Best Time to Visit Praslin & Seychelles: Month-by-Month Table (2027)

April to May and October to November are the best months for most people. The wind is light, the sea is calm and the rain is not at its worst. Book the first half of May or late October to early November. The right month for you still depends on what you want from the sea and which coast of Praslin or La Digue you stay on.

Praslin and La Digue: the same months work. Then pick the beach by the wind. Anse Volbert on Praslin's north coast is protected by coral. Anse Lazio is calmest in April, May, October and November. On La Digue, Grand Anse is not a swimming beach in the south-east trades.

The Seychelles sit close to the equator, so there is no cold season. Air temperature barely moves. What changes is the wind. That is what decides boat days, snorkelling, seaweed and how nice the beach feels. Picture the jetty at La Passe: whether you step onto it dry or damp depends on the month.

Which month for which trip

Pick the month by the job: April to May for beaches and heat, late October to early November for calm sea and diving. Use this table first, then read the month-by-month matrix below.

You want	Pick	Why	Avoid
Calm sea for boat trips and ferries	April, late October, November	The Authority describes April winds as "light and variable" with sea conditions that "can't get more pleasant than this", and November as "quite pleasant"	July and August
Snorkelling and diving	April, October, November (March and May are close behind)	SeyVillas names April and November as the best months, with the best visibility between the wind seasons	July and August
Dry, sunny beach days	May to September	Lowest rain; July is "the coolest and driest period of the year" (Authority)	December to January
Hot, lazy swimming	March to May	Warmest air and sea; April highs of 31.7 C (89 F) at the airport	Nothing, but bring shade
Lowest prices	September, plus shoulder months	Kuoni calls July, August and Christmas to January popular, and says September can be good value	July, August, late December
Wind sports, sailing	June to August	The Authority calls June "ideal" for windsurfing and sailing as the winds are steady; SeyVillas says the trade-wind months suit sailing and windsurfing	A first-time boat trip if you get seasick

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My own pick for a first trip that combines Praslin and La Digue by ferry: the first half of May or late October to early November. In both, the sea is usually settled, the rain is moderate and you are not paying school-holiday prices. If you can only go in April, take the heat seriously: the Authority says maximum temperatures can occasionally reach 32 degrees (90 F) or more.

Month-by-month matrix: weather, sea and activities

The matrix puts wind and sea (Seychelles Meteorological Authority), rain (WMO 1991-2020 normals, Mahe airport) and our reading for each activity side by side. The ratings are judgement calls, not measurements. Fahrenheit and inches are our conversions, rounded to the nearest degree and to 0.1 in. Praslin and La Digue are close to Mahe, but local rain and swell vary from bay to bay.

Month	Wind and sea (Authority)	Rain, mm	Beach swimming	Boat trips and ferries	Snorkel and dive	Cost	Calmer coast
Jan	NW monsoon at its peak; peak of the rainy season	426.6	OK, humid and showery	OK, depends on the day	Fair	High (holidays)	South and east
Feb	Rain easing, still wet and humid	250.8	Good	Good	Improving; SeyVillas says visibility improves from late February	Not named as peak	South and east
Mar	"Significant decrease" in rain; warm	204.5	Very good	Good	Good (SeyVillas: visibility about 30 m)	Not named as peak	South and east
Apr	"The month of the monsoon reversal"; light variable winds, calm seas	196.3	Very good, very hot	Very good	Best	Not named as peak	Almost anywhere
May	Trades "set-in"; "the sea is not yet forbidding"; sunniest month	171.4	Very good	Good, getting livelier	Very good	Not named as peak	North and west
Jun	Steady, strong winds; Authority: "relatively dry"	121.8	Good on sheltered coasts	Bumpy at times	Fair	Not named as peak	North and west
Jul	"Coolest and driest"; very strong winds, rough seas	79.9	Sheltered bays only	Rough; the roughest crossings	Fair to poor	High (holidays)	North and west
Aug	"The peak of the Southeast Trades"	114.9	Sheltered bays only	Rough	Fair to poor	High (holidays)	North and west
Sep	Trades "on the decline but still fairly strong"	183.6	Good	Improving	Improving	Often good value	North and west
Oct	Winds weaken; "highest number of dry days (16)"	191.2	Very good	Very good	Very good	Not named as peak	North and west early in the month, almost anywhere later
Nov	"The winds drop significantly and swing to the west"; pleasant seas	214.9	Very good	Very good	Very good	Not named as peak	Almost anywhere
Dec	Light winds, showers, oppressive humidity	298.1	OK	Good if the day is dry	Fair	High (holidays)	South and east (see below)

