Rainy season on Koh Samui: October to December
On Koh Samui the weather works differently from the rest of Thailand. In Bangkok, Phuket and Khao Lak the rainy season runs from May to October. Here most of the rain falls later, from mid October to mid December.
It sounds worse than it is. The island is greener than at any other time of year, there are few visitors, and everything is extra relaxed. Daytime temperatures are around 30 °C, nights around 25. The sea is about 28 °C.
What you read here is our experience from the last years, and of course without any guarantee.
Koh Samui in October
In October there are regular showers. In our experience they usually come in the evening and at night, and by far the heaviest rain falls at night. During the day it is often dry, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy. If a shower does catch you, it is usually short, and half an hour later everything looks as if it had never rained.
With us at Green Heaven Bungalows on Laem Yai Beach, you stay from 1,500 THB per night in October and November. Spacious beach bungalows, each with a large covered terrace. Send me your travel dates and I will tell you what is available.
Koh Samui in November
November is the wettest month. It can rain for a few hours at a time. Still, the sun comes out often and for long spells, so longer trips are no problem. You just plan them more around the current weather.
Koh Samui in December
From early December the weather gets noticeably better. Showers become rarer, and high season starts in the middle of the month.
Why the northwest coast is calmer
In the rainy season the monsoon blows from the northeast. The east coast around Chaweng and Lamai takes the full force, and the sea gets rough there. We are on the other side of the island, sheltered by the hills in the middle of Samui. Our bay at Laem Yai Beach is sheltered and also has breakwaters. That is why it is usually very calm, even in the rainy season.
What does that mean for your holiday?
You plan your day by the sky, not the clock. Swimming, kayaking, walking the sandbanks, exploring Koh Samui by scooter, it all works. And when you are home and it rains, you get cosy on your covered terrace with a coffee and enjoy the rain. Even that is really lovely. The terraces are big enough for several people to sit outside together.
And in the evening? The clouds of the rainy season make the sunsets dramatic. The photo at the top was taken on 21 September, right in front of our bungalows.
In the rainy season a trip to Ang Thong Marine Park is sometimes cancelled when the waves are high. Plan it early in your stay, so you still have spare days.
Why the rainy season is worth it
The island is quiet, with far fewer visitors. Hardly any crowded beaches, rarely a wait for a table. In October and November you stay with us at the lowest price of the year, from 1,500 THB per night (approx. 44 US dollars). And you can still book at short notice: in the rainy season we often still have free nights.
My tip: Bring a light rain jacket and don't let the rain symbol in your weather app put you off. On Samui it is often wrong. Before a boat trip, the wind and the waves tell you more. Or just ask me, I'm always happy to help.
Send me a message if you have questions about the rainy season, I live here.
Warm regards,
Pookie