The Best Time To Visit The Maldives

The tropical archipelago nation of Maldives is widely regarded as one of the best places to visit whether it is for a honeymoon, a friend’s trip or a family getaway.

They have it all from the breathtaking beach views of the Indian Ocean to the quaint water hut resorts on the beautiful lagoons.

However, as with any other tropical destination, the weather plays a huge role in determining just how much fun you will have while there.

In this article, you will learn all you need about the best time to visit the Maldives so you can plan the memorable trip of your life.

In this guide you will see

You can read also

• Where to stay in the Maldives – The Reference Guide

When is the best time to visit the Maldives weatherwise

Best time to visit Maldives for honeymoon	January to Mid-April
Best time to visit Maldives for sun	December to February
Best time for holiday	All year round
Best time for snorkelling	December to April
Best time for diving	December to April
Best time to visit the Maldives with family	December to February
Cheapest time to go to the Maldives	May to October

 

• The best time to visit the Maldives for honeymoon:  Maldives is pretty popular among couples on honeymoon. And given how magical square inch of this place is, it is not hard to see the appeal.

However, in order for you and your newly cuffed beau to truly enjoy Maldives as a honeymoon or romantic getaway, you need to go during the warm and dry months which run from January to April.

Here you will get to take in all the oceanic beauty whether you choose to stay in your water-side hotel all day or you opt for a fun exploration trip in the water.

• Best time for snorkelling and diving is without a doubt December to April. As with the honeymooners, the point here is to get as much fun and safe time in the water as possible.

During these months, the weather is just perfect to be out. The air is warm, the water is calm and clear, with the best visibility through the year.

• Best time to visit the Maldives for sun is between October and May, technically outside the monsoon season (however it’s getting harder and harder to predict the seasons).

The only thing that changes is the possibility of rain, sometimes as short as 10 minutes, and the humidity. 

If you want pure sunshine with no showers interrupting your beach bumming sessions then December to February should be your target months.

• The best time to visit the Maldives for holiday is in all honestly any time throughout the year.

True, the best weather is between December and February where you will be almost sure to have sunny days throughout your stay, however, when off-season you will be able to have a better deal.

If you are lucky you may experience mostly a sunny stay. 

Just watch out for the monsoon season that runs from June to September.

This is the time where you will have a higher possibility to experience rain and wind. This is the time when you will spend more time reading a book on your veranda. 

Best time of year to visit Maldives

Strictly speaking, Maldives does not have distinct seasons as most visitors from Europe and America are used to.

However, meteorologists sometimes group the different weather patterns into traditional seasons.

But there is a catch; the 4 Maldives seasons have nothing in common with their more northern counterparts with the exception of the names.

Here is more about these seasons.

Best season to visit the Maldives

• Winter in the Maldives (December to March – peak season): this season is comparable to summer everywhere else in Europe or North America in terms of temperature, humidity levels and precipitation.

It runs between December and Early March with February and March being the warmest.

The humidity is low and the air is also calm which makes this the best season to visit if you plan on spending a lot of your time enjoying the sun and the beach.

It is a very popular season for visitors looking for sunny warm days and slightly cooler nights. Therefore, if you are looking for a more exclusive or secluded experience, then consider booking your stay in one of the Islands in the Northern Atolls instead of being close to Mali

• Spring in the Maldives (April to May): this is a pretty warm time of year with air temperatures averaging 31 degrees and water reaching up to 28 degrees on a hot day.

It’s a shoulder season, meaning you will be quite likely to experience sunny days but there is a possibility to have storms around lasting few minutes or hours, usually in the later afternoon.

In this season the resorts tend to advertise cheaper prices than the winter

• Summer in the Maldives (June to September): this is the monsoon season with similar temperatures to spring however with a much higher possibility to have rain and wind.

This does not mean that you will have only rain, or rain in the afternoon or sun every second day. You may be lucky and experience a week of sun, or on the other side, a mostly rainy stay. It’s really all down to luck (and how the monsoon turns)

This is the season with a higher probability to see the bioluminescent phytoplankton on Vadhoo Island. At night the water, as well as the beach, will be glowing.

Another characteristic of this season is the turbulent ocean. This is largely due to the seasonal monsoon winds passing over most of the beaches during these months.

This can be perfect for surfing with the Thaa Atoll and the Laamu Atoll in particular. However, the winds can be unpredictable so be sure to check in on the storm and cyclone warnings before grabbing your board.

The Maldive Meteorological Service publishes on a yearly basis statistics on precipitation that show how the northern atolls tend to have less rain compared to the southern ones. 

In reality, it’s really down to luck. You may have the sun on your island and see rain passing through a neighboring island. If you are concerned about the rain then this is probably not the time of the year you should visit the Maldives.

On the other end, summer tends to have the best resort deals.

• Autumn in the Maldives (October to November): we are out of the monsoon season, however, these months experience still quite a high number of days with precipitation, 15 on average.

It rains mostly in the afternoons so you may want to plan your day accordingly. 

It has happened in previous years that the monsoon season lasted till November, adding even more uncertainty, however, it’s more of a rare occasion.

Autumn is another great season for surfers as the water in a few atolls, especially in the south and close to Mali, is just rough enough for a safe fun.

