Most resorts in the Maldives are located in private islands with white sandy beaches and coconut palms fringing crystal blue waters. Whatever time of year you choose to visit, the Maldives offer azure seas and sunshine, making it perfect for a relaxing luxury holiday.
When to visit Maldives
Maldives is located on the equator and therefore experiences monsoonal climate. There are two distinct seasons, dry season (Northeast Monsoon) and wet season (Southwest Monsoon).Since Maldives consists of small islands and are surrounded by sea, and hot days are often tempered by cooling sea breezes and balmy evening temperatures.
Climate
The Maldives’ climate is almost perfect, balmy mornings and sun-filled days are followed by gentle breezes in the evening and star-filled sky. Temperatures are fairly constant – around 30 degrees Celsius. The only difference is the dry and wet seasons.
The period from mid-May to November is the Hulhangu Monsoon season (wet season), leading to significantly higher rainfall, particularly on the southern islands. During this time there may be strong winds and stormy, overcast skies. Whilst less popular as a summer destination during this time, the temperature remains hot and there is a strong chance of extended periods of sunshine in between showers.
During the Iruvai dry season (dry season) which starts in January and continues through April there is a reduction in humidity and rainfall, whilst February and March provide the most sun. The Maldives is at its most popular between December and April, when visitors come to take advantage of the long warm days. However, whilst the temperature is relatively consistent, the weather is always unpredictable and storms can suddenly strike, regardless of the season, although they do tend to be short lived.
Temperature
Temperature remains almost same in the Maldives throughout the year. Daily temperature ranges from around 31 degrees Celsius in daytime to 23° Celsius in night time. The highest temperature ever recorded in the Maldives was 36.8°C, recorded on 19 May 1991 at Kadhdhoo Meteorological Office. The minimum temperature ever recorded in the Maldives was 17.2°C, recorded at the National Meteorological Centre on 11th April 1978.
Rainfall
The wet season; Southwest Monsoon runs from mid-May to November. In this season Maldives experiences torrential rain. The highest rainfall ever recorded in the Maldives with in a 24 hour period was recorded on 9th July 2002 at Kaadedhdhoo Meteorological Office and amounts to 219.8mm of rainfall.
Sunshine
Maldives is located at the equator, which results in plenty of sunshine throughout the year.
Climatic year average
| Day time maximum temperature | Night time minimum temperature | Average water temperature | Average rainfall | Average amount of sun hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 25°C | 28°C | 114mm | 9h |
| February | 30°C | 26°C | 29°C | 38mm | 9h |
| March | 31°C | 26°C | 29°C | 74mm | 9h |
| April | 31°C | 27°C | 30°C | 122mm | 8h |
| May | 31°C | 26°C | 30°C | 219mm | 7h |
| June | 30°C | 26°C | 29°C | 167mm | 5h |
| July | 30°C | 26°C | 28°C | 150mm | 4h |
| August | 30°C | 25°C | 29°C | 176mm | 6h |
| September | 30°C | 25°C | 28°C | 199mm | 7h |
| October | 30°C | 25°C | 28°C | 194mm | 6h |
| November | 30°C | 25°C | 29°C | 231mm | 7h |
| December | 30°C | 25°C | 28°C | 217mm | 7h |
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
To enter Maldives no pre-arrival visa is required. A thirty day free tourist visa is issued on arrival for all Nationalities, provided:
– Should possess a valid passport with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) -(standard ICAO Annex 9, chapter 3.10.1) and should have at least 6 months validity
– Have a valid ticket to continue the journey out of Maldives
– Have enough funds to cover the expenses for duration of the stay in Maldives. (US$100 + $50 dollars per day) or a confirmation of reservation in a Tourist Resort or a Hotel
Employment is strictly prohibited with a Tourist Visa.
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country.
Caution: Full thirty day visa is not a right of the passenger to claim, but lies at the discretion of the Immigration to issue not more than thirty days and any period less than thirty days.
Renewal of Tourist Visa
A Tourist visa maybe be renewed if the person concerned, applies to the Immigration before the expiration of the visa already granted. Before the extension, Immigration will re-asses the incumbent’s financial position for the stay period of the extension. An extension can only be applied through the Visa Extension Application Form, at the Head Office during official working hours. Extension if considered, would be granted to a duration not exceeding a total of 90 days. (Including the days granted on arrival) A visa fee of Rufiyaa 750 will be charged, for the full extension or part thereof (30 days free + 60 days chargeable) No visa fee will be charged if the extension does not exceed 30 days, that is including the days granted on arrival. Foreigners who stay beyond the approved stay, maybe deported.
Declaration of Restricted Items & Prohibited Items
Restricted Items will be released if it is accompanied by the required permit or documentation from the relevant authorities.
Prohibited items (except Narcotics and psychotropic substances) will be bonded and released to foreign nationals ONLY at the time of their departure.
For commercial items, a Declaration Form must be filled in order for the assessment to take place after which duties will be charged accordingly.
Restricted items:
Liquor and Alcoholic Products: According to Maldivian Law No: 4/1975 (Im¬port prohibition Act), importation of liquor and alcoholic products without prior approval is prohibited. Hence, it is advised not to purchase liquor and alcoholic products on the flight or duty free shops while en route to the Maldives as these items will be confiscated upon arrival at the airport. However, liquor, beer and other such alcoholic beverages are available at all tourist resorts/hotels. These have been imported under special license issued prior to their importation.
Pork and Its By-products: According to Maldivian Law No: 4/1975 (Im¬port prohibition Act), importation of pork and its by-products without prior approval is prohibited.
Chemical and Chemical Products:Chemicals, Acid, Poisons, Toxic substances:
Pets: Health certificate from an authorized veterinarian, satisfying that the animal is free from infections or contagious diseases is required.
Note: the import of dogs and dangerous animals are strictly prohibited.
Firearms/Explosives/Weapons and Ammunition: Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, etc. Replica and imitation firearms, Components of firearms, Harpoon and spear guns, Stun or shock producing devices. Explosives and explosive devices, Replica or imitation explosive material or devices, Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics.
Live Plants and Animals: All plants require a valid phytosanitary / sanitary certificate and must be inspected and approved by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.
Medicine: A valid medical prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner is required for importation of controlled drugs (for personal use only)
Tobacco and Tobacco Products: All tobacco products must carry a health warning label as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
Note: All passengers are eligible for import duty allowance up to a limit of 200 Cigarettes, 25 Cigars and 250g of tobacco.
Communication Equipment: Talkie-set, receiver and any other telecommunication equipment with radio frequency transmitting capacity exceeding 100 milli-watts should be inspected and approved by Communication Authority of Maldives.
Prohibited items
Prohibited goods are goods that are banned completely.
– Narcotics and psychotropic substances.
– Pornographic material (including sex toys) such as books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software.
– Religious materials offensive to Islam.
– Live pigs.
– Idols (for worship).
Health
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel.
Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya) and Lyme disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit ( http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/insect-tick-bite-avoidance/ )
Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air.
Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated in the Maldives and is when Muslims must abstain from food, beverages and cigarettes during daylight hours. Non-Muslims are asked to respect those fasting by also not eating, drinking or smoking in public places from dawn to dusk. This is an important consideration for those who wish to stay at guest houses and city hotels. However, as most resort are on private Islands, bars and restaurants operate as usual. A conservative dress code should also be strictly observed if you visit inhabited islands.
Airport Meet & Greet
MARAMAholiday will welcome you to the Maldives by meet and greet at the airport and will provide personal assistance to and from the gate, baggage handling and buggy service, to ease our guests through the airport onto respective sea plane or speedboats.