The Best Time to Visit Seychelles

Molly P

Molly P

Commercial Director

The beautiful 115-island archipelago of the Seychelles lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Sitting just below the equator, it’s blessed with a year-round tropical climate that means warm, inviting beach weather at all times, no matter what month of the year you’re traveling to the Seychelles.

In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about the weather before you visit the Seychelles islands and offer advice on when is the best month to visit.

The Weather in the Seychelles

The tropical nature of the Seychelles means that when it does rain, it’s usually in short, heavy downpours that disappear almost as soon as they begin. The rainiest months are January and February, while the hottest time of year is between December and April.

High season for tourism is July and August because of the hot weather in the Seychelles, so avoid these months if you’re not a fan of crowds.

Seychelles - La Digue - View

The Trade Winds

With temperatures and rains not presenting any challenges when planning a trip to the Seychelles, it is important to look at the trade winds. Thirty degrees north and south of the equator, the Earth’s rotation produces belts of wind, known as trade winds, which are constantly slanted towards the equator and have a big effect on Seychelles weather. From the northern hemisphere the wind blows in from the northeast, whereas from the southern hemisphere it blows in from the southeast.

Ship’s captains have used the prevailing east-to-west winds and their associated ocean currents for centuries. Indeed, it was these winds that opened up trade routes across the oceans and helped with the expansion of the European Empire. To this day, many ships still make use of the trade winds to speed up their journeys across the ocean, which you may encounter whilst visiting the Seychelles

November to March:
The Northeasterly Trade Wind

Between November and March, the Seychelles is dominated by northeast trade winds, bringing a bit of heat and humidity across the archipelago as the rainy season starts. This humidity affects the weather and climate, meaning that showers are more prevalent, but the tropical downpours never stick around for too long. December and January are wildly popular months to visit the islands, the second busiest time behind July and August. There is also a possibility to see turtle hatchlings from January onwards on some of the islands in the Seychelles.

May to September:
The Southeasterly Trade Wind

During this period, the northeast trade wind has slowly given way to its southern counterpart. This wind is a bit more brisk meaning temperatures in the Seychelles do drop a little bit. Overall, the Seychelles experiences its dry season at this time of the year. The winds are also a bit stronger than the northwest trade winds, meaning that the sailing and surfing conditions are better at this time of year.

April and October

Both months between the trade wind transitions are great for bird watching, with birds breeding in April and migrating in October. The lack of winds also means that these months are exceptional when it comes to diving, swimming, scuba diving and snorkelling – you can get visibility of up to 30 metres underwater. Whale sharks are very common around the islands in October, and this is also the time when turtles start to lay their eggs.

With warm temperatures and a lack of wind and crowds, these months might just be the best time to enjoy a luxurious getaway or a honeymoon in the Seychelles. The Seychelles in April in particular have ideal weather with the added benefit of not being overcrowded like in the summer.

Seychelles - La Digue

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