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Best Time of Year to Visit the MaldivesExplore > Travel Planning Articles > Best Time of Year to Visit the MaldivesDate published: 2023-05-07
Photo courtesy Jon Haase.
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Where are the Maldives?The Maldives are a coveted vacation spot as the smallest country in Asia (regarding both size and population). This beautiful destination has historically been known under different names in the Sanskrit language, translated as "Necklace Islands," "Garland of Islands," and "Hundred Thousand Islands." Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa 5 nights from 6,964 per person  Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is a barefoot luxury resort, evoking a remote, untouched paradise. Its unique location, away from the teeming atolls of the north, blesses its guests with a pure Maldivian experience. The careful and seamless integration of environment, culture and modern design provides the perfect place to rest, relax, and recharge. Our resort is located on a private island tucked away within North Huvadhoo, the deepest atoll in the Maldives, and just 55km north of the equator.The conscious approach to the environment at our Maldives resort allows guests to enjoy a pristinely perfect beach, blanketed by the softest powdery shoreline. The white sandy beach encircling Hadahaa and the crystal azure waters enchants guests to spend the day soaking up the glorious Maldivian sun. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is framed by one of the most unspoilt house reefs in the archipelago, providing easy access for exploration of the underwater marvels of the Indian Ocean. Featuring only 50 villas, the contemporary interiors of our guests accommodations are designed with the utmost comfort and privacy in mind, reflecting the Hadahaa landscape. Whether nestled within the island’s lush tropical greenery or elevated above the water, guests are only steps away from the clear ocean waters and idyllic beach. All villas feature floor-to-ceiling windows and door that lead out to a private deck, some fitted with a personal plunge pool, and direct access to the beach. As one of the top hotels in Maldives, we invite guests to delight in a variety of dining experiences available at the resort's two restaurants – The Dining Room and The Island Grill. Both restaurants present guests with international and regionally inspired dishes in well-designed yet casual settings. The contemporary poolside bar and the unique Dhoni are great places to sit back and unwind while enjoying refreshing drinks. Discover personalized private dining experiences that include Sunset, Starlight, Shoreline and Maldivian, each showcasing a unique aspect of the island. In-villa dining is available for guests at any time. Our luxury beach resort provides a range of aqua-centric activities allowing guests to make the most of the natural surroundings. Blue Journeys, our 5 star PADI Dive and Activity Centre, creates tailor-made journeys for guests. Diving and snorkeling around the island’s magnificent private reef is a must while local island visits, dolphin spotting, sunset cruises and the one of a kind Cross the Equator excursion will offer ever lasting memories. Retreat into the serenity of one of The Vidhun Spa’s five private villas for a rejuvenating treatment or opt to relax in the spa’s 80-foot tranquility pool. The Vidhun Spa provides inspiring treatments that heat, cool or hydrate the body reflecting Maldivian healing philosophies and traditions. Completing the wellness concept of The Vidhun Spa, private or shared yoga sessions are available with the resort instructor. Recent accolades include: 2016 Gold EarthCheck Certification 2016, 2015, 2014 World Travel Awards: Maldives' Leading Green Resort 2016 Blue Journeys PADI Green Star Award 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 Silver EarthCheck Certification 2015 World Travel Awards: Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort 2015 TripAdvisor Hall of Fame Award 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award 2014 International Considerate Hotel of the Year 2013 MATATO: Leading Dive Resort in the Maldives 2013 International Hotel Award: Best Sustainable Hotel in Asia Pacific 2012 Green Good Design Award 
