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

Koh Tao in November is the wettest month of the island's year, and it is still a workable month. The rain usually comes in heavy bursts and not 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. We would come in November for a long working stay and choose another month for a short beach holiday.

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 the wettest period runs from October to December. Ask around the island and you will hear the same broad shape, with a start date that moves depending on who answers:

We would not bet a trip on the latest start. Pack and plan as if the monsoon is on from the first day of the month, and take any dry week as a bonus.

The official record shows how heavy a bad November can be. In November 2025, the Thai Meteorological Department recorded the northeast monsoon over the Gulf, the south and the Andaman Sea for almost the whole month. The east coast of southern Thailand, the region that includes Koh Tao, received 311.3 mm of rain. The department rated rainfall as above normal in every region of the country that month, so treat 2025 as a wet year and not a typical one.

Temperature is not the problem. Nothing in November is cold, and even December and January, the coolest months, average 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. From November to March you get gentle seas and clear water 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.

Let that decide 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 in November, and the steep roads that lead to them get worse in heavy rain. We would 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. In the monsoon months it ranges from 5 to 20 metres, depending on wind, waves and runoff, and the cautious reading is that it may only reach up to 10 metres. West coast visibility drops most after heavy rain, when runoff reaches the water.

Three things follow from those figures:

1. Courses still run. 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. For a first certification, we would not wait for better water.

Do ferries to Koh Tao run in November?

Ferries run in November, but October to December brings the roughest crossings of the year. Swells in that period can delay departures or occasionally cancel them outright. Lomprayah will usually rebook you onto the next sailing and not refund you. Boats usually keep running with waves up to 4 metres and 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 and not 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. That holds for all 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?

Yes, at least at the start of the month. Early November is usually still low season on Koh Tao, with deep discounts on accommodation. Mid to late November is the start of a shoulder season as the rain eases. Prices fall through that November transition, which suits long stays.

We have no 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. Here is what we would set up in the first week:

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. In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng and Loy Krathong 2026 run 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. If the quiet is what you are after, book the west or south coast, keep spare days around every ferry, and let the rain set your working hours.

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