Koh Phuket has three defined seasons. From November to March, conditions are at their best with a cooling wind keeping the sky-high summer temperatures at bay and making the daytime more comfortable (average daily temperatures: 26-32℃). Thanks to the breeze, the humidity levels are lower than later in the year.
From March to May the temperatures rise (average daily temperatures: 30-36℃) as the cooling winds depart and the humidity rises. From late May, rainy days will usually have arrived, and this is expected to last through to October.
Quick Facts
- The weather in Phuket broadly varies between cool, warm, dry and rainy.
- The high tourist season is from November to February when it's cool and dry.
- If you're planning for scuba diving, come between the months of November and February when the weather is at its best.
- The increase of tourist arrivals during the peak season raises accommodation prices.
- Different seasons mean you'll need to bring different equipment. Keep reading to find what kinds of things you may need to bring.
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
, Mar 2024
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Weather in Koh Phuket
Koh Phuket is an all-year-round holiday destination but it has a "dry season" during which consistently fine weather draws by far the largest numbers of tourists.
November to February is the coolest season. Temperatures vary between 23℃ and 30℃. While December is the coolest month in Phuket, February is the driest.
March, April and the first half of May are considered the hottest months in Phuket, just before the monsoon hits the island. The temperatures are in the 30s℃, with humidity levels steadily on the rise. Sea conditions are good for swimming, and for diving and other extreme sports.
The monsoon season in Phuket lasts from May to October. Average temperatures during monsoons are 28-29 ℃. Apart from being cost effective, it's also a peaceful time to visit because it's not as crowded as the high season.
The wettest months are May, September and October, but it's rare that the island would be subject to many continuous days of heavy rainfall.
The Rainy Season in Koh Phuket
Phuket is one of the first locations in Thailand to experience the monsoon rains. The season lasts from May to October. Phuket experiences 350-400 mm average rainfall during May, September and October.
The months of June, July and August see about 280 mm per month. It's not a good season for planning launch trips or scuba diving.
Temperatures during the monsoon season are hot: between 28℃ and 29℃ on average, with highs around 31℃ and lows around 25℃. The high humidity makes these temperatures pretty uncomfortable.
You will get around 7-8 hours of sun per day in this season. Even if it rains it's still warm and it's still possible to have calm sunny days.
If you're willing to gamble on the weather, this is a good time to take advantage of quieter beaches and cheaper prices. The high season crowds disappear, creating a more relaxed atmosphere in the towns and on the main beaches.
Events
There's always something to do in Phuket even in the rainy season. You can join the exciting Laguna Phuket International Marathon in June, when more than 5,000 runners from around the world gather for full and half-marathons, as well as a 5k community walk and a 2k kids' run.
There's also the Phuket race week taking place in July. This is a yacht race held on the east coast of Phuket.
You may be able to experience Visakha Bucha, a day for celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing. You'll find worshippers forming candle-lit processions at dusk in the temples. Visitors are more than welcome to participate.
You can also find grand sales in this season, taking place across the country starting in mid-June. It's an ideal time for shoppers to take advantage of amazing deals on a variety of goods and services.
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The Dry Season in Koh Phuket
November to February is the high season in Phuket and sees the best weather of the year. The southwest winds that brought the monsoons are reversed and cooler, and dry air arrives from the northeast.
The weather is very dry in this season and temperatures are at their most comfortable, between 23℃ and 30℃. Humidity drops to its lowest of 58% in February, helping to make conditions very pleasant.
December is the coolest month of the year, averaging 27℃, and February is the driest month averaging 30mm of rain. You'll get 7-9 hours of sun per day and that means you can do more activities. You can expect to find calmer seas and blue skies, along with more crowded beaches.
Crowds start to increase steadily from December, as Christmas and New Year's Eve approaches, but are still lower than the peak months to come.
High season prices are generally in full swing, though it's still possible to get reduced rates at some hotels. January is by far the peak of the high season, as it is one of the most pleasant times of the year to be in Phuket.
Most days bring bright blue skies and relatively low humidity. The sea is calm and its temperature is warm, and this season is ideal for swimming, or for diving and other extreme sports.
Activities
If you prefer not to participate in sport, lounging on the sand, or attending a cooking class or a spa treatment, will always be alternative options. You can also join a sand-sculpting festival that takes place on Karon Beach in December.
Apart from playing sports or relaxing on the beach, you can explore and experience the Patong Carnival and Seafood Festival. This annual week-long festival in December is one of the most celebrated in Phuket.
Locals and tourists are entertained by light shows, elaborate parades, and traditional Thai dance performances. Live contemporary music and food is everywhere. This event takes place at the waterfront in Patong Beach.
Busiest Period of the Year in Koh Phuket
The busiest period in Phuket is from November to January. This is when you'll get the least rain and the most sun. The month of November, just after the rainy season and before the peak season, is a good time to enjoy good weather with smaller crowds.
If you don't mind the crowds, December and January bring the very best weather of all, with calm seas, bright blue skies, sunshine, and little rainfall.
Even though the dry season starts in November, many tourists don't arrive until December. During this season you'll see the highest prices for accommodation, airfares and shopping, along with some of the most ideal weather.
The most expensive time to come to Thailand is during the fortnight that covers the Christmas and New Year holidays. Hotels are usually fully booked during this period, so make sure you book your hotel well in advance.
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What to Pack for a Beach Holiday
- Most important is to bring all your documentation such as passports, travel tickets, insurance, etc.
- Sweater or sweatshirt. Though it's usually hot throughout most of the country, you'll want something warmer for the plane ride and the chilly AC on buses.
- Rain jacket or umbrella. Even outside the rainy season, there's always the potential for rain in Phuket.
- Comfortable walking shoes for daily usage or for hiking.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat, to protect you from the heat and sunburn.
- A power adapter for charging your electrical items, such as mobile phone, camera and laptop.
- The most important item of clothing to pack is your swimming costume, as most fun activities in Phuket involve water.
You might like to read
- Best Time to Visit Thailand
- The Most Beautiful Places in Thailand
- Top Attractions in Thailand
- Top Attractions in Chiang Mai
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What should I wear during the rainy season?
A: Ideally, you want a lightweight but sturdy and waterproof rain jacket. Avoid flip-flops at all costs during this season. Instead choose sandals with a good grip and you will avoid slipping and stay on your feet.
Q: What should I wear during the dry and hot season?
A: Quick-dry fabrics are ideal if you're doing adventurous things, linen and light cotton are also advisable for surviving the heat.
Q: Can I do extreme sports during the rainy season?
A: Yes! It won't be raining all the time during the rainy season. You can enjoy the extreme sport of your choice during the sunny days.
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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