Best Time to Visit Seychelles / Seychelles Weather

The best travel time for the Seychelles: How to avoid the rainy season… Best Time to Visit Seychelles / Seychelles Weather

Vacation in paradise, honeymoon on a dream beach or just summer, sun and bathing fun far away from everyday stress? When the weather is nice, the Seychelles has all that and more!
There are over 115 islands to visit in the wonderful Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, and one of them is more magical than the other: warm air and water temperatures all year round, white sandy beaches, green landscapes and a turquoise blue sea await you here. So that you can not only be sure that the view is right during your vacation, but also that the weather is right, we will tell you in our article when it is best to travel to the archipelago.

Rainy and dry seasons in the Seychelles / Best Time to Visit Seychelles

Like most countries in East Africa and Asia, the Seychelles are influenced by the monsoon and have a fixed dry and rainy season. In the Seychelles, the south-east monsoon prevails from around May to October and goes hand in hand with the dry season, while in the winter months, from November to April, the north-west monsoon brings the rainy season.

What, based on these names, sounds like it hardly rains in summer and all the more in winter is a little misleading: In the Seychelles it rains regularly all year round, but usually only in short, heavy showers, while you can You can count on plenty of sun and the best bathing weather for the rest of the day. In the rainy season, the number of average rainy days (meaning all days with at least brief rainfall) is just a tiny bit higher on average – averaging 15 rainy days instead of 11 rainy days during the dry season – and the brief downpours are on a little longer and sometimes more violent.

It depends on the place

The weather in the Seychelles is not the same across the country. There is generally far less rainfall on the flatter islands, such as La Digue or Praslin, than on the higher islands, such as the main island of Mahé – and whether you spend your holiday in the east or west of the island chain also plays a decisive role: For example, the southeast monsoon brings far more rain in the east than in the west, which has particularly fine weather with little rainfall during the summer months (when the southeast monsoon blows).

You should also take into account which beaches you would like to visit when deciding on the best time to travel: As already mentioned, the south-east monsoon prevails from May to October, while the weather from November to April is influenced by the north-west monsoon. The designations mean that the wind blows from the respective direction and thus of course primarily affects those beaches that are aligned in this wind direction. For example, if you visit the wonderful beach of Grand Anse on La Digue, facing south-east, you have to expect strong currents and seaweed deposits during the summer months – in winter, on the other hand, the beach is characterized by wonderfully calm sea and clear skies . Incidentally, the sea is calmer all year round on all beaches with an offshore coral reef, for example on Praslin or Denis Island.

When is the best time to fly to the Seychelles?

In order to answer this question for yourself, it is important to first consider what is most important to you during your holiday in the Seychelles, where exactly you want to go and what you would like to do there. To make it all a little easier for you, we have listed a few factors and activities below and comment on which travel time is best for them.

Factor 1: Sunny bathing weather

If you want to spend your dream island vacation primarily by sipping in the sun on the beach and then cooling off in the refreshing water, you should primarily rely on rain-free days and a calm, clear sea as possible. In principle, you can spend wonderful days swimming in the sea and sunbathing on the beach in the Seychelles all year round, but the best time for this is the summer months and especially June to September, as there are often more violent storms and thus strong waves in May can come. Attention, by the way: Even in midsummer, there can be stronger currents, especially in the south-east or on the south-east coasts of the Seychelles. On the other hand, calmer conditions prevail on all beaches with an offshore coral reef.

Those who prefer particularly still water can fly to the Seychelles at the beginning of October – shortly before the monsoon change, the sea is particularly gentle and is perfect for relaxing and letting yourself drift. If you also want to save a little, you can also start in the pre-season, in April. There is a slightly higher chance of rain then, but the skies are generally less overcast at this time of year and the sea is just as calm as in early October.

Factor 2: Ideal conditions for diving / Best Time to Visit Seychelles

The fewer currents, the more beautiful the view under water – and in the Seychelles, with their rich range of sea creatures, you definitely want to enjoy them to the full. The best months for a diving trip to the island state are therefore the windless months of April and early October; the season sometimes even extends from mid-March to mid-May or from mid-September to December. And there is another advantage with a trip in spring or autumn: the prices are then not quite as high as in the main season in midsummer.

Factor 3: Perfect waves for surfing and sailing

While bathers and divers prefer it quiet on and under the water, passionate divers and sailors want exactly the opposite: regular wind for surfing and roaring over the water with the wind. Depending on the season, you will find the best conditions for this on other beaches: In summer, especially on the south-east facing parts of the coast and in winter on the north-west facing beaches. Especially in the summer months, the wind likes to blow stronger, especially in the eastern parts of the Seychelles. By the way, if you like it particularly windy, you should consider a trip in May or the end of October: Shortly after the wind change, the monsoon tends to blow more violently – but be careful: The currents can then, especially on the windward beaches without a coral reef in front of them also become dangerously strong.

Factor 4: Wonderful honeymoon

The Seychelles are not only an extremely popular travel destination for dream holidays, countless newlywed couples also spend their romantic honeymoon here every year. A holiday in winter is a particularly good way to ensure that both beautiful memories and beautiful photos remain from the honeymoon. Now you’re probably asking yourself: But isn’t the northwest monsoon then in the Seychelles and with it the rainy season? That’s right. As mentioned earlier, however, you can expect consistent rainfall throughout the year on the island chain, and the winter months have a few distinct — and photo-friendly — advantages over summer:

For one thing, it’s not nearly as cloudy during the rainy season as it is during the summer months due to the wind, and let’s be honest: a blue sky simply makes romantic pictures better than a thick cloud cover.

On the other hand, some of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles are on the south-east coasts of the islands, for example the previously mentioned beautiful beach of Grand Anse on La Digue, and there it is far less windy and less strong currents and waves than in summer – and who wants windblown hair and high waves in their photos?

And finally, of course, there is the cost factor: The German winter or the rainy season is off-season in the Seychelles, which means that you can book both your hotel and your flight for a lot cheaper – certainly not the worst after a usually expensive wedding .

Factor 5: Small travel budget / Best Time to Visit Seychelles

Of course, the available travel budget also plays a decisive role when it comes to finding the best personal travel time. As already mentioned several times, the main season in the Seychelles is synonymous with the dry season and thus especially with the months of May to October. Especially in June to August, the prices are particularly high and a hotel can cost 1.5 times or even more compared to the winter months. So if you want to save money, it’s best to fly during the rainy season, which is only a little rainier. In addition to the lower costs for flights and hotels, you also benefit from mostly cloud-free skies and perfect bathing weather on the wonderful south-east facing beaches of the Seychelles islands.

Factor 6: weather sensitivity

We cannot emphasize it often enough: The Seychelles are really worth a dream trip at any time of the year. Thanks to its location near the equator, it is summery hot all year round with temperatures around 30 degrees in the air and 27 degrees in the water. The disadvantage of this is that the humidity is also high all year round and, especially during the rainy winter months, it can make vulnerable travelers uncomfortable, especially in combination with the high temperatures. Those who don’t do well with warm, humid weather, however, should consider traveling in the summer, and thanks to a few degrees cooler average temperature, especially in June, July or August. The hotel costs are a bit higher, but you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

Best Time to Visit Mauritius
The 11 most beautiful islands in the Maldives