Koh Samui · Month comparison
May vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs May at #4. Songkran brings Thai New Year festivities — warm, slightly wetter, but culturally unmissable.
May
#4 of 12 months
Best match
Pre-monsoon transition: good value, quiet, but afternoon rain becomes a daily reality.
- ↑Lowest prices since November — excellent value for budget-conscious travellers
- ↑Beaches almost empty by Koh Samui standards; Lamai and Mae Nam feel genuinely serene
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 | May | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 7 |
| Value score | 8 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 6 |
| Events score | 4 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 6 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 32.1°C | 32.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 147mm | 83mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 7.5hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓147mm of rain with increasingly heavy and frequent afternoon downpours
- ↓Sea conditions becoming choppy on east-facing beaches; swimming less reliably pleasant
- ↓Some smaller tour operators reduce schedules and charter boats assess conditions daily
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 →