At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
Maldives in November — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Maldives in November offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for shoulder season value. Expect temperatures of 26–30°C, around 14 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around $150–420 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents16 sections
#Weather in Maldives in November
Maldives in November averages 26–30°C (79–86°F) with around 14 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | November in the Maldives |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 30°C / 86°F |
| Overnight low | About 26°C / 79°F |
| Rain | About 14 wet days, fewer as the month goes on in most years |
| Sea | Around 28–29°C |
| Sunset | 5:49pm on the 1st, 5:52pm by the 30th (Malé time) |
| Holidays | Victory Day, Tuesday 3 November; Republic Day, Wednesday 11 November |
Figures are 1991–2020 normals for Malé (Velana International Airport), from WMO and NOAA records.
What that actually means for your trip:
- November is the hinge of the year. The wet southwest monsoon is over or ending, and the dry northeast monsoon is arriving; in some years the switch comes early in the month, in others closer to December.
- The rain changes character. Squalls still pass through, but more days are sunny for most of their length, and the sea between the atolls settles.
- Visibility improves through the month as the seas calm, though the change is gradual rather than on a set date.
- It is hot and humid all month, with the sun close to overhead; cover up and drink plenty.
Is November a good time to visit the Maldives? Yes, for most travellers: the weather is better than in the monsoon months and the prices are below the Christmas and New Year peak. Expect some rain in the first half. For the most reliable sunshine, January to April is still the safest choice.
#The two halves of November
Early November often still feels like the end of the wet season: more squalls, a lingering swell on the outer reefs, and resort prices that have not yet risen far.
Late November usually brings longer sunny spells, calmer channels and the first rises in price as the peak season approaches.
The marine life follows the monsoon. While the southwest monsoon holds, the manta rays feed on the eastern side of the atolls, including Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll, whose season runs roughly to November; as the northeast monsoon takes over, the mantas begin to move to the western side.
In South Ari Atoll the whale sharks stay all year, and boats from the guesthouses on Dhigurah reach them for a fraction of a resort excursion.
#National holidays
Victory Day, Tuesday 3 November 2026, marks the defeat of an attempted coup in 1988, and Republic Day, Wednesday 11 November, marks the founding of the second republic in 1968. Both are public holidays: government offices, banks and many shops in Malé close, and local islands hold events. Resorts carry on as normal; if you are staying on a local island, expect ferries and shops to keep holiday hours.
#What to Do in Maldives in November
Solo Travellers
A guesthouse on a local island in Ari Atoll puts the whale sharks within a short boat ride, and Maafushi, near Malé, has the widest choice of cheap rooms and shared trips. For divers, November's calmer channels open up the dawn hammerhead dives off Rasdhoo.
Couples
A sandbank picnic or a sunset cruise on a calm late-November evening is the classic outing; book it for a clear forecast. Many resorts offer November packages with meals or spa credit before the peak-season rates arrive.
Families
Choose a resort with a house reef you can snorkel straight from the beach and a sheltered lagoon for small children. Most resorts run kids' clubs and marine-biology sessions, and November's calmer seas make boat trips to see turtles or dolphins more reliable.
Groups
A liveaboard trip is the best group plan for divers, with routes chosen to suit the conditions. On local islands, groups can charter a boat for a day of snorkelling and a sandbank lunch.
#Getting Around
Velana International Airport sits on Hulhulé, next to Malé.
Your resort arranges the onward transfer: speedboats serve the resorts in the North and South Malé atolls, and seaplanes fly to the further atolls in daylight only, so a late-afternoon arrival may mean a night near the airport. Some distant atolls are reached by a domestic flight and a speedboat. Local islands with guesthouses are reached by public ferry or shared speedboat from Malé; check the timetables, which are reduced on Fridays and public holidays.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$100–170 | Local-island guesthouse, meals, shared excursions |
| Mid-range | US$350–650 | 4-star resort, half board, transfers |
| Luxury | US$1,200+ | Overwater villa, full board, seaplane |
Prices rise through November towards the peak season, which starts before Christmas.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Green Tax, resorts and large hotels | US$12 per person per night |
| Green Tax, guesthouses of 50 rooms or fewer | US$6 per person per night |
| Tourism tax on resort bills (TGST) | 17% |
| Departure tax, economy | US$50, usually included in the ticket |
- Resort extras add up: a 10% service charge and the 17% tax on top of the room rate, plus the Green Tax per person per night, take a bill nearly a third above the headline price.
- Seaplane transfers can cost as much as a night's stay.
- Early November is the cheaper half, with prices rising towards December.
#Food & Dining
Resort dining is usually half-board or all-inclusive; check what your package covers, because à la carte prices are high.
On local islands, try mas huni, tuna with coconut and chilli eaten with flatbread at breakfast, and garudhiya, the clear fish broth served with rice, lime and chilli. Tuna is the national fish, caught by pole and line, and it appears in some form at almost every Maldivian meal. Local islands do not serve alcohol; resorts and liveaboards do.
#Nightlife
Evenings mean a resort bar, a beach barbecue or a night snorkel on the house reef. As the skies clear, the stars over the open sea become one of the sights of the trip.
#Shopping
There is little shopping outside Malé and the resort boutiques. In Malé, the fish and local markets sell dried tuna, spices and coconut products, and the souvenir shops sell lacquerwork and woven mats. Coral, shells and turtle-shell products must not be taken out of the country.
#Culture & Etiquette
- On local islands, cover shoulders and knees away from the designated bikini beach; Islam is the state religion.
- Alcohol is served only on resorts and liveaboards.
- Friday is the weekly day of rest; many shops in Malé close for the midday prayer.
- Victory Day and Republic Day are public holidays; expect closures in Malé.
- Tipping: resort bills usually include a 10% service charge; tip guides and boat crews directly if you wish.
#Essential Local Phrases
| English | Dhivehi | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Assalaam alaikum | ah-sah-LAAM ah-LAY-koom |
| Thank you | Shukuriyaa | shoo-koo-REE-yaa |
| How are you? | Haalu kihineh? | HAA-loo kee-HEE-neh |
| Good | Rangalhu | RAN-ga-loo |
| How much? | Kihaa vareh? | kee-HAA VAH-reh |
| Fish | Mas | mas |
| Island | Rah | rah |
| Goodbye | Dhanee | dah-NEE |
#Packing List
- Light, breathable clothes and a light rain jacket for early November
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a rash vest
- Your own well-fitted mask and snorkel
- A dry bag for boat trips
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for local islands
- Motion-sickness tablets for transfers
- A waterproof phone case
#Backup Plans
If early November is still unsettled: snorkel the house reef and the lagoon, and move boat trips and outer-reef dives to the second half of your stay, when the seas have usually settled.
If a whale shark trip comes back empty: try again another day, or take a manta trip instead; the dive centre will know which side of the atoll the mantas are on that week.
If the resort prices are too high: stay on a local island in Ari or Kaafu atoll and take day trips; a guesthouse and an excursion cost far less than a night in an overwater villa.
#Safety & Health
Currents are the danger most visitors underestimate: they run hard through the channels at the edge of the reef, so stay inside the lagoon unless a guide is with you. In the first half of November a squall can still whip up the sea within minutes. The near-overhead sun burns fast, coral cuts infect easily if left, and local islands have mosquitoes and occasional dengue. Drink bottled or filtered water on inhabited islands. Malé has the main hospital, and serious cases are evacuated abroad, so carry insurance with medical evacuation.
Emergency: 119 for police, 102 for an ambulance.
#What's New for November 2026
- Victory Day is Tuesday 3 November and Republic Day Wednesday 11 November, both public holidays
- The Green Tax is US$12 per person per night at resorts and US$6 at small guesthouses
- The tourism tax (TGST) on resort bills is 17%
- The departure tax for economy passengers is US$50
- Hanifaru Bay remains snorkel-only, with permits and fees
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for November 2026. Climate figures are WMO and NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Velana International Airport. Facts verified against:
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority for the Green Tax and TGST
- Manta Trust for manta ray seasons
- Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for Hanifaru Bay
- Visit Maldives for travel information
- Maldives Meteorological Service for weather
For the month before, see the Maldives in October, and for the dry season as a whole, the Maldives in the dry season.
You might also like
Destinations picked for travellers with similar taste or climate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is November a good month to visit the Maldives?
Yes, for most travellers. November is when the wet southwest monsoon hands over to the dry northeast monsoon, so expect some squalls, especially early in the month, but more sunshine and calmer seas than in the months before, at prices below the Christmas peak. For the most reliable weather, January to April is better.
Are November prices high in the Maldives?
They rise through the month, but stay below the Christmas and New Year peak. Early November is the cheaper half. On top of the room rate, resort bills usually add a 10% service charge, a 17% tax and the Green Tax of US$12 per person per night.
When does the weather change in the Maldives in November?
Gradually, and the timing varies from year to year. In some years the northeast monsoon settles in early November; in others the squalls continue into December. The second half of the month is usually calmer than the first, with longer sunny spells and better visibility.
Is early November cheaper than late November in the Maldives?
Usually, yes. Early November often still carries end-of-season offers, while prices rise as the peak season approaches. The trade-off is weather: the first days of the month are more likely to bring squalls, so the second half is the better balance if you can be flexible.