One of the most important articles is about the weather in Seychelles. You will learn when it’s best to vacation in the Seychelles, the monthly weather patterns, ocean water temperatures, and the rainy season. I’ll share details about aspects you might not think about before traveling, but when you arrive, it’s too late to consider, such as winds or rainfall. All the necessary information about the weather in Seychelles will be provided.

Weather in Seychelles: General Information

Let’s start with the basics, briefly and concisely, so you can form a correct understanding of the climate and weather in Seychelles.

  • The Seychelles are located almost on the equator. If you are interested in more general information for travelers about the country, read the article at the provided link.
  • The climate in the Seychelles is tropical, meaning it’s hot and humid year-round, with a distinct rainy season.

Important:

The annual air temperature in the Seychelles remains almost constant – it’s the equator. The difference between the coldest and hottest months is only 2 degrees. There are only two types of weather: rainy and non-rainy.
weather in seychelles
Weather in Seychelles by months. It’s consistently the same every day, every month, every year, and has been for millions of years.

Seasons in the Seychelles, or When It’s Best to Vacation

One of the most common questions from tourists. And here it’s simple: the season in the Seychelles is year-round, making it suitable for vacationing in any month. However, there are some specifics:

  • The rainiest months of the year: November, December, January. Rainfall can occur for 20-25 days per month. Read the section below about the rainy season.
  • The driest months of the year: late May to late August. These months also have the most sunshine.
  • The strongest wind – from July to September.

Important to know:

The Seychelles are in the southern hemisphere, meaning winter here is our summer, and summer here is our winter. The climate in the Seychelles has the following differences by seasons: during winter (late May to August), it’s hot and dry with almost no rain. In summer (November to February), it’s also very hot but very humid. Outdoor humidity is around 90%, with regular heavy rains in addition.
best time to go to seychelles
Completely normal conditions on the islands. We arrived at the beach at sunset. On the left, you can see the blue sky, a small cloud in the center pouring rain, and on the right, the sunset. Such weather in the Seychelles can occur in any month.

In summary: tourists visit the Seychelles all year round; the vacation season is all 12 months. But the best months in the Seychelles are from March to November. Less rain, lower humidity, more sun.

Rainy Season in the Seychelles

A brief lyrical digression. Since I am bombarded with questions every year about the rains, and every year it’s the same. All questions are like this: “we bought tickets for January to the Seychelles, tell us, are there heavy rains during that time?”

Guys, let me ask you this:

“I’m going to Berlin in January, will there be snow?” What to answer to such a question? Well, January is winter, if it’s winter, then there should be snow. But sometimes Berlin is already covered in snow at the end of November, knee-deep snowdrifts. And sometimes we celebrate Christmas without snow. Every year is different, impossible to predict.

The same goes for the rainy season in the Seychelles. The peak of the rainy season is December and January. Rains are frequent, tropical downpours, and a tremendous amount of water is poured. Sometimes, in a given year, tourists arrive in the Seychelles for 7 days, and it rains for all 7 days. And sometimes, it’s a 30-minute tropical downpour per day, mainly at night, and then a rain-free day. Every year is different, impossible to predict.

best months seychelles
This photo was taken on December 15 in the morning. On the path to Anse Major beach.
rains in seychelles
And this photo was taken on the same day, 2 hours after returning from the beach. Such weather in the Seychelles is very common, especially during the rainy season. In the morning, there’s sun, and after lunch, rains, or vice versa.

If you’re one of those who need a bronze tan, who can easily be upset by rain, who’s coming for a 5-7 day vacation, and every day needs to spend as much time as possible on the beach, then it’s better not to come to the Seychelles in December-January. There’s a high risk that out of your 5 vacation days, 3-4 will have rain. Come in February or March 🙂

Tip:

Based on my personal observations and feelings, in December and January, during the peak of the rainy season, there is less precipitation on La Digue Island. Since there are no high mountains here that trap rain clouds. On Mahe, the mountains are 900 meters high, while on La Digue, it’s only 300 meters. Usually, on La Digue during these months, there is more sun and less rain. A comprehensive overview of the small island of La Digue.

Weather in the Seychelles by Months

In essence, I have already answered this question several times above. For those joining from this point, it’s important to note that in the Seychelles, the temperature is around +30 degrees Celsius in any month of the year. However, from November to early February, it’s the rainy season, and despite that, tourists abound during this period.

I want to draw attention to the wind on the islands for those vacationing with children and those seeking beaches without waves. As the Seychelles are located in the ocean, depending on the month and beach, waves can be so intense that it’s challenging for adults, let alone children, to enter the water for a swim.

About Wind and Waves in the Seychelles:

The Seychelles experience two wind seasons and two transitional periods between these seasons. From December to March, west winds prevail, resulting in a high likelihood of waves on most beaches on the west coast. Conversely, the east coast remains wave-free during this time. Consider this information when choosing accommodation locations and places for wave-free swimming during this period. From May to October, the situation reverses – wind and waves are prevalent on the east coast.
rain season in the seychelles
However, there are always beaches in lagoons where waves and wind are minimal almost year-round. For example, at Port Launay beach, as shown in the photo, it’s excellent for children throughout the year.

Popular beaches on the west coast of Mahe island include Anse Intendance, Anse Takamaka, Anse Soleil, and Beau Vallon. On the east coast: Anse Royale and Anse Marie Louise. Check the list of the best beaches in the Seychelles.

  • Important: The winds are not strong or hurricane-like, they do not disrupt relaxation. However, they create currents and waves that may not be to everyone’s liking. The strongest winds occur from July to September.

Ocean Water Temperature

There’s not much to elaborate on here. The Indian Ocean is relatively calm, and it remains warm throughout the year. For detailed information about the Seychelles ocean, including snorkeling and reverse currents, refer to the linked article.

The ocean water temperature in the Seychelles remains between 26 to 31 degrees Celsius year-round. The warmest ocean water is in early Seychellois autumn: March-April, where the water temperature is almost everywhere +30 and above. In July and August, the second half of the Seychellois winter, it is the coldest, ranging between +26 and +27.

Tides in the Seychelles:

This is often asked, and here’s what you need to know: yes, there are daily tides in the Seychelles and ebbs. Overall, they do not disturb relaxation, and tides and ebbs are almost imperceptible. In the Indian basin, there are resorts where water recedes daily by 2 km from the shore, for example, neighboring Zanzibar. But in the Seychelles, it’s not the same.

On very shallow beaches, the ebb can be noticeable when the water recedes by 20-50 meters, but nothing critical that would disrupt leisure. Pay attention to such details when choosing a beach in advance.

Additionally, there is one serious danger in the Seychelles, especially for children, directly related to the weather – the sun and the UV index. In short, since the Seychelles are on the equator, it has the most active (read: dangerous) sun on Earth. Your skin can get thermal burns in 30 minutes on the beach. Especially be vigilant with children during clear sunny days. For details about the UV index and where to check it, refer to the article on Seychelles dangers.

In Conclusion: As you’ve understood, on these tropical islands, it’s summer year-round. The weather in the Seychelles is the same all 12 months of the year. There are no seasons; the weather is only divided into rainy days and clear days. And for variety, there are clear mornings and rainy afternoons. When is the best time to vacation in the Seychelles? Among tourists, it’s considered that the very best times are March-May and September-November. However, tourists come here all year round. Even in December, it offers excellent relaxation.

IMPORTANT: essential links to organize your dream trip to the Seychelles:

  • FLIGHTS: Aviasales – direct flights and best deals.

  • CAR RENTAL: Mahe and Praslin, no deposit required – DiscoverCars.

  • TOURS and EXCURSIONS:
    • GetYourGuide – 75+ activities on land and water in the Seychelles.

    • Viator – 150 + activities in Seychelles.

  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA.

  • HOTELS, VILLAS, APARTMENTS:
    • Hotellook compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.

    • Booking – the most popular service for booking accommodation.

    • Agoda – the main competitor of Booking.

  • PACKAGES: from budget to luxury – Expedia.

  • AIRPORT TRANSFER: Intui.

  • INTERNET: eSIM of local telecom operator – Airalo.