Koh Samui is located 40 km off the east coast of Thailand. Thanks to the sub-equatorial climate, eternal summer reigns here, and a good location in the calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand prevents the appearance of tsunamis and typhoons.
The beach season on Koh Samui lasts almost all year round. In summer, winter and off-season, thousands of people from all over the world come here to enjoy the warm clear sea, the white sand of the spacious beaches and the beautiful views of the lush tropical nature. Let’s look at what season on Koh Samui is considered the best, and in which months the rest here is just as good and will cost less.
High season
The main tourist flows arrive on Koh Samui in winter. The high season here starts in mid-December and lasts until the end of April. At this time, numerous hotels on the island are filling up, beaches, central streets, cafes and restaurants are becoming crowded, the number of visitors to local attractions is increasing, and the nightlife is full of fun. As it should be in high season, during these months the cost of accommodation, food prices, and transport rates increase. The period from mid-December to the end of March is not in vain considered the season when it is better to relax in Koh Samui. There are several reasons for this:
- The weather at this time is not too hot, and refreshing easterly winds and low humidity make it even more comfortable. The amount of precipitation in December and January is very noticeable, but starting from February, it becomes minimal – the dry season begins on Koh Samui, which lasts until the end of April.
- In winter, beach holidays are very popular among residents of the Nordic countries, and in subtropical resorts (Mediterranean, Black Sea) in the winter months-not the season.
- Many tourists are attracted to the celebration of the New Year on this exotic island.
- The winter months are considered the best holiday destinations in mainland Thailand, as well as Koh Samui, although the weather conditions on the mainland and the island have significant differences.
- December and January are the months when the sea is rough. This attracts wave lovers to the island, because the rest of the year the coast of Koh Samui is dominated by calm.
Many tourists are interested not only in a beach holiday, but also in exploring the sights of the island. For such vacationers, the season when it is best to go to Koh Samui is from mid-December to February, when the spring heat has not yet begun. In mild weather, it is physically easier to visit interesting places of the island – temples, gardens and historical architectural structures.
In comfortable weather, it is much more pleasant than in the heat, to go hiking in the mountain jungle, visit waterfalls and coconut plantations. This is an indisputable advantage of the high-season winter months.
Coincidentally, when it is the season for a beach holiday in Koh Samui, it is then that most of the holidays that are celebrated on the island in a big way fall out. The high season is marked by official, Chinese, and Thai New Year holidays, children’s, teacher’s, and Thai elephant days, Makha Bucha Buddhist holidays, and the anniversary of the ruling Chakri dynasty. All these spectacular celebrations leave a vivid impression and provide an opportunity to get to know the culture and history of the Thai people more closely.
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Air temperature
Throughout the year, the temperature on Koh Samui is kept within – +31…+24°C. There is no cold or unbearable heat for 40°C, the temperature difference in the dry and rainy seasons is relatively small.
Weather by month on Koh Samui in high season. The average day and night air temperature is:
- in December and January – +29…+24°C;
- in February – +29.5…+25°C;
- in March – +30.7…+25.6°C;
- in April – +32…+26°C-this is the hottest month of the dry season.
Water temperature
The water in the sea off the coast of Koh Samui is comfortable for swimming all year round, its temperature ranges from +26°C to +30°C.
In the season on Koh Samui, when it is better to relax on the island’s beaches, the water heats up on average:
- in December-February – up to +26 … 27°C;
- in March and April – up to +28°C.
Precipitation
November and early December are Koh Samui’s wettest months of the year. But towards the end of December, the amount of precipitation gradually decreases.
In the second half of December and throughout January, precipitation is frequent, but it is short-lived, usually lasting no more than half an hour, and the rest of the time the weather is clear.
Koh Samui’s dry season begins in February, with the average amount of precipitation being minimal this month. Up to the beginning of May, rain falls infrequently, the weather is mostly sunny. During the high season, the weather on Koh Samui varies slightly by month. In general, it is comfortable both for relaxing on the beach and for excursions.
Wind and waves
In November, the monsoon begins to blow on Koh Samui, bringing moist air from the east. Therefore, at the beginning of the high season – in mid-December and in January, it is windy here, waves appear on the sea. These winds are not strong, warm, and feel refreshing. The excitement of the sea does not prevent swimming, but gives surfers the opportunity to ride the waves.
Humidity
Since the season on Koh Samui, when it is best to relax, falls mainly in the driest months, the humidity during this period is minimal. During the wettest months of the high season – December and January-refreshing monsoons blow here, and from February to the end of April there is excellent dry weather. Therefore, there is no stuffiness throughout the high season, and hot weather is perfectly tolerated.
Prices
During the period of increased tourist activity, in accordance with the laws of the market, the cost of recreation in resorts increases. In Koh Samui, during high season, prices for accommodation, flights and goods increase by about 15-20% compared to summer prices.
Koh Samui lives on tourism, and high-class hotels and guesthouses are available here in large numbers. However, during high season, it may be difficult to find suitable accommodation options, so we recommend booking rooms in advance.
Low season
The decline in tourist activity on Koh Samui begins in the second half of April. During this period, the beaches become sparsely populated, hotels are emptied by half or even more, prices for accommodation, food and air tickets are reduced.
However, most of the low-season months enjoy excellent weather, and tourists who come here enjoy excellent holidays, receiving bonuses in the form of free beaches and reduced prices. Let’s take a look at what the weather is like in Koh Samui (Thailand) during the months of the low season, and when it is better to come here.
The low season on Koh Samui is no coincidence that it starts in May and ends in mid-December. May, October, November and early December are the wettest months on the island’s resorts. A particularly large amount of precipitation is observed here in November.
Koh Samui’s rainy season starts in May. This month it rains twice as often as in the previous months of the dry season. Precipitation is frequent, but rains last relatively short, and sunny weather prevails. In addition, May is the hottest month on Koh Samui, and frequent rains make it easier to bear the heat, so they are perceived positively.
Low-season temperatures
The average daily air temperature in May reaches record values for this island. The water is warm, “like fresh milk”, the sea is calm and clean. In general, a holiday in Koh Samui in May is good for people who like hot weather and can easily tolerate high humidity.
From June to the end of September, Koh Samui has the perfect weather for a beach holiday. The heat of May is subsiding slightly, and the frequent rains that are characteristic of May in summer and early autumn are less frequent. Average daytime and nighttime air temperature during the rainy season in Koh Samui by month:
- May – +32.6…+25.8°C;
- June – +32.2…+25.5°C;
- July – +32.0…+25.1°C;
- August – +31.9…+25.1°C;
- September – +31.6…+24.8°C;
- October – +30.5…+24.4°C;
- November – +29.5…+24.1°C.
In summer and early autumn, the weather on the island is characterized by moderately hot sunny days and fast-passing rains. Short-term precipitation practically does not interfere with a beach holiday, so the period from June to September inclusive is one of the seasons on Koh Samui when it is better to go on vacation. Rest at this time will please you with excellent sunny weather, warm, calm and clear sea, sparsely populated beaches and relatively low prices.
Sea water temperatures at the beginning of the low season are +30°C, gradually decreasing to +27°C as autumn approaches. The humidity is quite high-65-70%, but many rooms here are air-conditioned, so for those who are not used to hot and humid weather, there is always an opportunity to take shelter in comfortable conditions.
In economy class hotels on the island, there are rooms equipped with fans, so if the stuffiness is frightening, take care in advance to rent a room with air conditioning, and you will be provided with temperature comfort. Most vacationers adapt to the local climate quite quickly.
It happens that during the low season, squally winds hit Koh Samui, as indicated by storm warnings. But this happens rarely, and the bad weather usually does not last long, bringing a pleasant coolness.
Rains on Koh Samui
In October, rain starts to fall more frequently, and the amount of precipitation increases more than twice as much as in the previous month. Accordingly, the humidity of the air increases. And in November, the amount of precipitation reaches its maximum, rains in this month are 4-5 times more frequent than in summer and 3.5 times more abundant than in May. The average monthly norm reaches 490 mm, precipitation in November can fall several times a day, it is often overcast, and air humidity reaches 90% or higher.
The undisputed advantage of November is the absence of heat, on some days the air temperature drops to a comfortable +26°C. But in general, a holiday in Koh Samui in November will appeal mainly to romantics who love solitude and the melancholic noise of steep-falling tropical downpours.
Those who are looking for a month-long holiday season on Koh Samui often opt for a low season, due to the fact that with excellent summer weather and free beaches, holidays at this time are more economically profitable. Prices for accommodation, meals, and air tickets during this period are 15-20% lower than during high season months.
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Conclusion
It is considered that the best season on Koh Samui for a beach holiday is the period from mid-December to the end of April, when the weather is most comfortable-dry and relatively mild. But many vacationers come here from June to September, when prices are reduced, and the weather becomes hot in summer, with short-term refreshing rains and a warm, gentle sea. Each of these seasons is good in its own way, so when choosing the time to visit this beautiful island, it is better to focus not on the stereotypes imposed by advertising, but on your own preferences.
