Plan your trip
Best time to visit Phi Phi
The short answer: December to April for calm seas and sunshine, November or late April for good weather with fewer people, and May to October only if you are flexible and like low prices.
Average daily high and monthly rainfall. Source: WMO climate normals 1991-2020 for Phuket, the nearest long-term weather station (about 45 km away). Sea temperature is a rounded long-term average. Click a month for details.
The seasons at a glance
| Season | Months | Weather | Sea | Crowds & prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High season | December – March | Sunny, dry, light breeze | Calm, clear, best visibility | Busiest and most expensive |
| Hot shoulder | April – early May | Very hot, first storms | Mostly calm | Fewer people, prices falling |
| Green season | Mid May – July | Showers and sunny spells | Choppy on some days | Quiet, discounts |
| Wet peak | August – October | Heaviest rain, storms | Often rough, cancellations | Quietest, cheapest, Maya Bay closed Aug–Sep |
| Cool shoulder | November | Rain easing, greener | Calming down | Good value, filling up |
December to March: high season
This is postcard Phi Phi. The northeast monsoon brings dry air from the mainland, the Andaman Sea is usually glassy in the morning and underwater visibility is at its best, often 15 to 25 metres at the dive sites. Boat trips almost never get cancelled.
The downside is the crowd. Phi Phi Leh and the Viewpoint are busy from mid-morning, and the Christmas to New Year period plus Chinese New Year (late January or February) push room prices to their annual peak. Book early and plan the famous sights for early morning.
April and early May: hot and quieter
April is the hottest month, with daytime highs around 34 °C and humid nights. The sea is still mostly calm and warm, and visitor numbers drop after Easter. Thai New Year, Songkran (13–15 April), brings water fights to Tonsai village. The first afternoon thunderstorms usually arrive in late April or May.
May to October: the southwest monsoon
From May the wind turns to the southwest and blows straight in from the Indian Ocean. It does not rain all day: a typical pattern is a heavy shower or storm followed by sunshine. But there are also grey days with long rain, and on windy days the sea gets rough, speedboats are cancelled and red flags go up on the beaches.
Prices fall by 30 to 50 percent at many hotels, and the island is calm and green. If you come in the wet season, stay flexible, choose larger ferries over speedboats and do not schedule a boat trip on the day before your flight home.
November: the shoulder month
November is a good compromise: the rains ease, the jungle is lush, the sea calms down through the month and prices are still below the December peak. Expect a few showers, especially in the first half.
Best time for specific plans
| Plan | Best months | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling and diving | December – April | Calm water and the best visibility |
| Maya Bay | October – July | Closed August and September |
| Low prices | May – October | Discounts at most hotels |
| Hiking to the Viewpoint | November – February | Slightly cooler and dry |
| Families | December – March | Calm sea for boat trips and swimming |
| Party | December – April | Full beach bars and fire shows every night |
Weather month by month
Each month has its own page with temperatures, rainfall, sea conditions and what is happening on the island. Pick a month in the chart above or use the list below.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Phi Phi?
February and March combine dry weather, calm sea and slightly lower prices than late December and January. November and April are the best value months with mostly good weather.
Is it worth visiting Phi Phi in the rainy season?
Yes, if you are flexible. You get quiet beaches and lower prices, but expect some rough sea days, cancelled boat trips and, in August and September, a closed Maya Bay.
When is Maya Bay closed?
Every year from 1 August to 30 September. The park authorities may also close it at short notice in bad weather.
Is there a tsunami risk?
Tsunamis are very rare, but Phi Phi was badly hit in 2004. Today there is a warning system with sirens and signposted evacuation routes to higher ground. See Safety.