I have already been to the Seychelles 50 times (as of September 2024) and during all my trips to the Seychelles (which in total mean more than three years in the Seychelles!) I have experienced how differently the islands present themselves at different times of the year. The temperature is the only constant throughout the year, as it is always around 28 degrees. However, the wind conditions, bathing conditions, sunshine duration, rainfall and even the width of the beach are completely different!
First of all: No matter which month you travel in, you will almost certainly experience several downpours during your stay.
It rains all year round in the Seychelles – and that’s a good thing, because otherwise the islands would not be so lush and green. There is no “dry season” in the Seychelles in which it doesn’t rain for months on end – but there is also no real “rainy season” in which it pours for a week straight.
As a little help for your travel planning, I have now created my very personal “Top Eleven” of the best travel months, which I last revised in September 2024 – because with every Seychelles trip I gain new and more up-to-date impressions of the weather in the Seychelles. I am therefore well informed about any changes in the long-term weather conditions and am happy to share my knowledge with you.
But please note: I cannot guarantee the weather in any of the months! 😉
# 01: MARCH
March has been the month par excellence for me to travel to the Seychelles in recent years: Mostly blue skies, often fantastic photo conditions! Most of the precipitation falls at night; during the day it is usually absolute “paradise weather” (although – as in all other months of the year – there can also be heavy showers during the day!) Bathing conditions are also usually ideal in March:
Personally, I particularly like the Seychelles when the wind blows from the northwest, because then the conditions for swimming are often ideal on what I consider to be the most beautiful beaches. In February/March, you can often go into the water at Grand Anse on La Digue, lie on your back and simply float for minutes on the sometimes mirror-smooth sea. In August or September, for example, this would be unthinkable.
Take a look at the two comparison pictures: While I was taking the August photo, no one in their right mind would have ventured into the sea even up to their waist. Can you see how narrow the beach is in this photo? And now compare this with the photo I took on March 1st. Please move the slider back and forth to see the direct comparison! You can also see here that nature is much lusher and greener in March than in August.
Grand Anse on La Digue in August
Grand Anse on La Digue in March
Once I had the March picture in the box, I couldn’t help myself and jumped into the sea for a long swim. No current, just a few tiny waves – perfect for swimming!
# 02: FEBRUARY
In principle, February is usually just as beautiful as March. It should actually share first place with March. In both months you should have fantastic weather on most days. However, one important point should not go unmentioned: You will experience rain in both months! That is almost as certain as the Amen in the church. Nobody can tell you whether there will be a lot or a little rain. As you know, in one of the greenest countries in the world, it can sometimes rain heavily during the day. Sometimes even very extensively. Incidentally, this applies to all twelve months of the year. There is not a single month in which the Seychelles remain completely dry. And that’s a very good thing!
# 03: November
November is of course the ideal month to escape from German-speaking countries. While it is often foggy, cloudy and rainy at home, the weather conditions in the Seychelles are usually fantastic:
The monsoon has turned to the northwest in October, giving the Seychelles great bathing conditions on many of the beautiful beaches and often very cloudy skies. Due to the often particularly spectacular light conditions in November and the often extremely clear air, absolute photographer’s dreams usually come true here! November is my absolute recommendation for particularly beautiful wedding pictures! The sunsets are also often particularly spectacular in November!
# 04: October
The monsoon turns in October. No one can predict exactly when this will be the case during the month. In recent years, this has usually not been the case until the end of October – often not until November.
After a mostly short, calm phase, the wind turns to the northwest and gives the islands absolute dream weather on most days! In addition to the wonderful period from the end of January to mid-April, I think the time from mid-September to the beginning of December is also the best time to get married in the Seychelles and take beautiful photos. The weather is usually perfect and the light is often magnificent!
