Seychelles · Month comparison
November vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs November at #10. The finest month — transitional calm between the monsoons, maximum sunshine, and every beach accessible.
November
#10 of 12 months
Strong option
Northwest monsoon arrives — prices climb sharply as the peak season begins, and rain increases.
- ↑November begins the northwest monsoon and the beach conditions on the west-facing coasts improve again after the trade wind season — Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, and Anse Source d'Argent are all sheltered and calm again, and the Christmas season infrastructure (full resort staffing, evening cultural programmes) begins to establish
- ↑Sea turtle hatching continues into November on some of the protected beaches and the outer atolls — the tail of the nesting season overlaps with the start of the peak tourist season, creating a window in November where both wildlife and resort experiences are accessible
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 | November | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 4 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 29°C | 30°C |
| Monthly rain | 162mm | 105mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7.5hrs | 8hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓Rainfall jumps sharply in November: 162mm is heavy, and the northwest monsoon showers can be more sustained than the brief trade wind showers of June–September; the lush tropical vegetation is at its most intense, but multi-day rain periods are possible and beach plans require flexibility
- ↓November pre-Christmas demand is already building: the private island resorts begin filling for December and November, and quality Praslin and La Digue properties need 2–3 months advance booking for the November season
- ↓The northwest monsoon can occasionally generate tropical cyclone activity in the southern Indian Ocean in November — while direct Seychelles strikes are historically rare, the monsoon weather patterns can bring extended periods of unsettled weather; travel insurance is advisable
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 →