Phuket Seasons

January, February – High Season Peak
The most popular month with tourists. Rainfall is very low with most days bringing clear blue skies and low humidity.

+ Lots of sunshine likely.
+ Calm seas ideal for swimming at the beach and scuba diving or sea excursion trips.

– Roads in the town, excursions are busy.
– Highest prices for travel, accommodation and shopping

March – High Season Month
The average temperatures creep up slightly as the hottest time of year approaches with sunny days still being the norm. The high season crowds drop off a little.

+ Low rainfall and mostly hot sunny days.
+ Sea conditions are good for swimming, diving and sea excursion trips.
+ Slightly smaller crowds than January and February

– Traffic in the towns is still quite busy.

April – High Season Ends
The hottest time of year and also the month of the Songkran water festival which celebrates the start of the Thai new year and involves everyone enthusiastically dousing each other with water. For visitors who enter into the spirit of things it can be an amazingly fun experience.
While April generally produces the highest average temperatures of the year there is also an increased chance of rainfall especially towards the end of the month.

+ Good chance of many sunny days.
+ The last month of usually stable sea conditions. Visibility for diving tends to deteriorate in the following months.
+ Songkran (official days are 13th – 15th) attracts many visitors.

– Hottest time of the year
– The Town really busy during Songkran

May – Green Season
Although the average temperature drops slightly its offset by a rise in humidity. Rainfall increases dramatically making May one of the wettest times of year though decent periods of sunshine can occur between the often short showers.

+ The high season crowds disappear creating a more relaxing atmosphere in the towns and on the main beaches.
+ Even if it rains its still warm and it’s still possible to strike calm sunny days.

– One of the wettest months of the year.
– Overall humidity is high throughout the day and evening.
Sea conditions deteriorate and are less suitable for sea excursion trips or scuba diving.

June, July, August – Shoulder Season
Gets regular periods of rain but usually a lot less than the wettest months of the low season. A good chance of some dry fine periods together with the low season prices make this one of the best low season months to consider visiting Phuket.

+ Cheaper flights to Thailand
+ A good chance of sunshine
+ Crowds are gone and towns become almost peaceful.

– Its likely to rain on many days though usually in short-lived thunderstorms.
– Sea state can be bad for sea excursion trips or scuba diving

September – Low Green Season
Being usually the wettest month of the year with high humidity makes it hard to recommend visiting Phuket at this time. However, one benefit is that there will be very few other tourists about which often means that you get extra attention.

+ Cheapest flights and low accommodation price
+ Low numbers of other tourists can lead to more personalised service.
+ Roads are relatively quiet in townships.
+ Even when it rains its still warm and sunny days are still possible.

– Statistically the wettest month of the year.
– Not a good time to plan sea excursion trips or scuba diving.

October Low Green Season Finishing

Another fairly wet month but usually a big improvement over September. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colourful event celebrating the Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. The festival is famous for its extreme and somewhat gorey celebrations.

+ Weather can start to improve especially toward the end of the month.

– Its likely to rain on many days.
– High humidity
– Sea condition generally not good for sea excursion trips or scuba diving.

November – High Season Start
Although November is usually considered the start of the high season it should be noted that rainfall is still quite high as the rainy season tails off. For those heading there at this time of year it might be a better bet to choose the latter part of the month. Tourist numbers start to increase but with a good chance of nice weather without the overcrowding November is a good month to think about going.

+ Although tourist numbers start to increase the towns are not crowded
+ A good chance of sunshine
+ Sea conditions improve and the the “unofficial” scuba diving season starts.
+ Loy Krathong festival usually occurs in November (Thai calendar 12th lunar month full moon).

– It can still rain quite a lot especially early in the month.
– Traffic in the towns can get congested.
– Higher prices for travel, accommodation and shopping.

December – High Season Month
The rainy season should be over by December and if rain does fall it will usually be as short and relatively light showers. Crowds start to steadily increase as New Year’s Eve approaches but are still lower than the peak months to come.

+ Weather is usually very good with lots of sunny days
+ New Years Eve is celebrated enthusiastically with firework displays

– Towns can be very busy but usually not as much so as in January