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Two reading notes. First, "calmer coast" is the side sheltered from the wind of that season. For the south-east trades, Kuoni says the north and west coasts are more sheltered, and the Authority calls the west and north-west beaches more pleasant from June to September. The south and east coasts may be unsuitable for swimming in the windiest months. For the north-west monsoon I have reasoned the other way round from wind direction. No source we found states it for Praslin and La Digue, so treat it as logic, not a measurement.

Second, "Cost" is only a guide. We found no published price by month. It follows the months Kuoni calls popular (July, August, December to January, with September good value). SeyVillas, on the other hand, says there is "no classic peak season or off season". Ask for real prices before you pick.

What the trade winds do to boat days and ferries

From about May to October the south-east trades make the sea rougher, and the Authority says so month by month. In May "the sea is not yet forbidding". In July it "gets very windy" and "conditions at sea can get pretty rough". August is "the peak of the Southeast Trades". By November the winds "drop significantly and swing to the west".

For you, this means three things.

• Island hops are bumpier from June to September. Praslin to La Digue and Mahe to Praslin are open-water crossings. Cat Cocos sails every day in its 2026–2027 schedule, but we found no published cancellation rate. Its terms say it "reserves the right not to undertake crossings under bad weather conditions". You may then change your trip without charge. If you get seasick, take the shoulder months, and ask a pharmacist about travel-sickness tablets before you go.
• Small boat trips depend on the side. Day trips and snorkelling stops go to sheltered bays when the wind is up. Skippers choose on the day, so keep one spare day in your plan.
• Seaweed is a trade-wind story, but the details are fuzzy. SeyVillas says the south-east trades bring a lot of seaweed to Praslin from May to early October. The other side of the island, it says, is generally free of it. It also says north-west winds bring some to Anse Volbert in December to February. Another SeyVillas page says Anse Volbert is ideal before the May to October winds bring seaweed. Those two statements disagree. The Seychelles Nation reported on 13 June 2026 that seaweed on Praslin's beaches had become a social-media debate. The part we could read names no months or beaches. The Authority's July entry says beaches facing the south-east winds get a lot of washed-up weed from June to September, while the west and north-west coasts are more pleasant. We found no official or scientific timetable by beach. Ask your guesthouse about the day's beach before you go.

Seaweed is harmless but not pretty. Think of it as the sea's way of reminding you that a postcard is a single frame.

April: the best month, with one catch

April is warm, calm and sunny. The Authority calls it "the month of the monsoon reversal". Winds are light and variable, sea conditions "can't get more pleasant than this", and the cyclone season is officially over. At the airport the average daily maximum is 31.7 C (89 F). Weather2Travel's long-term averages put the sea at Mahe at about 30 C (86 F) in April. SeyVillas gives a wider 23-28 C range for the whole year, so the sources differ on the exact figure. They agree that April is among the warmest months for the sea.

The catch is the heat, and the myth of the "driest month". Some guides say April is the driest. In the WMO 1991-2020 normals for Mahe airport, April gets 196.3 mm, roughly the same as October (191.2 mm). The driest months are July (79.9 mm), August (114.9 mm) and June (121.8 mm). The Authority says April marks "the end of the 'rainy season'" and tells visitors to "be prepared for the occasional tropical showers particularly in the afternoons". April is calm and warm, not dry.

October: calm sea, most dry days

October is one of the two best months. The Authority says October has "the highest number of dry days (16)". The winds weaken but still blow mostly from the south-east. The sea is calmer than in mid-trades but may not be flat early in the month. The rain belt starts returning, so rain increases towards November. At the airport it is 191.2 mm in October and 214.9 mm in November.

If you are choosing between the two shoulder seasons, I pick late October to early November for ferries and diving. April to May is slightly drier on average at the airport (April 196.3 mm and May 171.4 mm, against October 191.2 mm and November 214.9 mm). It is also hotter, so it suits you if you can stand 31 C (88 F) and above.

Which coast of Praslin, La Digue and Mahe

A beach can be flat on one side of an island and rough on the other on the same day. In the south-east trades (May to October) the north and west sides are more sheltered. In the north-west monsoon (December to March) the open sides face the other way.

• Praslin north coast (Anse Volbert, Cote d'Or): SeyVillas says it is "protected by coral" with "gently sloping sandy shores" and pleasant swimming conditions. It also says this is ideal before the May to October winds bring seaweed.
• Anse Lazio: Story Seychelles says it is open to the west with no reef in front of it. It also says winds ease and the sea is noticeably calmer in April, May, October and November. From December to March and June to September, it says, stronger winds can make the water choppier. Occasional seaweed can come with them. Waves and currents can also grow quickly, and lifeguards are not always present. Check the sea before you swim. My rule: be there early on a calm morning, or skip the swim.
• La Digue: SeyVillas says Grand Anse has "no offshore coral reef" and "High waves - rough sea during south-east trade winds". It says currents are "strong enough to carry you out to sea". Treat it as a beach for walking and watching, not swimming.

The Authority publishes district climate figures, but we could not read them for Praslin or La Digue. The numbers on this page are for Mahe airport and are a guide for the other islands, not a measurement of them.

Snorkelling and diving

Aim for April or November, with March, May and October close behind. SeyVillas names April and November as the best months for snorkelling and diving and says March, May and October are similar, with October's winds dying down. It also says visibility reaches about 30 m in March, as the wind wanes.

June to August is wind season. Seas are rough and visibility is lower. Boat-based snorkelling becomes a lottery, and shore snorkelling is limited to sheltered bays. If those months are your only option, ask the operator which bays they use that week.

Cheapest time to go

September and the shoulder months are the likely value picks, and the busiest weeks cost the most. Kuoni calls July, August and the December to January holidays popular (book well ahead). It says September is a great time to get a good deal. Trailfinders says the dry season is more expensive and crowded, while the wet season may be more budget-friendly. SeyVillas says there is no classic peak or off season. These views do not fully match, so compare real quotes for your dates.

Do not pick a month only for price. January has the most rain of the year (426.6 mm at the airport), and a cheap week of daily downpours is not a bargain.

December to March: the wet, hot, green months

The north-west monsoon is warm, humid and wet, but it is not a washout. Call it paradise with the sprinklers on. January is "the peak of the rainy season", according to the Authority, with frequent showers and some thunderstorms. February still has plenty of rain, and March sees a "significant decrease". Cyclones usually curve south and rarely hit the main islands, the Authority says, and the cyclone season officially ends in April.

If your dates are flexible, I would go in March rather than December or January. The rain is lighter (204.5 mm against 298.1 mm in December and 426.6 mm in January). SeyVillas says the wind eases late in February and that diving and snorkelling improve then.

Turtles: when the beaches have hatchlings

The one nesting record we can source is from Cousin Island Special Reserve, and it is a single season. Nature Seychelles reported on 6 October 2021 that the 2020-2021 hawksbill season there "started on 7th September and closed on 8th April". It said the next season was "delayed" compared with that one, so the start moves from year to year. It also says nests are marked for excavation two months later to check hatching success.

We found no official Praslin or La Digue calendar. Kuoni puts the hawksbill hatchling season at January to March and says some beaches may be closed to protect nests. Treat any single month range as a guide, and obey beach closures and signs. Cousin Island is a protected reserve next to Praslin, so its record is a hint for the area, not a rule for every beach.

What some summaries get wrong

Several quick answers repeat the same slips. Here is what the data says.

Common line	What the sources say
April is the driest month	WMO 1991-2020, Mahe airport: April 196.3 mm (7.7 in). July is driest at 79.9 mm (3.1 in). Kuoni's page calls April "the driest"
April to May is "warm and dry"	The Authority says April is the end of the rainy season and tells visitors to expect occasional tropical showers, mainly in the afternoon
The December to March wind is a "trade wind"	The Authority names it the Northwest Monsoon, and says it peaks in January. The trade winds are the south-east ones
January and February are the wettest	At Mahe airport the wettest are January (426.6 mm) and December (298.1 mm). February is 250.8 mm

FAQ

What is the worst time to visit the Seychelles?

December and January for rain, and July and August for rough seas. January has 426.6 mm (16.8 in) of rain at Mahe airport (WMO 1991-2020), and the Authority says it is the peak of the rainy season. July and August are the cool windy months with rough seas. "Worst" depends on you: the Authority calls June ideal for windsurfing and sailing.

What is the weather like in the Seychelles in July?

Cool, dry and windy. The Authority calls July "the coolest and driest period of the year", with strong winds and rough seas. Mahe airport averages a 28.7 C (84 F) daily maximum and 79.9 mm (3.1 in) of rain in July (WMO 1991-2020). Nights can feel chilly to people used to warmer weather.

What is the weather like in the Seychelles in February?

Hot, humid and still fairly wet, but improving. The Authority says rainfall is usually on the decrease in February but it is "still fairly wet and humid". Mahe airport averages 250.8 mm (9.9 in) and a 30.6 C (87 F) maximum (WMO 1991-2020).

What is the best time to visit Praslin and La Digue?

April to May and October to November, the same as for the whole country. Pick the coast by season: north and west sides in the south-east trades (May to October). Between the two wind seasons the sea is calm almost everywhere.

When is the sea warmest?

April, by most accounts. Weather2Travel's long-term averages for Mahe show about 30 C (86 F) in April and about 26 C (79 F) in July and August. SeyVillas gives a different overall range (23-28 C). The exact degrees differ by source, so treat them as a rough guide.

Sources

• Seychelles Meteorological Authority, Seychelles Climate Guide
• WMO Climate Normals 1991-2020, Seychelles International Airport (63980), NOAA archive
• Weather2Travel, Seychelles climate
• SeyVillas, when to go and Praslin north coast and Grand Anse, La Digue
• Kuoni, best time to visit
• Trailfinders, best time to visit
• Story Seychelles, Anse Lazio
• Nature Seychelles, turtle nesting foray on Cousin Island, 6 Oct 2021
• Seychelles Nation, 13 June 2026
• Cat Cocos, terms and conditions and schedule 2026 & 2027

Sources

1. Seychelles Meteorological Authority: Seychelles Climate Guide (month by month), meteo.sc
2. WMO Climate Normals 1991-2020, Seychelles International Airport (Mahe, WMO 63980), NOAA-hosted CSV; read directly by the fact-checker 2026-11-11, nodc.noaa.gov
3. Weather2Travel: Seychelles (Mahe) long-term monthly averages incl. sea temperature (CRU, Met Office, KNMI data; years not stated), weather2travel.com
4. SeyVillas: When to go to the Seychelles, seyvillas.com
5. SeyVillas: The north coast of Praslin, seyvillas.com
6. Kuoni: Best time to visit the Seychelles, kuoni.co.uk
7. Trailfinders: The best time to visit the Seychelles, trailfinders.com
8. Seychelles Nation, 13 June 2026: seaweed on Praslin beaches, nation.sc
9. Story Seychelles: Anse Lazio, story-seychelles.com
10. SeyVillas: Grand Anse, La Digue, seyvillas.com
11. Nature Seychelles: turtle nesting foray begins on Cousin Island (6 Oct 2021), natureseychelles.org
12. Cat Cocos: terms and conditions (bad-weather crossings, change of trip without charge), catcocos.com
13. Cat Cocos: schedule image, 2026 & 2027, catcocos.com