Seychelles · Month comparison
August vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs August at #4. Transition to calm — trades ease, both coasts begin recovering, and the second sweet spot approaches.
August
#4 of 12 months
Best match
Trade winds continue — east coasts remain sheltered and uncrowded, turtle nesting season peaks.
- ↑August maintains July's trade wind pattern: east coast beaches sheltered, affordable rates, and turtle nesting season at its peak — the Seychelles Islands Foundation's eco-tourism programmes on Cousin Island and Aride Island offer guided turtle and seabird experiences that are genuinely world-class and most active in August
- ↑Aride Island nature reserve, the Seychelles' most important seabird nesting site, is accessible on day trips from Praslin in August: sooty terns, frigatebirds, red-tailed tropicbirds, and the world's largest colony of lesser noddy terns nest here; guided visits are small-group and conservation-funded
September
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Transition to calm — trades ease, both coasts begin recovering, and the second sweet spot approaches.
- ↑September marks the beginning of the second transitional period: the southeast trades ease, both coasts begin to calm, and by mid-September the west-facing beaches start to recover their sheltered character; visiting in late September catches this transition and accesses both island coasts for the first time since April
- ↑Hawksbill turtle nesting season continues into September: both nesting and hatching can be observed in the same period on Cousin Island, and September is specifically the peak of hatchling emergence — watching dozens of hatchlings navigate from nest to sea on a moonlit beach is among the most moving wildlife moments in the Indian Ocean
| Factor | August | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 8 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 26°C | 27°C |
| Monthly rain | 92mm | 136mm |
| Daily sunshine | 10.4hrs | 10.6hrs |
August trade-offs
- ↓Trade winds persist through August at near-July intensity: the classic west-coast beaches and the catamaran day trips that use the sheltered west-coast anchorages are still operating at reduced capacity; the itinerary for an August visit must be built around east-coast positioning
- ↓Water temperature at 26°C is at its annual minimum — comfortable for snorkelling but meaningfully cooler than the January–April warm-water season; those specifically visiting for reef fish snorkelling may find August's cooler, more tide-affected reef conditions less ideal than April
- ↓Some outer island charters are suspended or significantly reduced in the trade wind peak due to rough channel conditions between the granitic inner islands and the outer atolls; confirm charter availability before booking outer island excursions for August
September trade-offs
- ↓Early September still carries trade wind weather on the west coasts — the transition is gradual, and the first two weeks may see west-coast beaches still rough; the easing happens progressively through the month rather than on a specific date
- ↓September's 88mm of rain is similar to August — the transition between the two seasons doesn't significantly reduce rainfall, and afternoon showers remain part of the daily pattern; the improvement from August is primarily in sunshine hours (7.5 vs 7.0) and wind reduction rather than dryness
- ↓Demand from European autumn half-terms begins building in late September — accommodation in quality properties starts to fill for October, and September late bookings may find the best rooms unavailable
Scores compare months within Seychelles. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →