Seychelles weather: which month should you choose?

The best time to visit Seychelles depends less on heat than on wind: it is hot all year, around 29 to 32 °C during the day, so no month is too cold. For a calm sea, aim for April, May, October or November, between the two windy seasons. June to August are the driest months but also the windiest, and December and January are the wettest.

So finding the best time to visit Seychelles is really about wind and beaches. Depending on the season, the same coast can be as smooth as a lake or covered in seaweed.

Two monsoons and two calm seasons

The government of the Seychelles describes a tropical climate with two main seasons: the northwest monsoon and the southeast monsoon. Between them come two short inter-monsoon periods with almost no wind.

The exact dates vary a little from source to source. The government of the Seychelles places the northwest monsoon from December to March and the southeast monsoon from May to October. Several guides have the northwest wind starting as early as November. Keep three periods in mind:

• November or December to March: the northwest monsoon. This is the hot, humid and wettest season.
• May to September or October: the southeast trade winds. The air is slightly cooler and drier, but the wind stirs up the sea.
• April, then October and November: the transition. The wind drops, the sea calms down and the heat feels heavier.

How strong is the wind?

The difference between the two monsoons is clear. According to the local site Koek, the northwest wind averages 10 to 15 knots over the inner islands. The southeast trade winds reach 20 to 30 knots over open water.

The peak comes in August. Climates to Travel reports gusts of 50 to 60 km/h at that time. This wind pushes seaweed onto exposed coasts and creates dangerous currents. Surfers, on the other hand, love it.

Seychelles weather month by month

The figures in the table are the 1991-2020 normals for Seychelles International Airport, on Mahé, published by the World Meteorological Organization and reproduced on Wikipedia. Sea temperatures come from Climates to Travel.

Month	Prevailing wind	Day / night	Rain	Sunshine	Sea
January	Northwest	30 / 25 °C	427 mm	155 h	28 °C
February	Northwest	31 / 25 °C	251 mm	178 h	29 °C
March	Northwest	31 / 25 °C	205 mm	217 h	29 °C
April	Transition	32 / 26 °C	196 mm	239 h	30 °C
May	Southeast	31 / 26 °C	171 mm	250 h	29 °C
June	Southeast	30 / 25 °C	122 mm	216 h	27 °C
July	Southeast	29 / 24 °C	80 mm	234 h	26 °C
August	Southeast	29 / 24 °C	115 mm	235 h	26 °C
September	Southeast	29 / 25 °C	184 mm	210 h	27 °C
October	Transition	30 / 25 °C	191 mm	224 h	28 °C
November	Transition	30 / 25 °C	215 mm	203 h	28 °C
December	Northwest	31 / 25 °C	298 mm	176 h	29 °C

Two things stand out. The temperature range is narrow: 24 °C at night at the coolest, 32 °C during the day at the hottest. And it rains every month: even July gets about 80 mm.

Rain that rarely lasts

These totals look alarming, but they are a little misleading. According to the rental site Seyvillas, rain mostly falls in short showers, often in the evening or at night. The same site counts 5 hours of sunshine a day in January and 8 hours from April to June.

Rainfall also varies by place. According to Climates to Travel, the hills of Mahé get up to 3,500 mm a year, compared with less than 2,000 mm in the north and south of the island. The remote southern islands are much drier: about 985 mm a year on Aldabra.

Seaweed and waves: which beach for which season

This is what many travelers only discover once they arrive. The prevailing wind pushes seaweed and swell onto the coasts that face it. The other side of the island stays calm and clean. Audley Travel recommends choosing your hotel according to the season.

May to October: avoid the south and east coasts

During the southeast trade winds, beaches facing south and east get seaweed and waves. Here is what the guides say, beach by beach:

Island	Beach	Period to avoid	What the guides say
Praslin	Anse Kerlan	June to October	Seaweed, strong currents and high waves (Seyvillas)
Praslin	Anse Bois de Rose	May to November	Seaweed (Seyvillas)
Praslin	Anse St Sauveur, Anse Cimitière	May to October	Seaweed (Seyvillas)
Mahé	Anse Intendance	May to September	Strong waves, seaweed from June to September (Seyvillas)

heavy seas break on the beach, making swimming dangerous.

In this season, head for the west and northwest. Climates to Travel names Beau Vallon, on Mahé, as a sheltered beach from June to August.

December to March: the swell switches sides

With the northwest monsoon, the west and northwest coasts get the swell. According to Koek, the southeast coasts are then the most sheltered. Seyvillas reports stronger swell at Anse Lazio, in northwestern Praslin, during this monsoon, with currents that can be dangerous.

April and November: the calmest sea

Between the two monsoons, the wind drops. Seyvillas rates April and November as the best months for diving and snorkeling, thanks to excellent underwater visibility. The downside: they are also hot, muggy months, with daytime highs of 32 °C in April.

Cyclones: a low risk, but not zero

The Seychelles are almost always spared. France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) writes that the archipelago has been “so far sheltered from cyclones” (our translation). It adds that it “can nevertheless be hit by torrential rain and violent winds” (our translation).

According to Climates to Travel, cyclones form from November to mid-May, mostly from late December to mid-April. The remote southern islands, such as Aldabra and Farquhar, are the most exposed. Mahé and the northern islands are usually spared, with exceptions: Tropical Storm Ikonjo in May 1990 and Cyclone Felleng in January 2013.

Crowds, festivals and nature: what changes month to month

High season and prices

There is no real low season in the Seychelles. According to Seyvillas, prices change little through the year. Stays outside European school vacations are generally cheaper, and accommodation fills up fast, so book early. Audley Travel notes that the islands are busier in December, for the year-end holidays.

The ferry between Mahé and Praslin also fills up in high season. Our article on the Mahé Praslin ferry explains how to book. It also reports that the roughest crossings are described by travelers who went between May and September, at the height of the trade wind season.

Festivals to know about

• June 29: National Day, Independence Day.
• October: the Kreol Festival, the big celebration of Creole culture. Its 40th edition ran until November 2, 2025, according to Africanews. Check this year's dates before booking.

Hawksbill turtles

According to Nature Seychelles, you can see hawksbill turtles nesting on the beaches from October to March. Audley Travel places most of the laying from October to December, and considers March the best month to see hatchlings heading to the sea. The organization asks visitors to watch from a distance, without flash, and never to carry hatchlings to the water.

Health and safety by season

There is no malaria in the Seychelles. However, France Diplomatie reports dengue and chikungunya outbreaks during the rainy season, from December to February. Protect yourself from mosquitoes, especially at that time. If you get a fever, avoid anti-inflammatory drugs and see a doctor. Vaccines and a travel kit checklist are on our health page.

The sea calls for caution in every season. According to France Diplomatie, several accidental drownings happen every year because of currents and reefs. Several shark attacks, some fatal, have occurred on Praslin. Respect swimming bans and warning flags. Also check your own government's travel advice.

Other safety and money tips are gathered on our Seychelles page. If you plan to rent a car, also read our tips on renting a car in Mahé.

Entry requirements

Entry rules depend on your nationality. A paid travel authorization must be requested online before boarding, on the official portal seychelles.govtas.com. On arrival, a visitor's permit is issued for up to three months. Check your own case on our Seychelles entry requirements page, and apply one to two weeks before you leave.

The best time to visit Seychelles for your trip

The weather in the Seychelles doesn't rule out any month. Choose according to what you want to do:

• Swimming and calm sea: April, May, October and November.
• Diving and snorkeling: April and November, for visibility.
• Less rain and a little cooler: June to August, staying on a west or northwest coast.
• Sailing, surfing and windsurfing: May to October, with the trade winds.
• Turtles: October to March, and March for hatchlings.
• Tighter budget: outside European school vacations and the year-end holidays.

Frequently asked questions

What is the wettest month in the Seychelles?

January, with about 427 mm of rain at Mahé airport. December and February are also very wet. Rain often falls in short showers, in the evening or at night.

Is it cool in the Seychelles in July?

No. July is the coolest month, but it is still about 29 °C during the day and 24 °C at night. The sea drops to around 26 °C. The southeast wind makes the heat more pleasant.

Is there seaweed all year round?

No. It mostly arrives with the southeast trade winds, from May to October, on the south and east coasts, for example at Anse Kerlan (Praslin). Beaches on the other side of the island generally stay clean.

Can you visit the Seychelles in December?

Yes. It is a hot, rainy month, in dengue and chikungunya season, and busier because of the holidays. Book early and protect yourself from mosquitoes.