Monsoon routes are travel and trade paths shaped by seasonal winds called monsoons. These winds change direction at different times of the year. Sailors used this pattern to plan journeys across the sea. Ships traveled in one direction during one season and returned when the winds changed.

Monsoon routes were most closely connected with the Indian Ocean region, including East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. These routes linked ports and coastal cities across a wide network. Goods, people, and ideas moved between regions.

Monsoon routes were used for many centuries, especially in ancient and medieval times. Merchants and sailors followed seasonal wind changes each year. These routes were part of long-distance trade systems across oceans.