Desert Island Survival is inviting adventurers to trade cocktails for campfires on an expedition that showcases the wild side of the Maldives. Olivia Palamountain reports

In a wild departure from the Maldives' reputation as a deluxe honeymoon destination, adventure company Desert Island Survival has launched a castaway experience in the remote reaches of the archipelago.

Kicking off this winter (November 25 to December 5, 2025), the 11-day mission promises to transform how would-be Robinson Crusoes experience one of the world's most coveted destinations, offering a rare glimpse into uninhabited islands virtually untouched by tourism.

Participants will spend five days training with local Maldivian guides during the first part of the experience, learning essential survival skills including how to build a shelter using native saplings, fire-making techniques without matches, how to find food in the wild (including spearfishing, foraging and fishing with traditional tools), and techniques for collecting and purifying fresh water.

Trainees will sleep in hammocks and cook what they catch while experiencing the region's extraordinary marine life.

The adventure intensifies during phase two, when participants are transported to a completely uninhabited island with nothing but your kit: machete, knife, fishing gear, and a satellite phone for emergencies. "No one to cook your food. No bed. No back-up plan. Just your fellow castaways, your training and your instincts," the company says.

"This is not about proving how tough you are. It's about experiencing something real. Something stripped back. A Maldives trip that reconnects you with the natural world and your own resilience," says Tom Williams, founder of Desert Island Survival.

Environmental considerations have been paramount in selecting the locations. The perfect survival island had to meet strict criteria: "Beautiful – it has to feel like paradise, because you're going to work for it; remote but reachable – emergency access within an hour; rich in resources – coconuts, fish and drinkable water; uninhabited, with no modern structures or sea walls; free from real threats (no pit vipers, pirates or tropical storms); sustainable and legal to operate on."

The expedition concludes with an unexpected luxury twist: after eight nights on a desert island, sleeping under the stars and living off the land, guests will enjoy a speedboat transfer to an all-inclusive overwater bungalow.

"That first hot shower? Pure magic. The buffet? You won't believe how good food tastes after cooking over fire for days. And the bed? Let's just say you'll never take a mattress for granted again", says Williams.

Past participants of similar Desert Island Survival expeditions have reported profound personal growth. "The hardest thing wasn't the hunger or the lack of a comfortable bed – it was the mental challenge. But overcoming that? It made me feel more alive than ever," says Tom, an attendee based in the UK, after a previous expedition.

Spaces are limited for Desert Island Survival's upcoming Maldives expedition due to the trip's intimate nature and environmental considerations.

For those considering the challenge, the company offers a simple proposition: "You'll wake up to the sound of waves on the shore, explore coral reefs, share meals around a fire, and survive in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Are you ready to join us?"

Desert Island Survival's Maldives mission starts from £3,591; use the discount code "Globetrender" to receive £100 off the cost of your booking. You can also pay to be marooned on uninhabited islands in the Philippines, Tonga and Panama.

Founder Tom Williams is also the winner of UK reality series Alone and has been a guest on Globetrender's podcast Blue Sky Thinking.