The Maldives is renowned for its spectacular diving, serene white sand beaches, and paradisiacal island idylls, but knowing the best time to visit Maldives can really affect the experience you’ll have in this unique island nation.
Broadly speaking, the Maldives has two distinct seasons – a wet season and a dry season. The Maldives also has two distinct tourist seasons; peak season coincides with the dry season and low season with the wet season.
Throughout the year, there are other considerations to take into account, such as the manta ray season, the best time for diving, or when you can get the cheapest deals for your honeymoon!
In this article, we take a look at the best time to visit Maldives.
Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Maldives (Travel Guide)
Best Time to Visit the Maldives: Month by Month Breakdown
Dry Season in the Maldives
The Maldives has an incredibly tropical climate, which means that while there’s a wet and dry season, temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year.
Even in ‘winter,’ temperatures average around 30 degrees Celsius.
The dry season is from November to April, and the peak of tourist season will often run from December through to March. Prices are higher in the dry season, and availability is lower, but the weather will be perfect.
If you’re scuba diving, the water is perfectly clear through the dry season.
Find great flight deals to the Maldives: Priceline or Skyscanner
November in the Maldives
November is the start of dry season, but it can be the best time to visit Maldives if you’re looking for bargains. The peak tourist season has yet to begin, but there’s little chance of rain, and plenty of deals to draw in the travelers!
You might be able to catch the last whale sharks around the Maldives before they start heading elsewhere in search of food. The manta rays are still in town, too.
Diving coral reefs still isn’t great, because the water has yet to clear up, but it’s definitely much better than previous months.
Resorts we love in the Maldives:
December in the Maldives
In December, you can expect the tourist season to begin in earnest as the countdown to Christmas holidays begins.
While the Maldives is a Muslim nation, a majority of their visitors are often from Western countries, and they make use of their Christmas holidays to visit.
The weather is lovely in December. The rains are over, and there are bright skies and sunshine almost every day of the week. Take some time off, book into a luxury resort, and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Prices are definitely on the high side through December, and you’ll need to book your flights and hotels in advance, as the best resorts can often sell out over the holiday period.
These are our recommended cruise options in for a Maldives trip:
January in the Maldives
Prices remain exceptionally high as we enter the New Year; this is not the best time to visit Maldives if you’re looking for a bargain!
Tourist numbers are high, but the Maldives is never a destination that’s packed. Hotels, islands, and resorts all focus on sustainability, so even in peak season, you’ll never feel too overwhelmed.
This can be a great place to spend the New Year if you’re not on a budget and you’re looking for solitude or a romantic getaway with your partner.
Book out a private retreat and see the New Year in as you overlook the spectacular climes of the Indian Ocean from the comfort of an Overwater Bungalow!
If you are going to base yourself in Male, check out these top tours:
- Half-Day Walking Tour of Malé
- Snorkeling Safari
- Private Half-Day Local Experience of Malé
- Island Day Trip from Hulhumale
- 2-Hour Maldives Submarine Tour From Male
February in the Maldives
February can often be the driest month of the year, but you won’t have as high a price to pay for your hotels and flights as you would over December and January!
It’s a wonderful time to be here, with warm weather, clear skies, and zero chance of rain. You can enjoy super-clear diving and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean’s calm waters, and there is plenty of marine life around to keep you enthralled!
The top scuba diving resorts in the Maldives:
March in the Maldives
March can be the best time to visit Maldives too because the weather is excellent. It’s lovely and warm, wonderfully clear, and perfectly dry!
You can lounge on white-sand beaches, snorkel among the coral reefs, or simply relax, unwind, and enjoy the famously good service at luxury resorts across the Maldives.
Maafushi Island is one of the best islands in the Maldives. Top places to stay on Maafushi Island, All are under $100 USD!
April in the Maldives
April is the last month of dry season, and it’s a great time to visit the Maldives. The weather is warm, and the skies are still clear, although you might have the odd rain shower towards the end of April.
Enjoy some excellent diving before the water starts to get murkier when the rains arrive, and explore the best white sand beaches in the Maldives and glorious island living that the islands are so loved for.
The top surf resorts in the Maldives:
Wet Season in the Maldives
The wet season runs from May through to October. This is the low season when it comes to tourist numbers. The Maldives gets hit by monsoon-like weather throughout the wet season, but actual conditions can vary.
You can risk the rain and get a really fantastic deal on luxury accommodations and cheap flights. It’s worth the risk for the savings, in our opinion, as there’s always plenty of time to relax in your luxury hotel!
While Scuba diving isn’t necessarily good for visibility, the vast amounts of plankton and algae in the water attract some pretty incredible creatures.
The wet season is the best time to visit the Maldives if you’re looking to swim with whale sharks or giant manta rays, as they are here to feed!
The best overwater bungalows in the Maldives are found either at the Park Hyatt Maldives, or the Four Seasons Maldives.
May in the Maldives
May is the start of the rainy season, but the reality is that you’d be pretty unlucky to get caught in a monsoon deluge straight away!
May is more of a transition month; you can still expect to see lots of sunshine and dry weather, mixed in with the odd thunderstorm and rain shower.
The water definitely starts to get choppier, but experienced divers will still have a great time enjoying the dive sites, as the water is still exceptionally clear.
You can start to pick up a few good deals in May, so it’s an excellent time for anyone looking for a cheaper holiday.
Thinadhoo Island is another top island in the Maldives. Top places to stay on Thinadhoo Island:
June in the Maldives
In June, the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, but it’s not all rain and monsoons.
The weather is wonderfully warm, but still not too humid; you will have a few days of sunshine and clear skies if you booked a getaway in June.
It’s a good time for a deal as hotels and resorts try to draw in tourists. Even if it does rain, you can simply enjoy the luxury facilities at your resort.
Relax with a massage, enjoy a few cocktails, or make the most of the wind and choppy seas for some action-packed water sports.
The best adults only resorts in the Maldives:
July in the Maldives
In July, the weather gets worse. This isn’t the best time to visit Maldives if it’s clear skies and sparkling sunshine that you’re looking for.
Expect heavy thunderstorms and lots of rain. Scuba diving is challenging because of the rough seas and lack of visibility, but you will be able to spot whale sharks and manta rays as they start to appear to feed on the ever-growing mass of plankton in the waters.
Prices are reasonable in July, and 26th July is Independence Day; you can participate in nation-wide festivities and cultural events!
The best family-friendly resorts in the Maldives:
August in the Maldives
August sees a bit of a respite from the rain and the monsoon, although the weather can still be quite rough.
As it’s the school holidays in many parts of the world, tourist numbers start to pick up in August, so prices can begin to climb, despite this being the rainy season.
Unless you can only travel in August, though, there’s no real benefit to visiting the Maldives right now. You’re better off waiting for the drier weather or scoring a few bargains in earlier months of the wet season.
The best honeymoon resorts in the Maldives:
September in the Maldives
September can be the rainiest month of the year, so it’s not the best time to visit Maldives if you prefer to stay dry!
It can be wet, windy, and monsoony all through the month. Resorts stay open, though, and you can get some great deals. It’s a really good time for surfing in the Maldives, because the waves can be enormous!
If you are just here to relax and unwind, there’s no reason not to visit in September.
Enjoy the facilities at your resort, try some exceptional island-style dining, and enjoy the hot temperatures!
The best budget resorts in the Maldives:
October in the Maldives
The weather continues to get worse; October can be rainier than September. Don’t expect too many dry days, especially at the start of the month.
If you can, aim to arrive towards the end of the month, when the weather starts to dry up quickly as the dry season approaches.
This might be your last chance to see whale sharks and manta rays, as they tend to disappear at the end of October (at least in large numbers). You can also take advantage of the big waves to enjoy the fledgling surf scene in the Maldives.
For many people, October can be a great time to visit to save money, as prices are often at their lowest.
We spent 7 days sailing, scuba diving, and enjoying some of the best beaches in the Maldives on a liveaboard cruise on the Maldives Dhoni Explore.
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| Maldives Dhoni Explorer 7 days Male to Male Trip Type: Small Group 12 - 14 People | Maldives Dhoni Cruise 7 days Malé to Malé Trip Type: Small Group 12 - 14 People | Maldives Island Hopping 8 days Male to Male Trip Type: Small Group 12 - 14 People |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
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