Season by season
Cool & dry season
November to February is the prime time: settled weather, flat seas, good underwater visibility and every boat running. Phi Phi is extremely busy from late December to February; Lanta absorbs its visitors more easily.
Hot season
March and April are hot and dry, with the calmest seas and warmest water of the year — excellent for diving, snorkelling and Koh Rok. Crowds begin to thin after Songkran in mid-April.
Rainy season & sea conditions
From May to October the south-west monsoon brings wind, swell and heavy showers. Ferries are fewer and sometimes cancelled, Koh Rok closes, Maya Bay shuts for its recovery period and much of Lanta goes into hibernation. Prices drop sharply.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 24°C | 35 mm | Very busy |
| February | 33°C | 24°C | 25 mm | Very busy |
| March | 33°C | 25°C | 70 mm | Very busy |
| April | 33°C | 25°C | 150 mm | Busy |
| May | 32°C | 25°C | 290 mm | Quiet |
| June | 32°C | 25°C | 260 mm | Quiet |
| July | 31°C | 25°C | 260 mm | Busy |
| August | 31°C | 25°C | 290 mm | Busy |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 380 mm | Quiet |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 320 mm | Quiet |
| November | 31°C | 24°C | 180 mm | Busy |
| December | 31°C | 24°C | 70 mm | Very busy |
Temperatures and rainfall are approximate long-term averages for the nearest weather station; individual years vary, and mountain areas are cooler than the figures shown.
Festivals & events
- February: Chinese New Year brings a spike in visitors and prices.
- March: The Laanta Lanta Festival in the Old Town, celebrating the island’s Thai, Chinese, Muslim and sea-gypsy cultures.
- April: Songkran, Thai New Year, 13–15 April.
- November: Loy Krathong, and the reopening of seasonal ferries, resorts and island trips.
Our advice
Aim for late November to mid-December or March to mid-April for good weather without peak crowds. In the monsoon months, Phi Phi is still reachable on calmer days, but if island-hopping is the point of your trip, the Gulf islands are the better bet then — see when to go to Thailand.
