Southeast Asia Weather Guide

I was in Malaysia for 8 weeks last year in july/august and it was dry season there.
I cycled around the country for 8 weeks and had very little rain and spend a few days on the beach aswell on Tioman island.

But countries like The Philippines are Vietnam have a lot of rain during that time and in The Philippines this is also hurricane season.

Although nearly all S E Asian countries experience the monsoon from June through September you will find that Indonesia is the exact opposite as the driest months are June to December, which are also the coolest months to visit. Indonesia is a huge country spreading 5000 kms across and most of it south of the equator .

If you want to avoid the floods and strong monsoons. Phuket/Koh Samui in Thailand . Bali, Indonesia and Boracay/Palawan, Philippines, the beaches of Malaysia and Singapore are your best bets.

As others above indicate, June - Sept is the rainy season in Thailand. However; the island of Koh Samet (Samed) is the driest area of Thailand at that time of year. Nice un-crowded, beautiful sand beaches. No noisy "Moon Night" crazy parties. Hotels, motels, restaurants to suit any budget. Some decent off shore Diving & Snorkelling. Only downside is the significant number of mossies @ dusk, due to the adjacent jungle. Take lots of mossie repellant. Easily accessible from BKK via the Eastern Bus Stations direct to Rayong (2 hrs) or from Pattaya (1hr). Take a tuk Tuk taxi from Rayong to Ban Phe (25 min). Catch the local Grey Ferry from Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet for 30ThB. Don't bother with the 1000 ThB ea for a fast Speed Boat. Very rough ride and no proper landing piers. The entire Island is in a Thai Nature Park, so all of the Buildings are technically illegal. From Koh Samet Pier Harbour, local Tuk Tuks cover the Island on a regular routes. All roads were extremely rough in 2011. Rent motor bikes at your own risk. Extreme hills to steep for decent bicycles. Take a lot of PPF 40 Sun Block Lotion. The Aquarium @ Ban Phe is spectacular and well worth the entrance fee. Closed Thurs for some undefined reason.

Millions of tourists still visit Thailand during the rainy season. Some places a little more rain and some places a little less. But most of the time the rain stops in a few hours. Some minor flooding ocassionally where the rain is so heavy in a short amount of time that the drains can't handle the downpour. So you avoid those flooded streets and in an hour or so the streets are back to normal. Most of the time the rain is not all day long and any flooding is not Noah's Ark type flooding!

(I get minor flooding back in my hometown in the US too.)

One benefit is that hotels are cheaper and plants and grasses look alive!

If you are just looking for a tan you will find enough sunshine! Here is a weather link that shows up on many forums. Read about "What to expect during the Rainy Season."

guidetothailand.com/thailand...

Do a Google check for "Honeymoon in Thailand for August" and you will get some additional information.

Your choice.

Sometime you can't imagine about the weather, some like it some doesn't, some even pray for it to happen. As a Malaysian, July, August and September are always the best weather. Rain just occasionally, most of the day are sunny, nothing extreme. If you are worried about rain, be rest assured it does not rain for the whole two weeks.

I was just in Thailand (bangkok and pattsya)for 4 days last week and there was a rain storm for one hour in Pattaya the whole time.

I mean only one rain storm the entire 4 days, hate typing on iPhone!!!

Thanks for your response! I have a couple questions for you about Malaysia: I've heard it is more expensive than other south eastern asian countries. Is that true or is it possible to travel for pretty cheap? Also how safe is the country for traveling?

Thank you for your answer! Is it possible to travel pretty much all over the country (Indonesia) without having security issues or would it be wise to just stick with Bali?

The prices between Malaysia and Thailand are not really that different unless you drink alcohol which is considerably more expensive in Malaysia than Thailand.

But food for instance is cheap and very varied in Malaysia because of the many ethnic groups.

There is not a big difference in prices when it comes to accomodation, but you will generally find more middle class accomodation in Malaysia compared to Thailand where you have more backpacker accomodation because of the huge number of backpackers.
Malaysian tourism caters mainly to asian travellers.
But you will find all ranges there in price and quality.
Malaysia is just more of a middle class country than Thailand.

