii) To Tourism of Portugal I.P. at www.turismodeportugal.pt within 30 days after: (i) the end of the trip; (ii) the cancellation of the trip attributable to the agency; (iii) the date of knowledge of the impossibility of its realization due to the agency; (iv) the closure of the establishment.
iii) To any of the entities listed on the website of the General Directorate for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt.
1) The agency is responsible for the luggage in the legal terms;
2) The Client has the obligation to complain to the service provider at the moment of subtraction, deterioration or destruction of luggage.
3) In international transport, if the luggage is damaged, the complaint must be made in writing to the carrier immediately after the damage is verified, and no later than 7 days after delivery. If the luggage is merely late in delivery, the claim must be made within 21 days from the date of delivery.
4) The presentation of such a claim will be an essential basis for Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. to hold responsible the entity providing the service.
The responsibility of the agency will be limited to the maximum amount that can be demanded from the service providers, in accordance with the Montreal Convention of May 28, 1999, on International Air Transport, and the Bern Convention of 1961, on Rail Transport.
Regarding maritime transport, the liability of travel agencies, concerning their clients, for the provision of transport services or accommodation, when applicable, by maritime transport companies, in the event of damages resulting from their willful misconduct or negligence, will be limited to the following amounts:
a) € 441,436, in case of death or physical injury;
b) € 7,881, in case of total or partial loss of baggage or its damage;
c) € 31,424, in case of loss of a motor vehicle, including the baggage contained therein;
d) € 10,375, in case of loss of baggage, whether accompanied or not, contained in a motor vehicle;
e) € 1,097, for damages to baggage resulting from the damage to the motor vehicle.
Where applicable, the liability of travel agencies and tourism for the deterioration, destruction, and theft of baggage or other items in tourist accommodation establishments, while the client is staying there, is limited as follows:
a) € 1,397, in total;
b) € 449 per item;
c) The value declared by the client regarding the items deposited under the custody of the tourist accommodation establishment.
The agency's liability for non-bodily damages may be contractually limited to an amount corresponding to five times the price of the service sold.
For each reservation the following will be charged:
Reservation Expenses:
Alteration Expenses:
For each alteration (names, dates, type of apartment or room, travel, etc) : 50€ (fifty euros). Please note that the acceptance of such changes depends on the acceptance by the respective suppliers.
The client must have their personal or family documentation in good order (identity card, military documentation, authorization for minors, visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents that may be required). The agency disclaims any responsibility for visa refusal or the client's denial of entry into a foreign country. The client is solely responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such a situation.
Travel in European Union:
Travel outside the European Union:
If the travel suppliers involved allow it, whenever a customer who is registered for a particular trip wishes to change their registration to another trip or the same trip with a different departure date, or any other changes, they must pay a fee as alteration expenses. However, if the change takes place 21 days or less before the departure date of the trip for which the customer is registered, or if the service providers do not accept the change, the customer will be subject to the expenses and charges specified under the “cancellation (termination)” section.
Once the trip has started, if a request is made to change the contracted services for reasons not related to the agency (e.g., extending the number of nights of stay, changing the flight), the prices of the touristic services may not correspond to those published on the website that prompted the contract.
The customer may transfer their registration by being replaced by another person who meets all the required conditions for the trip, provided that they inform the selling agency at least seven days in advance and such transfer is possible under the applicable air transport regulations. In the case of cruises and air travel, the prescribed period will be fifteen days in advance.
The transfer of the registration makes both the transferor and the transferee jointly responsible for the payment of the trip price and any additional charges incurred.
Whenever there are external reasons that justify it, the organizing agency may change the order of the itineraries, modify the departure times, or substitute any of the planned hotels with others of similar category and location. The agency must inform the client of such changes as soon as they become aware of them.
When the tour is dependent on a minimum number of participants the Agency reserves the right to cancel the organized tour if the number of participants reached is less than the minimum. In such cases, the Client will be informed in writing of the cancellation within 15 (fifteen) days.
