Blessed with blissful sunshine and plenty of fun activities to keep the kids entertained, the Maldives is a great destination to whisk off the whole family during school holidays.
However, keep in mind that the peak season in the Maldives occurs between December and April, coinciding with popular school breaks such as February Half Term, Easter, and Christmas/New Year holidays. During these times, prices tend to be higher than average, so it's advisable to book well in advance to secure the best accommodations.
For families seeking a budget-friendly option, consider planning your visit during the May or October Half Term holidays, which fall within the Maldives' low season. During these periods, prices are significantly lower, and there's greater availability at resorts and for excursions.
February half-term is the ideal time to escape the cold weather back home and treat your kids to an unforgettable holiday. February is the Maldives’ hottest and driest month of the year and has on average ten hours of sunshine per day and minimal rainfall. The average daily temperature sits at an impressive 28°C and doesn’t really alter at night.
Both March and April experience high temperatures; March averages a daytime temperature of 28°C and April reaches daily average temperatures of 27°C. Both March and April receive nine hours of sunlight per day. March is a relatively dry month with only 70mm of rainfall throughout, whilst April is a little wetter with an average of 130mm of rainfall across the entire month.
May is the first full month of the wet season and experiences on average 15 days of rain throughout. Despite the rainfall, May experiences on average of eight hours of sunshine per day and temperatures reach highs of 30°C during the day and lows of 26°C at night. Be aware that it’s very humid during this period.
July and August are in the middle of the wet season, therefore you can expect around 150mm of rainfall each month and only seven hours of sunshine per day with cloudy skies. The average temperature stays at 28°C. Rain usually comes in short and sharp showers and is a refreshing break from the humidity.
October is a popular time to visit as it’s the unofficial end of the rainy season. You can still expect some short heavy downfalls at this time of year. The temperature is still consistently hot though with an average of 27°C and eight hours of glorious sunshine per day.
The Maldives’ weather during December and January makes it the ideal place to celebrate Christmas and New Year.
December has an average temperature of 27°C and is blessed with seven hours of sunshine per day. December sees around 230mm of rainfall, however, this occurs mostly during the first part of the month so you should be able to enjoy a relatively dry Christmas.
January’s average temperature stays at 27 degrees but experiences a spectacular nine hours of sunshine each day. Rainfall drops considerably, making January a particularly dry month.
The Ritz-Carlton is the ultimate luxury resort for your Half Term holiday escape. Say goodbye to boredom with a variety of dining options offering international cuisine, ensuring there's something for everyone. From kayaking and snorkelling for water enthusiasts to tennis and volleyball for land lovers, there's no shortage of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Better value resorts to choose from during the school holidays are Club Med Kani, Kandima Maldives and Medhufushi Island Resort. Look out for early booking discounts at least a year in advance of when you plan to travel.