SeasonMapBest time to visit the Indian Ocean islands
The best time to visit the Indian Ocean islands is August to October, judged across 18 places; January is its weakest month.
Updated September 2026 · Africa · 18 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
The Indian Ocean islands month by month
| Month | Season | Why | Best places |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | 30°C highs · 10 h sun | Rodrigues, Toliara, Le Morne |
| February | good | 30°C highs · 10 h sun | Malé, Le Morne, Toliara |
| March | good | 31°C highs · 11 h sun | Praslin, Le Morne, Malé |
| April | good | 30°C highs · 10 h sun | Toliara, Morondava, Antananarivo |
| May | good | dry season · 29°C highs · 10 h sun | Toliara, Morondava, Antananarivo |
| June | good | dry season · 28°C highs · 10 h sun | Morondava, Toliara, Nosy Be |
| July | good | whale season · 27°C highs · 10 h sun | Morondava, Antsiranana, Nosy Be |
| August | in season | whale season · dry season · 28°C highs | Morondava, Antsiranana, Antananarivo |
| September | in season | whale season · dry season · 28°C highs | Toliara, Antananarivo, Moroni |
| October | in season | dry season · 29°C highs · 11 h sun | Toliara, Grand Baie, Le Morne |
| November | good | 29°C highs · 12 h sun | Toliara, Grand Baie, Le Morne |
| December | good | 30°C highs · 11 h sun | Le Morne, Grand Baie, Rodrigues |
In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.
All 18 places in the Indian Ocean islands
- AntananarivoMadagascarweather by month →
- AntsirananaMadagascarweather by month →
- Beau VallonSeychellesweather by month →
- Flying Fish CoveChristmas Islandweather by month →
- Grand BaieMauritiusweather by month →
- Le MorneMauritiusweather by month →
- MaléMaldivesweather by month →
- MamoudzouMayotteweather by month →
- MorondavaMadagascarweather by month →
- MoroniComorosweather by month →
- Nosy BeMadagascarweather by month →
- Port LouisMauritiusweather by month →
- PraslinSeychellesweather by month →
- RodriguesMauritiusweather by month →
- Saint-DenisRéunionweather by month →
- ToliaraMadagascarweather by month →
- VictoriaSeychellesweather by month →
- West IslandCocos (Keeling) Islandsweather by month →
The Indian Ocean islands — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit the Indian Ocean islands?
- August to October. In August: whale season · dry season · 28°C highs.
- When is the low season in the Indian Ocean islands?
- The Indian Ocean islands has no month that falls far below the rest of its year; January is the weakest (30°C highs · 10 h sun).
- Which months are in season in the Indian Ocean islands?
- August to October — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.