Best Time to Visit Koh-Tao [Month by Month Guide]

Koh Tao is a small tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its palm-fringed beaches, clear water, and colorful marine life. With a year-round hot climate, the island has two main seasons – dry and rainy.

The best time to visit Koh Tao is from mid-December to late March, when the weather is dry, sunny, and less humid, and the seas are calm – perfect for relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, or diving. April to June is hotter and more humid but still enjoyable for swimming and island life, while September to November is the rainy season, bringing cheaper prices and fewer crowds but also frequent afternoon showers.

Planning your Thailand adventure on Koh Tao island?
In this guide, we’ll cover exactly when to go, what to expect month by month, and how the weather can impact your trip.

Weather in the Gulf of Thailand (East Coast)

Koh Tao is located in the Gulf sea on the East Coast of Thailand. Neighboring with the with Koh Phangan and Koh Samui further south. All islands have the same weather pattern which is always hot.

It’s always important to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Also, avoid staying hours in the sun especially during the mid day heat. Both myself and Jacqueline have experienced heat strokes and it’s horrible to have shivers in the hot weather.

The weather chart below offers a visualization of the weather, temperatures and rainfall throughout the year in Koh Tao.

When is the best time to Visit Koh Tao?

While the island enjoys fairly consistent temperatures all year long, the best time to visit Koh Tao is between mid December and end of March. During these months expect nice sunny days and a fairly cooler temperatures thanks to lower humidity levels.

By the end of March onwards temperatures in Koh Tao begin to rise. Humidity also increases creating sticky and stuffy days. But you may also want to consider visiting Koh Tao around Mid April and be part of the Songkran celebrations which is basically a massive waterfight celebrated all over Thailand.

Tides in Koh Tao

Koh Tao and the rest of the islands in the Gulf sea of Thailand are affected by daily tides. These tides are usually high until around mid day and slowly go down. Then there’s also the yearly cycle where the tide is overall lower between March and July. This causes certain beaches to be shallow and unsuitable for swimming and also the water is warm. Not great if you want to cool down.

From August until February, the tides are higher creating good swimming conditions for the majority of beaches.

You may like: How to get to Koh Tao from anywhere in Thailand

When should you not go to Koh Tao?

The wettest months in Koh Tao are October and November. While these months do get the most rainfall, the rain often only comes in the late afternoon and in bursts that typically on last about 1 hour.

Many tourists and travelers prefer the low season because of cheaper accommodation prices along with cheaper scooter rentals and also fewer tourists.

Koh Tao Dry Season & Koh Tao Rainy Season

The dry season in Koh Tao is typically from mid December to the end of August. As with any tropical climate it can rain at any time but during these months rain isn’t common.

The wet season in Koh Tao, which is also referred to as Monsoon season runs from September to mid December. It rains almost every day during these months. However, most often the rain comes in heavy bursts in the late afternoon which is a similar rainfall pattern in most South East Asian countries.

Weather in January

Temperature: 28℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: high

Koh Tao weather in January is ideal. Wether you plan hitting the beach, exploring the island on a scooter, doing amazing boat tours or land tours, January is one of the best months.

Koh Tao temperature in January is one of the cooler months of the year. And is also just 1 month past the end of wet season meaning chances of rainfall are low.

There are many great things to do in Koh Tao in January. One of them is to take advantage of the ideal sea conditions. The calm seas are perfect to go snorkeling or diving or maybe even visit places like Angthong Marine Park. It’s an archipelago formed by a cluster of small islands covered in jungle and you’ll get to snorkel with colorful marine life and kayak through gorgeous lagoons. It’s one of the best things to do if you’re in Koh Tao.

Weather in February

Temperature: 28℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: high

Weather in Koh Tao in February follows the same pattern as the previous month.

It can often be more appealing to visit Koh Tao during February. The main reason is because most tourists visiting for Christmas will have already left and the island will be less busy.

While February is by no means the low season, there tends to be more accommodation on offer. Also places like restaurants and nightlife venues aren’t as busy as the previous month.

Weather in March

Temperature: 30℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: high or low

In March temperatures begin to rise and also humidity tends to increase making it feel even hotter. The end of March also marks the end of the cooler months of the year.

But don’t worry, you’re on a tropical island surrounded by gorgeous beaches. You can easily cool off at one of the many beaches. March also marks the end of high tide yearly cycle. You may notice the beaches water isn’t as full.

Weather in April

Temperature: 32℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: low

Temperatures gradually increase throughout April. How hot it feels often comes down to the levels of humidity which are always unpredictable. So while April is indeed one of the hottest months, it’s the humidity that makes the days hot, stuffy and sticky.