I agree with Cachaseiro, except if you are a backpacker you will find Malaysia a little more expensive then Thailand for accommodation . Also i think foodstalls at nightmarkets in Malaysia are also a little bit more too, but it is still cheap. But definitely Laos, Cambodia are the cheapest.

You should also notice that there are fairly big differences in the prices in Malaysia all depending on where you are in the country with Kuala Lumpur being the most expensive and Penang the cheapest.

If you are travelling out of Bali, most probably communication is a problem. Big city like Jakarta, Bandung,Medan, Surabaya,Yogjakarta are O.K. Others than these big city you will also find most of the food are Indonesian's food and road transportation are poor.

In South East Asia, Singapore is most expensive. Malaysia is pretty cheap but it all depends on what resort you stay in. By bus is the chepaest and also the longest. Also be prepared for unwanted help better go ask the toursim office when you arrive, they are pretty reliable.

Definitely not a waste. Rain is mostly scuddish - can be some downpours, but intermittent, and I always find it quite cooling and refreshing from the heat and humidity.

HI! Tia:

Thailand is not just Phuket. There's still the East Coast with Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Koh Chang, Koh Samui etc....all is not "lost" or grim and grey....

Hi there, we allways travel to Phuket during the months of May and June, you will get the odd downpour but it has never stopped is from doing anything.
And the other reson is its the low season so things are cheaper then normal. Soif i was you i'd pack your bags and go enjoy your self

Don

If you want a nice beach then you can forget Pattaya at any time of the year.

Samui is about your best bet for June. It will be very hot, but mostly dry during the day although late afternoon thundershowers can happen.

In my opinion the southern end of Chaweng is a good location as it is much quieter than the northern end, but of course if you do want to try the best selction of restaurants and bars it is easy enough to get up to the northern end.

Regards

John

Hi!
Thanks for answers :)

Ok... I think I am going to forget Pattaya.
But there is this island Ko Samet + Ko Chang on the coast of Pattaya?
And they are nicer + better beaches?

I did fall in love with pictues from Krabi+Phuket...They look like paradises :)
But maybe the weather in summer isn't so good...

Depends on where you going to be in thailand. But in Bangkok it does rain quite a fair bit. Won't call it a total chaos though.

The south of Thailand only has two seasons, the hot and the rainy. Rain in the south is part of life but not anything that should seriously affect your travel plans. Unlike in the West, the rain in the south comes mostly in short sporadic bursts - the the sun comes out again. July in the south of Thailand? Sounds all right to me. A bit of rain wont hurt too much! I envy you..

I would disagree slightly with frank-bkk about the names of the two seasons from October to May it is realtively cool and dry - "cool" still means temps in the high 20's C but rainfall is much lower than in the other season which is both hotter and wetter and runs from June to September. In theory Samui sees less rain during the period of June to September. One other problem during those months is that the winds and strong currents can disrupt sea travel and diving trips.

I would aim to go for the East coast in July but it is not a certain thing.

Regards

John

It depends on what kind of activities you would expect there. If you don't plan to have any excursion to other island, but just enjoy the beaches at the shore then it should be fine. Generally,even rainy season, you can still expect a lot sunshine. The only limititation on west coast is the wind and strong current. Therefore,boating to the big sea seems more tough and not so safe during May-Oct. But you will get better deal as it is low season in west coast. If you don't mind skipping big-sea excursion, then Krabi would be nice as you can reach there by plane. Phi Phi is not suggested as it can be reached by boat only.
However, east coast would widen your choice of activities as the sea is more calm.

Due to extreme climatic changes the World is experiencing at the moment, trying to predict the weather can be difficult because of local, on the day variations.
Most places now are seeing weather conditions well outside the norm.
The information below should be used as a guide only.

Here is the average weather for Krabbi & Phi Phi for this time of year.
Enjoy your holiday.

Krabbi
July.
High 88f / 31c
Low 73f / 23c
Rain 10.70in / 273.0mm
Rain days 18
Hours of sun 6
Daylight hours 13
UV level 11 = Extreme
Humidity = Very High
Sea temp 84f / 28c

Phi Phi
July.
High 88f / 31c
Low 75f / 24c
Rain 10.70in / 273.0mm
Rain days 18
Hours of sun 7
Daylight hours 13
UV level 11 = Extreme
Humidity = Very High
Sea temp 85f / 29c

How about exploring the neighbourhood, while you are there? You are quite close to other south-east asian countries. We went to Thailand a year ago and decided that while we were in the area, we should get over to Cambodia and visit the ruins around Siem REap (Angkor Wat, etc). Well worth it.

As well Northern Thailand - Chiang Mai area - elphants and hill tribes - both quite worthwhile to see as well.

The only real downside is that you will be there in rainy season.

If you don't wont to leave Thailand then I would spend a couple of weeks on various beaches then do some major sight seeing then a few more weeks on the beaches.

But personaly as the last post has suggested I would take a month to explore one of the neigbouring Countries. You could travel down to Singapore and explore Malaysia on the way down and the way up or you could Fly to Saigon and spend a month travelling up the coastline or a month in Laos or 10 days in Cambodia for my favorite would to spend 3-4 weeks in Myanmar which is very beautiful country but there again so is the rest of South East Asia.

your choice.

Three months is a long time for a tourist. Make sure you know how to stay in Thailand for 3 months legally if that is the only country you will visit!

Since you have a couple months to kill you could also visit nearby countries. It is easy to get to Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia overland.

Make sure your visas allow you to legally stay in Thailand during your "volunteer" period.

Good luck.

the popular places are khaosan,nana and go to the nyt market..u can go to pattaya only 1 and half hour from d airport to pattaya...if u don't know yet where to stay in bkk i can recomend DnD hotel in khaosan or muangphol mansion if u want to be near the shopping areas like paragon and mbk :)have a safe trip! enjoy! and as much as possible learn how to bargain! :)

I really depends on where exactly you plan to go. Places like Ko Samui and the gulf area doens't get a lot of rain in July. Even if it does rain, it's not constant rain. But if you go to the Andaman side, it will be the rainy season and the rain, relatively speaking, is more compare to the gulf side. But even then, it depends on where you are located. Some areas like Khao Lak will likely get more rain in general than in Phuket. But you can still get some sunshine. Your safe bet is to stay on the gulf side if Thailand is your choice.

Even during the rainy season around a half million tourists visit Thailand each month. Many of these tourists are repeat visitors and prefer to visit during this time for cheaper hotels and fewer tourists getting in your way.

Depending on where you are and what month it is it will be hot or wet at times. You can feel when a rain storm is going to hit, when local street vendors start covering their stuff you know it will rain shortly!

Below weather link has more information. When it rains it does not rain all over Thailand at the same time. Some places may get rain and other places do not. Most of the time the rain will stop in a couple hours and the sun will return. Often it rains when you are sleeping. When you see it start to rain then take in a movie, stop in a restaurant, shop in a mall, stop in a bar, etc. Put a small cheap fold up umbrella in your walk-around bag. The rain is warm not cold like in Europe and N. America. More green grass, more flowers, more hotel rooms you book with a walk-in.

Regional forecasts near the bottom of the link below. There may be some flooding in low spots until drains can catch up with the downfall.


guidetothailand.com/thailand...


Up to you.

We've been to Thailand in october, june/july and March.
The time we went in june/july we didn't get rain every day. The last 6 days of our 24 day stay we spent in Phuket. The longest "rainy time" we got was about 45 minutes, but then it was really really pouring down, not just a couple of drops but real "showers".

About the grey skies : we've been to the PhiPhi Islands in july and took the postcard-like photos there with the bluest skies imaginable ...
Of course there were days with less blue skies, but please don't let that hold you back from going !

It's such a beautiful country in every time of year ...

Have fun !
Jessika

Since I haven't gotten round to creating travelpages in detail yet, I've quickly made a travelogue on my Thailand page.
There's not much content in it, since it's intended especially for those "sky-showing-pictures" from our visit in june/july 2004.

Don't be discouraged by the greyish sky in some of them ... the times you have blue skies make more than up for the lesser-blue moments !

Jessika

stay on the Gulf of Thailand, ie Ko Samui or Ko Tao and it would be the right season

Pattaya and Hua Hin is a little better than Phuket during the rain season. But the beach at Pattaya is not used by tourists for swimming. Okay for sunbathing, nightlife, malls, restaurants but use hotel pool. Advantage over Phuket for Pattaya is that hotels are much cheaper and local transportation is only 10 baht. Also, only 2 hour cheap bus ride from Bangkok.

Expect rain for a couple hours just about every day but usually enough sunshine to keep you happy. Often the rain falls at nighttime too.

Anyway, no one stays out on the beach in the bright sun for 8 hours a day unless they are crazy. If it rains just go in a bar, restaurant, take in a movie, go in a mall or make love. Lots of things to do when it rains. Carry a small fold-up umbrella in your bag when walking around.

Probably a half million tourists will show up in August. Many of them are repeat visitors.


Some more weather info at the bottom of this link.

guidetothailand.com/thailand...

While i agree with the advice of the previous posts, i will also point out that the weather in Burma will be the same as Thailand, but you might consider Bali as August is the driest month of the year with charts showing that the rain precipitation is only 40mm. Of course the beach at Kuta is crowded, and not really my scene but i found Lovina in the north good. There are some beaches that are not yet over run with tourists such as Balangan Beach, Geger Beach, Bias Tugal,Ungasen and Amed.

Phuket has been fine during August and when I was there last, it had rain showers with pleasant days. Sometimes the rain will stay on the other side of the mountain and sometimes it moves briskly. I would not worry much of the rain except if you have to travel up and down the mountains (slippery when wet) I find that Phuket has some of the nicest beaches in the area in Kata and Karon beach.

cheers tommy x

Statistically speaking, the amount of rainfall is higher on the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi, etc) as opposed to the gulf side because of the monsoon season. It is still possible to get some sunshine, but it is very well possible to have non-stop rain. Having lived on the Andaman side for 2 years, I can tell you that it is not very fun to have constant rain for hours!

As mentioned before, Burma has the same weather as the Andaman side of Thailand. Bali has good weather, if I remember right, it is their dry season.

In this link you could find Thailand's weather info ,and the best timing to visit : www.tourismthailand.org/Thailand/weather . Even though if it rain, you still can do a lot of activities,because there's many indoor attractions, like shopping malls, Madame Tussaud's Bangkok, Siam Ocean World ,etc.

We've been to Thailand in march, in june/july and in october/november.
During the rainy season visits, we of course ended up in rainshowers, but those never lasted long. And as fast as it can start raining, it also stops and dries up again.
Don't let it hold you back from visiting.

Yes, it is extremely unlikely if you will suffer 3 consecutive days of non stop rain, but be prepared to get wet at that time of the year. It is not much fun hiking on muddy paths or having to dry your clothes each night, but the weather has never prevented me from enjoying myself. There are many attractions in Bangkok for you to see, many temples etc which you can still enjoy in the rain!

Aug-Sept is the rainy season in Thailand. You can expect about 2 hours of heavy rainfall per day. The showers can occur at any time. Generally the rains are heavier, the farther south you go. in Thailand. I have gone to Thailand Aug 15-20 for 4 years. I am a keen golfer; so the rain can affect me. Generally I managed to finish my games ... but several times had to sit in a course shelter for an hour or 2. In 4 years of golfing 3 days per week, I only left a course 2X. I never was rained out on a beach. Koh Samet is considered to be the sunniest places in Thailand. Chiang Mai & Issan (N/E Thailand). tend to get less rain, than the south. I have noticed that the rainy season is later every year; but perhaps the local VT Expats can address that issue.

It depends on where you plan to go. And I can only speak about the Andaman side as I've spent a couple of years living there. Even in the south, the weather can be very different 10km away as it tends to be local, unless it's a large weather system. Head to the mall or a bar when there is a downpour. It is usually quick, although there could also be the rare occasion that it rains for the entire day. I have certainly experienced that. Flooding can occur as a result. Phuket can get a bit less rain compare to the coastal area on the Andaman side, eg. Krabi, Khao Lak because it is farther away from the local mountain ranges.

Rainy season in the whole area but i traveled Vietnam in July some years ago, and it was not too bad

A lot of times the rain shower comes and goes quickly but usually very heavily. But it is also possible to have torrential downpours for many hours. On the Andaman side of Thailand, Phuket usually gets less rain compare to places like Khao Lak and Krabi. The weather is nicer in general on the gulf side, eg. Samui, Tao, etc.

Vietnam is in the typhoon path. Look up historical data to give you an idea.

I've been in Thailand in August, and the weather didn't stop us from having good vacation anywhere, from Chiang Rai to Phuket. Some rainy occasions without any serious problem, only the sea demanding extreme care, choosing well the places to bath - Ko Phi Phi was perfect.

I always recommend Koh Chang, near the Cambodian border. It is a large island with many beaches, hills and lots of walking, cycling etc. August it is pot luck with the rain, can rain all day, not at all or just a few showers. The rain has never stopped me from touring around. Consider visiting Sokhothai, Mae Sod, Ayuttaya, Chiang Mai.

Many people do not comprehend what rainy days are like. They though it always raining cat & dog. No, Even we Asian people could not predict and understand today's weather. IF because give you sleepless night then be rest assured you are not going to face rain, rain and rain the whole day. We experience a few hours of rain nowadays not like the old times.....for the whole week. August is not that bad compare September. Rain do refresh the hot & humid weather and you will feel relieved. If you visit the Gulf area only, then you will missed a lot of things that Thailand do offer. Put aside your worry and plan your visit according to your taste....like....purpose. Good Luck & Happy Travel.

If you are traveling to Thailand then do visit Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi, Koh Chang island also.. Last week I came back from Pattaya..it is wonderful place to enjoy and get rid from your daily nasty life.
You can get more Pattaya tourist attractions here: triphobo.com/phatthaya-thail...

Pattaya is a bit more for singles looking for night life. For honeymooners, Hua Hin is perfect. Weather is great basically all year round since it's near to Bkk, nice beach as well. If you want something romantic and private check out Aleenta. My partner and I had an incredible getaway there. The staff couldn't be more helpful. They are a little further from town though, so it's more of a quiet and relaxing setting.

selectiveasia.com/thailand-h...

This link gives you information regarding the weather for each month. A lot depends on which part of Thailand you will be travelling in as it varies from area to area.. I have been to Thailand about 30 times, and the rain has not prevented me from enjoying my time there, except for two occasions. July in Koh Chang, and October in Koh Lanta, where it rained and rained. Of course you can never rely on weather averages as they are just a guideline.

It normally rain but it depends where in Thailand you will be travelling. Thailand is huge if you travel South you have rain while at north is mostly dry

Here is another link for weather in Thailand. Tourists visit all year long. Some tourists prefer to visit during the rainy season. Plant life looks more alive and hotel room prices are cheaper.

guidetothailand.com/thailand...

Read some of the concerns about rough seas if you intend to do some serious "water related" activities. Life still goes on when it rains. Usually for many locations the rain does not last all day and often stops in an hour or two.

Good luck.

Good day thank you. very helpfull.

July in Thailand will be 35-37C in the daytime. It will be raining for several hours per day. The rain season extends from about June 20 to Sept 20. There may be some minor flooding. I was in Pattaya from Oct 15 - Dec 15 2015. There wasn't much rain. It was around 35-37C most of the time.