When is the best time to visit the Maldives?

The Maldives are a wonderful destination, where you can holiday in luxury and relax on beautiful white sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters all year round.

But when is the best time to visit the Maldives?

Read more about the Maldives’ climate below, and find out when it’s the best time for you to travel there.

NB: The guide below is a guideline only.

The Maldives’ climate

The Maldives is located about 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Sri Lanka, right on the equator, giving it a tropical climate.

The daytime temperature is 28–30 degrees all year round, the temperature at night is a few degrees lower, and the water temperature never drops below 28 degrees, making the Maldives fabulous to visit at any time of the year.

The climate of the Maldives is affected by the two monsoons, Iruvai and Hulhangu, which create the Maldives’ dry and rainy season

Please note that Maldives stretch over an area of 800 km from north to south, so there may be local variations in the weather.

The Maldives’ dry season: December – April

The dry season typically lasts from December to April and is created by the Iruvai monsoon, which blows in across the Maldives from the north-east.

During the dry season, there is less rain than the other months of the year, and the humidity is low. The period offers plenty of sunshine – up to 10 hours a day – so if you want to sunbathe and enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches with their swaying palm trees, the dry season is ideal.

The dry season is also good for diving or snorkelling in the coral reefs around the archipelago as the water is very clear. Spot sea turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish here.

Please note that the dry season starts in December, when, statistically, there is still quite a lot of rain. However, the rain typically falls at the beginning of the month.

The Maldives’ dry season offers:

• Hot temperatures of around 28–30 degrees.
• Low humidity
• Many hours of sunshine, up to 10 hours a day
• High visibility in the water, making it great for diving and snorkelling
• High season, which can mean higher prices

The Maldives’ rainy season: May – November

The Maldives’ rainy season is from May to November.

The rainy season in the Maldives is created by the south-west monsoon, which is called Hulhangu. The monsoon produces torrential, but often brief, tropical showers. And the rain often falls in the evening or around midday and is typically followed by sunshine. The humidity is slightly higher in the rainy season, but it doesn’t make all that much difference because there is a constant sea breeze blowing in over the islands.

It might be rainy season, but it’s still hot and the temperature is around 30 degrees, just as in the dry season. You can also expect between 6 and 8 hours of sunshine every day. Plus a holiday in the Maldives is a little cheaper in the rainy season than in the other months of the year.

During the rainy season, more reef sharks come in to the coast, which divers may be lucky enough to see. The visibility in the water is not as good as in the dry season, because the currents in the water around the Maldives are weaker in the rainy season. If you want to experience the enormous manta rays, it is best between June and October.

The Maldives’ rainy season offers:

• Hot temperatures of around 28–30 degrees.
• Snorkelling and diving with rays and perhaps reef sharks
• Higher humidity
• Tropical rainfall followed by sun
• 6–8 hours of sunshine a day
• Low season, which can mean lower prices

Want to experience the white sandy beaches of the Maldives?

The Maldives offer fantastic beach experiences all year round. And the Maldives are also a great way to round off a holiday in Sri Lanka.

If you’re unsure when it would be the best time for you to travel to the Maldives, please contact our travel specialists who are on hand to help you.

Please note: The above guide to the Maldives’ climate is a guideline only. Always check the weather forecast before your tour and contact our travel specialists if in any doubt about when to travel.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller