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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." W Maldives 5 nights from 5,382 per person  Escape to W Maldives, a luxury 5-star private island resort setting the stage to fuel guests’ lust for life. Imagine waking up to the sound of the waves drumming against the infinity pool, a wonderland of white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and breathtaking reefs. From the moment you step onto this heart shaped island playground, welcoming infinite days amplified by the only music curator in the Maldives, playful guestrooms and innovative cocktails and cuisine creating a cutting edge lifestyle experience. Cast away yet connected. Natural yet designed. Secluded yet welcoming.Unwind at the pampering AWAY® Spa. Explore the world beneath the waves at DOWN UNDER and glide with reef sharks in the best house reef of the Maldives.W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. Whatever/Whenever ®.Seventy eight individual Retreats are available. 28 land based, Beach Oasis including three twin Beach Oasis; 25 spacious, overwater Ocean Oasis and 21 Ocean Oasis Lagoon View retreats; 3 Seascape Escapes, our junior suites and one ExtremeWOW villa, the 2-bedroom Ocean Haven. The Retreats are a perfect blend of W's innovative architectural design and contemporary living aesthetics with the island village simplicity. Each features an extensive state of the art BOSE sound system, 42" plasma screen TV, CD/DVD, spacious indoor and outdoor living areas, plunge pools, barbecues for private dining, outdoor tropical showers and day beds for lolling in the lap of luxury. Smooth, stylish interior design and all the modern gadgetry one could possibly need are an integral part of the appeal. There is an electric mix of 6 bars and restaurants at W Maldives. Kitchen, the all day dining bistro, and Fire, where you have a choice of 4 different barbeques, provide menus for everyone's palate. Swim up to the pool bar Wet and order a light lunch. For a chilled sunset, enjoy a cocktail and nibbles at Sip. Next door is Fish - the signature seafood restaurant set over the water and under the star; a beautiful great way to soak in the atmosphere and perhaps see a shooting star. There is even a dining option on your own secluded island, Gaathafushi. 15Below, the place to see and be seen, is the only true nightclub in the Maldives, with its own resident DJ and set underground. Flirt with the adventure over the water with our adrenaline filled water sports or go underneath with Down Under, our PADI certified team of dive masters, and discover some of the best dive spots in the Maldives all within close proximity. Alternatively, decelerate. Research escapism and discover true pampering at the AWAY® Spa.Reminiscent of a dhow, a traditional Maldivian boat sporting elegant forms and vibrant sails, the spa embarks you on a journey of transformation. A massage, body wrap, sunburn soother, perhaps immersions in tropical therapies or individual cleansing steam baths, the world is your oyster as you indulge. 
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. 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. 
Maldivian beach villas. Photo courtesy Jon Haase. Typical airfares from New York (JFK) to Male, Republic of the MaldivesFairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi 5 nights from 4,857 per person  Located on the Shaviyani Atoll, which boasts one of the country's largest resort lagoon, Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi is more than just your personal hideaway. Our "secret water island" as dubbed by the locals glistens like a pearl. Poster white sand beaches fringed with swaying palms, kissed by the turquoise waters of the 600-hectare lagoon that gives way to the tranquil blues of the Indian Ocean and a never-ending horizon.Our luxurious resort is home to the longest infinity pool in the Maldives that leads you to the Coralarium, the Maldives' first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation by Jason deCaires Taylor. Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi is surrounded by opulent Beach Villas, decadent Over Water Villas and the unique luxury Tented Jungle Villas. Explore range of unrivaled experiences with us. Sail away to a nearby deserted island for a romantic picnic just for two, join a sunset dolphin cruise aboard your own private yacht, or experience a wide array exhilarating water sports and check it off your bucket list. On other days, snorkel out to the open waters to encounter fascinating and abundant marine life in the company of our experience guides. For the ultimate underwater experience, try a diving trip to our 9km-long house reef, home to the manta ray cleaning stations. Discover the magic of the Maldives with us. It doesn't get any better. 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. 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 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. COMO 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. 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. InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort 5 nights from 4,885 per person  Escape and reconnect with nature, yourself and those who matter most in the sweeping blue panoramic of the Indian Ocean. With soft white sands and palm tree peppered terraces, be mesmerised by island life from the moment you board the seaplane to the tranquil shores of the Raa Atoll. Nestled close to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, prepare to be amazed by the myriad of marine life in our lagoon including a unique manta ray sanctuary.Learn more about InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort Price includes hotel stay and all taxes and fees. 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. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa 5 nights from 6,895 per person  Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa where an unforgettable Maldives adventure on a private coral island, fringed with white sand and crystal water awaits. Palm-thatched bungalows dip their feet into a turquoise sea. An island spa offers soothing Asian secrets. Sunrise, sunshine and sunset paint the endless sky. Sail, dive, surf, or just take in views of the endless sky and sea from your traditional beachfront bungalow. On this lush garden island, everything you need is close at hand. Choose from a wide variety of short, half-day and full-day guided activities, from island-hopping by seaplane to a traditional Baraabaru cooking class. Our infinity-edge freshwater swimming pool and half-metre children's pool ensure that the whole family can easily cool off. Learn to appreciate to majesty of the coral reefs and, if you like, participate in some of the Resort's many conservation projects. Choose from a wide variety of short, half-day and full-day guided activities, from island-hopping by seaplane to a traditional Baraabaru cooking class. Take advantage of our natural surroundings on parasail, jet ski and underwater scooter, or try one of our many snorkeling and fishing options. Malé is the capital of the Republic of Maldives, an island 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long and 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) wide. Though built to the edge, Malé is clean and quaint, with markets, mosques and a maze of small streets that approximately 103,000 people call home. A pleasant 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé International Airport, visitors are welcomed to the enchanting island of Kuda Huraa, where Four Seasons awaits. Learn more about Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa Price includes hotel stay and all taxes and fees. 
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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