Wedding pavilion at Angsana Resort & Spa Ihuru. Photo courtesy the resort. As a cluster of small islands in the Indian ocean, the Maldives are made up mostly of the water in between its 1,190 islands, about 90 of which are developed as tourist resorts. Their unique layout into a double chain of 26 atolls spread out over roughly 35,000 square miles. Each atoll adds to a variety of vibrant coral reefs teeming with lush underwater life including fish, sea turtles, whales, and dolphins. Six Senses Laamu 5 nights from 7,571 per person  Beautifully remote, yet easily accessible by plane and boat from Malé, Six Senses Laamu is set in a lagoon where dolphins swim along the sandy shoreline. With villas set over-water and on the palm-fringed island, there are all the creature comforts, plus a choice of overwater lounges and restaurants and amazing excursion experiences. Six Senses Laamu is the only resort in the Laamu Atoll, deep in the Indian Ocean. The resort is a combination of on-land and over-water villas constructed of sustainable materials and set around the palm-fringed paradise.Sea breezes drift among the rustic woods under high palm-thatched roofs at Laamu’s six bars and restaurants, most set over water. Edible memories at each venue are enhanced by enchanting tropical vistas, from inspiring equatorial sunrises above the translucent turquoise lagoon waters to romantic rose-coloured sunsets that dissolve into the evening sea. Set right on the beach, Six Senses Spa offers four uniquely designed couple's treatment nests, four secluded couple's treatment pavilions plus one Ayurvedic treatment pavilion, all within the island’s natural vegetation. Highly skilled therapists use a variety of natural products to provide a comprehensive range of award-winning signature treatments, and rejuvenation and wellness specialties of the region. Some of the best visiting practitioners offer guests personal consultations and holistic therapies to achieve a better state of mind and more fulfilling life experiences. Dolphins swim along the seashell dappled shores of Six Senses Laamu, the only resort in Laamu Atoll and just five degrees north of the Equator. Guest snorkel in Laamu’s coral rich house reef among Oriental Sweetlips, parrotfish and even green turtles. Yin Yang, the Maldives’ most famous surfing wave that breaks just offshore is an impressive attraction. The waters have so much to offer for fun activities. Six Senses Laamu is a children-friendly resort. On site we have a our children's club called, The Den, which is a professionally managed children's club with a wide range of activities and games. Babysitting services are on request. Around the resort and in the villa: Children toys, baby chairs at restaurant, baby cots, family activities, hammocks. With sunshine and sand, children will enjoy a great outing. They have a choice of outdoor and indoor games. If they are able to swim well, and with the permission of the parents, they can go snorkeling to see the wide variety of sea creatures in our house reef. A wedding to remember for always can be beautifully catered for at Six Senses Laamu. We cherish this and provide you a location and services that dream weddings are made of. We offer unique locations, either on land or over water to affirm your love with a private or small ceremony. Reconfirm you commitment of love against a backdrop of some of the most beautiful natural scenery anywhere in the world. Let your creativity, with that of our Experiences team, plan something really special, either over water or on land. Everything is possible. 
Maldivian beach villas. Photo courtesy Jon Haase. Typical airfares from New York (JFK) to Male, Republic of the MaldivesCOMO Cocoa Island 5 nights from 5,721 per person  Cocoa Island is the Indian Ocean outpost from COMO Hotels and Resorts. With bristling reef life and long stretches of white sand beach, Cocoa Island is an indulgence not to be missed.Kick back and relax on your sundeck, toes dipped into the island's peaceful lagoon. For those who want to do more, Cocoa Island offers an active island life. From first-time divers to Yoga devotees, from keen sailors to idle snorkellers – we've got the equipment, knowledge and expertise for a memorable stay. The diving is exceptional, with our own team ready to instruct and guide. Explore our online Travel Planner to discover the full range of activities we have on offer, including deep-sea fishing, watersports, beach drop-offs and private full-day fishing charters. The Maldives are made up of tiny dots strung out like turquoise ink spots. Many summits sit just below the surface of the water. The coral reefs are exceptional, creating a world-class diving destination. Like Cocoa Island, most resorts occupy their own private island. The government has sensibly controlled tourism development. Outside the capital, Malé, where the international airport is located, there's no traffic. The only thing you might hear is the sound of fishermen calling to each other on the sea. Cocoa Island, known locally as Makunufushi, is located among South Malé's coral atolls. Our island is long and thin with sand snaking out into a perfect spit that disappears with the evening tide. The first thing to strike you on arrival is the welcome of palms, hibiscus and Kadjan/Coconut Thatching while the house reef, which encircles Cocoa, delineates a gin-clear lagoon. See & compare all resorts in the Maldives atollsIf you're trying to decide where to stay on Ari Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll, Male, North Male Atoll, North Baa Atoll, or South Male Atolls, we can help! For the 28 resorts there, we've got nearly 500 high-resolution photos, 7 videos, and 13 virtual tours to help you find your Maldivian dream resort. Click here to use our Visual Explorer to check out all of them. 
