Peak season:
A tropical haven in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are an archipelago consisting of 1,192 islets of which 200 are inhabited. Flights to the Maldives are booked by honeymooners, divers, snorkelers and sunseekers from all over the world who wish to enjoy a holiday in one of the luxury island resorts. There are a quantity of 4 star and 5 star hotels to choose from, so a stay in the Maldives is guaranteed to involve pampering and relaxation fit for a king or queen. It’s not all massages and mud packs either, the major resort islands have a vibrant nightlife with underwater night clubs, beach parties and organised entertainment for guests. There are numerous restaurants where you can savour first class local and international cuisine. The islands also offer some of the best dive spots in the world with a rich marine life, pristine coral reefs and shipwrecks to explore. Between December and April is considered the peak tourist season with Christmas and New Year’s the most expensive time to book flights to the Maldives. August also coincides with the European summer holidays so expect flight ticket prices to rise and book well in advance.
Off season:
Between May and November, the weather is less guaranteed in the Maldives with cloudy skies, higher humidity and greater chance of rain. The southwest monsoon brings rain between June and August. You may be lucky enough to find sales offering the cheapest flights to the Maldives at this time if you get in quick.
There’s no bad time to book flights to the Maldives. The islands are sunny year round with the temperature averaging 30C. If you had to pick a time then between November and April is optimal with the northeast monsoon bringing dry weather. November and April themselves are popular months with divers due to the excellent water visibility. Note that the Maldives is a strict Muslim country and does celebrate Ramadan but this shouldn’t greatly affect your stay in a resort.
Flights from London to Maldives: 12 hours 35 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Maldives: 12 hours 50 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Maldives: 12 hours 40 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Maldives: 13 hours 25 minutes.
Flights to the Maldives from the UK are operated by: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, SriLankan Airlines, Turkish Airlines Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways and many other airlines. Flights will involve at least one stopover depending on the hub of the airline.
Flights to the Maldives land at Male International Airport (MLE) on Hulhule Island in the North Male Atoll. A ferry service operates regularly to and from the airport to Male city or there are speedboat transfers to nearby resorts. Some resorts offer complimentary transport from the airport with package holiday deals. Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi (PTE) Ltd offer inter-island Maldives flights.