Koh Lanta · Month comparison

December vs March

March ranks #1 overall vs December at #2. Still excellent — dry season holds, crowds ease, prices begin to soften.

Koh Lanta December — sunset over Ko Lanta Andaman Sea with longtail boats at Christmas dry season

December

#2 of 12 months

Best match

Dry season fully established — paradise conditions return with Christmas crowds and rising prices.

  • 40mm rainfall and 8.5 hours of daily sunshine: the season everyone comes for is finally here
  • The whole island is open: every restaurant, dive shop, resort and activity operator back at full capacity
Koh Lanta March — sunny beach in Ko Lanta with traditional wooden boats on golden sand

March

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Still excellent — dry season holds, crowds ease, prices begin to soften.

  • 45mm rainfall remains very dry — weather still overwhelmingly reliable and sunny
  • High season crowds thinning as European winter holidays end, making beaches more enjoyable
FactorDecemberMarch
Weather score
9
9
Value score
4
5
Crowd score
4
5
Events score
6
5
Atmosphere
9
8
Avg high temp31°C33°C
Monthly rain40mm45mm
Daily sunshine8.5hrs9hrs

December trade-offs

  • December prices climbing steeply toward the January–February peak
  • Christmas and New Year week sees maximum arrivals — Long Beach busy in the evenings
  • Book accommodation at least 2–3 months ahead for the festive period

March trade-offs

  • Temperatures hitting 33°C by midday — less comfortable for active days than Feb
  • Some early monsoon showers possible in the last week as the Andaman begins to stir
  • Sea still calm but visibility at diving sites marginally less crystal than February
Scores compare months within Koh Lanta. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →