Need expert help?
Piper is the founder of honeymoon specialty travel company Remarkable Honeymoons, and an award-winning agent with almost 30 years experience.
She's a Virtuoso agent, and winner of WeddingWire's Couples Choice awards every year from 2014-2022.
She is well versed in international travel after having visited dozens of countries in her career, and also through her studies abroad living in both Mexico and France. From the Orient Express, to tenting in Nepal, to flying the Concord, she's had many wonderful travel experiences.
|
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.
Skip to:
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." Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives 5 nights from 1,475 per person  Dive into absolute serenity. Less than 20 minutes away from Velana International Airport by speedboat, set on a pristine island blessed with tropical beauty in North Malé Atoll, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is an adults-only retreat that is ideal for couples and honeymooners. Light and airy villas with wooden flooring and natural fabrics provide sensational views of the Indian Ocean and offer the choice of beachside or overwater accommodation. Pure white sand and a sparkling blue lagoon make this a perfect playground for beach games, snorkeling and water sports, while the magical underwater world of some of the top dive sites in the Maldives are reached within less than half an hour by dhoni. Immerse yourself in absolute serenity and enjoy the stunning ocean vistas. Retreat in comfort, whether in a tastefully designed ocean-side villa, perfect for barefoot living with the beach at your doorstep, or in an overwater villa with steps down to the tranquil lagoon. Our 140 villas harmoniously blend in with the island’s green interior and the white powdery beach, using flowing and natural architectural forms and a minimalist décor, and are designed as adults-only accommodation. All our villas accommodate 2 adults only. Discover an enchanting and pristine island with endless opportunities to relax and enjoy the beautiful Maldives setting. Laze the day away beachside or by the ocean-side pool with its own pool bar, or indulge in absolute pampering at SPA Cenvaree. Sensational treatments inspired by Thailand’s well-being heritage and modern rejuvenation practices are performed in single and double treatment rooms, with romantic couple spa journeys and multi-day authentic Ayurvedic programs a speciality. You will love our beachside yoga sessions. For fun and active holidays, our PADI dive and water sports centre offers an abundance of exciting activities including night snorkeling and snorkel safari, sunset fishing and big game fishing, fun tubes and banana rides, excursions such as visit to a local island and a Malé sightseeing tour, and water sports with kite surfing, windsurfing, water skiing and catamaran sailing. Explore some of the Maldives’ most sought-after snorkeling and dive sites with our PADI dive centre offering programs for avid divers and beginners alike. The warm waters of the North Malé Atoll offer great visibility allowing you to immerse in a mesmerizing world. Exhilarating dive sites to be found between a five to 20 minutes’ dhoni ride from the resort include Giraavaru Cave, Kuda Haa, Shark Point, Lion’s Head, Kuda Faru and Kikki Reef. Farther out at sea, Black Coral Reef, Bandos Rock, Banana Reef, and Maldives Victory Wreck are less than one hour away. <ul><li>Free-form swimming pool complete with dedicated pool bar <li>A new lap pool at the Silent beach area which is located behind the Reception, Gym & Spa <li>Oceanfront SPA Cenvaree <li>Fitness centre <li>PADI dive centre <li>Motorized and non-motorized water sports <li>Half-day and full-day North Male' Atoll surfing. Available on request between May and November <li>Daily excursions <li>E-Zone entertainment area <li>Complimentary wireless internet access <li>Airport transfers operated by speedboat <li>Island boutique <li>Medical services and resident doctor <li>Laundry services <li>Foreign currency exchange As an adults-only resort, guests must be aged 12 years and above. </ul> Learn more about Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives Price includes hotel stay and all taxes and fees. 
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. Hurawalhi Island Resort 5 nights from 4,179 per person  Set on an enchanting private island in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives, Hurawalhi Island Resort is much like your relationship: it is a perfect match of serenity and excitement, comfort and adventure; it stirs up your every atom with an intricate blend of intimacy and thrill.It is at Hurawalhi that you can fill your days with an unsparing amount of extraordinaires, your mind with wonder, and your heart with romance. The 90-villa, adults-only luxury resort is as brilliant as the ocean that laps against its beaches and more magnificent than any island you have visited. You can swoon over photos of the Maldives, but nothing will prepare you for the beautiful blend of barefoot bliss and contemporary design found at Hurawalhi. 
