Where and when to go

• Guide How to get to Phuket from Russia Aeroflot flies direct from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Phuket (HKT). According to the official Aeroflot schedule as of 19 October 2026, from 25 October, the start of the winter season (until 27 March 2027), SU 284 departs every day at 20:40 (arrives 10:20), SU 278 every day at 18:30 (arrives 08:00) and SU 276 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 22:50 (arrives 12:20-12:25). The flight takes 9 h 30 min to 9 h 40 min on a Boeing 777-300ER and the time difference with Moscow is 4 hours. In the Aeroflot site search on 19 October 2026 (one way, economy, 1 adult, the Economy Basic fare with hand baggage only) a ticket was from 37,343 roubles for 1 November, from 45,523 roubles for 15 November, from 45,523 roubles for 1 December and from 56,428 roubles for 15 December. Tickets with a connection are also sold, for example in Bangkok, from where Phuket is another 1 h 20 min to 1 h 40 min and a ticket from 1,149 baht.
• Guide Which Thai island to choose Thailand's islands lie on two seas with different seasons. On the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Lanta, Phi Phi) it is driest from December to March, on Samui, Phangan and Tao from February to April, on Koh Samet and Koh Larn from November to April and on Koh Chang from November to February (TMD 1991-2020 normals). Islands in national parks charge foreigners 100-500 baht by the DNP table, and some parks close for the monsoon: the Similans from 16 May to 14 October, Ko Rok from 16 May to 15 November. On 19 October 2026 the Similans are open and Ko Rok is closed.
• Guide What to see in Bangkok: routes for one, two and three days In one day in Bangkok you can see the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun: foreigner tickets are 500, 300 and 200 baht, 1,000 baht in total. The palace is open daily 08:30-16:30 with tickets sold until 15:30, and Wat Pho until 19:30. Days two and three add Museum Siam (100 baht, closed on Mondays) and the free BACC art centre by BTS National Stadium. Hours and prices come from official sites on 19 October 2026, and where there is no official source we do not state them.
• Guide What to see in Pattaya on your own, without a tour In three days you can see Pattaya's main places on your own: the Sanctuary of Truth (500 baht by day, 250 baht for a child 110-140 cm), Nong Nooch garden (700 baht with the sightseeing bus), Underwater World aquarium (550 baht), the Khao Phra Tamnak viewpoint and Walking Street in the evening. Prices and hours come from official sites and the Department of Tourism directory, checked on 19 October 2026. Koh Larn also works without a tour: the public ferry costs 40 baht and takes about 45 minutes. October is the wettest month, so keep part of the plan indoors.
• Guide Which Phuket beach to choose Phuket's west coast, from Patong to Mai Khao, faces the Andaman Sea: from December to March the water is usually calm, and from May to October the waves arrive. In the dry months Kata, Kata Noi and Patong suit swimming, Bang Tao (about 8 km) suits long walks, and Kata Noi, Yanui and Layan suit quiet. Rawai municipality advises against swimming at Nai Harn from May to October, and Rawai Beach is not for swimming at all: mud and rocks. Checked on 19 October 2026 against municipality sites, DNP and TMD.
• Guide What to see in Phuket on your own, without a tour In two days you can see Phuket's main sights on your own: Big Buddha (daily 06:00-19:00), Wat Chalong (07:00-17:00, free), Old Town (free to walk all day), Karon Viewpoint and sunset at Promthep Cape. Hours come from official temple, municipal and provincial websites checked on 19 October 2026. Few places charge entry: the gibbon centre asks 1,100 baht per adult, while the water park and Andamanda cost noticeably more. Islands and Phang Nga Bay need a boat, so book those as a tour.
• Guide Where to go in Phuket with kids: beaches, areas, activities For families with children, Karon Municipality recommends Kata Noi beach: no bars or nightclubs, and clean, calm water almost all year by its description. Andamanda park in Kathu costs 1,800 baht for an adult and 1,200 baht for a child 91-121 cm tall, free under 91 cm (park website, 19.10.2026). From May to October the west-coast beaches can have strong waves, so watch the flag. For a first trip to sea take Coral Island or the Khai Islands: operator Phuket Tour charges a child 1,300 and 700 baht.
• Guide Where to swim in Pattaya: beaches and nearby islands Pattaya's city beaches run along the bay from north to south: Wongamat, the central Pattaya Beach, the small beaches of Pratumnak, then Jomtien, and beyond the city limit Na Jomtien. You can swim all year, but it is driest from November to April: by TMD 1991-2020 normals those months get 11.7-67.9 mm of rain, against 213.6 and 224.5 mm in September and October. The PCD water quality index from samples of 3-7 July 2025 is 74.7-83.5 at city points, but it is a single sample in the rainy season and gives no bathing permission. Islands nearby: Koh Larn, 8.4 km from Bali Hai pier with no national park fee, and Koh Samet from Ban Phe pier at 200 baht.
• Guide When is the best time to visit Phuket The best time for the sea in Phuket is December to March: according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals, 24-82 mm of rain falls in those months, on 3.4 to 10.3 rainy days. From May to October it rains (237-350 mm a month) and waves reach the west-coast beaches, but hotels run at 66-78% occupancy, against 86% in January (MOTS, 2025). The Similan Islands are open from 15 October to 15 May (DNP). Temperature barely changes: 31.8-34.4 °C by day and 24.9-26.3 °C at night.
• Guide When is the best time to visit Thailand There is no single best month for the whole of Thailand, because the coasts get rain from different monsoons. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals, it is driest from November to April in the north, Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin, from December to March on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) and from February to April on Samui. April is the hottest month: the average daily maximum is 36.7 °C in Chiang Mai and 35.7 °C in Bangkok. By TMD's forecast, the 2026-2027 cool season in the north and centre starts around the third week of October.
• Data What the weather is like in Phuket each month Phuket is hot all year: average monthly temperatures stay between 27.6 and 29.6 °C, daytime highs are usually 32-34 °C, and the seasons are set by rain rather than temperature. The driest months are January, February and March (24-81 mm of rain), the wettest September and October (336-350 mm and about 22 rain days). These are Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) normals for 1991-2020 at the Phuket town station.
• Guide Koh Phangan holidays: when to go, which beaches and how to get there The best time for a beach holiday on Koh Phangan is February to April: by Thai Meteorological Department normals for 1991-2020 at the nearest station, Ko Samui, February gets 64 mm of rain and April 83 mm. The wettest months are October to December, with 445 mm and nearly 19 rainy days in November. You get there by boat from Samui in 20-30 minutes (250-350 baht with Lomprayah, 2026 timetable) or by ferry from Donsak. The highlights are Bottle Beach, Thong Nai Pan, Haad Salad, Haad Rin and the waterfalls of Than Sadet-Ko Pha Ngan National Park.
• Guide Pattaya or Phuket: which one to choose Pattaya is closer and drier: 122 km by road to Suvarnabhumi airport, about 1.5 hours without traffic, and 1,106 mm of rain a year at the TMD Phatthaya station. Phuket is an island on the Andaman Sea with its own international airport and twice the rain (2,272 mm), but a dry season from December to March and open sea. Treasury condo valuations, a tax base rather than housing prices, are higher on Phuket: a median of THB 48,250 per m² against THB 35,300 for Chonburi province (snapshot of 5 Aug 2024). Both provinces recorded about 10.7 million visits by foreigners in 2025 (Tourism Ministry).
• Guide Pattaya holiday: when to go, where to stay and what to do Pattaya is a beach city on the Gulf of Thailand in Chonburi province, 122.2 km by road from the centre to the Suvarnabhumi Airport terminal. Thai Meteorological Department normals for the Phatthaya station (1991-2020) put the driest months at December to February (12-20 mm of rain) and the wettest at September and October (214-225 mm), with monthly mean temperatures of 26.4-29.4 °C. The Ministry of Tourism counted 27.7 million visits to Chonburi province in 2025, 10.7 million of them by foreigners. Below: seasons, areas, day trips and practical tips as of October 2026.
• Guide Krabi travel guide: when to go, where to swim and what to see Krabi is a mainland province on the Andaman Sea known for limestone cliffs and islands: Ao Nang and Railay beaches, Poda and Chicken islands, Phi Phi, the Hong islands and Koh Lanta. The best time for the sea is December to April: under TMD normals February has 35.9 mm of rain at Krabi Town and 24 mm on Koh Lanta, and October is the wettest month. The islands off Ao Nang and Phi Phi are in a national park with a 200-baht fee for foreigners, 400 baht on Phi Phi (DNP). Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September; in 2026 it reopened on 1 October.
• Guide Where to swim in Phuket without big waves From November to April the sea on Phuket's west coast is usually calm; the waves arrive with the southwest monsoon from May to October. In those months, locals find the east coast, which faces Phang Nga Bay and is sheltered by the island itself, with the bays of Ao Yon and Panwa, calmer. Official descriptions exist only for some beaches: Rawai municipality warns of strong waves at Nai Harn from May to October, and Karon municipality describes Karon's waves as fairly strong. Whatever the month, the flag on the beach matters more than the forecast (October 2026).
• Guide When to go to Phuket and what to do there Phuket is Thailand's largest island and recorded 14.2 million visits in 2025, 10.7 million of them by foreigners (Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which counts each trip, not unique people). For a beach holiday, December to April is best: by TMD climate normals January to March are driest (24-81 mm of rain a month), while May to October brings rain and swell to the west-coast beaches. Hotel occupancy peaks in January (86%) and is lowest in September (66%). Below are seasons, beaches, day trips and practical tips, sourced and dated October 2026.
• Guide Which islands to visit from Phuket The islands around Phuket fall into two groups. Coral Island (Ko Hae), Racha and Khai are 6-24 km from the piers, are not national parks and have no DNP fee or seasonal closure. Phi Phi, the Similans, Surin and Koh Rok are national parks: foreigners pay THB 400-500, the Similans and Surin close from 16 May to 14 October and Koh Rok from 16 May to 15 November. As of 17 October 2026 the Similans are open and Koh Rok is still closed.
• Guide Is Phuket worth visiting from May to October Phuket's low season runs from May to October, when the southwest monsoon blows over the Andaman Sea; in 2026 the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) declared the rainy season started on 15 May. It rains on 19-23 days a month on average, with September the wettest (350 mm), though downpours alternate with sunshine. West coast beaches often have big waves and red flags, and the Similan Islands are closed from 16 May to 14 October. Hotel occupancy was 65.8% in September 2025 versus 86.4% in January (MOTS).
• Guide Which night markets are in Phuket and when they open As of October 2026 only two Phuket night markets have hours confirmed by an official source. The Lard Yai Sunday market (Phuket Walking Street) on Thalang Road in Old Town opens on Sundays only, 16:00-22:00, according to Phuket City Municipality. Banzaan Night Plaza next to Jungceylon in Patong runs 18:00-24:00, according to the market's own website. For Chillva, Naka near Chalong, Indy and the Karon temple market there is no official schedule, so check on the day you go.
• Guide Koh Samui holiday: when to go, where to stay and what to see For a beach holiday on Koh Samui the best months are February to April: by the Thai Meteorological Department's 1991-2020 normals February gets 64 mm of rain, March and April 116 and 83 mm. May to September works too, with 102-134 mm a month, 1.9-3 times less than Phuket. Avoid planning sea days for October-December: 263-445 mm and up to 19 rainy days a month. The main sights are Mu Ko Ang Thong marine park (200 THB for a foreign adult by the DNP fee table), the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai, the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks and the Na Mueang waterfalls.
• Guide What you can take on a plane from Thailand: power banks, fruit, souvenirs Since 3 June 2026, Thailand's aviation regulator CAAT allows power banks in cabin baggage only, no more than two per passenger, up to 100 Wh (100-160 Wh with airline approval); unmarked ones are refused and you may not charge your phone from one in flight. Buddha images and antiques need an export permit from the Fine Arts Department. Coral, giant clams and sea fans are protected, dead or alive. You can take out up to THB 50,000, and cash over USD 15,000 or THB 450,000 must be declared (as of October 2026).
• Guide Where the sea is good in Thailand in the month you travel Beach season in Thailand depends on which sea you pick. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals show the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak) is dry from December to March, with rain and waves from May to October. Koh Samui is the opposite: its rains peak in October-December, while February to September each get under 135 mm. Pattaya and Hua Hin are driest from November to April (as of October 2026).
• Guide How to get by in Thai at the market, in a taxi and at a cafe To get by in Thailand you need about fifty phrases and the numbers from 0 to 1,000. The key to politeness: men end a sentence with khrap (ครับ), women with kha (ค่ะ), so hello is sawatdi khrap or sawatdi kha and thank you is khop khun khrap or khop khun kha. Thai is tonal, with 5 tones according to the Royal Society of Thailand dictionary, so if you are not understood, show the Thai spelling on your phone. In an emergency call 191 (police), 1669 (ambulance) or 1155 (tourist police), as of October 2026.
• Guide Travelling to Thailand with kids: what to know in advance Thailand works well with children, but a few rules are worth knowing in advance. Since 17 August 2023 children under 6 in private cars must ride in a car seat, with a fine of up to THB 2,000, while taxis and public transport are exempt. In national parks, children aged 3-14 or up to 140 cm pay the child rate (THB 200 instead of 400 for foreigners at Phi Phi), and under-3s enter free (as of October 2026). No vaccinations are required, but the CDC recommends hepatitis A for children from age 1.
• Guide Is November a good time to visit Pattaya November is the start of Pattaya's dry season: Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals at the Phatthaya station give 56.6 mm of rain on 5.6 days, four times less than October. Highs are around 31 °C, lows 24.3 °C, and humidity drops to 75%. Hotel occupancy in Chon Buri province was 81% in November 2025 (MOTS): busier than October, quieter than peak April (as of October 2026).
• Guide Is October a good time to visit Pattaya October is Pattaya's wettest month: Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals at the Phatthaya station give 224.5 mm of rain on 17 of 31 days, with highs around 31 °C and lows of 24.7 °C. That is less than Phuket in October (336 mm), and November in Pattaya is four times drier. Go if you can handle downpours and plan some days away from the beach (as of October 2026).
• Guide Is February a good time to visit Phuket February is Phuket's driest month: Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals give 24 mm of rain on 3.4 days, daytime highs around 34 °C and 69% humidity, the lowest of the year. It is peak season: the Similan Islands and Maya Bay are open, and hotel occupancy was 82.1% in February 2025 (MOTS). The downsides are heat, crowds and prices, not the weather (as of October 2026).
• Guide Is October a good time to visit Phuket October is one of Phuket's two wettest months: the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals give 336 mm of rain on 22.7 days, with daytime highs around 32 °C. West coast beaches can still have waves and red flags, but the Similan Islands reopen on 15 October. Go if you want warmth, the town and islands with a few spare days, not a guaranteed calm sea every day (as of October 2026).
• Guide Where to go in Thailand in November November splits Thailand in two. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals give Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai just 41-73 mm on 4-6 days, Phuket half October's rain (178 mm), and Koh Samui its yearly peak of 445 mm. For the beach in November, Pattaya and Hua Hin are best, with the Andaman coast improving towards the end of the month. The big events of November 2026 are the Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok on 6 November and Loy Krathong at the full moon.
• Guide Is October a good time for Thailand, and where to go October is wet across most of Thailand because the monsoons are changing. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) 1991-2020 normals show the north is driest (Chiang Mai 124 mm on 11.8 days) and the Andaman coast wettest (Phuket 336 mm, Khao Lak up to 529 mm). Koh Samui's main rainy peak is still ahead, in November. TMD expects the cool season in the north and centre to start around the third week of October 2026.

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