# 05: January
The sea is calm, the islands are rarely visited and every now and then it rains heavily and sometimes extensively: this is what January – usually the rainiest month of the year – is like in the Seychelles. It usually rains at night, but it can also rain heavily during the day – sometimes even so heavily that the roads are flooded for a short time. But the very next morning, you are greeted by a bright blue sky and are almost alone on the beaches, which are quite empty in January. You should definitely include January in your considerations! You won’t miss too many sunny days at home in January… 😉 If you want to travel to the Seychelles in January, I would recommend the second half of the month. Experience shows that this is usually much drier than the first half of January.
Update from February 01, 2024: January 2024 was extremely dry! It hasn’t rained heavily here on La Digue for weeks. Not really great for nature, but of course every vacationer is delighted! What’s more, there are hardly any tourists here in January and the Seychelles are truly “empty”. The period from January 10 to 30 is currently THE insider tip for a trip to the Seychelles for me!
# 06: September
September usually offers very interesting lighting moods (especially in the second half of the month), which of course particularly appeals to me as a photographer! However, September is not a good month for swimming – at least not at my favorite beaches in the east/southeast. The sea is then often very choppy and unpredictable. So if you’re mainly traveling to the Seychelles for swimming, it’s better to choose a different month and not travel in July/August/September.
# 07: June
June is one of the three coolest months in the Seychelles (June, July and August) – which still promises daytime temperatures of at least 25 degrees. The wind picks up and often blows very interesting cloud formations over the islands, which look great in my photos! In addition, June has been the month with the lowest visitor numbers for many years. The beaches of the Seychelles are therefore often even more deserted in June (and also in January) than in the other months of the year.
# 08: December
Especially at the beginning of December, I have already experienced great weather in the Seychelles with very calm seas and fantastic light moods! But it also rains on many days in December. Don’t forget that December and January are the rainiest months in the Seychelles. The further into December you go, the higher the probability of rain. Well, at least statistically. 😉 The weather has also changed in the Seychelles in recent years.
# 09: May
The wind shifted in April and is now blowing from a south-easterly direction. The bathing conditions on the beaches in the south-east are therefore no longer ideal. You don’t usually have to expect large amounts of rain in May, but often lots of clouds and therefore warm showers from time to time.
# 10: April
What, only 10th place? That’s almost outrageous! April should actually be much (!) higher up in this list – because the weather is usually fantastic in April. But: April is the hottest month of the year in the Seychelles. There tends to be little rainfall in April (April 2024 was a rare exception with heavy rain on some days). The sea is often as smooth as glass – at least in the first half of April – and therefore ideal for boat trips, swimming and great photos. That sounds ideal in principle! Yes, actually it is – but the heat is not for everyone. I personally love high temperatures – but I know that some people suffer. In combination with the high humidity, 33 degrees in the Seychelles feels even more “oppressive” than in Germany or Austria. You have to like it 😉
# 11: July
July is very similar to September in all these respects. As many European countries have summer vacations in July and the Seychelles are visited almost exclusively by Europeans (primarily Germans, including Austrians, then French, British and Italians), the islands are well frequented. There is often a strong wind, the sea is rough (watch out for dangerous currents!) and the weather is sometimes mixed, whereas it is probably high summer in Europe.
So – and anyone who paid attention at school knows that there is a twelfth month in the calendar, which I haven’t mentioned here yet:
August is the vacation month par excellence in many European countries. For this reason, the Seychelles are also visited by many tourists from numerous – primarily European – countries in August. The sea is usually rough, swimming is hardly possible on many beaches and at this time of year it can even be life-threatening! That’s why I find August to be the least suitable month to travel to the Seychelles. What’s more, in August in my home country of Germany, the temperatures are usually very similar to those in the Seychelles, which of course makes a “summer fan” like me particularly happy. That’s why I prefer to spend August with my family at home in Germany.
Of course, I can generally also be booked as a wedding photographer in the Seychelles in August – but due to the weather conditions and the main holiday season, I would recommend a different travel month. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in the list above! 😎