November to April is often considered the best time to visit Khao Lak.
Many say there are three seasons in Thailand, ‘hot’, ‘hotter’ and ‘hottest’! Of course, this isn’t exactly accurate. To categorise it more accurately, Thailand has a ‘wet’ season, which – for most of the country – is from June to October. There is a ‘cool’ season, from November to February; finally, a ‘hot’ season, from March to May. So when is the best time to visit Khao Lak? It can depend on what you’re looking for, but many choose to avoid the rainy season.
Wet Season
Weather during this time is influenced by seasonal monsoon winds and rain. Rainfall can vary in time and placement so staying indoors for long or different periods is a possibility. The key factor is that you may not be able to partake in many water activities during this season.
This doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy a vacation in Khao Lak during the wet season. It will be noticeably quieter, for one. It really depends on your preferences. It is quite humid during the rainy season, but the rain often helps combat how hot it could feel.
Cool Season
This season is considered by many to be the best time to visit Khao Lak. With a nice cooling breeze, you will likely feel less hot during this time – making for an enjoyable and pleasant stay. The cool season is also referred to as the ‘dry season’ because of the lack of rain during this period, relative to the wet season.
If you’re looking to soak in the sun while feeling a cool breeze in front of the calming waters of Khao Lak, this is a great time to go! Keep in mind that most tourists will also be visiting during the cool/dry season, and that hotel prices may be higher as well.
Hot Season
Thailand’s hot season precedes the low season for tourism – the wet season. If you’re visiting from a country with very little humidity, you may feel like it is very humid during this time, but with a low probability of rain, you can normally expect blue skies.
In particular, April is a popular time to visit, with the Thai new year water festival – or Songkran – drawing in hordes of tourists as several parts of different cities effectively turn into large water fights. This extends to Khao Lak.
The Verdict
Ultimately, your personal preferences, tolerance for heat and humidity, the type of activities you would enjoy during your stay – and even your budget – can affect your decision. 4- or 5-star hotels that cost hundreds of dollars during most of the high season might cost a fraction of the price during the low season, so many tourists do visit Khao Lak during the low season as well.
In other words, there are pros and cons to visiting in each season, but considerably, the best season to visit Khao Lak is the cool season. It has the benefits of the hot season and does not rain like it does in the wet season. We think it’s worth experiencing Khao Lak at least once during its cool season, between November and February. There’s a reason this is also the high season for tourism in Khao Lak.
If you’re looking to buy or rent real estate in Khao Lak, be sure to get in touch with Landmark Thai Real Estate.
