Made up of hundreds of islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is known for its relaxing palm-fringed beaches with white sands and pristine waters. Tourists can enjoy several water sports, savor gourmet dining, explore marine life, and stay in premium hotels and resorts. That’s why over 1.5 million people spend Maldives luxury holidays and create lifetime memories in this hog heaven.
One just can’t get enough of the sugar-white beaches, blue skies, and pristine waters of this tropical heaven whether it’s the dry or the monsoon season. However, Maldives is mostly visited in the dry season due to several festivities that take place and a moderate climate that makes exploration easy.
The Peak Time to Embark on Maldives Vacation
November to April is considered the best time to visit Maldives and hence, it’s the peak season of this tropical heaven. The average climate remains tropical and warm during this season with the Mercury level rising to 31°C and dropping to 24°C. Let’s have a look at the weather conditions for each month of the dry season:
Ø November
The dry season starts in November when the mean temperature stays 27°C with 6 – 8 hours of daylight and an average of 222mm rainfall to expect. It is considered the best month to visit as the dry season just starts and the hotel prices remain low compared to December.
Tourists can soak plenty of sunshine while expecting heavy rain, enjoy snorkeling, and watch manta rays and whale sharks coming out to feed on the plankton in the water. Tourists can head to Raa Atoll and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve called Baa Atoll for some of the best sightings of manta rays. Flight and hotel rates remain low so tourists can find great travel deals and expect less crowd hence, explore in peace.
Ø December
The weather gets dry and hot in December as the Mercury levels stay between 25°C to 30°C. Such a climate sets conditions for tourists to enjoy water and beach sports. The island gets crowded by the end of the month as Christmas approaches.
Enjoy diving and snorkeling and embark on cruise tours with your nearest and dearest or plan New Year and Christmas parties without fearing showers, storms, cyclones, and even heat waves for that matter. Just remember to book your hotels in advance as the place gets busy and the prices go higher.
Ø January
Tourists can expect low humidity, moderate heat, and plenty of sunshine this month. The average temperature ranges between 29°C and 25°C with a minimum of 75mm of rainfall and 9 hours of sunshine.
It is also one of the best months for enjoying water-based activities as well as soaking up the sun rays on sandy beaches. The island remains crowded this month as well so advance booking is advised to acquire economical deals.
Ø February – March
February is the driest month of the Maldives with an average temperature of 30°C, nearly 10 hours of daylight, and less than 70mm of monthly rainfall. Such weather conditions are ideal for snorkeling and diving. The temperature only rises by 1 degree in March with possible short bursts of rain, offering relief from the hot climate.
Such conditions prove ideal for surfing which starts this month while spending long days on the beaches and enjoying diving and snorkeling is also possible. April brings the official end to the dry season and it becomes awfully hot in this month with an increase in humidity. Tourists can expect temporary relief from heat due to frequent showers in mid-month. Water visibility remains ideal for diving and snorkeling.
Why Monsoon Season is Not Ideal for Maldives Trip?
Tourists can find exploring the Maldives really hard in the monsoon season as they have to face recurrent showers, higher moisture levels, and rougher sea conditions. Such conditions make it hard for tourists to enjoy water sports, beach vacations, and outdoor activities.
Tourists who feel discomfort facing high humidity can find it hard to explore the Maldives in peace. Due to heavy storms and showers, the sea conditions get rougher and all hope is lost for tourists to enjoy boat tours, snorkeling, and diving. Moving between islands also becomes hard and any cyclone or tropical storm can disrupt all your travel plans and pose safety issues.
Festivities Commencing in the Dry Season
The suburban islands of Maldives host several festivals that offer cultural insights. The most significant fetes taking place in the dry season include:
- Republic Day on November 11th
- National Day on October 17th-18th
- Fishermen’s Day on December 10th
- Eid-ul-Fitr (Date varies, happens in the dry season)
- Eid-ul-Adha (Date varies, happens in the dry season)
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Date varies, happens in the dry season)
- Huravee Day (Date varies, often happens in the dry season)
A Glimpse into the Festive Traditions
Tourists can watch jaw-dropping fireworks, military parades, and flag-raising ceremonies during the National Day celebrations while savoring a banquet of Masroshi, Huni Hakuru Folhi, and Bodibiday; the most famous Maldivian cuisines. To celebrate Eid-al-Fitar, the locals first pray the Eid prayer in the main mosques and then visit each other’s houses and families host dinners for loved ones.
Essentials to Carry for Maldives Visit in Dry Season
Consistent voyagers realize the need to carry essentials while traveling to different places. To make Maldives tourism easy in the dry season, you must pack these travel essentials:
- Light Clothing: Escape the heat by wearing breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen.
- Swimwear: Maldives is a beach paradise so packing multiple swimsuits for beach-hopping is essential.
- Travel Adapters: You may need your DSLR cameras, mobile phones, or pads at any time so keep your devices charged at all times and take your travel adapters with you for this purpose.
- Sun Protection: Sun rays can damage the skin so don’t forget to carry sunscreen, glasses, and a wide-brimmed hat with you.
- Comfy Foot Gear: Make your exploration easy by wearing light shoes like sandals or flip-flops.
- Modest Attire: Sport modest clothing while visiting cultural spots and mosques.
- Mosquito Repellent: Some places can have mosquitos so protect yourself against them by applying mosquito repellent during exploration and before sleeping.
Maldives offers the best escape retreats where you can relax, explore, and party with your close ones, and what better time than the dry season? So, reserve your seats with Virikson Holidays and embark on this lifetime journey that will surely refresh you to the core.
