Season guide · Maldives
Maldives in the south-west monsoon
June–September: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
More frequent showers, wind and swell, but lower prices, manta season in Baa Atoll and the best surf. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 54 rainy days across June–September.
Key facts
- Months
- June–September
- Temperatures
- 25°C (77°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 54
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the south-west monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 31°C (88°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 13 | 12.4 h | 2/5 |
| July | 30°C (86°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 13 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| August | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 13 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| September | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 15 | 12.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 54 of the year's roughly 132 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the south-west monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Hanifaru Bay manta season (usually June to November)
- July: Independence Day (26 July)
Good choices for the south-west monsoon
Museum · Malé
National Museum and Sultan Park
The National Museum, in a modern building inside Sultan Park on the site of the former royal palace, displays royal regalia, coral-stone carvings, lacquerware and artefacts from the islands' pre-Islamic past.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in the south-west monsoon
- Fulidhoo (About 1 hour by speedboat) — A small, quiet island in Vaavu Atoll where nurse sharks and stingrays gather by the harbour in the evening and the house reef offers good snorkelling.
- Rasdhoo (About 1–1.5 hours by speedboat) — A local island in the small Rasdhoo Atoll at the northern tip of Ari, known among divers for early-morning hammerhead dives at Rasdhoo Madivaru and for turtles on its reefs.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the south-west monsoon a good time to visit Maldives?
It is a trade-off: More frequent showers, wind and swell, but lower prices, manta season in Baa Atoll and the best surf. The best months overall are December–April.
+What is the weather like in Maldives in the south-west monsoon?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 54 rainy days over the season.