Best time to visit the Seychelles: month by month

The Seychelles lie just south of the equator in the Indian Ocean, so there is no cold season: the day is warm and the sea is warm in every month. What changes over the year is the wind and the rain. From roughly December to March the north-west monsoon brings humid air, heavy showers and calmer winds; from roughly May to September the south-east trade winds blow steadily, it is drier and a little cooler, and the sea gets rougher on the exposed coasts. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 on the two main islands, Mahé and Praslin.

The short answer

• Best compromise: April and May, October and November – between the monsoons, warm, with lighter winds.
• Driest months: June to August. Only 63 to 98 mm of rain a month on Mahé, but windy and with choppier seas on the south and east coasts.
• Wettest months: December and January, with 260 to 330 mm on Mahé. It still rarely rains all day; showers are usually short and heavy.
• Swimming: possible all year, but pick the coast that is sheltered in your season (see below).

The Seychelles' climate: all 12 months

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide, so over these small islands it is mostly sea. That is why the model shows a very small gap between day and night: on land, afternoons are usually a few degrees warmer and nights a little cooler. Treat the temperatures as a rough guide; the seasonal rain pattern is more reliable than the exact numbers.

The temperature curve is flat: on Mahé the warmest month, April, is less than 3 °C warmer than the coolest, August. Whatever month you choose, you need summer clothes.

Rain is the real difference. The dry dip from June to August is clear, as is the wet peak from November to January. Even in the wettest months, the averages hide many sunny hours between the showers.

The Seychelles month by month

December to March: north-west monsoon

The hot, humid season with the most rain, peaking in December and January. Winds are generally lighter and the sea on the south and east coasts is often calm. According to the UK travel advice, the west coast is unsafe for swimming during the north-west monsoon, around December to March, and the risk of flooding and landslides is highest from November to March. Christmas and New Year are a popular time to travel despite the rain.

April and May: the calm transition

The north-west monsoon fades, the trade winds have not yet set in. These are the warmest months at around 28 °C in the model, rain falls in short showers, and the sea is often calm on many coasts. A good time for snorkelling and island hopping.

June to September: south-east trade winds

The driest and slightly coolest part of the year, with 63 to 98 mm of rain on Mahé from June to August. The trade winds blow steadily, which keeps the air pleasant but brings waves and seaweed to the exposed beaches. The UK travel advice says the east coast is unsafe during the south-east winds season, around May to September; the north-west beaches such as Beau Vallon on Mahé are then the more sheltered choice.

October and November

The second transition. The trade winds ease, the sea calms down again and rain gradually increases towards December. October is a good month for travellers who want calm water before the wet weeks.

Which coast in which season

The rule of thumb follows the wind. From May to September, when the south-east trade winds blow, beaches on the north-west side of the islands are more sheltered. From December to March, when the wind comes from the north-west, the south and east coasts are calmer. Not every beach is suitable for swimming: according to the UK travel advice, the beaches at the southern tip are not safe at any time, and Beau Vallon and others can have dangerous rip currents when the sea is rough. Ask locally and keep to marked areas.

Island hopping

Most trips combine Mahé, where the international airport and the capital Victoria are, with Praslin and La Digue. Ferries link the three islands, and small planes fly between Mahé and Praslin. On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is a UNESCO World Heritage palm forest with the coco de mer; on La Digue, bicycles are the usual way to get around and Anse Source d'Argent is known for its granite boulders. Ferry crossings are more comfortable in the calm transition months; in the trade wind season the sea between the islands can be rough. On Mahé, a hire car^* makes it easy to switch to the sheltered side of the island. Comparing the Indian Ocean? See also the best time to visit Mauritius and the best time to visit the Maldives.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Mahé, Praslin and La Digue day by day on one map, including the ferry days between the islands. The forecast for your travel days shows when a rain front comes through, so you can move a boat trip or a hike in the Vallée de Mai to a drier day. The packing list suggests sun protection, a light rain jacket and a plug adapter. Travelling as a group, you share the trip and log shared expenses like the hire car and the ferry tickets.

Before you go

• Entry: Check the current entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
• Time: The Seychelles are 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 3 hours in summer.
• Power: 240 volts; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G).
• Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

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