Koh Samui · Month comparison
December vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs December at #12. Songkran brings Thai New Year festivities — warm, slightly wetter, but culturally unmissable.
December
#12 of 12 months
Worth considering
Transitional: rain easing through the month, Christmas arrivals drive prices up before the payoff.
- ↑Rain decreasing notably through December — the second half of the month is significantly drier than the first
- ↑Christmas and New Year celebrations at beach clubs and resorts are atmospheric and well-organised
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Songkran brings Thai New Year festivities — warm, slightly wetter, but culturally unmissable.
- ↑Songkran water festival (13–15 April) transforms Na Thon and Chaweng into celebrations of Thai New Year
- ↑Good value accommodation: 30–35% below peak-season rates with weather still mostly excellent
| Factor | December | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 7 |
| Value score | 5 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 6 |
| Events score | 6 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 6 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 29.2°C | 32.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 158mm | 83mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.8hrs | 7.5hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓158mm of rain makes the first two weeks of December still risky for a beach-focused holiday
- ↓Christmas week prices spike significantly — paying January rates for weather that is still improving
- ↓The value proposition only works if arriving in the last week of December or later
April trade-offs
- ↓Songkran week: hotel prices spike temporarily and transport books up fast
- ↓83mm of rain is manageable but occasional heavy afternoon showers begin appearing
- ↓Peak heat of 32.8°C: demanding for any strenuous outdoor activity between 11am and 3pm
Scores compare months within Koh Samui. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →