Seychelles · Month comparison
November vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs November at #8. Transition to calm — trades ease, both coasts begin recovering, and the second sweet spot approaches.
November
#8 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
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 | November | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 8 |
| Value score | 4 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 29°C | 27°C |
| Monthly rain | 237mm | 136mm |
| Daily sunshine | 11hrs | 10.6hrs |
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
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 →