Praslin & La Digue

Best time to visit Praslin and La Digue

The best time to visit Praslin and La Digue in Seychelles depends on wind, rain and the state of the sea, since temperatures barely change through the year. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority describes two monsoon seasons with calmer changeovers in April and in October to November.

Last verified 16 September 2026

How the year works

The Seychelles Meteorological Authority's climate guide describes the year in four parts.

  • December to March, north-west monsoon. The rainy season, peaking in January. Rain decreases through February and March, and the sea becomes more pleasant as the monsoon weakens.
  • April, the changeover. Light, variable winds and, in the authority's words, sea conditions that could not be more pleasant. It can be uncomfortably warm.
  • May to September, south-east trades. Drier and windier. The trades set in during May, peak in August and decline through September. Seas are rough in July and August.
  • October and November, the second changeover. Winds weaken considerably in October and swing to the west in November, with pleasant conditions at sea as the rains return.

The tourism board's sailing article gives the same pattern in knots: north-west winds of about 8 to 12 knots from November to March, south-east trades of 10 to 20 knots from May to September, and light winds in April and October.

The numbers

The monthly figures on this page are World Meteorological Organization climate normals for 1991 to 2020 at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé. Praslin lies about 45 km north-east of Mahé. The Meteorological Authority also lists weather stations on Praslin and at L'Union Estate on La Digue, so treat the Mahé figures as a regional guide rather than island readings.

  • Rain: about 2,454 mm a year. January is the wettest month at 426.6 mm and July the driest at 79.9 mm.
  • Temperature: the average daily maximum runs from 28.7°C in July to 31.7°C in April. The average minimum stays between 24.3°C and 25.9°C all year.
  • Sunshine: May has the most, at 250.4 hours, and January the least, at 155.1 hours.
  • Wind: mean wind speed peaks at 6.0 m/s in August and is lowest in April, at 2.6 m/s.

The earlier 1981 to 2010 normal, published through the WMO World Weather Information Service, shows the same shape, with January wettest and July driest.

Sea conditions and which coast to pick

UK government travel advice (checked 16 September 2026) says west coasts are generally unsafe for swimming during the north-west monsoon, around December to March, and east coasts during the south-east winds, around May to September. The Meteorological Authority adds that from June to September, beaches facing south and south-east collect weed washed ashore, while sheltered west and north-west beaches are more pleasant.

Local examples match that pattern. A 2017 Seychelles News Agency report described large waves at Anse Lazio, on Praslin's north-western side, during the north-west monsoon. The tourism board describes rough seas in the south-east monsoon at Grand Anse on La Digue's south-east coast. It also notes that Petite Anse Kerlan on Praslin has little to no seaweed.

Rain, cyclones and heat

January can bring showers at any time of day, sometimes with thunderstorms, but the Meteorological Authority notes that runs of three or four fine days still happen. January is also the peak of the cyclone season in the south-west Indian Ocean, though these storms normally curve away southwards and rarely affect the main granitic islands. December averages at least 10 dry days, and October has the most dry days of any month, at 16.

April maximums occasionally reach 32°C or more, while July nights can fall below 25°C. At the Vallée de Mai, the Seychelles Islands Foundation suggests an umbrella or light rain jacket in the rainy season of December to March, and notes that the palm canopy gives shelter from passing showers.

Wildlife and activity seasons

  • Turtles: the nesting sea turtle trail on Curieuse runs from October to early March, and Constance Lemuria invites guests to watch nesting turtles from October to February.
  • Whale sharks: the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority says they can be seen around Ile Cocos from around August to November.
  • Aride: the Island Conservation Society opens the island to visitors from October to May.
  • Fishing: the tourism board puts the peak season in the north-west trades from October to April, and says the rougher seas of May to September are favoured by yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin.
  • Snorkelling and diving: tourism board articles disagree. One gives March to May and September to November; its best-time article gives May to October. The Meteorological Authority describes July and August as rough, so check conditions with operators.

Busy periods

The tourism board's best-time article calls May to October the peak tourist season and November to April the low season. Its self-catering article says demand is high from December to April and from July to September, and warns that inter-island ferries can sell out in peak weeks.

Questions

What is the calmest month at sea?
April. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority describes it as the month of light, variable winds between the two monsoons, with the most pleasant sea conditions of the year.
What is the wettest month?
January. The 1991 to 2020 normal at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé is 426.6 mm, against 79.9 mm in July, the driest month.
When is seaweed a problem?
From June to September, according to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, beaches facing south and south-east collect weed. Sheltered west and north-west beaches are more pleasant then.
Do cyclones hit Praslin and La Digue?
Rarely. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says cyclones in the south-west Indian Ocean peak around January but normally curve away southwards and rarely affect the main granitic islands.
Which coast is safe for swimming in each season?
UK government advice (checked 16 September 2026) is that west coasts are generally unsafe around December to March and east coasts around May to September. Ask locally and follow warning signs.
When can you see turtles and whale sharks?
The Curieuse nesting turtle trail runs from October to early March. Whale sharks can be seen around Ile Cocos from around August to November.
When is seaweed a problem on Praslin and La Digue?
Seaweed is mainly a problem from June to September, when the Seychelles Meteorological Authority says south- and south-east-facing beaches get high amounts of weed washed ashore by the south-east trade winds. Sheltered west and north-west coasts are more pleasant then.
When are the trade wind seasons in Seychelles?
The north-west monsoon blows from around December to March, peaking in January, and the south-east trades from May to September, peaking in August. April brings light, variable winds, and in October the winds weaken considerably, according to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority.
When is it best to visit Praslin and La Digue?
April and October to November, the months between the trade wind seasons, usually bring lighter winds. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says sea conditions in April can't get more pleasant, calls November's seas quite pleasant and notes that May is the sunniest part of the year.
What is the weather like in July on Praslin and La Digue?
July is the coolest and driest month, with light, brief showers, but it is very windy as the south-east trades approach their peak. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says seas can be pretty rough and nights can dip below 25°C.
Is August a good time to visit Praslin and La Digue?
August is fairly dry but windy, with rough seas, as the south-east trade winds reach their peak. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says it gets rather cool, the sea is forbidding for amateurs, and rainfall varies widely from year to year.
How much does it rain in December and January?
December and January are the heart of the rainy season, with January at its peak, but rain does not necessarily last all day and dry, sunny spells are fairly frequent. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority notes December averages at least 10 dry days.
Is January a good time to visit Seychelles?
January is the peak of the rainy season, extremely wet and humid, though the Seychelles Meteorological Authority says that with luck you can still get three or four sunny days in a row. It is also peak cyclone season in the south-west Indian Ocean, but these storms rarely affect the main granitic islands.
What is the weather like in September on Praslin?
In September the south-east trade winds are declining but still fairly strong, and it gets slightly warmer and wetter than in July and August, according to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority.
When is the sea calmest for snorkelling around Praslin and La Digue?
April is the calmest month at sea, with light and variable winds, according to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority; November and December are also pleasant. July and August bring rough seas, and from June to September the sheltered west and north-west coasts are more pleasant than beaches facing south and south-east.
What is the weather like in October?
October is fairly dry and less windy: the Seychelles Meteorological Authority says it has the most dry days of any month (16), and the winds weaken considerably as the dry season draws to a close.
Is it too hot in April in Seychelles?
April can be uncomfortably warm, with maximums occasionally reaching 32°C or more, but it brings light winds and the calmest sea of the year, says the Seychelles Meteorological Authority.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.