Best Time to Visit the Indian Ocean
What is the best time to visit the Indian Ocean is a question we are asked a lot, owing to its ever-changing tropical climate? Truth be told, it's is a year round destination with consistent temperatures of around 30 degrees and sunshine, however as with the rest of the world, there are slightly better times of the year to go than others.
The drier and cooler months are from April to November, making it ideal for families who don’t want the fierce heat of the Mediterranean! If you want to dive or do a lot of water sports, then best to avoid January and February. The best time to hit the surf in the Maldives is from March to October. The Seychelles has pretty constant temperatures (between 24ºC to 31ºC) with warmer and wetter winds blowing in from October to April and drier and stronger winds coming in from May to September.
Winter (December - February)
Winter is most definitely the best time to visit the paradise islands of the Maldives and Seychelles, being the dry season with hot and balmy temperatures, perfect for diving and snorkelling. It is a very popular to come here for Christmas and New Year, making it a premium destination through mid-December to January. For kite surfing lovers, the Seychelles are a mecca through the winter months as it tends to be windier, this is also the time you can witness the yearly highlight when turtles begin to hatch on the beaches. Madagascar sees heavy rainfall in many areas making some roads all but impassable, and with it a higher risk of cyclones in the east and northeast.
Spring (March - May)
The Maldives continue to be a good choice through spring, before the wetter summer months begin, still offering good visibility for divers. Mauritius is fantastic to visit through spring and summer, making it a firm favourite for Easter and Summer school holiday breaks. When the winds are at their strongest in July and August it can feel cooler on the east coast. These conditions make Mauritius one of the world most popular kitesurfing destinations. For calmer waters and lighter winds, head to the west coast during this period. The winds drop in the Seychelles as the weather tends to become hotter and more humid.
Summer (June - August)
Madagascar bursts into life through the summer months as the rains ease and temperatures are less fierce. The heavy rains leave lush and abundant vegetation with a huge variety of wildlife emerging, lemurs are frequently spotted, along with tenrecs, aye-aye’s and many weird and wonderful. The cooler weather allows for magical jungle treks, camp safaris and fishing trips, the shores boast clear waters for snorkelling and diving. This is also a key time to visit Mauritius, when the weather is cooler and drier, a good option to travel outside of Europe in the summer school holidays, June, September and October are key times to travel for couples.
Autumn (September - November)
Summer and Autumn are the best time to travel around Madagascar as the rain season subsides and temperatures cool, you may also be lucky enough to spot humpback whales and lemurs with their young. September to November is a beautiful time to travel to Mauritius, it is also the peak season for deep sea marlin fishing, with many charters offering the opportunity to take part. October sees the Hindu festival of light in Mauritius, a celebration that lasts for five days where walls, floors, doorsteps and courtyards are decorated with amazing and colourful designs. The rains in the Maldives are heavier through Autumn but bring a high change to spot varied sea life.
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