Photo courtesy Jon Haase. Best time of year to go to the MaldivesAs a tropical monsoon climate, the Maldives have two dominating seasons: a dry season (associated with dry northeast winter monsoons) and a wet season (associated with moist southwest monsoons and strong winds and storms). The dry season has little rain and lower humidity; it lasts from December-April. The wet season is (you guessed it) wetter, characterized by stronger winds and rain; it lasts from May-November. For divers, both the dry and wet seasons have their advantages: during the dry season, visibility is superb, due to currents beginning to flow in November from the northeast; the currents start to weaken in February. During the wet season, the water temperatures are a couple of degrees lower, and this seems to inspire larger numbers of hammerhead sharks and reef sharks to congregate, and to do so in shallower waters than in the dry season. Visibility isn't as good, however, as the currents are less. 
Aerial view of Sheraton Full Moon Maldives. Photo courtesy the resort. Average temperatures in the MaldivesThe temperature remains fairly consistent year-round, ranging only from the low- to mid-80's (Fahrenheit). September-January tend to hover around the 80 degree mark, and February-August tend to reach a little higher around the mid-80's. Chances are any time you decide to visit, the Maldives will be pleasantly warm. Constance Halaveli 5 nights from 6,209 per person  Stroll down white sand beaches and swim in turquoise waters teeming with colourful marine life. Children travelling can unleash their spirit of adventure at the Constance Kids' Club. Lie back and relax on your own private sun terrace, dip in your own plunge pool, or take time to nurture your body and soul with a treatment specially tailored for you at the Spa de Constance.Spa facilities Facilities include: Steam bath Sauna Bath Chill and Hot Plunge pool Relaxing area 7 single treatment rooms 3 double treatment rooms Yoga pavilion Ocean Salon – beauty salon including hairdresser, stylist, bridal consultation, manicure and pedicure Open daily from 9am to 9pm. Fitness Technogym kinesis wall Life fitness cardio equipment TV Screens & USB Port Tennis court Storms in the MaldivesDuring the winter rainy season, afternoon showers occur with frequency. In the case of a tropical storm or cyclone, residents and travelers are relocated to safe areas. Fortunately, the Maldives are not as prone to cyclones as other islands; only 11 cyclones have affected the Maldives in over 128 years. 
Overwater villas in the Maldives. Photo courtesy Jon Haase. Rangali Island 5 nights from 22,383 per person  The 5-star Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a combination of three distinct resort experiences on two islands surrounded by a coral reef and lagoon. It's also home to two spas, seven restaurants - including the world's only all-glass undersea restaurant - and three bars, as well as kilometers of white sand beaches, outstanding diving and snorkeling, and a wealth of other sports. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island combines exceptional services and amenities with world-class hospitality in one of the world's most beautiful locations. Food lovers and wine connoisseurs will love the seven outstanding restaurants and four bars set in spectacular Maldivian beach settings and the unique dining experience of the world's first all-glass undersea restaurant, the Ithaa, 16 feet below sea level. The Atoll Market restaurant serves world cuisine from eight international kitchens. Choose the Koko Grill Restaurant for a nine-course Japanese feast. Fine wines await discovery six feet underwater in The Wine Cellar serving degustation wine dinners. Book a private beach dinner with your own chef and waiter or a sensational beachside feast with fresh lobsters and champagne. Indulge in spa therapies at the two stunning spas on stilts over the Indian Ocean offering luxury treatments in glass-floored treatment rooms. Exercise in the fully equipped fitness center. Swim in the two infinite view swimming pools and play tennis by the ocean. Do business in the 24-hour business center. Spectacular scenery makes this resort the perfect location for weddings and honeymoons. Buy something special in the resort's three boutiques offering Italian designer wear, jewellery and gift items. This amazing resort has a Dive Center and Watersports Center and a "Nemo" style mini submarine to take two passengers on a 30-minute ride of a lifetime to see the resort's coral reef. What's special about the Maldives?Tourism is relatively recent here--really, it all started for the Maldives in 1972 with just 2 resorts. It's grown to over 80 resorts today. It's the lowest country in the world (yes, it's in the record books) with an average altitude of only about 5 feet above sea level. You're going to get fabulous lagoons protected by coral reefs and other atolls, and gorgeous beaches. But you won't get the knife-edge mountain backdrops you'd see somewhere like Bora Bora, or jungle hikes to waterfalls like you'd get in Hawaii, Fiji, or the Seychelles. 
