Koh Samui · Month comparison

October vs April

April ranks #1 overall vs October at #10. Songkran brings Thai New Year festivities — warm, slightly wetter, but culturally unmissable.

Koh Samui October — temple statue in monsoon season mist

October

#10 of 12 months

Avoid

Monsoon peak: 305mm of rain and grey skies — the worst weather month on Koh Samui.

  • Rock-bottom prices: luxury villas at budget rates, resorts negotiable for longer stays
  • Virtually no tourists: the island strips back to its Thai fishing-community character
Koh Samui April — traditional wooden boats resting on beach at sunset

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
FactorOctoberApril
Weather score
2
7
Value score
9
6
Crowd score
9
6
Events score
3
7
Atmosphere
4
8
Avg high temp29.5°C32.8°C
Monthly rain305mm83mm
Daily sunshine4.2hrs7.5hrs

October trade-offs

  • 305mm of rain is not occasional showers — sustained tropical downpours make outdoor plans impossible
  • Some resorts partially close for renovation; reduced services across the island
  • Flooding risk on lower roads around Chaweng and Na Thon after heavy rainfall events

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 →