Maldives
Best time to visit the Maldives: month by month
It is summer all year in the Maldives. What changes is the wind, the sea and who you share the lagoon with, and that decides which month suits you.
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In short: the best time to visit the Maldives
The best time to visit the Maldives is from January to April, when the north-east monsoon brings dry weather, calm seas and clear water. The rest of the year the south-west monsoon blows, with more wind and more showers, but also fewer guests and manta season in Baa. December is a time of transition, and Christmas is the most sought-after week of the year.
Our first choice: Gili Lankanfushi, because the short boat ride from the airport makes it just as good in the wet season as in the dry. Check availability and prices
Month by month
January: dry and calm, in the middle of high season. The sea is clear and most days are cloudless.
February: often counted as the best month, with little rain and a still sea.
March: still dry. Swell for surfers starts to arrive.
April: the hottest month and the tail end of the dry season. Easter fills the resorts.
May: the south-west monsoon sets in, with more wind and the first longer spells of rain.
June: fewer guests. Manta rays gather in Baa Atoll.
July: changeable, with sunshine between the showers. Surf and manta season.
August: much like July. Many European families travel now, so the school holidays show.
September: among the wettest months, but also the quietest time at the resorts.
October: a month of transition. The weather settles towards the end.
November: the sea calms and the dry season approaches. Manta season ends.
December: the dry season begins. Christmas and New Year sell out months ahead.
Dry season and wet season
The Maldives sit close to the equator, so it is warm all year, and the difference between the months lies in the wind. The north-east monsoon, known locally as iruvai, brings dry, settled weather through the winter and spring. The south-west monsoon, hulhangu, brings damper air and more wind from May to November.
The wet season rarely means rain all day. Showers tend to come quickly, often in the afternoon or overnight, and the sun is back afterwards. What you notice most is the swell. Seaplanes are grounded when the wind is too strong, which can delay transfers to the more remote resorts.
The best time for what you want to do
Manta rays in Baa Atoll. From June to November, hundreds of manta rays gather in Hanifaru Bay to feed on plankton. The bay is protected, and only snorkelling is allowed there, not diving. Stay in Baa and the resort will arrange the trip.
Whale sharks in South Ari. Whale sharks live along the reef edge of South Ari Atoll all year round. That makes it a good area to choose when you cannot control when you travel.
Surfing. The waves are best from March to October, both around the Malé atolls and far south in Laamu. The rest of the year the ocean is too calm for most boards.
Diving and snorkelling. Visibility is usually best in the dry season, when the water is still. House reefs are good all year, but in strong wind the swell can make it hard to swim out from the beach.
Honeymoons. The dry season is the safest bet if you only get one chance. If you travel in the wet season, choose a resort reached by speedboat from the airport, so the weather cannot stop your transfer.
Where to stay, season by season
Gili Lankanfushi
Gili Lankanfushi's villas stand far out in the lagoon, and the largest can only be reached by boat. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Gili Lankanfushi, North Malé
The speedboat from the airport takes about twenty minutes, so you do not depend on a seaplane. That makes it a safe choice in the wet season, when wind can ground the flights. Every villa stands over the lagoon.
One&Only Reethi Rah
Reethi Rah is large enough for its overwater villas to sit well apart in the lagoon. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
One&Only Reethi Rah, North Malé
Reethi Rah has twelve beaches around the island, so there is always a side sheltered from the wind. The kids' club makes it a good choice for the Christmas and Easter holidays, when families arrive.
Dusit Thani Maldives
Dusit Thani has the island to itself, with the reef forming a ring around it. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Dusit Thani Maldives, Baa
The island lies in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and the house reef is just off the beach. In summer and autumn Hanifaru Bay and its manta rays are a short boat ride away. Good for families who want beach and wildlife in one trip.
LUX* South Ari Atoll
From the decks at LUX* South Ari you look straight out across the atoll. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
LUX* South Ari Atoll
The resort is in South Ari, where whale sharks live all year, and its beach runs the length of the island. A good choice when your trip has to fall in a month of uncertain weather, because the main attraction is there regardless.
Six Senses Laamu
Villas at Six Senses Laamu have a deck with a pool right above the lagoon. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Six Senses Laamu
Laamu lies far to the south, reached by a domestic flight and a speedboat. A well-known surf break sits just off the resort, and from March to October the surfers come. The rest of the year it is a quiet place with few other resorts around.
When to book
Christmas, New Year and Easter are often booked six months ahead, and the best overwater villas go first. For February and March, three to four months is usually enough. In the wet season it is easier to find space at short notice.
Our recommendation
Milaidhoo: manta rays on the doorstep
Milaidhoo lies in Baa Atoll, not far from Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather in summer and autumn. The island is small, and the villas stand either over the lagoon or along the beach, each with its own pool. When the mantas are in the bay, the resort takes you out by boat, and for the rest of the day there is just the reef offshore and the quiet. Milaidhoo is made for couples who travel in the wet season and want something back for it. It also suits anyone keen to see the Maldives below the water as much as above.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
The best time is from January to April, in the dry season, when there is little rain, a calm sea and clear water. February and March are often counted as the best months. The rest of the year brings more wind and more showers, but fewer guests and manta rays to see in Baa.
Is there a rainy season in the Maldives in summer?
Yes, the south-west monsoon brings more rain and wind from May, with the most showers from June to September. Rain usually comes in short bursts, though, and many days are sunny. Consider a resort reached by speedboat from the airport, so your transfer does not depend on a seaplane.
When can you see manta rays in the Maldives?
Manta rays gather in Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll from June to November. The bay is protected, so only guided snorkelling is allowed there. Mantas can be seen elsewhere in the Maldives through the year, but nowhere in such large numbers as in Baa at this time.
Is the Maldives good in December?
Yes, December marks the start of the dry season, and the weather becomes more settled as the month goes on. Christmas is the most sought-after time of the year, so resorts fill up early. Travelling in early December, it is often easier to find space than over the holidays.
How long should you stay in the Maldives?
At least five nights, because the journey from Europe takes a full day each way, and a seaplane or domestic flight comes on top. At resorts with a short speedboat ride, five to seven nights is enough. If the resort is far to the south or north, allow a week or more.