Seychelles · Month comparison

September vs June

September ranks #1 overall vs June at #2. Transition to calm — trades ease, both coasts begin recovering, and the second sweet spot approaches.

Seychelles September — both sides of the island accessible as the trade winds ease in the transitional season

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
Seychelles June — the east coast beach with clear water and tropical palms sheltered by the southeast trade winds

June

#2 of 12 months

Best match

Southeast trade winds established — east coasts calm, west coasts rougher, and prices at their lowest.

  • The southeast trades establish fully in June, and the east-facing beaches — Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka on Mahé, Grand Anse on Praslin — are now calm and sheltered; these beaches, inaccessible and rough in January–March, are at their finest from June through September
  • June is the first genuinely affordable month in Seychelles: prices drop below the moderate range for the first time since October, and some properties offer off-season rates that are remarkable relative to the January peaks; the beaches are as good as ever on the east coasts
FactorSeptemberJune
Weather score
8
7
Value score
6
7
Crowd score
6
7
Events score
6
5
Atmosphere
8
7
Avg high temp27°C27°C
Monthly rain136mm113mm
Daily sunshine10.6hrs10.1hrs

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

June trade-offs

  • The west-coast beaches that define the classic Seychelles postcard image — Anse Lazio, Beau Vallon, Anse Georgette — are exposed to the southeast trades and experience rough swell and wind from June through September; swimming at these beaches in June is possible in sheltered sections but the conditions are not the flat, glassy calm of the monsoon season
  • Water temperature drops slightly to 27°C in the trade wind season — still warm by any European standard but cooler than the 29–30°C of the northwest monsoon period; snorkelling is still comfortable but the warmest-water experiences are in January–April
  • Trade winds in the Seychelles are consistent but can be strong — June can see 20–25 knot sustained winds that make kayaking and paddleboard activities physically demanding; boat trips to outer islands can be bumpy in the inter-island channels
Scores compare months within Seychelles. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →