Showing: Mar · Bailey Mahon / Unsplash
Maldives · South Asia
Best time to visit Maldives
March
Mar scores highest overall — reliable weather and strong local atmosphere. Set your priorities above to personalise this result.
Not personalised yet — add your priorities to get a result tailored to you.
All 12 months — click any to expand
Mar
Bailey Mahon / Unsplash
End of peak season: still excellent conditions, prices beginning to ease slightly.
30.8°C
High
26.5°C
Low
77mm
Rain
9.4h
Sun/day
What you gain
- ↑Conditions essentially identical to February — 9.4 hours of sun, minimal rain
- ↑Whale shark season at South Ari Atoll (best March–July): reliable sightings around Dhidhoofinolhu
- ↑Prices slightly below February peak as school holiday timing shifts demand
What you sacrifice
- ↓Still premium pricing: budget options limited
- ↓Growing heat and humidity compared to January–February
- ↓Transition approaching: some variability in conditions toward end of March
Mar scores highest overall — reliable weather and strong local atmosphere. Set your priorities above to personalise this result.
Mar
End of peak season: still excellent conditions, prices beginning to ease slightly.
30.8°C
High
77mm
Rain
9.4h
Sun
- ↑Conditions essentially identical to February — 9.4 hours of sun, minimal rain
- ↑Whale shark season at South Ari Atoll (best March–July): reliable sightings around Dhidhoofinolhu
- ↑Prices slightly below February peak as school holiday timing shifts demand
- ↓Still premium pricing: budget options limited
- ↓Growing heat and humidity compared to January–February
- ↓Transition approaching: some variability in conditions toward end of March
Top travel windows
★ BestMarch
Best overall
Highest combined score
30.8°C
High
77mm
Rain
9.4h
Sun
May
Best for value
Lowest prices & fees
31.5°C
High
187mm
Rain
6.6h
Sun
May
Fewest crowds
Quietest month
31.5°C
High
187mm
Rain
6.6h
Sun
Breakdown by priority
Best for weather
February
30.2°C high · 55mm rain · 9.5hrs sun/day
Best for budget
May
Prices 40–50% below dry season peak — the most significant value drop of the year
Fewest crowds
May
Resorts genuinely quiet — premium service and empty pools
Month by month breakdown
January#9▾
Gains
- ↑NE monsoon conditions: calm, crystal-clear waters with 25–30m visibility for snorkelling and diving
- ↑8.4 hours of sunshine daily: reliable blue-sky days on the overwater bungalows
- ↑Hammerhead sharks at Rasdhoo Atoll and manta rays at South Malé Atoll both active
Sacrifices
- ↓Among the most expensive months: 5-star resorts commanding full premium rates
- ↓New Year demand keeps January prices elevated despite distance from Christmas
- ↓Limited "value" options — budget resorts also at near-peak rates in dry season
February#4▾
Gains
- ↑Lowest rainfall month (55mm): fewer clouds than any other time, clearest skies of the year
- ↑9.5 hours of sunshine: maximum beach and water time
- ↑Valentine's Day drives luxury honeymoon bookings — resorts fully decorated and attentive
Sacrifices
- ↓Valentine's week pushes already-high prices further: romantic packages command significant premium
- ↓Absolute peak booking period — many resorts sold out a year in advance
- ↓Budget travel essentially impossible during February dry season
March#1▾
Gains
- ↑Conditions essentially identical to February — 9.4 hours of sun, minimal rain
- ↑Whale shark season at South Ari Atoll (best March–July): reliable sightings around Dhidhoofinolhu
- ↑Prices slightly below February peak as school holiday timing shifts demand
Sacrifices
- ↓Still premium pricing: budget options limited
- ↓Growing heat and humidity compared to January–February
- ↓Transition approaching: some variability in conditions toward end of March
April#2▾
Gains
- ↑Prices dropping 25–30% from January–March peak as the season transitions
- ↑Whale shark sightings at South Ari Atoll at maximum frequency
- ↑Less crowded resorts: more attentive service and quieter lagoons than peak season
Sacrifices
- ↓Rainfall increasing noticeably: 107mm — occasional afternoon showers interrupt plans
- ↓Humidity building toward its annual high
- ↓SW monsoon approaching: some surf spots beginning to activate on west-facing breaks
May#3▾
Gains
- ↑Prices 40–50% below dry season peak — the most significant value drop of the year
- ↑World-class surfing at Lohis, Cokes, and Chickens (south Malé Atoll): consistent SW swell
- ↑Resorts genuinely quiet — premium service and empty pools
Sacrifices
- ↓187mm of rain across the month: expect daily showers, often heavy
- ↓Grey skies interrupt the consistently blue-sky experience of dry season
- ↓Visibility drops in some dive sites due to increased plankton — varies by atoll
June#6▾
Gains
- ↑Manta ray aggregation season in North Malé Atoll and Baa Atoll (UNESCO Biosphere): snorkelling with mantas in feeding frenzies
- ↑Surfing at its best: consistent overhead SW swell at well-known breaks
- ↑Prices 40–50% below dry season; most accessible budget window
Sacrifices
- ↓165mm of rain: showers frequent, sometimes prolonged
- ↓Beach and lagoon time weather-dependent rather than guaranteed
- ↓Fewer dive charter options as some operators reduce schedules in monsoon
July#11▾
Gains
- ↑European summer creates moderate demand — resorts more lively than June
- ↑Continued manta ray season: Baa Atoll still excellent for responsible encounters
- ↑Surfing still reliable at SW-facing breaks for experienced surfers
Sacrifices
- ↓175mm of rain: the wettest consistent period of the year
- ↓European demand in July prevents the deep discounts of May–June
- ↓Rough seas between atolls make speedboat transfers less comfortable
August#12▾
Gains
- ↑Surfing at Lohis and Chickens at consistent best performance
- ↑Absolute lowest occupancy at most resorts — personalised service at its peak
- ↑Despite rain, temperatures remain warm and swimming is fine between showers
Sacrifices
- ↓193mm: statistically the wettest month — heavy showers most days
- ↓Least sunshine of the wet season (6 hours still manageable but overcast periods common)
- ↓Underwater visibility at its most variable due to monsoon plankton bloom
September#7▾
Gains
- ↑Lowest occupancy month of the year: extraordinary attention to guest ratio
- ↑Prices at annual lows — premium resorts accessible at budget-friendly rates
- ↑Manta ray season extending into early September at Baa Atoll
Sacrifices
- ↓168mm of rain: continuing heavy monsoon
- ↓Rough seas and grey skies dominate — not the Maldives Instagram has sold you
- ↓Limited dive visibility at many sites due to monsoon conditions
October#5▾
Gains
- ↑Sunshine hours recovering (7.5 daily): better than June–September, brighter days increasing
- ↑Whale shark season returning at South Ari Atoll from mid-October
- ↑Prices 35–40% below dry season peak with improving conditions
Sacrifices
- ↓Still 187mm of rain — monsoon not over, afternoon showers remain common
- ↓NE dry season not properly established until mid-November
- ↓Some uncertainty about conditions: good windows and rainy windows alternate
November#8▾
Gains
- ↑NE monsoon arrives: seas calm, visibility improving week by week to 20–25m by month end
- ↑Prices still 20–25% below peak dry season — good value for genuine dry season quality
- ↑Resort demand picking up: good availability without the peak-season competition
Sacrifices
- ↓143mm of rain: still meaningful rainfall in early November before dry season fully establishes
- ↓Some weeks of mixed conditions as the monsoon transition plays out
- ↓Prices climbing as demand returns for the Christmas season ahead
December#10▾
Gains
- ↑Conditions approaching February quality: 8.3 sunshine hours, clear seas, 20m+ visibility
- ↑Christmas and New Year at an overwater bungalow: the quintessential luxury holiday
- ↑All water sports, diving, and snorkelling at optimal conditions
Sacrifices
- ↓Christmas and New Year week: the most expensive days of the year at most resorts
- ↓Booked 12 months in advance for the best properties — last-minute options limited
- ↓December still has 109mm of rain: some afternoon showers possible even in peak season
How this is calculated
Climate data
Open Meteo ERA5
30-year normals (1991–2020). Temperature, rainfall, sunshine, humidity.
Price & crowd
Tourism research
Seasonal pricing from tourism authority data. Directional — compares months within a destination only.
Personalisation
Weighted scoring
Your priorities change the weights. Budget-first users get different results than weather-first users.