Seychelles · Month comparison
December vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs December at #12. Transition to calm — trades ease, both coasts begin recovering, and the second sweet spot approaches.
December
#12 of 12 months
Worth considering
Peak season with peak rain — the worst weather-to-price ratio of the year, but Christmas in the Indian Ocean has its own energy.
- ↑West-facing beaches are at their calmest and most sheltered in December: the northwest monsoon protects the coastlines that define the Seychelles' postcard imagery, and in clear windows between the rain Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, and Anse Source d'Argent deliver the flat, warm, gin-clear water that the Seychelles is famous for
- ↑Christmas and New Year in the Seychelles is a genuinely extraordinary experience for those with the budget: private island dinners under the stars, lagoon kayaking at dawn, and the sound of Sega music drifting from the beach bar create a festive experience with no European equivalent; the resort atmosphere in December is the most celebratory of the year
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 | December | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 8 |
| Value score | 3 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 3 | 6 |
| Events score | 6 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 6 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 27°C |
| Monthly rain | 238mm | 136mm |
| Daily sunshine | 10.8hrs | 10.6hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓December is the wettest month: 238mm is very heavy, second only to January, and sustained rain periods lasting 2–3 days are possible; the famous turquoise water and blue sky images of Seychelles are difficult to reproduce in December without significant luck
- ↓December is also the most expensive month: Christmas week accommodation at the best Seychelles properties (Fregate Island, North Island, Raffles Praslin) is extraordinary in cost and requires booking 6–12 months in advance; budget and mid-range travellers visiting in December will find the accommodation premium severe
- ↓The combination of northwest monsoon rain and Christmas crowds means December has both the worst weather and the most visitors of any month — the ratio of cost-to-experience is at its least favourable for any rational traveller who has a choice of month
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 →