The best time to visit the Maldives
The ideal period
Do you dream of a tropical climate and long stretches of fine sand? The Maldives is a destination for you. But when should you visit these islands? What is the prevailing climate in this archipelago? The Maldives enjoys a hot and humid tropical climate due to its geographical location in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Located 983 km from Sri Lanka and 820 km from Cochin in South India, the Maldives archipelago is subject to relatively stable temperatures throughout the year. In Malé, the capital, the average annual temperature is 30 degrees.
The south-western & north-eastern seasons
Two monsoon periods punctuate the Maldivian seasons: the south-western and the north-eastern seasons. The first takes place between the beginning of May and the end of August. It provides sea breezes on the northern islands, with cloud cover and higher humidity. The temperature is almost 26°C all year round for the minimums and 30°C for the maximums.
The second one takes place from the end of September to December. Showers and stealthy thunderstorms take place in the late afternoon, especially in the southern atolls, but nothing that will mar your sunny days. The sun returns as quickly as it has gone. These rainy seasons are natural in the archipelago. Thanks to them, the vegetation is lush and rich.
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A holiday to remember
If you are looking for long sunny days to enjoy the beautiful stretches of fine sand, prefer the periods between January and April. These are months when the sunshine can reach 9 hours per day, with a relatively dry climate. The sea is calm, very suitable for snorkeling, this activity of scuba diving without oxygen tank.
The Maldives archipelago offers a multitude of activities during your stay. Tempted by kite-surfing ? The summer monsoon (between May and August) is the ideal season to practise this exciting sport. Indeed, the wind is necessary for a flight in the air: strong emotions guaranteed!
From May to September, the days are 7 hours long. In the more southern islands, the south-western monsoon has little influence during this summer time. You may consider going to the Maldives in summer if you wish to take your holidays during this period. Tropical cyclones are of low intensity in this region, as the early stages of their formation begin in the Maldives and end in India.
Did you know: Big game fishing is very popular in the Maldives. On board the Dhonis, these typically Maldivian boats, you can admire the exceptional marine fauna of the Maldives: tuna, carangue, swordfish, chicken fish, etc…
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Join the celebrations
If you leave in July, don't miss the Independence Day celebration on the 26th of this month.
This national holiday is worthily celebrated through different parades throughout the archipelago, but it is in Malé, the capital, that the processions are the most impressive.
For the diving and underwater fauna enthusiasts in the Maldives, the Festival Lux Underwater, which takes place in September, will make you discover the new underwater technologies (underwater scooter, iBubble autonomous camera), as well as all the specificities of this biodiversity.