When is the best time for diving on Koh Tao?

Roughly March to September, when seas are calm and visibility at its best. Diving runs year-round, but October to December brings wind, rain and reduced visibility.

When is the rainy season on Koh Tao?

October to December, peaking in November. Like the rest of the Gulf, Koh Tao stays largely dry through the European summer months.

Can ferries to Koh Tao be cancelled?

Yes — in the November–December monsoon, rough seas occasionally halt crossings from Chumphon and Surat Thani for a day or two. Build slack into travel plans in those months.

When can you see whale sharks at Koh Tao?

Sightings happen year-round and are never guaranteed. Many divers report clusters of sightings in the settled months around March–May and again around September–October.

Best Time to Visit Koh Phi Phi: Season, Sea and Crowds

The season that makes the water

Phi Phi's whole appeal is the water: clear enough to see the bottom from the boat, held inside limestone walls. That clarity is seasonal. From November to April the Andaman is calm, visibility is at its best and the snorkelling and diving trips run every day.

Kayaking under limestone cliffs on the Andaman coast

From May to October the south-west monsoon pushes swell into the same bays. Rain comes in heavy bursts rather than all day, and there is still plenty of sun — but the sea is churned up, the ferry crossing from Krabi or Phuket is rougher, and the water loses much of the postcard clarity.

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In short

Phi Phi seasons

November–April: dry season, clear water, boat trips daily
May–October: monsoon, half price, rougher crossings
Best value: November and late April
Busiest and dearest: Christmas to mid-January
Maya Bay closes each year in August and September

Maya Bay and its closed season

Maya Bay, on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh, was closed completely for several years so the reef could recover, and it reopened under strict rules. Boats no longer enter the bay itself — they moor on the back side and visitors walk through — and swimming inside the bay is not allowed.

It also closes every year during the monsoon months of August and September. If Maya Bay is the reason you are coming, plan for the dry season and go early in the morning, before the day boats from Phuket arrive.

Good to know

Planning around the weather

Book the ferry crossing early in the day in low season — afternoon seas are rougher.
Snorkelling visibility is at its best from December to March.
Go to Maya Bay at opening time; by mid-morning the day boats from Phuket have arrived.
Songkran in mid-April is a country-wide water fight; expect to get soaked.

Choosing your weeks

November and late April are the best value: calm sea, everything open, and prices below the peak. December to February is the most reliable stretch of weather in the year and the busiest — Christmas and New Year on Phi Phi are booked out months ahead and priced accordingly.

March and April are hot and dry, with April bringing both the year's highest temperatures and Songkran, the national water festival. From June to October rooms are cheap and the island is calm in a completely different sense: fewer people, fewer boats, and some places closed for the season.

Month by month

January	Clear, calm, very busy — peak season
February	Hot and dry, the best water clarity of the year
March	Hot, dry and reliable, still busy
April	Hottest month, Songkran mid-month, season ending
May	Monsoon begins, prices fall, first swell
June	Warm rain in bursts, green and much quieter
July	Wet with sun between showers, cheap rooms
August	One of the wettest months — Maya Bay closed
September	Wettest and quietest — Maya Bay closed
October	Rain easing, sea settling late in the month
November	Season turns, everything reopens — best value
December	Dry and clear, prices climb towards Christmas

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Koh Phi Phi?

November to April, and within that November or late April if you want the calm sea without the peak-season prices and crowds.

Is Maya Bay open all year?

No. It closes annually during August and September, and the rules elsewhere in the year are strict: boats moor on the far side and swimming in the bay is not allowed.

What is Koh Phi Phi like in the rainy season?

Green, cheap and quiet, with rain in heavy bursts rather than all day. The sea is rougher, the crossing less comfortable and the water less clear.

When is Koh Phi Phi cheapest?

June to October. Room rates fall sharply and the island is far emptier, though some restaurants and bars close for the season.

Travel guides

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Best time to visit Koh Phi Phi