Rainy season in southern Thailand: what stays open and what is still worth doing
Rain usually falls in bursts of one or two hours, not all day. What runs in the rainy season, what closes, what cancels boat trips — and what to do when it rains.
The first thing that surprises guests in the rainy season: it does not rain all day. Tropical rain usually comes in heavy bursts of one or two hours, often in the late afternoon or at night, and then the sun returns. The second surprise is less pleasant: what stops tours is rarely the rain, it is the swell. And what is closed in low season is closed regardless of the weather — the national parks keep fixed dates.
Which coast has its rainy season when
On the Andaman coast — Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi — the southwest monsoon runs roughly from May to October, with September the wettest month. In the Gulf of Thailand — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao — it is the other way round: most rain falls from October to December, heaviest in November. The whole logic is in Best time to visit.
What is closed, for certain
The Andaman coast's national parks close from 15 May to 15 October. That covers the Similan and Surin Islands, Koh Rok, Koh Kradan and the Krabi islands. No operator goes there, not even under a blue sky.
What runs all year
- ·Phi Phi Island X-Large and James Bond & Beyond — the two speedboat classics from Phuket, daily.
- ·The Phang Nga Bay canoe trip by big boat — a larger, steadier boat, the better choice in swell.
- ·Khao Sok: the rainforest is at its best in the rainy season — fuller, greener, the waterfalls carrying water. Cheow Lan Lake lies sheltered inland.
- ·Every land tour: Phuket Explorer, the old town, elephant care, cooking classes, temple tours, the evening shows.
- ·In the Gulf: Angthong Marine Park and Koh Tao, year round — there only the swell decides.
When a tour is cancelled
The operator decides in the morning, on the day's weather and safety conditions; route, departure time or whether it runs at all can change at short notice. In a storm warning speedboats stay in. We then tell you as early as possible and look for a new date or a land alternative — a tour paid for but not run is not charged. The rules are in Thailand from A to Z.
What to do when it rains
- ·Phuket's old town: Sino-Portuguese houses, cafés, galleries — better in rain than in the midday heat. See the tour or go on your own.
- ·A cooking class: indoors, three to five dishes, and you take something home. Khao Lak or Phuket.
- ·Temples and museums: the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, the tsunami museum in Khao Lak.
- ·The evening shows: Simon Cabaret, Siam Niramit, FantaSea — all under a roof.
- ·Spa and massage: often at markedly better rates in low season.
- ·Markets: the markets in Khao Lak and the night markets in Phuket and on Samui are largely covered.
What speaks for the rainy season
Prices are lower — hotels markedly, tours in part. The beaches are empty, the landscape is green rather than parched, and you get a table anywhere. Khao Sok is more impressive then than in the dry season. Plan with some slack — don't put the boat trip on your last day, keep an alternative in mind — and you will do well.
What to bring
A light rain jacket or a poncho (umbrellas are useless in wind), sandals that can get wet, a waterproof pouch for your phone, mosquito repellent — the mosquitoes come after the rain. And one spare day in the plan, in case a boat trip has to move.
Frequently asked questions
When is the rainy season in Phuket and Khao Lak?
Roughly May to October, with September the wettest month. Rain usually falls in bursts of one or two hours, often in the afternoon or at night. The Similan and Surin national parks are closed then (15 May to 15 October).
When is the rainy season on Koh Samui?
October to December, heaviest in November. Koh Samui follows the northeast monsoon and so has a different rainy season from Phuket — in July and August, when the Andaman side is wet, Samui is dry.
Is Thailand worth visiting in the rainy season?
Yes, if you plan with some slack. It rarely rains all day, prices are lower, the beaches empty and the landscape green. Khao Sok is at its finest. Only the national park islands drop out, and a boat trip should not sit on your last day.
What can you do in Khao Lak or Phuket when it rains?
A cooking class, Phuket's old town, temples and the tsunami museum, one of the evening shows, a spa, or the covered markets. Khao Sok with Cheow Lan Lake lies inland and is especially striking in the rain.
Are boat trips cancelled when it rains?
Not because of the rain, but because of the swell. The operator decides in the morning on weather and safety conditions; route and departure time can change, and on a storm warning the trip is cancelled. We let you know early and find another date.
