While there’s never a bad time to be in the Maldives, if you’re spending a small fortune on a holiday, you want to make sure it ticks all of your boxes!Here’s the lowdown on the best time to go.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the best time to visit the Maldives – what’s right for one person could be completely wrong for another. It all depends on what you want from your holiday. Some people crave guaranteed sunshine, others want pumping surf or superb visibility for diving and snorkelling, and some people simply want to maximise their budget.
Whatever you want from your time in paradise, our month-by-month guide will help you get it. And to make it even simpler, we created a quick reference guide or cheat sheet that you can download and save for later.
The best time to go to the Maldives at a glance
The Maldives has a tropical climate and is hot year-round, with daytime temperatures consistently between 28 and 31ºC (82 and 88ºF). The best time to visit is largely defined by the country’s two distinct seasons – the dry season (northeast monsoon), which runs from January to March and the wet season (southwest monsoon), which spans May to November. December and April are transitional months.
- Dry season in the Maldives: January – March (northeast monsoon)
- Wet season in the Maldives: May – November (southwest monsoon)
- Transitional months for weather: April and December
- Best weather in the Maldives overall: January – March
- Month with the least rainfall: February
- Month with the most rainfall: October
- Best time for surfing in the Maldives: March – November
- Best visibility for diving in the Maldives: December – April
- Most affordable time to visit the Maldives: May – October
Cheat sheet for the best time to visit the Maldives
To make it easy to figure out the best time to visit the Maldives for your ideal holiday, we created this cheat sheet. To download it:
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Month-by-month guide
January in the Maldives
Why visit in January: January consistently serves up excellent weather with plenty of sunshine and gentle breezes. It’s the perfect time to visit if you’re hoping for clear skies and warm temperatures. The ocean tends to be calm and visibility is superb, making it an ideal time for snorkelling or a stay at one of the Maldives’ top diving resorts.
Weather in January: Expect average high temperatures around 29°C (84°F) with the possibility of showers, particularly in the southern atolls.
Top activities: Snorkelling, diving, watersports, and outdoor activities like excursions, sunset dinners, stargazing, and open-air cinema.
February in the Maldives
Why visit in February: February typically offers the Maldives’ best weather, with long days of sunshine and rainfall at its lowest level for the year. Light winds, calm water, and excellent underwater visibility make it a great time for water-based activities and excursions. It’s also the ideal month for couples looking for a romantic retreat, with many resorts offering special packages for Valentine’s Day.
Weather in February: Temperatures are pleasant, with highs around 29°C (84°F) and minimal rainfall.
Top activities: Snorkelling, diving, watersports, and outdoor activities like excursions, sunset dinners, stargazing, and outdoor cinema, plus couples’ spa treatments.
March in the Maldives
Why visit in March: The dry season continues throughout March with hot, sunny days and little rainfall. March is also the beginning of the surf season in the Maldives, so if you’re looking for a combination of waves and great weather, now’s the time to head to a luxury surf resort. That being said, as March is part of the shoulder season for surfing, you might find that swells are not as consistent as later in the year, so if guaranteed waves are your priority, it could pay to wait a little longer.
Weather in March: Days are typically dry and sunny with highs of around 31°C (88°F), but you may experience the odd rain shower.
Top activities: Snorkelling, diving, surfing, watersports, and outdoor activities like excursions, sunset dinners, stargazing, and open-air cinema.
April in the Maldives
Why visit in April: April is the last month of peak season in the Maldives and continues to offer lovely weather and great conditions for water sports, with good visibility for diving and snorkelling. Towards the end of the month, the dry season gives way to the southwest monsoon season and you may experience higher rainfall.
Weather in April: Average high temperatures hover around 31°C (88°F), with occasional rainfall, particularly later in the month.
Top activities: Snorkelling, diving, surfing, watersports, and outdoor activities like excursions, sunset dinners, stargazing, and open-air cinema.
May in the Maldives
Why visit in May: As the southwest monsoon takes over, perfect weather trades places with perfect waves, so if surfing in the Maldives is on your bucket list, start packing. May marks the beginning of the low season, with fewer crowds and cheaper deals available. This is also a great time to spot manta rays and whale sharks in the central atolls.
Weather in May: Expect the wind to pick up, along with occasional heavy rainfall and overcast skies. Temperatures remain warm at around 31°C (88°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness experiences.
June in the Maldives
Why visit in June: June continues the monsoon season, but don’t let the possibility of rain deter you. It’s a great time for guilt-free relaxation and rejuvenation, with luxury resorts offering world-class spa treatments and wellness experiences, many in stunning overwater spas. Resort prices are among the lowest in June, making it a fantastic time to visit the Maldives on a budget.
Weather in June: Sunny periods are usually interspersed with rainfall. Temperatures remain around 31°C (88°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness sessions like yoga and meditation.
July in the Maldives
Why visit in July: July is ideal for a diverse range of travellers seeking relaxation and adventure. Rain may feature in your itinerary, but so will the opportunity for encounters with breathtaking marine life, nourishing wellness experiences, and watersports like surfing and kitesurfing.
Weather in July: Rainfall continues, but so do sunny breaks. Temperatures remain warm at around 31°C (88°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness sessions like yoga and meditation.
August in the Maldives
Why visit in August: August is an excellent time to visit the Maldives if you don’t mind the possibility of rain. Resort and flight prices remain among their lowest, and many resorts offer perks like complimentary villa and meal plan upgrades.The surf season is in full swing, with consistent swells producing the biggest waves between June and August.
Weather in August: Occasional rain with sunny periods. Temperatures remain warm at around 31°C (88°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness sessions like yoga and meditation.
September in the Maldives
Why visit in September: September continues to offer lower prices and fewer crowds, along with the opportunity to witness incredible marine life, like manta rays and whale sharks. While the weather can be unpredictable, there are still plenty of sunny intervals to enjoy outdoor activities and water sports such as surfing and kitesurfing.
Weather in September: A mix of downpours and sunny periods. Temperatures remain around 30°C (86°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness sessions like yoga and meditation.
October in the Maldives
Why visit in October: October is the start of the transitional period between the wet monsoon and the dry monsoon seasons. The weather is typically a mix of heavy rain and sunshine, but the warm waters of the Maldives remain inviting year-round and October offers excellent conditions for various water sports.
Weather in October: Possibly abundant rainfall but a healthy amount of sunshine too, with temperatures peaking around 30°C (86°F).
Top activities: Surfing, kitesurfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness sessions like yoga and meditation.
November in the Maldives
Why visit in November: Weather-wise, November is similar to October in that you can expect a mix of rain and sunshine, but rainfall should start gradually reducing as we head towards the dry season, particularly in the northern atolls.
Weather in November: Sunshine and showers, with daytime temperatures peaking around 29°C (84°F).
Top activities: Surfing, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, spa treatments, and wellness experiences.
December in the Maldives
Why visit in December: December is the beginning of the dry season in the Maldives and the weather starts to become more settled, particularly in the northern atolls, though showers are still possible. Many luxury resorts offer special packages for the festive period, including lavish celebration dinners. Underwater visibility also begins to improve in December, and it’s a great time to enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving.
Weather in December: Plenty of sun with occasional showers. Temperatures hover around 29°C (84°F).
Top activities: Special festive celebrations, water sports, and exploring the vibrant underwater world.
A caveat to the best time to visit the Maldives
When you’re weighing up the best time to visit the Maldives, it’s important to remember that all weather data is based on past conditions, and it’s impossible to predict the future. So while the wet season months of May to November typically see more unsettled weather with higher rainfall, you could have back-to-back days of sunshine. Equally, you could experience grey skies and showers in the dry season – there’s no way to know for sure what will happen.
Bear in mind that the Maldives is a long, thin chain of islands spanning more than 500 miles from north to south. Just as you’d expect different cities to have different weather, the same is true from one atoll to another and even neighbouring islands!
Finally, don’t forget that weather averages usually take account of the whole country and that regional variations, for example, higher rainfall in the southern atolls, may slightly skew the overall picture. Use the weather data as a guide, but don’t rely on it in absolute terms.
And, as always, if you need help planning any aspect of your Maldives holiday, feel free to get in touch.
