Best time to visit Phuket

Phuket in February

February is the best time to visit Phuket for your honeymoon and spend time on beaches with your significant other. It is also the best time to visit Phuket with your family, as it’s the perfect month to do beach activities, outdoor exploration and shopping. The maximum temperature reaches a high of 34⁰C with warmer and drier days. The evenings, however, are much more tolerable when the temperature is around 25°C. Phuket receives a spectacular 11 to 12 hours of daylight with negligible tropical rainfall. The waters of the Andaman sea are calm, and offer excellent visibility for deep sea diving and snorkelling around the reef, with the underwater temperature being comfortable around 28⁰C.

Phuket in March

In March, the mercury starts to rise, but that hardly deters tourists from visiting and enjoying Phuket as the days are dry with 12 hours of sunlight. The blue skies, fresh and soothing tropical breeze and aquamarine waters makes Phuket one of the best places to visit for a vacation. For non-beach-related activities, explore Patong area, temples, Phuket museums and walking streets. The average temperature ranges between 34⁰ C to 26⁰ C. You can snorkel, take day trips to other islands on a ferry and enjoy scenic underwater dives at Phuket’s famous diving spots.

Phuket in April

The humidity and heat starts to rise up in Phuket with some days receiving the pre-monsoon showers. The best time to visit Phuket in April is during the first week and hence you should plan your travel accordingly. The days are certainly hotter than the evenings with average temperature ranges from 34⁰ C to 26⁰ C. Phuket receives about 12.5 hours of daylight with 12 days of sporadic rain showers. However, visitors can still enjoy the water sports and deep sea activities, just make sure the weather is clear on the day you plan to do diving or snorkelling. The sea temperatures are 30⁰C which allows for comfortable dive or snorkelling sessions.

April Events and Festivals in Phuket:

• Songkran: The Thai New Year, or Songkran, is a three day festival running from 13th to 15th April and are national holidays in Thailand. During this festival, people splash water scented waters on each other symbolising washing away of sins and misfortunes. Today, this celebration takes the form of a massive water gun fight where both tourists and locals participate. The best places to visit in Phuket for Songkran festivities are Bangla Road and Patong beach. Here one can experience water fights, foam parties and revelry. Many Thai people also visit temples to perform rituals of purification of Buddha idols, offer alms to monks, and seek their blessings.
• Phuket Bike Week: Another major event which coincides with Songkran is the Phuket Bike Week, taking place from 11th to 14th April in Patong. It is hailed as one of the biggest motorcycle events in Asia. For this event, bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts gather in Phuket from all over the world to share their passion over bikes and build a sense of community. This festival features an exhibition displaying fancy and uber cool motorcycles along with fun events such as Custom Bike contest, Miss Phuket Bike Week contest, live entertainment shows, and kiosks selling motorcycle equipment and accessories. You can also pick souvenirs such as keychains, t-shirts, caps, hoodies, bandana etc.

Phuket in May

The southwest monsoon hits the shores of Phuket during May, and there is a sharp increase in rainy days as the month progresses. The daytime temperature reaches 33⁰C, while the lowest temperatures are around 26°C. May marks the beginning of shoulder season in Phuket, when the tourist crowds become lesser. If you plan to be inPhuket, travelling in the first week is recommended, but do expect some erratic rainfall. The days are mostly cloudy and Phuket receives about 17 to 18 days of rainfall. It is not advisable to visit beaches and to participate in watersports as sea conditions are rough. The closest islands from Phuket, Koh Surin and Koh Similan are closed for marine conservation until October.

Phuket in June

June is probably not the best time to visit Phuket if you want to do island hopping or beach activities. The weather is stormy, and sea waters are rough, making it difficult to participate in swimming or watersports. The rainfall takes place frequently, and if it’s not raining, the humidity is very high during the day. Phuket receives approximately 16 days of rainfall, with maximum and minimum temperatures around 31.5°C to 28.3°C. For those who wish to explore non-beach related activities can explore Old Phuket town, temples, or spend time at other indoor attractions.

Phuket in July

July is one of the wettest months in Phuket, with monsoon rains and storms making the sea conditions rough. This makes the beach visits unsuitable for travellers. Phuket experiences around 19 days of heavy rain showers halting beach exploration and island hopping. The maximum temperature hovers around 32°C and minimum is around 25°C with high levels of humidity. Since July falls in the off-season of Phuket, it is an excellent time to get discounts on resorts, luxury hotels, and flight tickets.

Phuket in August

August is another month in the off-season in Phuket, with heavy downpour for about 18 days. The temperature during day time is around 31°C, while the minimum temperature is around 27°C. If you must visit Phuket in August, stick to indoor sightseeing only or explore areas such as Patong and Bangla Road. A better alternative is to visit the islands (Koh Phangan, Koh Chang, Koh Samui) located on the east coast, Gulf of Thailand where the monsoon hasn’t arrived yet.

Phuket in September

September is the peak month of the rainy season in Phuket, receiving about 20 days of rainfall and thunderstorms. The average temperature ranges from 30.9°C to 27.8°C with high humidity levels. The watersports and beach activities are halted, and if at all you plan to visit Phuket in September, spend a relaxing vacation inside a resort. The sunshine on non-rainy days remains for about 12 hours but due to humidity it is better to stay indoors and explore the interiors of Phuket avoiding beaches. It is also a great month to get massive discounts on accommodation, flights and services.

Phuket in October

October is the tail-end of monsoon season in Phuket, with rainy days starting declining as the month progresses. However, you may still experience sporadic rain showers throughout the day, as Phuket still receives 19 days of rain. The maximum temperature hovers around 30.7°C to 27°C and minimum temperature reaches around 25°C. On non-rainy days, you can enjoy the sunshine for about 7 to 8 hours before the sky becomes cloudy. October is also the last month of the off-season in Phuket, however, water activities and taking day trips to surrounding islands might still be challenging.

October Events and Festivals in Phuket

• Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Phuket vegetarian festival falls in the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which is the month of October. It is a 9-day festival where devotees in Phuket maintain abstinence from all animal products, alcohol, smoking and other vices to purify one’s mind, body and soul. Some devotees participate in acts of self-mortification which can be seen during the processions. You will see stalls and restaurants with yellow ribbons selling vegan food for the devotees of this event as well as for anyone who wishes to enjoy a vegan diet.

Phuket in November

November is a good time to visit Phuket for good weather, as the rainy days on this beautiful island starts to recede. This means you can go out more, spend time on the beach and might be able to enjoy a few water sports. There are about 15 days of rain with short sporadic outbursts that won’t deter you from exploring the beaches of Phuket as well as the surrounding islands. The days are warm and sunny, with the temperature ranging from 30°C to 32°C. The sea waters are calmer than ever, especially from mid to late November, ideal for sea diving and snorkelling.

November Events and Festivals in Phuket:

• Patong Carnival: Patong carnival marks the beginning of the high season in Phuket, which brings in tourists and boosts the local economy. One can witness an array of colourful stalls selling mouth watering dishes and beautiful handicrafts. There are also live music performances, sound and light shows, fireworks displays, with a massive parade. Thai performers put up a performance showcasing traditional Thai dance donning traditional attire. If you are visiting Phuket in November or December, be sure to attend Patong Carnival.
• Loy Krathong Festival: Loy Krathong is one of the most beautiful festivals celebrated in Phuket and all Thailand during a full-moon night. Thai people release small Krathongs, which are a small boat made from banana leaves holding candles, flowers and incense in a water body for it to float. It’s an act of reverence towards water deities for nurturing the people of the land. Many Thai also believe the floating krathong also takes away one’s misfortune and negative and brings good luck. Simultaneously, paper lanterns (lantern festival) are released by hundreds of devotees in the dark sky with a full-moon to banish the misfortunes and seek blessings. Visit Saphan Hin or Patong where you can see people gathered, ready to float their krathongs on water and release paper lanterns.

Phuket in December

By December, the rainy days are far behind, the sea waters are calm and the weather is pleasant in Phuket as the island gears up for a massive influx of tourists. The average temperature ranges between 32°C to 25°C. The underwater currents are mild and offer superior visibility. December is the best time to visit Phuket island for good weather and for water sports such as parasailing, kitesurfing, snorkelling and diving, as well as adventure such as dirt biking, ziplining and more. You can also experience Phuket beaches preparing for Christmas and New Year’s Eve with great enthusiasm and partake in a Phuket full moon party on Paradise beach.