I get asked constantly about the weather in Koh Phi Phi and when it is the best time to come here for holidays.
In my opinion, Thailand is beautiful all year round, regardless of the weather. The tropical climate is unpredictable, there can be rain in dry season and beautiful sunny days without a drop of rain during the monsoon season.
Thailand’s climate is tropical with a temperature of 30℃ and high humidity. There are three seasons in Thailand:
Hot season from March to May
Rainy season from about June to October
Cool season from November to February
HOT SEASON
Coming to Thailand during the hot season is great if you are visiting the islands and planning on staying submerged in the sea or a pool all day. April is usually the hottest month of the whole year and it’s no coincidence Thai people celebrate the New Year, Songkran by having a massive water fight.
So if you can take the heat it is a good time to come. I wouldn’t recommend staying in Bangkok and big cities too long as you will really experience some sauna-like conditions.
RAINY SEASON
The rain starts to creep in around the beginning of May, they are some daily showers, mostly at night. Even during the rainy season, the temperature doesn’t drop below 25℃. Many people expect the sky to open and rain non stop, that’s just not the case. Yes, there is some rain but mostly quick showers in the evenings and during the night.
The days are still sunny throughout the whole rainy season and many people prefer to come to Thailand during this time as you can find some fantastic deals on accommodation and there are fewer tourists around.
From my experience living in Thailand for 9 years, the rainiest months are June and September.
The European summer months of July and August are usually sunny and hot.
COLD SEASON
The showers tend to stop during the second half of November, which is also the start of the high season in Thailand. There is not much if any rain from January to March. This time of the year is called the cool season and I could not find that more misleading. Cool season in Thailand means strong sunshine and 30℃…nothing cool about that:)
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGONS
Of course, there are some differences in climate between the north and south of Thailand and also between the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui/ Koh Phangan/ Koh Tao). But it’s usually true that closer to the equator- more south- you get, hotter it gets.
WEATHER IN KOH PHI PHI
Koh Phi Phi has a unique weather climate. If you come to visit the island do not bother checking the weather forecast online, it just does not work here.
Phi Phi Island is so small, usually, the rain comes and goes within the minutes. Of course, they are some rainy gloomy days and strong wind during the rainy season, but I could count those days on fingers of my hands.
You can get unlucky and have a rainy week in February or win the lottery and enjoy the driest June ever. The tropical climate is unpredictable so even if you encounter some rain during your holidays don’t let it spoil your mood, the sun always comes out after the rain.
CONCLUSION
To answer your question, there is the least amount of rain, if any, in February and March. It’s not unusual not to see a drop of rain during these months and the temperates are high.
