The isolated paradise such as our little green island has its own life. That is, in fact, one of the reasons many of us decided to drop our busy hometowns and and start fresh in Koh Phangan. Depending on the time of the year, this comfy, loose lifestyle changes, especially if you are just a visitor, ready to spend all of your hours in pure enjoyment.
Though it's really hard for the island to strictly follow the weather rules, we can split a year in three seasons:
- Wet – low season
- Cool – peak season
- Hot – low season
Each one has it's own pros and cons, and this guide can help you choose the one that suits your appetite and intentions.
Rainy season
September – November
November is home to monsoons in the Gulf of Thailand. Temperature drops a bit and you may experience a whole week of rain and tropical thunderstorms. But as it usually happens - after rain comes the sun. Besides, this is the lowest of seasons – you can be sure you won't meet many tourists and some days even have a whole beach for yourself. With the temperature, prices get lower too, so expect to find much cheaper accommodation and even food and bike rental during this season. If you really enjoy peace and silence interrupted only by the sound waves and famous gecko's song, you may also consider visiting one of many yoga and detox retreats, mostly placed on the western side of the island.
So if you enjoy solitary days and prefer swimming in the rain, or just reading a book on your balcony while watching the glorious monsoon raging above the sea, go ahead and save plenty of money at the same time.
Cool season
December – March
December on Koh Phangan is almost everything you could ever want – clear blue skies and sea in the complementary shades and perfect 28C as an average. Even if it does get very hot and you get hungry for a chillier weather, 10 minutes drive up to the island's hills will provide you all the refreshment you need. And once you are there, there are plenty of trekking paths through the forest, with waterfalls to stumble upon or even swim under! Sounds perfect? It is.
On the other hand, it also sounds perfect to many Europeans willing to use their Christmas holidays and run away from the freezing European winter. Simply put, this is the peak season. Accomodation gets more expensive and you might have to wake up early to get a decent place for your towel on the beach. But there are always resorts with their own, private beaches where you might find your peace – but make sure to book it weeks in advance.
Hot season
April – June
When we say hot, we mean that yesterday, 20.4.2017, temperature at noon was 40C, real feel was 48C. Do not travel to Koh Phangan if you are not fond of oven-like conditions. But there still is something very nice about it: the crowd is gone, prices get a bit lower and rainy season is still far away. There are still many parties to catch up with, but keep in mind that after the sunrise you might not feel so much like dancing, as even at 8 in the morning the temperature can get as high as 32. But then, there is Songkran, Thai New Year, which actually lasts for a week.
And if you happen to celebrate it on the island, you will definitely understand the tradition of water splashing every day, all day. There are two impossible things on Koh Phangan those days: first, to walk down the street and stay dry; second, to survive walking down the street for too long without getting a proper refreshment. So we can conclude that these two coexist in perfect symbiosis. Songkran keeps hot April days wet and super fun, for the legend says this is the most legendary week for you to find yourself lost in Koh Phangan.
Then you have July and August, two of the crazy-temper months in Southern Thailand. They are perfectly settled in between hot and rainy season, which means you can get a lot of sun and heat, combined with cool, refreshing breeze. Or you can have sun in the morning and thunderstorm in the evening, which gives a nice diversity to the long, repeating days of European summer during these months.
Whichever you choose, keep one thing in mind – Koh Phangan really has it's own rules. On the other hand, there is no wrong time to visit it, you just have to get into its flow and take everything its lush life has to offer.
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