Seychelles · Month comparison
March vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs March at #8. The finest month — transitional calm between the monsoons, maximum sunshine, and every beach accessible.
March
#8 of 12 months
Strong option
Monsoon continuing to ease — a shoulder month with warm seas, reducing rain, and improving value.
- ↑March continues the gradual transition toward the April–May sweet spot: rainfall is down to 175mm from February's 185mm, and the sunshine hours hold at 7.0 — beach days are more common than in January, and the warm water temperature (around 29°C) is at its Indian Ocean maximum
- ↑The Seychelles Festival Kreol (dates can vary, sometimes March) celebrates Creole culture across the islands — traditional food (grilled job fish, coconut curry), Sega music, craft markets, and cultural events represent the islands at their most authentic; the festival is more attended by islanders than tourists and gives a genuine insight into Seychellois culture
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The finest month — transitional calm between the monsoons, maximum sunshine, and every beach accessible.
- ↑April is the first of Seychelles' two perfect months: the northwest monsoon has ended and the southeast trades have not yet established, creating a period of near-complete calm across all island coasts; every beach on every island is accessible — Anse Lazio and Anse Intendance on Praslin, Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Cocos on La Digue, and the full spectrum of Mahé's 60+ beaches are all swimmable in conditions that do not exist at any other time of year
- ↑Water clarity is at its best in April: the absence of monsoon runoff and minimal wind-driven surface chop create the highest underwater visibility of the year — the Sainte Anne Marine Park, the Cousin Island snorkel reef, and the dive sites at Shark Bank and Brissare Rock (accessible from Mahé) offer visibility of 20–30 metres and encounters with hawksbill turtles, nurse sharks, and Napoleon wrasse
| Factor | March | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 30°C |
| Monthly rain | 175mm | 105mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 8hrs |
March trade-offs
- ↓175mm of rain with 78% humidity means March is still a wet month — the northwest monsoon hasn't fully dissipated, and the west-coast protected beaches can experience heavy showers without warning; the lush vegetation that the rains create is beautiful but beach plans need flexibility
- ↓Some dive operations note that March can have reduced visibility on the inner reef sites compared to the calmer April–May window — the rain runoff and surface chop from the monsoon can reduce transparency on snorkel sites near river mouths; outer reef diving is less affected
- ↓Easter week (if in March) creates a demand and pricing spike: European travellers use the school holidays for Indian Ocean escapes and Seychelles accommodation around Easter requires advance booking
April trade-offs
- ↓April's outstanding reputation drives demand: the month is the best-known of the two sweet spots and accommodation at top properties requires booking 3–4 months ahead; the combination of school Easter holidays (if April) and perfect weather creates a pricing spike that moves the month from moderate toward expensive in peak years
- ↓April can occasionally see the tail of the northwest monsoon lingering in the first week — some years the transition takes longer, and early April can still see days of rain before the calm fully establishes; mid-to-late April is the most reliably calm window
- ↓The Seychelles national parks (Vallée de Mai, Cousin Island) begin pre-season maintenance and guide reallocation in early April; confirm specific tour availability for the first week
Scores compare months within Seychelles. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →