Destination guide
December to March for flat water and the Similans, and a rainy season far wetter than Phuket's.
The best time to visit Khao Lak is December to March, when the Andaman Sea is calm off the beaches, the boats run to the Similan Islands, and rain falls on only 4 to 9 days a month. February is the driest month, with 45 mm of rain on about 4 days, and January is close behind. April and November are the edges of the season, each with rain on about 14 days. May to October is the rainy season, and in Khao Lak it's a serious one.
The local station records 3,873 mm of rain a year, about 70% more than Phuket's 2,272, with 636 mm in September on 23 days, and the Similan Islands close from 16 May to 14 October. It's warm all year, with highs of 31–34°C, nights around 22–23°C in the dry months, and the sea at 28–30°C.
Where to stay in Khao Lak
SponsoredAverages for the Takua Pa weather station, on the Khao Lak coast. Tap a month to jump to it.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sea | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°C | 22°C | 62 mm | 5 | 28°C | Peak season |
| February | 33°C | 22°C | 45 mm | 4 | 29°C | Driest month |
| March | 34°C | 23°C | 145 mm | 9 | 29°C | Hot, still dry |
| April | 34°C | 24°C | 222 mm | 14 | 30°C | Hottest, storms return |
| May | 33°C | 25°C | 431 mm | 20 | 30°C | Monsoon arrives |
| June | 32°C | 25°C | 457 mm | 19 | 30°C | Rainy, rough seas |
| July | 32°C | 25°C | 466 mm | 20 | 30°C | Rainy |
| August | 31°C | 25°C | 570 mm | 21 | 29°C | Very wet |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 636 mm | 23 | 29°C | Wettest month |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 529 mm | 22 | 29°C | Wet, Similans reopen |
| November | 32°C | 23°C | 232 mm | 14 | 29°C | Drying out |
| December | 32°C | 23°C | 78 mm | 7 | 29°C | Peak season |
Highs of 33°C and lows of 22°C, 62 mm of rain on about 5 days, sea at 28°C.
Dry, calm and sunny, with flat water off Nang Thong, Bang Niang and Khuk Khak and full boats to the Similan Islands. Nights drop to about 22°C, the coolest of the year.
Highs of 33°C and lows of 22°C, 45 mm of rain on about 4 days, sea at 29°C.
The driest month, with rain on about 4 days, and the best for snorkeling and diving at the Similans. The European family crowd is still here, so book the beachfront resorts early.
Highs of 34°C and lows of 23°C, 145 mm of rain on about 9 days, sea at 29°C.
Hot and mostly dry, with the sea still calm, though rain doubles to about 9 days as the first storms build. Prices ease after the February peak, which makes March the value month of the dry season.
Highs of 34°C and lows of 24°C, 222 mm of rain on about 14 days, sea at 30°C.
The hottest month by average high, 33.7°C, with afternoon storms on about 14 days. The Similans are still open, and the mornings are usually clear for boat trips.
Highs of 33°C and lows of 25°C, 431 mm of rain on about 20 days, sea at 30°C.
The southwest monsoon arrives, rain falls on about 20 days and the total jumps to 431 mm. The Similan Islands close on 16 May, and red flags go up on the beaches.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 457 mm of rain on about 19 days, sea at 30°C.
Wet and windy, with rain on about 19 days and big swell on every west-facing beach. Swim in the pool, and save the trip inland to Khao Sok's waterfalls.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 466 mm of rain on about 20 days, sea at 30°C.
Much like June, with rain on about 20 days. Some resorts close part of their rooms for the low season, and the ones that stay open are at their cheapest.
Highs of 31°C and lows of 25°C, 570 mm of rain on about 21 days, sea at 29°C.
One of the three wettest months, with 570 mm on about 21 days. Expect long rainy spells rather than a single afternoon shower.
Highs of 31°C and lows of 24°C, 636 mm of rain on about 23 days, sea at 29°C.
The wettest month of the year, 636 mm on about 23 days, nearly twice Phuket's September. If you have to come now, choose a resort with plenty to do under cover.
Highs of 31°C and lows of 24°C, 529 mm of rain on about 22 days, sea at 29°C.
Still very wet, with 529 mm on about 22 days, but the Similan Islands reopen on 15 October and the weather starts to turn in the last week or two.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 23°C, 232 mm of rain on about 14 days, sea at 29°C.
The changeover month, with rain on about 14 days as the monsoon fades. The first half can still be stormy, and the second half is usually the better bet for beach days.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 23°C, 78 mm of rain on about 7 days, sea at 29°C.
The dry season settles in, with rain on about 7 days and calm water for the Similans. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks.
Figures are 1991–2020 averages for the Takua Pa station from WMO Climatological Standard Normals 1991–2020 (Thai Meteorological Department stations). Rain days count days with at least 1 mm. Sea temperatures: Climates to Travel monthly sea-surface averages.
Arriving in Khao Lak
This route ends in Khao Lak. Search Khao Lak hotels with your dates, or narrow it to the area you're heading for. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
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My pick at each price level in Khao Lak
| Month | Khao Lak (Takua Pa) | Phuket | Khao Lak rain days |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 45 mm | 24 mm | About 4 |
| April | 222 mm | 135 mm | About 14 |
| June | 457 mm | 249 mm | About 19 |
| September | 636 mm | 350 mm | About 23 |
| November | 232 mm | 178 mm | About 14 |
| The year | 3,873 mm | 2,272 mm | About 175 |
WMO 1991–2020 climate normals for the Takua Pa station on the Khao Lak coast and the Phuket station, from the Thai Meteorological Department via the WMO archive.
Tell me your dates, budget and who's coming. I'll come back with a route, the hotels I'd pick for it and the transfers between stops, then book it once you're happy.
Most weather pages treat Khao Lak as a copy of Phuket, an hour and a half down the road. The dry season really is much the same, a little wetter in Khao Lak but calm and sunny in both. The monsoon is not. From May to October the Takua Pa station records 450 to 640 mm of rain a month, against 240 to 350 mm in Phuket, and rain on 19 to 23 days a month rather than 16 to 19. Of the beach stations I use across Thailand, only Trat, for Koh Chang, is wetter.
So the advice that works in Phuket in the rainy season, of a short afternoon shower and sun either side, is less reliable here. Khao Lak's rainy season has more grey days and longer spells of rain, and its beaches all face west into the swell, with no sheltered bay to escape to. The upside is the nights, which run one to three degrees cooler than Phuket's, about 22°C in January against 25°C.
In the dry season the wind comes from the northeast, across the land, and the sea lies flat along the whole coast, from Nang Thong and Bang Niang to Khuk Khak and Pakarang. That's when Khao Lak does what it's best at, long quiet beaches you can swim off and day trips to the Similan Islands, which are open from 15 October to 15 May and calmest from December to March.
December to February is the peak, the driest stretch and the busiest, with a strong European family crowd and the highest prices at Christmas and New Year. March is still dry and calm, and better value. April is the hottest month and brings back the afternoon storms, so it's a good month for the Similans in the morning and the pool in the afternoon. November is the changeover, and the second half is the safer bet.
Arriving in Khao Lak
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Khao Lak. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#24.6 (2,681 reviews)
A well-regarded beachfront resort in Khao Lak offering a relaxed tropical escape on Thailand's Andaman coast.
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#44.8 (1,211 reviews)
A stylish beachfront resort in Khao Lak offering villas, pools, dining, and a spa in a refined setting.
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#54.9 (887 reviews)
A boutique beachfront resort in Khao Lak offering intimate coastal living with a highly regarded guest experience.
Check ratesFrom May to October the southwest monsoon sends swell straight onto Khao Lak's beaches. Red flags go up, rip currents make the sea dangerous, and on red-flag days you should stay out of the water. The Similan Islands are closed from 16 May to 14 October, so the diving season is over, and several of the coast's resorts close part of their rooms.
It can still be a good trip if you plan for it. Prices are at their lowest, the national park behind the beaches is at its greenest, and Khao Sok's rainforest and lake are an hour inland. May and June are wet but the least bad of the rainy months, and August to October are the ones to avoid, with more than 500 mm of rain each.
For beach days and swimming, December to March, with February the driest month and the sea at 28–29°C.
For diving and snorkeling at the Similan Islands, 15 October to 15 May, when the national park is open, with the calmest water from December to March.
For families, December to February, when the sea is calm enough for children and the nights are coolest. Book the school holidays early, because this is Khao Lak's busiest stretch.
For Khao Sok, December to April, when the trails are dry enough to walk. It's an hour inland, and my guides cover getting there from Khao Lak.
On a budget, May and June, the drier end of the rainy season, or late November, close to high-season weather before the December rates.
Common questions about Best Time to Visit Khao Lak and the Weather by Month.
February, the driest month, with 45 mm of rain on about 4 days. December to March is the best stretch overall, with calm seas and the Similan Islands open.
August to October, the wettest months, with 529 to 636 mm of rain on 21 to 23 days each. September is the wettest of all. The Similan Islands are closed from 16 May to 14 October.
May to October, when the southwest monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas. It's much wetter than Phuket's, about 3,873 mm a year against 2,272.
Yes, by a lot in the rainy season. The Takua Pa station on the Khao Lak coast records 636 mm in September against 350 mm in Phuket, and about 70% more rain over the year. The dry season is much the same in both.
The second half usually is. November is the changeover, with 232 mm of rain on about 14 days, so the first half can still be stormy. The Similan Islands are open from 15 October.
Hot, with an average high of 33.7°C, the hottest of the year, and afternoon storms on about 14 days. Mornings are usually clear, and the Similans are open until 15 May.
Often not in the sea. Red flags mean dangerous rip currents, and every Khao Lak beach faces west into the swell, so swim in the pool on red-flag days.
From 15 October to 15 May. They close for the monsoon from 16 May to 14 October, and Khao Lak is the closest mainland base for them.
Warm all year, from about 28°C in January to 30°C from April to July, and 29°C in the other months.
Average highs run from 30.9°C in September to 33.7°C in April, and nights from about 22°C in January to 25°C in May. Nights are one to three degrees cooler than in Phuket.
Plan the rest of the trip
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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