Dec → Feb
29 to 30°
nights 26°
- 10 rainy days · 60 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit Phuket and the southern islands?
- Jan29°recommended
- Feb30°recommended
- Mar30°recommended
- Apr30°recommended
- May30°fair
- Jun30°not recommended
- Jul29°not recommended
- Aug29°not recommended
- Sep29°not recommended
- Oct29°fair
- Nov28°recommended
- Dec29°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Phuket and the southern islands, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 26° | 10.3 h | 20 mm | 7 d | 29° | ✓ |
| February | 30° | 26° | 10.9 h | 35 mm | 7 d | 29° | ✓ |
| March | 30° | 27° | 11 h | 60 mm | 10 d | 30° | ✓ |
| April | 30° | 27° | 10.6 h | 135 mm | 21 d | 31° | ✓ |
| May | 30° | 28° | 9.7 h | 237 mm | 24 d | 31° | |
| June | 30° | 27° | 9.6 h | 210 mm | 21 d | 31° | |
| July | 29° | 27° | 9.3 h | 224 mm | 22 d | 30° | |
| August | 29° | 27° | 9.4 h | 207 mm | 23 d | 30° | |
| September | 29° | 27° | 8.8 h | 286 mm | 23 d | 30° | |
| October | 29° | 26° | 8.8 h | 308 mm | 27 d | 30° | |
| November | 28° | 26° | 8.5 h | 277 mm | 27 d | 30° | ✓ |
| December | 29° | 26° | 9.5 h | 125 mm | 15 d | 29° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Phuket and the southern islands, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Maya Bay) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
30°
nights 27 to 28°
- 18 rainy days · 144 mm
- 10.4 h of sun
- sea 31°
Jun → Aug
29 to 30°
nights 27°
- 22 rainy days · 214 mm
- 9.4 h of sun
- sea 30°
Sep → Nov
28 to 29°
nights 26 to 27°
- 26 rainy days · 290 mm
- 8.7 h of sun
- sea 30°
Book early for November to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Phuket and the southern islands, month by month
EventsSongkranAprilPhuket Vegetarian FestivalSeptember to OctoberLoy KrathongNovemberPhuket King's Cup RegattaDecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: January
- Towns & culture: January, February, March
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Phuket and the southern islands, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- AprilSongkran big crowds
The Buddhist New Year is celebrated with water: buckets and water pistols in the streets of Patong and Phuket Town.
- September to OctoberPhuket Vegetarian Festival
Nine days of Taoist processions, firecrackers and trance rituals at the Chinese shrines of Phuket Town.
- NovemberLoy Krathong
On the full moon of November, baskets of flowers and candles are set afloat on the sea and on the lagoons.
- DecemberPhuket King's Cup Regatta
In early December, dozens of yachts race off Kata and Nai Harn for a week.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended29°26° at night
- 20 mm · 7 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
February
Recommended30°26° at night
- 35 mm · 7 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
March
Recommended30°27° at night
- 60 mm · 10 d
- 11 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended30°27° at night
- 135 mm · 21 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 31°
High season, book early
May
Fair30°28° at night
- 237 mm · 24 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended30°27° at night
- 210 mm · 21 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended29°27° at night
- 224 mm · 22 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended29°27° at night
- 207 mm · 23 d
- 9.4 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended29°27° at night
- 286 mm · 23 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair29°26° at night
- 308 mm · 27 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
November
Recommended28°26° at night
- 277 mm · 27 d
- 8.5 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended29°26° at night
- 125 mm · 15 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Rain stays light: 20 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 30 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 30 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (60 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 30 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 135 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 28 °C at night. Frequent rain: 237 mm over 24 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 210 mm of rain over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 224 mm of rain over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 207 mm of rain over 23 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 286 mm of rain over 23 days. Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 308 mm over 27 days. Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 277 mm over 27 days. Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 125 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Phuket and the southern islands?
November to April: over these months, recorded highs range from 28 to 30 °C, with 15 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Maya Bay).
Which month should you avoid in Phuket and the southern islands?
September: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 286 mm over 23 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Maya Bay).
What is the hottest month in Phuket and the southern islands?
February, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Maya Bay).
What is the coldest month in Phuket and the southern islands?
November, with 28 °C at best during the day and 26 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Maya Bay).
What is the driest month in Phuket and the southern islands?
January: 20 mm over 7 days of rain, against 308 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Phuket and the southern islands?
March, with 11 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Phuket and the southern islands?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 29 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Maya Bay).
When is the best time to hike in Phuket and the southern islands?
January: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Maya Bay), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Phuket and the southern islands guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Thailand: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Nothing Ahead / Pexels · Ridwan Afriandy / Pexels · Ceylon Frames / Pexels · Siarhei Nester / Pexels