The prices in the program are based on the costs of services and exchange rates in effect on the date of printing of the program, and are therefore subject to change resulting from variations in the cost of transportation or fuel, duties, taxes, fees, and exchange rate fluctuations up to 20 days prior to the date of departure.
Once the tour has begun, no refund is due for services not used by the client due to unforeseeable circumstances or for reasons attributable to the client, except for refunds by the respective suppliers. Failure to provide services foreseen in the travel program for reasons attributable to the organizing agency and if it is not possible to replace them with equivalent ones, entitles the client receive a refund for the price difference between the originally anticipated services and the services actually provided.
If, prior to the start of the journey and due to circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency, it becomes unable to fulfill any essential service included in the travel program, the client has the right to cancel the trip and immediately receive a refund of all amounts paid, or alternatively, accept a modification and possible price variation.
If the aforementioned circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency result in the cancellation of the trip, the client may choose to participate in another organized trip of equivalent price. If the proposed replacement organized trip is of a lower price, the client will be refunded the price difference accordingly.
The client or their companions are free to cancel the trip at any time.
i) Such cancellation implies that the client is responsible for the payment of all charges arising from the beginning of the fulfillment of the contract and their withdrawal, as well as a percentage that can go up to 15% of the price of the trip.
ii) If applicable, the client will be refunded the difference between the amount paid and the aforementioned amounts.
iii) The cancellation of travel services/organized trips whose reservation has been made using the voucher issued under Decree-Law No. 17/2020 of April 23rd is subject to a cancellation fee equal to the price of the service, in order to prevent simulated or fraudulent reservations made solely with the intention of anticipating the receipt of the voucher-entitled values.
If for reasons not attributable to the client, the agency has to cancel the organized tour before the departure date, the client can choose to:
i) Being immediately refunded all amounts paid;
ii) Optionally, choose to participate in another organized tour and be refunded for any difference in price.
The liability of the travel agency organizing the trips included in this program and arising from the assumed obligations is covered by a civil liability insurance policy with Fidelidade Insurance Company, under policy number 9257343, for an amount of 75,000€ (Seventy-five thousand euros), in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The prices mentioned in this program already include the Value Added Tax at the current rate of 23%
This program is valid from 01/01/2022 to 12/31/2022
Arrival or departure times:
Departure and arrival times are stated in the local time of the respective country of destination and according to respective airline schedules at the time of printing this program, and may therefore be subject to change.
Hotels / Apartments:
Apartments - In case the accommodation is contracted in apartments, the client is responsible for informing the number of people that will occupy the apartment. If there are more people than booked, the apartments may refuse admittance.
Hotels - The prices shown are per person and are based on double occupancy. Not all hotels have triple rooms and usually an extra bed is placed in the room, which may not be of equal quality. In rooms equipped with two beds or a double bed, the triple may consist only of those beds.
The list of hotels and apartments in the program is indicative, as is their category, which is based on local criteria and classifications that are sometimes different from those used in Portugal.
Meals:
Unless otherwise indicated, the prices shown for the Half Board and Full Board supplements do not include drinks.
On arrivals at the hotel after 7PM the first meal service will be breakfast the next day, on the last day and except for the possibility of late check-out, the last service of the hotel will be breakfast.
Check-in and check-out times:
The check-in and check-out times on the first and last day, will be defined according to the first and last service. As a rule, without binding character, the rooms can be used from 2PM on the day of arrival and should be left free by noon (12PM) on the day of departure.
In the apartments, the entry takes place generally at 5PM on the day of arrival and must be left free by 10AM on the day of departure.
Special conditions for children:
Given the conditions applied for children (destination and provider) it is recommended to always question the special conditions that may apply to the tour in question.
Insurande:
The agency offers the sale of insurance that can be purchased depending on the tour to guarantee assistance situations and cancellation expenses.
The maximum age limit, for the insurance, is 75 years-old.
See our full Data Protection and Privacy Policy here.
O líder desta viagem é disponibilizado pelo operador com quem trabalhamos no destino.
Estamos a preparar o seu programa de viagem.
