Destination guide
November to April for calm seas, May to October for low prices and short, heavy rain.
The best time to visit Phuket is November to April, when the southwest monsoon is over, the sea on the west-coast beaches is calm and the Similan Islands are open (mid-October to mid-May). December to February is the sweet spot, with February the driest month. March and April are hotter and a little cheaper, with the first storms arriving in April. May to October is the rainy season, wettest in September and October, with red flags on the main beaches, rough boat crossings and hotels 30–40% cheaper. The rain usually comes in heavy one- to two-hour bursts rather than all day, so a rainy-season trip still works if the sea isn't the point.
Averages for the Phuket weather station. Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak follow the same pattern. 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, rough seas |
| 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 on Patong, Kata and Karon and long boat days to Phi Phi and the Similan Islands. Prices stay high after New Year but the crowds ease.
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 and the best for snorkeling, diving and island-hopping. Chinese New Year can fill hotels when it falls in February (6 February in 2027).
Highs of 34°C and lows of 26°C, 81 mm of rain on about 6 days, sea at 29°C.
Still dry with calm seas, and the hottest month by average high. Prices start to fall 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 (13–15 April) turns Patong into a three-day water fight.
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 the rain days jump. The Similan Islands close on 16 May, and red flags start appearing on the west-coast beaches. 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 and big swell on the west coast, so swimming at Patong, Kata and Karon is often unsafe. Good for spa days, food and cheap hotels.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C, 240 mm of rain on about 16 days, sea at 30°C.
Much like June, with rain in bursts and rough seas on the exposed beaches. Some boat trips are canceled when the weather turns.
Highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C, 309 mm of rain on about 17 days, sea at 29°C.
One of the wettest months. Maya Bay on Phi Phi closes from 1 August to 30 September, and ferry 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 two days in three. 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 the Similan Islands reopen on 15 October and conditions slowly improve. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, nine days of processions, usually falls in early October.
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 island 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 the King's Cup Regatta early in the month (5–12 December in 2026). Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks of the year.
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 Phuket
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From May to October the southwest monsoon pushes swell straight onto Phuket's west coast, where the main beaches are. Lifeguards put up red flags at Patong, Kata, Karon and Kamala, and the rip currents there are dangerous. Take the flags seriously and swim in the hotel pool on those days.
The rain itself is less of a problem than the sea. It usually falls as a heavy one- to two-hour burst, often in the afternoon, with sun either side. Hotels run 30–40% cheaper, and the island is quieter. Boats to Phi Phi and the islands still run on calmer days, though some trips get canceled and the Similan Islands are closed from 16 May to 14 October.
If you're choosing between rainy-season months, May and June are a better bet than September and October, which are the wettest.
For beaches and boat trips, December to March. For the Similan Islands and diving, mid-October to mid-May, with the calmest water from December to March. For the lowest prices, May, June and September. For festivals, Songkran in April, the Vegetarian Festival in October and the King's Cup Regatta in December.
Common questions about best time to visit phuket.
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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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