Koh Samui · Month comparison
November vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs November at #11. Songkran brings Thai New Year festivities — warm, slightly wetter, but culturally unmissable.
November
#11 of 12 months
Avoid
Second-worst weather month: monsoon still raging, many resorts closed or at skeleton service.
- ↑Cheapest month of the year: extraordinary deals available for those who don't mind rain
- ↑Loy Krathong (floating lanterns) festival if it falls in November — a beautiful cultural experience
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 | November | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 2 | 7 |
| Value score | 9 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 6 |
| Events score | 3 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 4 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 28.8°C | 32.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 290mm | 83mm |
| Daily sunshine | 4hrs | 7.5hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓290mm of rain — similar to October; days of persistent heavy rainfall are the norm
- ↓Many resorts close entirely in November for annual maintenance; choice is severely reduced
- ↓Rough seas make most island-hopping and snorkelling trips impossible for much of the month
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 →