January is the heart of Phuket’s dry season and its busiest month. Below are the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) normals for both island stations, TMD’s outlook for January 2027, the parks and trips that suit the month, holidays and how crowded it gets. Checked on 27 October 2026.
Phuket weather in January: TMD numbers
These are 1991-2020 normals. The Phuket station is in Phuket Town in the southeast of the island, Phuket Airport is in the northwest. Nights at the airport are 2 degrees cooler.
| January | Phuket Town (48 564) | Phuket Airport (48 565) |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 33.0 °C | 32.1 °C |
| Average low | 25.0 °C | 22.9 °C |
| Rainfall | 49.9 mm | 66.2 mm |
| Rainy days (0.1 mm or more) | 5.6 | 6.8 |
| Days with thunderstorms | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Humidity | 71% | 76% |
| Prevailing wind | northeast | east |
For comparison at the town station: December 82.0 mm, February 24.0 mm, March 80.7 mm. January and February are the only months with under 50 mm of rain. All months are on Phuket weather by month.
TMD outlook for January 2027
From TMD’s cool season outlook issued on 9 October 2026 (no update had appeared by 27 October):
- Andaman coast in January: minimum temperatures of 24-26 °C, rain over 10-20% of the area
- Andaman Sea waves of 1-2 m through the cool season
- TMD expects El Niño to strengthen in late 2026 and continue into early 2027, which may keep temperatures above normal
It is a long-range outlook, so check the TMD forecast for your dates before a boat trip.
Sea and beaches in January
In January both TMD stations record the wind from the northeast or east, blowing off the land onto the west coast. Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao are usually at their calmest, which also suits snorkelling off the beach.
- Rip currents can form even on calm days, so the beach flag still decides: red flag and rip currents
- The sun is strong at 33 °C: plan long walks for the morning
- Beach guides: Kata, Karon, Nai Harn, Bang Tao, Patong
What’s open in January
| Place | Status in January 2027 | Foreign adult fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands | open: season 15 October-15 May | THB 500 | DNP |
| Surin Islands | open: annual closure 16 May-14 October | THB 500 | DNP |
| Maya Bay, Phi Phi | open | THB 400 | DNP |
| Phang Nga Bay | open | THB 300 | DNP |
| Khao Sok | open, Nam Thalu cave included | THB 200 | DNP |
Closure periods are from the DNP closure table (data as of 7 January 2026), fees from the DNP table for individuals (2 June 2023), children pay half. Several Similan dive sites and Ko Tachai remain closed indefinitely.
Which trips suit January
January suits almost every trip from Phuket, so the choice comes down to how much time you want on a boat:
- Similans and Surin. Full days on the open sea, best done in the calm dry months. Diving courses and liveaboards are covered in diving in Phuket
- Phi Phi and Maya Bay. Go early or by catamaran to avoid the busiest hours, details on Phi Phi from Phuket
- Krabi islands. The Hong Islands and Krabi 4 Islands are at their best from January to April, as our trip pages explain
- Phang Nga Bay and Ko Yao. James Bond Island or a quieter day on Ko Yao
- Snorkelling close to Phuket. Snorkelling trips, Racha and Coral Island
Typical prices are on how much Phuket tours cost.
Holidays and events in January 2027
| Event | Date | Where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January, public holiday | nationwide | Bank of Thailand |
| Chinese New Year | 6 February, not in January | Phuket Old Town and shrines | Hong Kong SAR Government |
The Bank of Thailand’s 2027 holiday list, Notification No. 37/2569, has no other public holiday in January. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, so January trips miss it. As of 27 October TAT and Phuket’s municipalities had not published January 2027 event programmes, and we will add them when they appear. The walk through the Chinese-Portuguese quarter is in Phuket Old Town.
Crowds and hotel occupancy
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), Phuket hotel occupancy was 86.41% in January 2025, the highest month of that year, ahead of December (84.10%) and February (82.08%). Phuket received 1,066,672 foreign visitors in January 2025. Book rooms and popular boat trips early, especially for the first week of the year. We do not publish hotel rates until we collect our own dated measurements.
Getting to Phuket in January
Seasonal winter routes are flying: TAT reports Virgin Atlantic’s London Heathrow-Phuket service three times a week until 26 March 2027, and British Airways, TUI and Norse Atlantic seasonal services from London Gatwick and Manchester to Bangkok and Phuket. From Bangkok see Bangkok to Phuket, and for the ride to your hotel, Phuket Airport.
Should you go to Phuket in January?
Go if:
- you want dry weather, a calm sea and every island trip available
- you travel with children and want easy swimming in front of the hotel
- you have a fixed holiday and cannot gamble on the weather
Consider another month if:
- crowds bother you: November is quieter, with more rain, see Phuket in November
- you want the driest month of all: Phuket in February
The month before is Phuket in December, the whole country in Thailand in January, and all months on when to go to Phuket.
FAQ
What is the weather like in Phuket in January?
Dry and hot. TMD 1991-2020 normals give Phuket Town highs of 33.0 °C, lows of 25.0 °C, 49.9 mm of rain on 5.6 days and thunderstorms on 1.4 days. Humidity is 71%, among the lowest of the year. Only February is drier, with 24.0 mm.
Is the sea calm in Phuket in January?
Usually, yes. The prevailing wind at both TMD stations blows from the northeast or east, off the land onto the west coast beaches, and TMD expects 1-2 m waves in the Andaman Sea through the cool season. A flat sea is common, but rip currents can still form, so follow the beach flag.
Is January or February better for Phuket?
Both are dry. February has less rain (24.0 mm against 49.9 mm) and hotter days (34.0 °C against 33.0 °C). January is busier: MOTS gives 86.41% hotel occupancy in January 2025 and 82.08% in February.
Is Phuket crowded in January?
Yes, it was the busiest month of 2025 by hotel occupancy (86.41%, MOTS). The first days of January follow the New Year peak. TAT advises booking ferries and island accommodation early for December and January.
Is Chinese New Year in January 2027?
No. Lunar New Year's Day 2027 is 6 February, according to the Hong Kong government's 2027 holiday list. In Phuket it is celebrated most visibly in the Old Town. The only Thai public holiday in January 2027 is New Year's Day on Friday 1 January (Bank of Thailand).
Is Koh Samui good in January?
Better than in November and December, but still wetter than Phuket: TMD normals give Samui 126.8 mm of rain on 11.1 days in January against Phuket's 49.9 mm. Samui's driest month is February.
Sources
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Phuket (48 564) and Phuket Airport (48 565), printed pp. 82-83
- TMD. Cool season outlook for Thailand 2026-2027, issued 9 October 2026 (Thai)
- TMD. Seasonal forecasts page
- DNP. Mu Ko Similan National Park: open 15 October-15 May every year (Thai)
- DNP. Opening and closing of tourism in national parks (closure table, data as of 7 January 2026)
- DNP. Entrance fees for individuals (CSV, edition of 2 June 2023)
- TAT Newsroom. The Andaman opens its doors again (20 October 2026)
- MOTS. Tourism statistics by province 2025, monthly sheets (xlsx)
- Bank of Thailand. Notification No. 37/2569, holidays for 2027 (unofficial English translation)
- Hong Kong SAR Government. General holidays for 2027
- TAT Newsroom. Virgin Atlantic inaugural London Heathrow-Phuket flight (19 October 2026)
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.