April also marks the month of Songkran. This is the Thai new year and what better way to celebrate than a nationwide massive water fight? Come here in April and have fun getting soaked from head to toe.

Weather in May

Temperature: 33℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: low

Weather in Koh Tao can feel unbearably hot in May. With average temperatures of around 33℃ and humidity levels high, even evenings are usually quite warm. It’s important to stay hydrated and if possible don’t spend excessive amounts of time in the open sun especially around mid day.

Weather in June

Temperature: 32℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: low or high

In June temperatures slowly start coming down yet still remain above the 30℃ mark. Humidity levels also begin to drop and compared with the previous month of May which is always the hottest, June offers somewhat of a spite of relief.

June is also when the tide begins to increase and the water level is fuller.

Weather in July

Temperature: 31℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: high or low

July in Koh Tao marks the start of the peak summer months. Temperatures are still high but humidity levels tend to be lower. This is when kids come out of school and families go on vacation.

July can be busy because not only foreign tourists and families visit but also the locals kids on the island are on vacation and families from other provinces and from Bangkok also come to enjoy their holidays on this tropical island.

Weather in August

Temperature: 30℃ | Dry Season: Yes | Tide: high

August weather in Koh Tao is like the final month of overall sunny days. It’s still a great time to visit because by mid August most families have gone back to prepare for kids back to school. It is usually significantly quieter and thus hotel prices can be cheaper than usual.

The weather is still holding though until the end of August.

Weather in September

Temperature: 29℃ | Dry Season: Yes/No | Tide: high

September is usually unpredictable. This is the end of the dry season. Overcast days start to roll in and as the month progresses expect more frequent showers.

September can be a good month to snatch up some bargain deals while the weather is still holding up. Personally I love these shoulder months especially watching a thunder storm rolling in from the distance as I sit in a terrace overlooking the ocean.

Weather in October

Temperature: 29℃ | Dry Season: No | Tide: high

October is officially the wet season. However, with tropical climates, rainy season doesn’t mean constant rain, it isn’t the UK with constant drizzles. Thailand weather usually just gets on with it.

On most days, mornings up until the early afternoon it’s nice and sunny. Then clouds start rolling in and throw down a massive downpour usually lasting around 1 hour in the late afternoon. But it tends to clear up rather quickly.

Weather in November

Temperature: 29℃ | Dry Season: No | Tide: high

November is the same as the previous month. This can be a really good time if you want bargain deals. Especially big resorts with super low occupancy like to significantly slash prices. Usually these deals happen last minute though. So searching for deals in November 1 year in advance may result in getting the same prices as any other month.

Weather in December

Temperature: 29℃ | Dry Season: No/Yes | Tide: high

December is once again the shoulder month and can be unpredictable especially until mid month until the weather in Koh Tao begins to settle. This can be a great time to visit Koh Tao if you love the outdoors.

After the rainfall outdoor nature will be nice and green and lush. Temperatures are still cool making the days perfect for hikes.

Koh Tao Travel Guide

How to get to Koh Tao?

Getting to Koh Tao is easy and the best options will be determined depending where you’re coming from and your budget.

Most tourists visiting Koh Tao come from either Bangkok or from Phuket and Krabi. If you’re coming from either of these destinations the fastest option is to take a direct flight to the nearby island Koh Samui. From there take a 30 minute ferry to Koh Tao.

A cheaper option that will only be slightly slower is the joint tickets. These tickets combine a bus trip with the ferry. It’s hassle free and quite fast because the bus goes directly to the ferry avoiding any transfers. This saves a lot of time and money.

Where to stay in Koh Tao?

While Koh Tao is relatively small island, it is still important to correctly choose where to stay. If you’re still planning your Koh Tao itinerary, below is an overview for the different areas around the island along with hotel recommendations.

Or read this guide that covers the best places to stay in Koh Tao.

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Since you’re going to Koh Tao you may want to consider adding one of these best selling and best rated tours to your Ko Tao itinerary.

Where to go after Koh Tao?

Being in Koh Tao is pretty convenient. You can jump on a ferry and island hop to Koh Samui or head over to Koh Phangan. Or another option would be to purchase a bus+ferry combo ticket and make your way to Krabi town or Ao Nang/Railay. Phuket can also be reached by air from Koh Samui airport.

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For your trip to Koh Tao

Things to do in Koh Tao
How to get from Phuket to Koh Tao
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao | Bus and Ferry