Dec → Feb
27 to 28°
nights 25 to 26°
- 21 rainy days · 255 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
In short: April to June and September to November, between the two trade-wind regimes: the wind drops, the sea calms and the heat stays steady, 26 to 28 °C in the afternoon on Mahé. July and August are the driest months (70 and 62 mm on Mahé) but the south-east trade winds stir up the sea, while December and January bring most of the rain.
- Snorkelling and island hopping: In April and May, then from October to November, the light winds of the transition seasons make the sea calm and clear around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
- The south-east trade-wind dry season: From June to September, the least rainy months on Mahé (62 mm in August), with a steady wind and a choppier sea.
- Sooty terns of Bird Island: From April to October, the colony gathers in April, nests in June and July and leaves the island at the end of October.
- Hawksbill turtle nesting: From October to February on the beaches of Bird Island, with a nesting peak in January and hatchings until April.
- No cyclones: All year round: the archipelago lies outside the cyclone track, although torrential rain remains possible in the wet season.
Best avoided: December and January, the heart of the north-west monsoon: 330 mm of rain in December and 259 mm in January on Mahé, over 23 to 24 days, even though the showers often give way to sunshine.
Sources: birdislandseychelles.com, diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Jan27°not recommended
- Feb28°fair
- Mar28°fair
- Apr28°recommended
- May28°recommended
- Jun27°recommended
- Jul26°fair
- Aug26°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct27°recommended
- Nov27°recommended
- Dec27°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Seychelles, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 26° | 10 h | 259 mm | 23 d | 29° | |
| February | 28° | 26° | 10.3 h | 175 mm | 16 d | 29° | |
| March | 28° | 26° | 10.8 h | 146 mm | 17 d | 30° | |
| April | 28° | 26° | 10.5 h | 187 mm | 22 d | 31° | ✓ |
| May | 28° | 26° | 10.4 h | 197 mm | 22 d | 30° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 26° | 10.2 h | 97 mm | 17 d | 28° | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 25° | 10.4 h | 70 mm | 15 d | 27° | |
| August | 26° | 25° | 10.4 h | 62 mm | 14 d | 27° | |
| September | 26° | 25° | 10.5 h | 127 mm | 18 d | 28° | ✓ |
| October | 27° | 26° | 11.1 h | 132 mm | 16 d | 28° | ✓ |
| November | 27° | 26° | 11 h | 203 mm | 18 d | 29° | ✓ |
| December | 27° | 25° | 10.3 h | 330 mm | 24 d | 29° |
The four seasons in the Seychelles, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Mahé (Beau Vallon)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
28°
nights 26°
- 20 rainy days · 177 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
- sea 30°
Jun → Aug
26 to 27°
nights 25 to 26°
- 15 rainy days · 76 mm
- 10.3 h of sun
- sea 27°
Sep → Nov
26 to 27°
nights 25 to 26°
- 17 rainy days · 154 mm
- 10.9 h of sun
- sea 28°
Book early for April to June and September to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in the Seychelles, month by month
EventsFestival KreolOctoberHawksbill turtle nestingOctober to JanuaryDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Seychelles, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- OctoberFestival Kreol
Victoria devotes the last week of October to Creole culture: a parade, food, moutya (a traditional dance) and concerts by the water.
- October to JanuaryHawksbill turtle nesting
Females come up the beaches of Mahé, Praslin and Cousine in broad daylight to lay their eggs, followed by conservation teams.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended27°26° at night
- 259 mm · 23 d
- 10 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair28°26° at night
- 175 mm · 16 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair28°26° at night
- 146 mm · 17 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended28°26° at night
- 187 mm · 22 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended28°26° at night
- 197 mm · 22 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended27°26° at night
- 97 mm · 17 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair26°25° at night
- 70 mm · 15 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair26°25° at night
- 62 mm · 14 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended26°25° at night
- 127 mm · 18 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended27°26° at night
- 132 mm · 16 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended27°26° at night
- 203 mm · 18 d
- 11 h
- sea 29°
Busy, without the crush
December
Not recommended27°25° at night
- 330 mm · 24 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 29°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 259 mm of rain over 23 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 175 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 146 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 187 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 197 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 97 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 70 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 62 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 127 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 27 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 132 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. 27 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 203 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 27 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 330 mm of rain over 24 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
April to June and September to November, between the two trade-wind regimes: the wind drops, the sea calms and the heat stays steady, 26 to 28 °C in the afternoon on Mahé. July and August are the driest months (70 and 62 mm on Mahé) but the south-east trade winds stir up the sea, while December and January bring most of the rain.
Which month should you avoid in the Seychelles?
December and January, the heart of the north-west monsoon: 330 mm of rain in December and 259 mm in January on Mahé, over 23 to 24 days, even though the showers often give way to sunshine.
What is the hottest month in the Seychelles?
February, with 28 °C on average in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Mahé (Beau Vallon)).
What is the coldest month in the Seychelles?
July, with 26 °C at best during the day and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Mahé (Beau Vallon)).
What is the driest month in the Seychelles?
August: 62 mm over 14 days of rain, against 330 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Seychelles?
October, with 11.1 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the Seychelles?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 27 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Mahé (Beau Vallon)).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Seychelles guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Arne Müseler / CC BY-SA 3.0 de (Wikimedia Commons) · louloua asgaraly / Pexels · Reyyan / Pexels · Rajesh Chetty / Pexels · Riccardo Cocconcelli / Pexels · mysurrogateband / Pexels