Best month to visit the Maldives

• Maldives weather in January

January in the Maldives is best described as warm and generally dry. It has temperature averages of about 27 degrees Celsius and a very small possibility to experience rain. It is, for the most part, a very calm time of the year and is ideal if you do not want extremes of weather messing up your entire trip.

• Maldives weather in February

February ushers in a new weather combination and stands out as the hottest and driest month in the year for Maldives. It is an ideal month for holidays centred on fun in the sun. However, it is also the most popular time of the year, so make sure to plan well in advance.

• Maldives weather in March

In a lot of ways, March gives February a real run for its money as the most popular month weather-wise. It is equally as hot, dry and calm and is also awesome for fun on the beach and in the water. However, it has fewer daylight hours and it tends to have more humidity.

• Maldives weather in April

April falls within the start of the year’s unofficial spring season and is a month characterized by higher humidity and higher temperatures. It also marks the start of the rainy season with a few light showers most of which last for a short time and occur in the afternoon. April is a good month to plan your visit if you don’t mind a drizzle every once in a while and you do not want the scorching sun in your face all holiday long. 

• Maldives weather in May

If the first part of May is quite similar to April, in the second half you will be quite likely to experience the beginning of the monsoon season. This is more or less the same as the rainy season but is characterized by unpredictable winds, sometime strong, as well as storms. The month, in general, tends to be very rainy with an average of around 15 days of rainfall (sometimes for minutes, other times for hours). 

• Maldives weather in June

June is pretty unremarkable when it comes to weather as it is basically just like the second half of May only with fewer rainfall days and lower air and water temperatures. It is a great time to visit if you do not mind the monsoon weather but at the same time, you do not want to be a prisoner of your hotel room.

• Maldives weather in July

As you work your way through the year into July, you will experience a small drop in temperature. This is the time of the year when you will quite luckily experience rainy days, sometimes lasting for 24 hours. It’s right in the middle of the monsoon season and it all depends on the winds. Obviously you may be also lucky and have plenty of sunny hours.

• Maldives weather in August

In August, the wind, rain and humidity all get higher as the country moves into the second peak of the monsoon season. The weather here can be very unpredictable and it is always important to look out for any weather warnings whether it is for simple showers or serious storms.

• Maldives weather in September

September is the officially rainiest month in all of Maldives’ yearly statistics. The one good thing is that it is an off-peak month so you will get great rates on the trip.

• Maldives weather in October

The rain and humidity values drop again after the September peak and settle into more stable and predictable weather. This season is ideal for water sports as there is still a lot of wind and the ocean is turbulent. At the same time, the precipitation and wind speeds are low enough for you to enjoy the trip without being in unnecessary danger.

• Maldives weather in November

This is a transitional month between the monsoon season and the country’s warm and dry months. One standout feature about this month is the fact that it has some of the lowest daylight hour averages with just 6 hours to take it all in every day.

• Maldives weather in December

When it comes to weather, this is one of the most popular months. It is the official mark at which the Maldives starts its holiday season. The water is calm and warm, the sun is out most of the day and humidity is comfortably low. Then, of course, there is the fun little fact that Christmas is just around the corner so you can have your celebration as a getaway trip.

Worst time to visit Maldives

Every day in the Maldives is a day in Paradise. 

In saying that the worst time to visit the Maldives is probably during the trade wind seasons. In particular, late May to early October can be pretty brutal with the southwest monsoon bringing in strong winds and serious rainstorms.

This means you will possibly spend a lot, though not all of your time, hauled up in your hotel room for a romantic stay or just reading your book.

Something else that may affect your trip during these months is the unpredictability of the weather. What may start as a beautiful storm-warning-free day could end in strong gale winds and heavy downpour chasing you from your beachside picnic.

As previously said, the monsoon season is really unpredictable, you may end up with a fantastic sunny stay as well as a rainy one.

If this does not bother you then it can actually be a good time to be in the Maldives as you will share your resort with a small number of people.

Questions on the best time to visit Maldives

• Which weather is best for Maldives?

The Maldives has a lot to offer but the seaside attractions are without a doubt the most captivating. Therefore, it would be best to plan your visit around seasons that allow you to take it all in. In this case, hot and less humid weather is the best so stick to your December to April dates.

• Which month is the best month to visit Maldives?

February is definitely the best month to visit Maldives. It has the warmest weather and the most hours of sunshine which means you get to spend as much time out in the sun as you wish. It also has the lowest precipitation and fewest rain days so you do not have to worry about some pesky shows ruining your perfectly planned beach day.

• How many days do you need in Maldives?

In order to truly take in all of the beauty that Maldives has to offer, you would need around a week or more. This allows you to also explore different standout islands in all the atolls for a truly all-rounded experience.

• What is the cheapest time to go to the Maldives?

Maldives summer and autumn months between June and November are the country’s low peak season. This is largely due to the generally unfavorable and unpredictable weather during these seasons.

• Is Mauritius better than Maldives?

When it comes to seasons and the best time to visit, probably Mauritius is better than Maldives. It has a larger number of favourable visiting months. However, the Maldives has a higher number of beautiful beaches and atolls.

If you are planning your trip between December and April then the Maldives is probably winning. Mauritius, however, offer more predictable weather through the remaining part of the year with still some remarkable and amazing beaches (read more here on the top beaches of Mauritius)