Koh Tao in November: What the Wettest Month Is Really Like

Koh Tao in November is the wettest month of the island's year, but it is a workable month: the rain usually comes in heavy bursts rather than all day, the west and south coast beaches stay sheltered from the northeast wind, diving continues with lower visibility, and rooms get cheaper. The real risk is the sea crossing, not the island. Everything below comes from the Thai Meteorological Department, the Koh Tao Tourism Association and island dive and ferry guides, checked on 25 September 2026.

What is the weather like on Koh Tao in November?

November is wet, warm and humid, with the northeast monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand for most of the month. Koh Tao sits in the western Gulf, where ExplorerTom places the wettest period from October to December. Island sources agree on the broad shape, even if they draw the start date differently:

The official record shows how heavy a bad November can be. The Thai Meteorological Department's summary for November 2025 reports that the northeast monsoon covered the Gulf, the south and the Andaman Sea almost the whole month, and that the east coast of southern Thailand, the region that includes Koh Tao, received 311.3 mm of rain. The same summary rates rainfall as above normal in every region of the country that month, so treat 2025 as a wet year rather than a typical one.

Temperature is not the problem. Nothing in November is cold, and Black Turtle Dive puts December and January, the coolest months, at an average of about 27 C. What you feel is the humidity and the storms.

Which side of Koh Tao is calm in November?

The west and south coast is the sheltered side in November, because the wind comes from the northeast. The Koh Tao Complete Guide lists gentle seas and clear water from November to March at Sairee Beach, Sai Nuan, June Juea Bay, Chalok Baan Kao and Shark Bay. The east coast bays, Tanote, Hin Wong, Mango Bay and Aow Leuk, are the calm ones from April to October, when the wind swings round to the southwest.

This matters for where you book: a room near Sairee on the west coast or Chalok Baan Kao on the south coast puts you on the side the weather favours this month. The east coast bays face the wind this month and are reached by steep roads that get worse in heavy rain, so save them for the dry season.

Can you dive on Koh Tao in November?

Yes, diving on Koh Tao continues through November, with lower visibility than in the dry months. The Koh Tao Tourism Association says visibility in the monsoon may only reach up to 10 metres. Wonderland Koh Tao gives a wider range for the monsoon months, 5 to 20 metres, depending on wind, waves and runoff. Isla Tortuga Divers adds that west coast visibility drops most after heavy rain, when runoff reaches the water.

In practice, three things follow from those figures:

1. Courses still run. Black Turtle Dive notes that one side of the island is usually sheltered, which is why training continues year round.
2. Photography suffers more than learning. A training dive at 8 metres of visibility teaches the same skills as one at 25.
3. Plans stay flexible. A dive school may move sites or cancel a trip on the morning itself, so keep a buffer day in any course schedule.

If you already dive and want clear water for photos, November is the wrong month. If you want a quieter island and do not mind a greener sea, it is a reasonable one.

Do ferries to Koh Tao run in November?

Ferries run in November, but October to December brings the roughest crossings of the year. Wonderland Koh Tao's Chumphon ferry guide says swells in that period can delay departures or occasionally cancel them outright, and that Lomprayah will usually rebook you onto the next sailing rather than refund you. The Koh Tao Complete Guide notes that ferries usually keep running with waves up to 4 metres but stop when conditions are too severe.

The Thai Meteorological Department issues warnings when this happens. Its advisory of 17 November 2025 forecast Gulf waves of 2 to 3 metres, above 3 metres in thundershowers, and told small boats in the Gulf to stay ashore from 19 to 23 November 2025.

The rules we would follow on a November crossing:

1. Check the Thai Meteorological Department's warnings the day before you travel.
2. Take an early boat rather than the last one, so a delay does not strand you overnight on the mainland.
3. Never book an international flight for the same day as the ferry; Wonderland Koh Tao gives the same advice for the rough months.
4. Book flexible tickets, since a rebooking is more likely than a refund.

For the route itself, Chumphon or Samui, see Lisbon to Koh Tao: Chumphon or Samui.

Is Koh Tao cheaper in November?

Early November is usually still low season on Koh Tao, and accommodation prices fall. Wonderland Koh Tao describes early November as low season with deep discounts, and mid to late November as the start of a shoulder season as the rain eases. Isla Tortuga Divers also says accommodation prices fall in the November transition, which suits long stays.

No source we found publishes a reliable percentage for November itself, so we do not quote one. The useful move is timing: arrive in late October or early November and ask for a monthly rate before the December demand arrives. For a full line by line budget, see what we actually spent in a month on Koh Tao, and use the Currency Check to convert rents from baht.

Is November a good month to work remotely from Koh Tao?

November suits remote workers better than holidaymakers, as long as you plan for damp and power. Heavy storms bring humidity and outages, and both hit laptops harder than people.

1. Keep electronics and anything leather in a closed box with silica gel packets; humidity is what damages gear.
2. Store clothes on open shelves, and run the air conditioning on dry mode for a while each day.
3. Have a backup for storms: a mobile data plan and a coworking space with a generator. Our power cut guide covers what an outage costs and how to prepare, and the Thailand internet guide covers connections.
4. Check your stay length with Visa Check before you book a two or three month stay, as the Thai visa exemption rules changed in September 2026.

What happens on Koh Tao in November besides rain?

Loy Krathong is the evening to plan around. The festival follows the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, and the Chiang Mai festival calendar we checked lists Yi Peng and Loy Krathong 2026 from 23 to 25 November. On the islands, people float small lit krathongs on the water on the main night. Confirm the exact night locally, since celebrations vary by place.

Outside the festival, November is quiet. That is the reason to come: fewer people, lower rents than in the dry season ahead, and long indoor hours that fit a working week.

Updated on 25 September 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm with the official source linked above before you act.