Aguarde por favor...
Do not hesitate to call us. We have a specialized team and we will be happy to talk to you.
+351 21 845 26 89 / 90
geral@papa-leguas.com
On this trip to the Maldives Islands, we will visit islands inhabited by locals, like Ukulhas, where genuine people welcome us as if we were at home and do everything they can to make our stay a pleasant one. Despite being a Muslim country, there is great respect for women and tourists who visit the local islands.
Being a country made up of 99% ocean and 1% land, the main tourist attractions are to be found in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, where you can observe the underwater paradise – from the smallest “Nemos” (clownfish) to the majestic mantas and whale sharks, a highlight of any Maldives vacation.
On this adventure, you’ll fall in love with the underwater world, just as trip leader Carla Marques did on her first trip to the Maldives.
For the fourth year running (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023), the Maldives has been recognized as one of the best tourist destinations in the world by the World Travel Awards.
Flight from the city of origin to Malé, Maldives, with an intermediate stopover.
Night on board.
Visa processing (free of charge) on arrival at the airport (flights must arrive by 3pm).
Arrival in Malé, the largest city in the Maldives and its capital, the most populated city in the world, with the highest number of inhabitants per square meter, around 80,000.
Transfer by speedboat to Ukulhas, a local island about 70 km from Malé. The trip will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Ukulhas is a green island, inhabited by around 1,300 locals, located on Alif Alif Atoll, 1km long and 225m wide. Tourism on Ukulhas only began in 2012.
On arrival in Ukulhas, a welcome drink will be waiting for us.
Check-in at our local accommodation, walk around the island, passing the main points of interest. In the late afternoon we'll watch the sunset on the beach in front of our accommodation.
Breakfast at the accommodation. After breakfast, so that you can fully enjoy observing the magnificent marine life of the Maldives, we will have a snorkeling lesson promoted by the trip leader.
In the afternoon we will embark on a boat trip to a turtle watching spot, combined with a snorkeling trip on the Kuramathi reef, this tour will last approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast, we will embark on a full-day boat trip to Thoddoo Island, considered one of the largest agricultural islands in the Maldives.
Thoddoo is 2km long and 1km wide, about a third of the island's area is used for agricultural plantations and it is the largest producer of watermelons in the Maldives.
The island of Thoddoo was only opened to tourism in 2015. We will visit the island and have free time for lunch, relaxing on the beach and snorkeling. This tour will last approximately 8 hours.
The day will be dedicated to a boat trip that includes snorkeling with Mantas.
On this tour we will swim with Mantas, which are considered one of the largest animals in the ocean, with a wingspan that can reach 7 meters and a weight of 2 tons. The stop will be at the “manta cleaning station” - the place where the mantas gather to be “cleaned”. These are rocks in the middle of the ocean with a high concentration of small fish that feed on parasites that live on the Mantas' skin.
On the way back, we'll stop at “Picnic Island”, a sandbank surrounded by crystal-clear water, where we'll have lunch and enjoy another piece of paradise.
At the end of the afternoon, we'll watch the marine life on the pier where the fishermen throw the remains of their fish for food. The more adventurous can go snorkeling with sharks, rays and turtles, accompanied by the trip leader.
We'll start our day with a dolphin-watching boat trip. It's at this time of day that the most dolphins are spotted, and there's also the possibility of snorkeling with the dolphins in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, a highlight of any Maldives vacation.
The rest of the afternoon is free to relax on the local island beaches, where you can enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the Maldives. Sunset on the beach, a special New Year's Eve dinner (buffet), followed by a party on the beach and fireworks.
Note: Drinks are not included in the dinner and, being a Muslim country, no alcohol is served – only fruit juices and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Full day trip to see whale sharks, the largest species of fish in the ocean, which can reach a maximum length of 18 meters.
Despite their size, they are completely harmless and slow-moving animals. This tour includes the possibility of snorkeling with whale sharks, an unforgettable experience.