Infinity pool at the Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa. Photo courtesy the resort. Certainly it's famous for fantastic snorkeling, scuba diving, and above-water sports too. Like the Seychelles, you're going to be a long ways from a major land mass, which means dense schools of fish, less pollution, and more privacy. The roughly 1200 islands are all quite small, with none of them larger than 5 miles across. Each atoll has on average about a half dozen inhabited islands, plus 20 to 60 that are uninhabited. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa 5 nights from 6,964 per person Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is a barefoot luxury resort, evoking a remote, untouched paradise. Its unique location, away from the teeming atolls of the north, blesses its guests with a pure Maldivian experience. The careful and seamless integration of environment, culture and modern design provides the perfect place to rest, relax, and recharge. Our resort is located on a private island tucked away within North Huvadhoo, the deepest atoll in the Maldives, and just 55km north of the equator.The conscious approach to the environment at our Maldives resort allows guests to enjoy a pristinely perfect beach, blanketed by the softest powdery shoreline. The white sandy beach encircling Hadahaa and the crystal azure waters enchants guests to spend the day soaking up the glorious Maldivian sun. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is framed by one of the most unspoilt house reefs in the archipelago, providing easy access for exploration of the underwater marvels of the Indian Ocean. Featuring only 50 villas, the contemporary interiors of our guests accommodations are designed with the utmost comfort and privacy in mind, reflecting the Hadahaa landscape. Whether nestled within the island’s lush tropical greenery or elevated above the water, guests are only steps away from the clear ocean waters and idyllic beach. All villas feature floor-to-ceiling windows and door that lead out to a private deck, some fitted with a personal plunge pool, and direct access to the beach. As one of the top hotels in Maldives, we invite guests to delight in a variety of dining experiences available at the resort's two restaurants – The Dining Room and The Island Grill. Both restaurants present guests with international and regionally inspired dishes in well-designed yet casual settings. The contemporary poolside bar and the unique Dhoni are great places to sit back and unwind while enjoying refreshing drinks. Discover personalized private dining experiences that include Sunset, Starlight, Shoreline and Maldivian, each showcasing a unique aspect of the island. In-villa dining is available for guests at any time. Our luxury beach resort provides a range of aqua-centric activities allowing guests to make the most of the natural surroundings. Blue Journeys, our 5 star PADI Dive and Activity Centre, creates tailor-made journeys for guests. Diving and snorkeling around the island’s magnificent private reef is a must while local island visits, dolphin spotting, sunset cruises and the one of a kind Cross the Equator excursion will offer ever lasting memories. Retreat into the serenity of one of The Vidhun Spa’s five private villas for a rejuvenating treatment or opt to relax in the spa’s 80-foot tranquility pool. The Vidhun Spa provides inspiring treatments that heat, cool or hydrate the body reflecting Maldivian healing philosophies and traditions. Completing the wellness concept of The Vidhun Spa, private or shared yoga sessions are available with the resort instructor. Recent accolades include: 2016 Gold EarthCheck Certification 2016, 2015, 2014 World Travel Awards: Maldives' Leading Green Resort 2016 Blue Journeys PADI Green Star Award 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 Silver EarthCheck Certification 2015 World Travel Awards: Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort 2015 TripAdvisor Hall of Fame Award 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award 2014 International Considerate Hotel of the Year 2013 MATATO: Leading Dive Resort in the Maldives 2013 International Hotel Award: Best Sustainable Hotel in Asia Pacific 2012 Green Good Design Award 
Underground wine cellar and chocolate cave at Gili Lankanfushi, North Male Atoll, Maldives. Photo courtesy the resort. Traditional Maldivian cuisine is based on coconuts, fish, and starches. Skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, frigate tuna and wahoo are common in Maldivian cuisine. As well, a thick brown paste made from tuna, called Rihaakuru, is an essential part of many dishes. Maldivians don't eat raw fish, however (but that doesn't mean you won't ever find sushi in resort restaurants). Their starches are typically rice, taro (the root ingredient of Hawaii's poi), sweet potato, and cassava. You'll find a strong Indian influence--not surprising, given the proximity--and a plethora of different curries. As a tourist in the resorts, expect to find Indian and Maldivian options, but also food styles from around the world. The resorts are well aware that many guests will want to what what's familiar to them. Check this video overview of the Maldives, courtesy Maldives Tourist Promotion Board (MTPB): 
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