Destination guide
December to March for calm water among the karsts, May to October for low prices and the odd canceled boat.
The best time to visit Krabi is December to March, the heart of the dry season, when the sea is calm off Ao Nang and Railay, the island-hopping boats run every day, and rain falls on only 2 to 8 days a month. February is the driest month, with about 24 mm of rain on 2 days. November and April are the edges of the season and good bets too, November still drying out and April hot with the first storms.
May to October is the rainy season, wettest in September and October, when island tours cancel in heavy weather, Maya Bay closes from 1 August to 30 September and hotels run 30–50% cheaper. It's warm all year, with highs of 32–34°C and the sea at 28–30°C.
Where to stay in Krabi
SponsoredKrabi has no station in the international climate records, so these are the averages for the Phuket station across Phang Nga Bay, which the Koh Lanta station to the south matches within a few percent. Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi Town share them. Tap a month to jump to it.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sea | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°C | 25°C | 50 mm | 4 | 28°C | Peak season |
| February | 34°C | 25°C | 24 mm | 2 | 29°C | Driest month |
| March | 34°C | 26°C | 81 mm | 6 | 29°C | Hot and dry |
| April | 34°C | 26°C | 135 mm | 10 | 30°C | Hot, first storms |
| May | 33°C | 26°C | 237 mm | 16 | 30°C | Monsoon starts |
| June | 33°C | 26°C | 249 mm | 16 | 30°C | Rainy |
| July | 32°C | 26°C | 240 mm | 16 | 30°C | Rainy |
| August | 32°C | 26°C | 309 mm | 17 | 29°C | Wet, Maya Bay closed |
| September | 32°C | 25°C | 350 mm | 19 | 29°C | Wettest month |
| October | 32°C | 25°C | 336 mm | 19 | 29°C | Wet, then improving |
| November | 32°C | 25°C | 178 mm | 13 | 29°C | Drying out |
| December | 32°C | 25°C | 82 mm | 8 | 29°C | Peak season |
Highs of 33°C and lows of 25°C, 50 mm of rain on about 4 days, sea at 28°C.
Dry, calm and sunny, with flat water for the Four Islands, Hong Island and Phi Phi day trips. Prices stay high after New Year, and Ao Nang is at its busiest.
Highs of 34°C and lows of 25°C, 24 mm of rain on about 2 days, sea at 29°C.
The driest month of the year, rain on about 2 days, and the clearest water for snorkeling. Railay's cliffs are dry for climbing.
Highs of 34°C and lows of 26°C, 81 mm of rain on about 6 days, sea at 29°C.
Still dry and calm, and the hottest month by average high. Prices start to ease from the peak, which makes March good value for a beach week.
Highs of 34°C and lows of 26°C, 135 mm of rain on about 10 days, sea at 30°C.
Hot and humid, with the first afternoon storms late in the month. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, falls on 13–15 April.
Highs of 33°C and lows of 26°C, 237 mm of rain on about 16 days, sea at 30°C.
The southwest monsoon arrives and rain days jump from about 10 in April to 16. The sea gets rougher off Ao Nang, and hotel prices drop.
Highs of 33°C and lows of 26°C, 249 mm of rain on about 16 days, sea at 30°C.
Regular downpours, often in the afternoon, with sun either side. Some island tours cancel on rough days, but the longtails to Railay run on most of them.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C, 240 mm of rain on about 16 days, sea at 30°C.
Much like June. A good month for low prices, Krabi Town's markets and the hot springs and Emerald Pool inland, with boat days chosen by the forecast.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C, 309 mm of rain on about 17 days, sea at 29°C.
One of the wetter months. Maya Bay on Phi Phi closes from 1 August to 30 September, and crossings can be rough.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 350 mm of rain on about 19 days, sea at 29°C.
The wettest month of the year, with rain on about 19 days. The lowest prices of the year if you can live with it.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 336 mm of rain on about 19 days, sea at 29°C.
Still very wet, but Maya Bay reopens on 1 October and the weather slowly improves toward the end of the month.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 178 mm of rain on about 13 days, sea at 29°C.
The monsoon ends and the coast dries out through the month. Early November can still be showery, while late November feels like high season at lower prices.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 25°C, 82 mm of rain on about 8 days, sea at 29°C.
Calm seas and dry weather return, with rain on about 8 days. Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks of the year in Ao Nang and Railay.
Figures are 1991–2020 averages for the Phuket 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 Krabi
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In these months the wind blows from the northeast, across the land, so the Andaman Sea lies flat along Krabi's coast. That's when the longtails and speedboats run every day to the Four Islands, Hong Island and Phi Phi, the water is clear around the karst islands, and Railay's cliffs are dry for climbing.
December to February is the peak, the driest and busiest stretch, with the highest prices at Christmas and New Year. March is still dry and calm, and better value. April is the hottest stretch and brings the first storms by the end of the month. November is the changeover, with rain on about 13 days, so the second half is the safer bet.
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.
From May to October the southwest monsoon brings regular downpours and swell to Krabi's coast. The rain usually comes in heavy bursts, often in the afternoon, rather than all day, and the stations record rain on 15 to 19 days a month. The sea is the bigger problem. Island tours cancel when the weather turns, crossings to Phi Phi can be rough, and Maya Bay is closed from 1 August to 30 September.
It's still a workable trip. The longtails from Ao Nang to Railay run on most days, the limestone scenery is at its greenest, and hotels run 30–50% cheaper. Keep a flexible day or two for boat trips, and use the wet afternoons for Krabi Town, the hot springs and the Emerald Pool inland. May and June are a better bet than September and October, the wettest months. If a dry summer matters more than Krabi itself, Koh Samui is the drier beach from June to September.
No, they share a climate. Krabi has no station in the international climate records, but the stations on either side of it agree closely, Phuket with 2,272 mm of rain a year and Koh Lanta with 2,220 mm, and the same dry season from December to March. Up the coast it's a different story. Khao Lak, north of Phuket, gets about 3,870 mm, so if you're choosing an Andaman base for a rainy-season trip, Krabi and Phuket are the drier choices.
Arriving in Krabi
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Krabi. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#24.7 (3,574 reviews)
Luxury resort near Krabi combining a championship golf course, full-service spa, and tropical grounds.
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#44.7 (1,619 reviews)
Eco-minded resort in Ao Nang offering spa treatments, private pool suites, and a calm retreat with easy beach access.
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#54.7 (1,506 reviews)
A beachfront boutique resort in Krabi offering pool villas, bay views, two restaurants, and a spa.
Check ratesFor beach days and swimming at Ao Nang, Railay and Phra Nang, December to March, with February the driest month and the sea at 28–29°C.
For island-hopping to the Four Islands, Hong Island and Phi Phi, November to April, when the crossings are calm. If Maya Bay is the point of the Phi Phi trip, avoid August and September.
For rock climbing at Railay, December to April, when the limestone is dry.
For families, December to February, the calmest and driest stretch. Book the school holidays early, since this is Krabi's busiest season.
On a budget, May, June and September have the lowest prices, with May and June the drier of the three. Late November is the value pick for good weather before the December rates.
Common questions about Best Time to Visit Krabi and the Weather by Month.
February, the driest month, with about 24 mm of rain on 2 days. December to March is the best stretch overall, with calm seas for island-hopping and long sunny days.
September, the wettest month, with about 350 mm of rain on 19 days, closely followed by October. If calm water for boat trips matters, avoid May to October in general.
May to October, when the southwest monsoon brings regular downpours and rough seas. September and October are the wettest months.
March, with an average high of about 34°C, just ahead of April. Highs stay between 32°C and 34°C all year.
Yes, especially the second half. The monsoon ends during November, rain falls on about 13 days, and late November feels like high season at lower prices.
On most days, but they cancel when the weather turns. The longtails between Ao Nang and Railay run on most days, and it's worth keeping a spare day for any boat trip you don't want to miss.
They're much the same. Both get about 2,200–2,300 mm of rain a year with the same wet months. Koh Samui, on the Gulf, is the drier choice from June to September.
The same as the rest of Krabi. Dry and calm from December to March, rainy from May to October, and warm all year with highs of 32–34°C.
Warm all year, from about 28°C in January to 30°C from April to July, and 29°C in the other months.
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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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