Short answer
February is the driest month of the year in Phuket: the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals give 23.9 mm of rain over just 3.1 rainy days, with a mean daily maximum of 33.6 °C and the lowest humidity of the year, 69 percent. The sea is calm and clear, Maya Bay is open, the Similan Islands are in season and every boat day runs. The sun is strongest and the island is still busy, though a little less than in January.
February is the driest month of the Phuket year
No month in Phuket has less rain. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for the Phuket station give 23.9 mm over 3.1 rainy days for February, against 30.3 mm in January and 73.5 mm in March. The mean daily maximum is 33.6 °C and the mean minimum 24.9 °C. The Royal Irrigation Department's humidity figure, printed on Wikipedia's Phuket Province page, is 69 percent, the lowest of the year, and the same table gives 214.7 hours of sunshine, about 7.6 hours a day.
Dry does not mean never. The same Thai table records one February day with 102.3 mm of rain in the 30 years it covers, so a freak storm is possible even in the driest month. The newer 1991–2020 table printed on Wikipedia's Phuket City page gives 24.0 mm for February, with only 2.2 days of 1 mm or more, which confirms the pattern. Plan on blue skies, and treat a wet day as luck of the draw.
The sea in February: calm, clear and good for snorkelling
Phuket 101 describes February as the same as January for the sea: calm, with excellent visibility and almost no waves, and a water temperature of 28 °C. It says all beaches are safe for swimming and conditions are ideal for snorkelling and diving, and that visibility for divers is among the best of the year. The reason is the wind. The Thai Meteorological Department's climate summary puts the northeast monsoon from mid-October to mid-February, with winds from the east or northeast over southern Thailand.
The same summary says the pre-monsoon season begins in mid-February, with prevailing winds mostly from the south and warmer weather. For a visitor, the sea in the last days of February can start to feel a little different from early February, though Phuket 101 still lists conditions as calm for the whole month. Wikivoyage notes gentle waves at Ya Nui beach from December to March. On a boat day, calm is the normal state, not a guarantee.
Which boat days run in February
All of them. The national park closes Maya Bay only from 1 August to 30 September, so in February you walk in from the Loh Samah pier. Phuket 101 says the Similan Islands are at their peak this month, and that Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay are busy but stunning. Our Phi Phi and Maya Bay speedboat tour is from $75 per person for about 8.5 hours, with the swimming at Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island and a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don.
The Similan Islands speedboat day, from $105 per person, runs from 15 October to 14 May and takes 12–13 hours door to door. If you can only manage one island day, our Phi Phi or James Bond Island comparison and the Similan or Phi Phi guide explain the trade-offs. For snorkel spots around the island itself, see our guide to snorkelling in Phuket.
Heat and UV: the sun is at its strongest
February is where the dry season starts to bite. The mean daily maximum rises from 32.7 °C in January to 33.6 °C, and the record high for the month in the Thai table is 36.7 °C. Phuket 101 puts the UV index at 12, which it labels extreme, says it peaks in February, and warns that reflection off the water intensifies the effect. Its advice is to reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming, and to wear sunglasses and a hat.
Sunscreen is also a rule, not only a habit. Thailand's marine national parks ban sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben, with fines of up to 100,000 baht, according to a 2021 report. A mineral sunscreen is the safe choice. For the Phi Phi day bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, a dry bag and cash for the park fee: on our tour the operator collects 400 baht per adult and 200 per child, and we give it as what the operator collects, not as an official rate.
Crowds and prices: slightly easier than January
February is still high season, but Phuket 101 says hotel prices start to ease compared with January, because the Christmas and New Year rush is over and availability improves. It also says late February offers better value than early February. The same guide warns that the most popular beaches, Patong, Kata and Nai Harn, get very busy, and that island beaches on day trips can be crowded enough that you may have to walk to find a quiet spot.
Peak weeks are the exception. Phuket 101's high-season guide counts mid-December to February as peak season and says popular beachfront hotels sell out earliest over New Year and Chinese New Year. Popular tours also fill up, so it advises booking the Similan trips a few days ahead. For our Phi Phi day, send the date, your hotel and the number of guests on WhatsApp; we confirm availability, the pickup time and the total before you pay.
Events in February: Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and a regatta
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and falls in late January or in February. Phuket 101 says that when it falls in February, Old Phuket Town comes alive with decorations, dragon dances and celebrations, given the island's strong Chinese heritage. Valentine's Day on 14 February is another busy date: Phuket 101 says some hotels will set up private tables on the beach, and that it is a popular day for proposals, so book dinners several days ahead.
Wikivoyage lists the Phang Nga Bay Regatta, a sailing event, as normally held in February. Wikipedia's list of Thai public holidays places Makha Bucha, a Buddhist observance, on the full moon of the third Thai lunar month, which it lists under February. These dates move each year, so check the calendar for your own trip before you plan around them.
Who February suits, and who should look at another month
February suits snorkellers, divers, couples and anyone who wants January's weather with slightly less pressure on hotels. Phuket 101 calls it the most reliable month for planning outdoor activities. It also suits most families, though our Phi Phi speedboat is not for pregnant women, infants under 1 year or guests over 70, and the open-sea crossing can be bumpy; see our guide to Phi Phi with kids.
It is less suited to anyone who dislikes heat. Phuket 101 says early February still feels comfortable, while by late February the midday sun has more bite, and it suggests heat-sensitive visitors prefer the early weeks. If you want the same sea with milder heat, look at Phuket in January; if you want lower prices and can take more heat, read Phuket in March.
Practical checklist
- Book dinners for Valentine's Day, and popular boat days, a few days ahead.
- Pack a high-SPF mineral sunscreen without the four banned chemicals, plus sunglasses and a hat.
- Choose early February if you are sensitive to heat, and late February for better hotel value.
- Keep cash for the Phi Phi park fee: 400 baht per adult and 200 per child on our tour.
- Check the Chinese New Year date for your year before you book a beachfront hotel.
Questions and answers
Is February the driest month in Phuket?
Yes. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for the Phuket station give 23.9 mm of rain over 3.1 rainy days in February, the lowest of any month. January follows with 30.3 mm over 4.6 days.
How hot is Phuket in February?
The mean daily maximum is 33.6 °C and the mean minimum 24.9 °C in the Thai normals. Phuket 101 says early February feels comfortable and the heat builds towards the end of the month.
Is the sea calm in February?
Usually. Phuket 101 rates it as calm with excellent visibility and a water temperature of 28 °C. A speedboat can still be bumpy in open water, and on our tour the operator moves the trip or refunds it if the sea is unsafe.
Is Maya Bay open in February?
Yes. The park closes it only from 1 August to 30 September. You walk in on a boardwalk from the Loh Samah pier, and swimming in the bay is not allowed.
Is February cheaper than January in Phuket?
Slightly. Phuket 101 says hotel prices ease a little after the New Year rush, and late February is better value than early February. Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day can still fill beachfront hotels.