The Best Months to Visit the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius & Zanzibar (2026)
The Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Zanzibar each run on a different seasonal clock. Pick the wrong combination of island and month and you spend overwater-villa money watching rain.
Most travellers lump the Indian Ocean together — "a beach somewhere with a villa" — then wonder why the weather didn't cooperate. The reason is straightforward: these four islands sit across 3,000 kilometres of ocean and answer to two separate monsoon systems. When the Maldives is at its driest, Mauritius is in cyclone season. When Zanzibar is flooded by the long rains, the Maldives is glorious. The grid below removes the guesswork.
Ratings are by weather alone. Green = ideal (dry, sunny, calm seas). Amber = shoulder or mixed — some wind, humidity or passing showers. Red = avoid: peak monsoon, long rains or cyclone season.
| Island | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives | g|Dry, sunny | g|Dry, peak | g|Dry, hot | g|Warm, dry | o|Wet onset | o|Wet, breezy | o|Surf season | o|Wet | r|Wettest | r|Wet | o|Easing | g|Dry returns |
| Seychelles | o|Hot, rainy | o|Rainy | g|Warm, calm | g|Calm, ideal | g|Calm, dry | o|SE winds | o|Windy | o|Windy | o|Breezy | g|Calm, ideal | g|Warm, calm | o|Rain rising |
| Mauritius | r|Cyclone, humid | r|Cyclone peak | o|Humid | g|Pleasant | g|Mild, dry | g|Cool, dry | g|Cool, dry | g|Dry, breezy | g|Spring, ideal | g|Warm, dry | o|Warming, wet | o|Hot, wet |
| Zanzibar | g|Hot, dry | g|Hot, dry | o|Rain onset | r|Long rains | r|Long rains | g|Dry, cooler | g|Dry, ideal | g|Dry | g|Dry | g|Dry, warm | o|Short rains | g|Drying, hot |
Island by island
Maldives
The northeast monsoon (December to April) delivers the conditions the Maldives is sold on: clear skies, flat seas and underwater visibility above 30 metres, peaking January to March. The southwest monsoon (May to November) brings cloud, humidity and squalls, with September–October the worst of it. Even in the wet season it rarely rains continuously — but if you are paying US$2,000 a night for an overwater villa, pick the dry months. July and August are breezy and draw surfers; they are not the choice for a dive-focused trip. For the resorts themselves, see our ranked guide to the Maldives resorts.
Seychelles
The Seychelles offers two distinct calm windows rather than one long season: April–May and October–November, when the trade winds drop, the sea turns glassy and conditions for snorkelling and sailing are as good as they get anywhere in the Indian Ocean. June to September brings the cooler southeast trades — pleasant enough, and notably quieter. December to February is hotter and wetter; not impossible, but not optimal. If you can travel in April, October or November, do so.
Mauritius
Mauritius sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons invert relative to most travellers' expectations. The winter months — May to September — are the target window: dry, mild (mid-20s Celsius) and clear. September and October warm up into what amounts to an ideal spring. The summer (November to April) is hot and humid throughout, and January–February is cyclone season: a direct hit is unlikely but one passing storm can ruin a week. The west and north coasts are the most sheltered from wind at any time of year.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar's year is defined by two rainy seasons. The long rains (April–May) are the one period to rule out: 200mm or more falls each month and the island goes quiet. The short rains (November) are lighter and less disruptive. The clear windows are June to October — dry, 27–30°C, and the natural pairing with a mainland Tanzania safari, which also peaks in the dry season — and the December to February stretch, hot and dry at 30–32°C. January and February are among the least-visited months despite offering some of the best weather.
The short version
Travelling December to April: the Maldives is the clear choice (Seychelles is a warm, slightly wetter alternative in April). From May to October: shift to Mauritius, the Seychelles calm windows, or Zanzibar — the Maldives is in its wet season. The Seychelles' twin sweet spots are April–May and October–November. Combining beach with East Africa: Zanzibar in June–October pairs directly with the Serengeti dry season.
Pairing a beach week with Asia? See our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Asia for how the two regions line up across the calendar.
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