Where's hot in March?

Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

Blue skies, little humidity, and clear seas make March an appealing time to visit the Maldives. Meanwhile, late-summer-to-early-autumn brings warm but not intensively hot weather to Argentina’s capital and New Zealand. On the other hand, if constant sun and sultry, tropical heat make your heart sing, look to Thailand, or consider a Mekong cruise.

March at a glance

Destination	Max. temp.	Sunshine hours	Average flight time
The Maldives	Max. temp.	87 °F	Sunshine hours	9 hours	Average flight time	18 hours (New York to the Maldives)
New Zealand	Max. temp.	73 °F	Sunshine hours	6 hours	Average flight time	18 hours 30 upwards dependent on airline (New York to Wellington)
Argentina	Max. temp.	85 °F	Sunshine hours	8 hours	Average flight time	11 hours upwards dependent on airline (New York to Buenos Aires)
Thailand	Max. temp.	94 °F	Sunshine hours	9 hours	Average flight time	23 hours (New York to Bangkok)

The Maldives

Snorkeling and diving is often rewarding in the Maldives, but March’s clear waters make for particularly good visibility — especially if you’re looking to spot some of the smaller inhabitants of your resort’s house reef. Warm daytime temperatures and low humidity also make this an ideal time of year for dolphin-spotting cruises.

Type of heat in the Maldives in March: The weather is generally warm and dry without much humidity, although short tropical showers are still possible. Maximum temperatures can reach 88°F.

Average temperature in the Maldives in March: 84°F depending on region

Average daily hours of sunshine in the Maldives in March: 9 hours

Average flight time: 18 hours (New York to the Maldives)

Overwater villas, the Maldives
Dolphins, the Maldives
Manta ray, the Maldives
Maldives beach
Coral reef, the Maldives

New Zealand

The tail-end of New Zealand’s summer, March sees pleasant, often sunny days. It’s warm enough to be out in a T-shirt. But, it’s also cool enough to explore the country’s (now blissfully uncrowded) wilderness walking trails, plus its many outdoor adventure activities, without working up too much of a sweat.

Type of heat in New Zealand in March: The beginning of autumn in New Zealand means you’ll generally experience dry, bright days. It’s a spring-like warm rather than intensely hot, with maximum temperatures of around 73°F, although rain can occur, especially in the South Island.

Average temperature in New Zealand in March: 62°F depending on region

Average daily hours of sunshine in New Zealand in March: 6 hours

Average flight time: 18 hours 30 plus, dependent on airline (New York to Auckland via Los Angeles)

Hollyford Track, New Zealand
Fox Glacier, New Zealand
Kayaking, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
Champagne Pool, Rotorua, New Zealand

Argentina

With the heat of summer dissipating, March is an excellent time to wander around Buenos Aires — the weather is hot enough for idling over alfresco drinks or coffee, but not usually stifling. Meanwhile, in the Mendoza wine region, the grape harvest kicks off and is celebrated with the Mendoza Wine Festival.

Type of heat in Argentina in March: Expect sun-filled, very warm days with low humidity. Maximum temperatures can reach 86°F during the day, but can get much cooler after dark, so bring layers if you’re out sampling Buenos Aires’ bar scene.

Average temperature of Argentina in March: 79°F depending on region

Average daily hours of sunshine in Argentina in March: 8 hours

Average flight time: 11 hours upwards dependent on airline (New York to Buenos Aires)

Capybara, Iberá Wetlands, Argentina
Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Iguazú Falls, Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Cruising the Mekong, from Vietnam to Cambodia

March is a great time of year for cruising one of the world’s greatest rivers, starting in Saigon and disembarking in Siem Reap, where you’ll visit the temples of Angkor Wat. There’s little rain and blue skies. Expect high temperatures and humidity, but both are manageable on board your air-conditioned river steamer.

Type of heat in Vietnam and Cambodia in March: Both countries have a tropical climate. During March, it’s generally sunny and can feel very hot and sticky during the day, with temperatures reaching up to 93°F. Although it generally drops by ten degrees or so at night.

Average temperature of Vietnam and Cambodia in March: 92°F depending on region

Average daily hours of sunshine in Vietnam and Cambodia in March: 6 - 8 hours

Average flight time to Vietnam and Cambodia: 21¾ hours (New York to Phnom Penh)

Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Mekong River, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Fruit seller, Mekong Delta

Thailand

Day-long sun and very high temperatures are the norm throughout Thailand in March. So, if you’re happiest in this constant heat, you could go almost everywhere and anywhere you like: the beaches and limestone karsts of Krabi, the ruins of Ayutthaya, even the excited frenzy of Bangkok…

Type of heat in Thailand in March: Bright sunshine combines with extremely high humidity, the air so thick you feel you could cut it with a knife, with temperatures reaching up to 93°F, dropping by around ten degrees or so at night.

Average temperature of Thailand in March: 90°F depending on region

Average daily hours of sunshine in Thailand in March: 9 hours

Average flight time: 23 hours (New York to Bangkok)

Krabi, Thailand
Longtail boats, Thailand
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Macaque, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand