The best time to visit Koh Samui, one of the largest islands in Thailand, would be anytime between late December and April. Koh Samui is known for its clear seas, white-sand beaches, waterfalls, majestic temples, spectacular viewpoints and activities galore for tourists that make their visit to the island a memorable one. With the airport and a variety of accommodation facilities available, tourists from across the world can come here and experience a great vacation.
Some of the must-visit beaches here are Lamai, Natien, Chaweng, Taling Ngam. With the bountiful of natural beauty, the island reflects a beautifully serene atmosphere and a rich cultural heritage. According to the majority of world travelers, the best month to visit Koh Samui is January when one can enjoy great beach weather, a bright sunny atmosphere but the sun not yet blazing with very minimum chances of rain.
-Best Time to Visit Koh Samui for Sightseeing
Koh Samui, a part of an archipelago of over 60 islands over the Gulf of Siam in east Thailand, can be captivating all around the year. But the best time to visit Koh Samui is from late December to mid-April. Since weather plays an important factor to decide on the time of the trip to this enchanting island, choosing anytime between January and April will be great as the weather remains perfect this time with lots of sunshine and very little rain.
Even though you come across rain, it fades out quickly. Tourists can visit as many as beaches they want. The island is naturally aesthetic with clean sands and peaceful surroundings. The temples here are majestic. January heralds the New Year events, so one can enjoy happening party nights here. Bars, nightlife and restaurants here in Koh Samui are brilliant and offer great services to all kinds of tourists.
-Best Weather to Visit Koh Samui
If late December to April is considered as the best time to visit Koh Samui with long hours of sun and very little rain, May to September is also a nice period to spend a vacation here if sporadic showers, especially in the afternoon or night are not a concern for you. The day trips to Koh Tao are very popular here that can be conducted from November end till March or April. This is the time when huge whale sharks can be witnessed.
Try to avoid visiting the island in October and November as it is the wettest period in Koh Samui. Tourists can hardly enjoy a great day on the beach or can explore the beaches as per their itinerary during this time. If you are planning to spend your family vacation in Koh Samui from December to April, please consider booking hotels in months advance owing to rush.
Koh Samui is popular for various types of activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, day trips to Koh Tao or kayaking to Angthong Marine Park. The best time to visit Koh Samui for all these activities is early December to April.
Snorkeling: Almost all beaches of Koh Samui offer brilliant opportunities for snorkeling. The islands here that have amazing underwater sceneries can be seen in bright sunlight during this time.
Scuba Diving: Scuba diving is one of the must-do things in Koh Samui. The best time to visit Koh Samui could be anytime after June for diving activities. While for the east side diving, July and August are the busiest months in Koh Tao when the visibility remains for around 20 metres and 29 degrees Celsius average temperature.
Day Trips to Angthong Marine Park: Angthong Marine National Park, spread over 246km in the southern part of Thailand, offers a picturesque seascape. The park is home to various birds, dolphins and monkeys. The speedboat tours and kayaking to the park is very popular here.
Best month to visit Koh Samui for island hopping would be anytime between January and March. The island destination has a nice 30-degree Celsius round the year. February has the fewest days of rain which is only four, while the days of rain in January and March is also similar. Also, you can expect crystal clear waters in the sea and sun-kissed sand and light breezes. All of these make a perfect island-hopping experience for tourists.
On the other hand, if as a tourist you are not bothered with hot and humid temperature and higher chances of precipitation, then anytime between April and August is the best month to visit Koh Samui. One should include Koh Tao, Koh Phangan into the itinerary for the best island-hopping experience in Koh Samui. All these locations are favorable with multiple sister islands to visit.
-Koh Samui Rainy Season
Tourists who enjoy the rain along the seashore believe the best month to visit Koh Samui is anytime between late October to mid-December. However, the span of the rainy season in Thailand differs from region to region. Tropical downpour across the Koh Samui Island makes it look very lush and green. The highest temperature remains 30 degrees Celsius this time, while the lowest 23 degrees Celsius.
It rains around 400mm in November. This time, the ocean becomes wild with often high tides thrashing onto the shores. Frequent downpour relieves the burden of humidity from the atmosphere. The breezes get stronger with a thin crowd on the beaches as well as at beachside shacks and restaurants. In the worst cases, roads get flooded.
-Koh Samui Hottest Season
Best time of year to visit Koh Samui is between December and February. The weather remains perfect during this time. Also, the ocean stays calm with cosy gentle breezes blowing. However, from March onwards the atmosphere changes drastically here with the sun becoming merciless. The hottest time of the year here in Koh Samui is between March and May.
As a tourist, if you are comfortable bearing with the highest 32.5 degrees Celsius, you can visit Koh Samui. But make sure you how to shield yourself from the sun. The lowest temperature will be around 27 degrees Celsius. The rainfall increases during this time too. Long hours of sunshine during daytime are generally followed by afternoon thunderstorms. To some tourists, this weather is pretty agreeable.
January depicts the driest season here in Koh Samui with only 7 days of rain in the entire month. For many tourists, this is the best time of year to visit Koh Samui when the maximum temperature during daytime hovers around 26 degrees Celsius, while the lowest can be around 20 degrees Celsius.
Following the New Year, this is also the busiest time on the island with tourists flocking every nook and corner of the picturesque travel destination. Tourists from the Northern Hemisphere especially love this season in Koh Samui as they can escape the brutal cold of their native lands. The sea remains warm this time, so tourists can pursue various kinds of water sports and also indulge in swimming.
-Koh Samui Coolest Season
The mercury level starts falling steadily from November end. From mid-December onwards, begins the cold weather in the islands. This continues till mid-January. The maximum temperature will be around 28 to 29 degrees Celsius this time, while the lowest at 23 degrees Celsius. Tourists get to witness the pulsating nightlife and activity-filled atmosphere here if they visit Koh Samui in this period.
The hotel prices remain very affordable in the cold season than the holiday time. As opposed to the typically oppressive heat conditions of the tropical region, this is the most pleasant and exciting weather to travel across this part of Thailand. Various awesome planned tour packages and also customised plans are available for tourists to choose from.
-Koh Samui Sunniest Season
May denotes the sunniest season in Koh Samui. With the mercury level firmly fixed at the top around 34 degrees Celsius, it is also the hottest month of the year. The lowest temperature remains around 26 degrees Celsius. On average, it rains for about 9 to 10 days this month. Those who love being in the sun can come to Koh Samui during this time.
Among several advantages of visiting this part of Thailand in May or June is the lowest hotel fares and quiet surroundings. As a tourist, one can enjoy the slow and laid-back life of the island. Many families make the most of their kids’ summer vacation in school by visiting Koh Samui in May or June.
-Chinese New Year
Koh Samui wears a busy and colourful look during Chinese New Year which is held in January. This is the best season to visit Koh Samui as the weather also remains perfect. The festival is celebrated in a loud yet low-key manner.
With temples, restaurants and streets beautifully adorned, many tourists, as well as natives of Chinese roots, flock here to make the most of the festive season. Various parties, concerts and activities are conducted across the island. Firecrackers shows are also held. Thai people put a lot of emphasis on food, hence you get the best of Asian cuisines to choose from.
-Songkran Festival
Songkran festival is one of the important events in the Samui calendar. Songkran is a water festival here. For a huge number of tourists, this is the best season to visit Koh Samui because they can either take part or witness the compulsory water fights.
It is celebrated in the month of April, one of the hottest periods here, therefore, the festival comes with a lot of fun and relaxation. Cheerfulness and cheekiness go hand in hand in Koh Samui and this can be fully experienced during Songkran fest. Thailand enjoys a 3-day holiday for this festival.
-Vegetarian Festival
Samui Vegetarian Food Festival occurs in September end to early October. This is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. It is a nine-day event in the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival is more like a carnival and celebration is surreal and colourful.
During the festival, yellow flags with two red marks are hung from restaurants or eateries. As per the myth, in the 1800s, a group of singers who visited Thailand started offering prayers to the Nine Emperor Gods after they became ill. As part of their showing honour, they followed a vegetarian diet for nine days. As time evolved, this tradition has turned into a festival.
-Moon Festival
The party on the occasion of a full moon at Koh Phangan is one of the best attractions of this Thai tourist destination. The main party is held at Haad Rin Beach in the southern Phangan Island where you see over 40,000 revellers dancing and enjoying to their hearts’ content.
Of course, plenty of food and drinks are available. The party continues till the dawn with loud music. Loads of native and international DJs also offer their best tracks at the event. Bodypaint, tattoo and photography with UV strip light attached to your body are some of the unique features of this festival. Full moon parties take place around the year.
Christmas in Koh Samu is very warm and low-key. This is not an official holiday season, bars and restaurants do brisk business during this time. Many hotels offer minimum 7-day stay opportunities, that means tourists can indulge in the festive mood fully and enjoy the best Christmas parties of the east.
Since November is the centre of the rainy season here, slight showers may still linger in the month of December. But certainly, that doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm or spirit of the festival. A lot of beach parties and music wait to welcome tourists during this time.
-Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong or the festival of lights is one of the major festivals of Thailand and tourism attractions. It is an annual event. As per the traditional norms of the event, decorative baskets are floated on rivers. These nicely decorated baskets are known as krathongs. Artificial lights or candles are also put inside the krathongs to make it more beautiful.
These floating well-lit baskets add to the immense joy and delight to natives and tourists. Often they make a wish when the boats glide on the river. Loy Krathong festival occurs in the month of November.
The famous regatta festival of Koh Samui happens in May end. Tourists can witness or participate in the ultimate sailing experience which is one of the finest features of Koh Samui. A lot of sun, sea and sailing, this is one of the biggest regatta races in Asia.
Visiting Koh Samui in May end will turn out to be a perfect getaway if you enjoy sailing. The best yachts from across the world and a large number of tourists attending the festival, therefore, prior planning and booking is a must.
Some of the must-visit beaches here are Lamai, Natien, Chaweng, Taling Ngam. With the bountiful of natural beauty, the island reflects a beautifully serene atmosphere and a rich cultural heritage. According to the majority of world travelers, the best month to visit Koh Samui is January when one can enjoy great beach weather, a bright sunny atmosphere but the sun not yet blazing with very minimum chances of rain.
Best Time to Visit
-Best Time to Visit Koh Samui for Sightseeing
Koh Samui, a part of an archipelago of over 60 islands over the Gulf of Siam in east Thailand, can be captivating all around the year. But the best time to visit Koh Samui is from late December to mid-April. Since weather plays an important factor to decide on the time of the trip to this enchanting island, choosing anytime between January and April will be great as the weather remains perfect this time with lots of sunshine and very little rain.
Even though you come across rain, it fades out quickly. Tourists can visit as many as beaches they want. The island is naturally aesthetic with clean sands and peaceful surroundings. The temples here are majestic. January heralds the New Year events, so one can enjoy happening party nights here. Bars, nightlife and restaurants here in Koh Samui are brilliant and offer great services to all kinds of tourists.
-Best Weather to Visit Koh Samui
If late December to April is considered as the best time to visit Koh Samui with long hours of sun and very little rain, May to September is also a nice period to spend a vacation here if sporadic showers, especially in the afternoon or night are not a concern for you. The day trips to Koh Tao are very popular here that can be conducted from November end till March or April. This is the time when huge whale sharks can be witnessed.
Try to avoid visiting the island in October and November as it is the wettest period in Koh Samui. Tourists can hardly enjoy a great day on the beach or can explore the beaches as per their itinerary during this time. If you are planning to spend your family vacation in Koh Samui from December to April, please consider booking hotels in months advance owing to rush.
-Best Time to Visit Koh Samui for Activities
Koh Samui is popular for various types of activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, day trips to Koh Tao or kayaking to Angthong Marine Park. The best time to visit Koh Samui for all these activities is early December to April.
Snorkeling: Almost all beaches of Koh Samui offer brilliant opportunities for snorkeling. The islands here that have amazing underwater sceneries can be seen in bright sunlight during this time.
Scuba Diving: Scuba diving is one of the must-do things in Koh Samui. The best time to visit Koh Samui could be anytime after June for diving activities. While for the east side diving, July and August are the busiest months in Koh Tao when the visibility remains for around 20 metres and 29 degrees Celsius average temperature.
Day Trips to Angthong Marine Park: Angthong Marine National Park, spread over 246km in the southern part of Thailand, offers a picturesque seascape. The park is home to various birds, dolphins and monkeys. The speedboat tours and kayaking to the park is very popular here.
-Best Time for Island Hopping in Koh Samui
Best month to visit Koh Samui for island hopping would be anytime between January and March. The island destination has a nice 30-degree Celsius round the year. February has the fewest days of rain which is only four, while the days of rain in January and March is also similar. Also, you can expect crystal clear waters in the sea and sun-kissed sand and light breezes. All of these make a perfect island-hopping experience for tourists.
On the other hand, if as a tourist you are not bothered with hot and humid temperature and higher chances of precipitation, then anytime between April and August is the best month to visit Koh Samui. One should include Koh Tao, Koh Phangan into the itinerary for the best island-hopping experience in Koh Samui. All these locations are favorable with multiple sister islands to visit.
Best Season to Visit Koh Samui
-Koh Samui Rainy Season
Tourists who enjoy the rain along the seashore believe the best month to visit Koh Samui is anytime between late October to mid-December. However, the span of the rainy season in Thailand differs from region to region. Tropical downpour across the Koh Samui Island makes it look very lush and green. The highest temperature remains 30 degrees Celsius this time, while the lowest 23 degrees Celsius.
It rains around 400mm in November. This time, the ocean becomes wild with often high tides thrashing onto the shores. Frequent downpour relieves the burden of humidity from the atmosphere. The breezes get stronger with a thin crowd on the beaches as well as at beachside shacks and restaurants. In the worst cases, roads get flooded.
-Koh Samui Hottest Season
Best time of year to visit Koh Samui is between December and February. The weather remains perfect during this time. Also, the ocean stays calm with cosy gentle breezes blowing. However, from March onwards the atmosphere changes drastically here with the sun becoming merciless. The hottest time of the year here in Koh Samui is between March and May.
As a tourist, if you are comfortable bearing with the highest 32.5 degrees Celsius, you can visit Koh Samui. But make sure you how to shield yourself from the sun. The lowest temperature will be around 27 degrees Celsius. The rainfall increases during this time too. Long hours of sunshine during daytime are generally followed by afternoon thunderstorms. To some tourists, this weather is pretty agreeable.
-Koh Samui Driest Season
January depicts the driest season here in Koh Samui with only 7 days of rain in the entire month. For many tourists, this is the best time of year to visit Koh Samui when the maximum temperature during daytime hovers around 26 degrees Celsius, while the lowest can be around 20 degrees Celsius.
Following the New Year, this is also the busiest time on the island with tourists flocking every nook and corner of the picturesque travel destination. Tourists from the Northern Hemisphere especially love this season in Koh Samui as they can escape the brutal cold of their native lands. The sea remains warm this time, so tourists can pursue various kinds of water sports and also indulge in swimming.
-Koh Samui Coolest Season
The mercury level starts falling steadily from November end. From mid-December onwards, begins the cold weather in the islands. This continues till mid-January. The maximum temperature will be around 28 to 29 degrees Celsius this time, while the lowest at 23 degrees Celsius. Tourists get to witness the pulsating nightlife and activity-filled atmosphere here if they visit Koh Samui in this period.
The hotel prices remain very affordable in the cold season than the holiday time. As opposed to the typically oppressive heat conditions of the tropical region, this is the most pleasant and exciting weather to travel across this part of Thailand. Various awesome planned tour packages and also customised plans are available for tourists to choose from.
-Koh Samui Sunniest Season
May denotes the sunniest season in Koh Samui. With the mercury level firmly fixed at the top around 34 degrees Celsius, it is also the hottest month of the year. The lowest temperature remains around 26 degrees Celsius. On average, it rains for about 9 to 10 days this month. Those who love being in the sun can come to Koh Samui during this time.
Among several advantages of visiting this part of Thailand in May or June is the lowest hotel fares and quiet surroundings. As a tourist, one can enjoy the slow and laid-back life of the island. Many families make the most of their kids’ summer vacation in school by visiting Koh Samui in May or June.
Festivals and Events in Koh Samui
-Chinese New Year
Koh Samui wears a busy and colourful look during Chinese New Year which is held in January. This is the best season to visit Koh Samui as the weather also remains perfect. The festival is celebrated in a loud yet low-key manner.
With temples, restaurants and streets beautifully adorned, many tourists, as well as natives of Chinese roots, flock here to make the most of the festive season. Various parties, concerts and activities are conducted across the island. Firecrackers shows are also held. Thai people put a lot of emphasis on food, hence you get the best of Asian cuisines to choose from.
-Songkran Festival
Songkran festival is one of the important events in the Samui calendar. Songkran is a water festival here. For a huge number of tourists, this is the best season to visit Koh Samui because they can either take part or witness the compulsory water fights.
It is celebrated in the month of April, one of the hottest periods here, therefore, the festival comes with a lot of fun and relaxation. Cheerfulness and cheekiness go hand in hand in Koh Samui and this can be fully experienced during Songkran fest. Thailand enjoys a 3-day holiday for this festival.
-Vegetarian Festival
Samui Vegetarian Food Festival occurs in September end to early October. This is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. It is a nine-day event in the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival is more like a carnival and celebration is surreal and colourful.
During the festival, yellow flags with two red marks are hung from restaurants or eateries. As per the myth, in the 1800s, a group of singers who visited Thailand started offering prayers to the Nine Emperor Gods after they became ill. As part of their showing honour, they followed a vegetarian diet for nine days. As time evolved, this tradition has turned into a festival.
-Moon Festival
The party on the occasion of a full moon at Koh Phangan is one of the best attractions of this Thai tourist destination. The main party is held at Haad Rin Beach in the southern Phangan Island where you see over 40,000 revellers dancing and enjoying to their hearts’ content.
Of course, plenty of food and drinks are available. The party continues till the dawn with loud music. Loads of native and international DJs also offer their best tracks at the event. Bodypaint, tattoo and photography with UV strip light attached to your body are some of the unique features of this festival. Full moon parties take place around the year.
-The Christmas Celebration
Christmas in Koh Samu is very warm and low-key. This is not an official holiday season, bars and restaurants do brisk business during this time. Many hotels offer minimum 7-day stay opportunities, that means tourists can indulge in the festive mood fully and enjoy the best Christmas parties of the east.
Since November is the centre of the rainy season here, slight showers may still linger in the month of December. But certainly, that doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm or spirit of the festival. A lot of beach parties and music wait to welcome tourists during this time.
-Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong or the festival of lights is one of the major festivals of Thailand and tourism attractions. It is an annual event. As per the traditional norms of the event, decorative baskets are floated on rivers. These nicely decorated baskets are known as krathongs. Artificial lights or candles are also put inside the krathongs to make it more beautiful.
These floating well-lit baskets add to the immense joy and delight to natives and tourists. Often they make a wish when the boats glide on the river. Loy Krathong festival occurs in the month of November.
-Koh Samui Regatta
The famous regatta festival of Koh Samui happens in May end. Tourists can witness or participate in the ultimate sailing experience which is one of the finest features of Koh Samui. A lot of sun, sea and sailing, this is one of the biggest regatta races in Asia.
Visiting Koh Samui in May end will turn out to be a perfect getaway if you enjoy sailing. The best yachts from across the world and a large number of tourists attending the festival, therefore, prior planning and booking is a must.