Transfer by fast boat from Ukulhas at 1pm to Malé. The journey will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
On arrival in Malé, we will transfer you to the hotel in Hulhumalé, an artificial island developed to meet local needs. Check-in at the accommodation and free time to walk around Hulhumalé.
Breakfast at the accommodation.
Visit to the local fish market and the local fruit and vegetable market.
Walking tour of the city of Malé to visit the city's main points of interest: the Mosques; the Muliaage Palace; the Tsunami Monument.
Free time for final shopping and return to your accommodation for luggage collection and transfer to Malé airport to fly back to your city of origin.
Arrival in the city of origin and end of Papa-Léguas services.
If you like authentic experiences, contact with local people, swimming in crystal-clear Indian waters, observing the rich marine life and relaxing on the beach, this trip to the Maldives is for you. On this trip, we introduce you to the “other Maldives”, exploring local islands such as Ukulhas, a true paradise away from the traditional resorts.
This trip is accompanied by trip leader Carla Marques, a snorkeling instructor and a lover of destinations that combine the sun, the sea and different cultures that add so much to us.
Accommodation is in double rooms with private bathrooms that provide beach towels in addition to the usual bath towels. We favor accommodations run by locals, where we always feel welcomed.
On this trip we will use collective transportation, with predefined schedules, for transfers from Malé to the local islands and between islands. On the local tours, if the group is full, we will use boat transportation just for our group, or if the group is smaller, we can share the tours with other travelers who are there.
Yes, arrival and departure transfers are included if you travel on 'group' flights. On this trip to the Maldives, there is a group flight, i.e. there is a specific time of arrival, and the transfers will be according to the time of that flight. Those who choose to buy different flights to the Maldives will have to be at the airport at the same time to take advantage of the transfers.
Papa-Léguas sends you a flight proposal. Once you have received the flight simulation, you can choose to buy from Papa-Léguas, another agency or online.
The group will meet at the airport of origin, if there are more participants flying from the same airport, or at the airport on arrival in Malé. Once you have registered, you will receive more detailed information about the meeting times.
Not necessarily. If you don't want to be alone in the accommodation, you can share it with another registered person. Papa-Léguas may group travelers who sign up individually for the same trip in pairs, by gender and by chronological order of registration and, if the number of participants is odd, the one who stays alone must pay the respective individual supplement.
In the Maldives, drinking tap water is not recommended at all.
For this trip, it is recommended to take around 20 Eur a day for meals (this amount can be exchanged for Maldivian rupees on arrival in the country). The amount of money each traveler should carry depends a lot on the type of consumption they usually make on their trip, particularly when buying souvenirs. Credit and debit cards as well as others such as Revolut and N26 are also accepted at the destination.
Yes, it is included. The exception is for travelers not departing from Portuguese soil, whether or not they hold Portuguese nationality. The included insurance does not cover covid but you can activate an optional insurance suggested by Papa-Léguas that does cover covid. For more information on the policies available, see our travel insurance page.
For this trip you will need a passport valid for at least six months after your return date. The visa is obtained on arrival in the Maldives and lasts for 30 days at no cost. It is essential to complete the traveler's health declaration no later than 96 hours before arrival in the Maldives. This registration is done online and the travel leader can help you fill it in (https://travel.immigration.gov.mv).
To get to know the Maldives, it is recommended that you bring a cap/hat, sunglasses, a swimsuit, water shoes, a lycra shirt, plenty of sunscreen (SPF 50 recommended), insect repellent (which can also be purchased on site), a reusable water bottle (most local accommodations provide filling stations), a diving mask and a snorkel (there is also the possibility of renting one on site).
There are no health restrictions on entering the Maldives.
You'll have wifi connection in most of the accommodations on this trip. If you want to have wifi when you're outside the hotels, we recommend that you buy a local mobile data card, which costs around 40 dollars. Our recommendation is that you “disconnect” from social media and make the most of the experience, using the internet only when you're in your accommodation.
Most restaurants don't include the price of drinks, so they're not. And being a Muslim country, they don't serve alcohol, only fruit juices and non-alcoholic cocktails.