Maldivian beach villas. Photo courtesy Jon Haase. Typical airfares from New York (JFK) to Male, Republic of the MaldivesAdaaran Prestige Vadoo 5 nights from 5,273 per person  Adaaran Prestige Vadoo Welcome to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, the prestigious Maldives Luxury Resorts, where time ceases to exist and the voice of the Indian Ocean beckons you to her shores. As the gateway to the South Atolls, Vadoo possesses its own exotic reef teeming with vibrant aquatic flora and fauna. Awarded as the World’s Leading Water Villa retreat at the World Travel Awards in 2010, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo is a luxurious Maldives Island resort that stands out amongst the best. The list of indulgences that awaits you at our Maldives Island resort can only be matched by the captivating lushness of the surroundings.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. Ayada Maldives 5 nights from 3,174 per person  Located on a beautiful private island with pristine beaches and lush tropical greenery, Ayada Maldives offers a truly luxurious retreat with a genuine Maldivian style. A wide range of restaurants, large villas with private infinity pools and our multiple award winning AySpa make Ayada Maldives an excellent choice. A large variety of water-sports, excursions and further activities are available for our guests.Ayada Maldives is #1 on TripAdvisor, listed among the top 25 resorts worldwide on TripAdvisor & winner of Traveler's Choice 2020. We have 8 outlets at Ayada Maldives, each offering a different cuisine and unique dining experiences, including Teppanyaki, Mediterranean fine dining and Asian flavors. In each restaurant, we use fresh organic ingredients from our garden and local farms, that makes our food authentic and luxuriously delicious. Ile de Joie, our over-water wine cellar offers a unique wine & cheese experience. Our chefs are ready to cater for all dietary requirements. Make memories that last for a lifetime. Ayada Maldives offers an extensive list of excursions that will showcase the finest and authentic Maldivian experiences. Ranging from sunset cruises, fishing trips and excursions to inhabited islands, all excursions are undertaken under the care of experienced and personable team members. 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. Hurawalhi Island Resort 5 nights from 4,179 per person Set on an enchanting private island in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives, Hurawalhi Island Resort is much like your relationship: it is a perfect match of serenity and excitement, comfort and adventure; it stirs up your every atom with an intricate blend of intimacy and thrill.It is at Hurawalhi that you can fill your days with an unsparing amount of extraordinaires, your mind with wonder, and your heart with romance. The 90-villa, adults-only luxury resort is as brilliant as the ocean that laps against its beaches and more magnificent than any island you have visited. You can swoon over photos of the Maldives, but nothing will prepare you for the beautiful blend of barefoot bliss and contemporary design found at Hurawalhi. 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. 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. Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives 5 nights from 1,475 per person Dive into absolute serenity. Less than 20 minutes away from Velana International Airport by speedboat, set on a pristine island blessed with tropical beauty in North Malé Atoll, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is an adults-only retreat that is ideal for couples and honeymooners. Light and airy villas with wooden flooring and natural fabrics provide sensational views of the Indian Ocean and offer the choice of beachside or overwater accommodation. Pure white sand and a sparkling blue lagoon make this a perfect playground for beach games, snorkeling and water sports, while the magical underwater world of some of the top dive sites in the Maldives are reached within less than half an hour by dhoni. Immerse yourself in absolute serenity and enjoy the stunning ocean vistas. Retreat in comfort, whether in a tastefully designed ocean-side villa, perfect for barefoot living with the beach at your doorstep, or in an overwater villa with steps down to the tranquil lagoon. Our 140 villas harmoniously blend in with the island’s green interior and the white powdery beach, using flowing and natural architectural forms and a minimalist décor, and are designed as adults-only accommodation. All our villas accommodate 2 adults only. Discover an enchanting and pristine island with endless opportunities to relax and enjoy the beautiful Maldives setting. Laze the day away beachside or by the ocean-side pool with its own pool bar, or indulge in absolute pampering at SPA Cenvaree. Sensational treatments inspired by Thailand’s well-being heritage and modern rejuvenation practices are performed in single and double treatment rooms, with romantic couple spa journeys and multi-day authentic Ayurvedic programs a speciality. You will love our beachside yoga sessions. For fun and active holidays, our PADI dive and water sports centre offers an abundance of exciting activities including night snorkeling and snorkel safari, sunset fishing and big game fishing, fun tubes and banana rides, excursions such as visit to a local island and a Malé sightseeing tour, and water sports with kite surfing, windsurfing, water skiing and catamaran sailing. Explore some of the Maldives’ most sought-after snorkeling and dive sites with our PADI dive centre offering programs for avid divers and beginners alike. The warm waters of the North Malé Atoll offer great visibility allowing you to immerse in a mesmerizing world. Exhilarating dive sites to be found between a five to 20 minutes’ dhoni ride from the resort include Giraavaru Cave, Kuda Haa, Shark Point, Lion’s Head, Kuda Faru and Kikki Reef. Farther out at sea, Black Coral Reef, Bandos Rock, Banana Reef, and Maldives Victory Wreck are less than one hour away. <ul><li>Free-form swimming pool complete with dedicated pool bar <li>A new lap pool at the Silent beach area which is located behind the Reception, Gym & Spa <li>Oceanfront SPA Cenvaree <li>Fitness centre <li>PADI dive centre <li>Motorized and non-motorized water sports <li>Half-day and full-day North Male' Atoll surfing. Available on request between May and November <li>Daily excursions <li>E-Zone entertainment area <li>Complimentary wireless internet access <li>Airport transfers operated by speedboat <li>Island boutique <li>Medical services and resident doctor <li>Laundry services <li>Foreign currency exchange As an adults-only resort, guests must be aged 12 years and above. </ul> Learn more about Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives 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): 
How we work with you to plan the perfect trip:
Map of all Resorts in the Maldives |
|
