Short answer
March is the hottest month in the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for Phuket, with a mean daily maximum of 34.0 °C, and the first real rain of the year: 73.5 mm over 6.7 rainy days, mostly as short showers. The sea stays calm, Maya Bay is open and the Similan Islands are in their last full month before the mid-May closing. Boat days run as normal, and the planning question is the midday heat, not the weather.
March is the hottest month in the Phuket table
Phuket never gets truly cold, but March is where the heat peaks. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for the Phuket station give a mean daily maximum of 34.0 °C in March, the highest of any month, with April close behind at 33.9 °C, and a mean minimum of 25.4 °C. The station's record high for the period is 37.8 °C. Wikipedia's Phuket City table, which quotes records back to 1951, lists 39.3 °C as the highest March reading, and its 1991–2020 normals give a mean maximum of 34.4 °C.
Humidity starts to climb as well. The Royal Irrigation Department's figures, printed on Wikipedia's Phuket Province page, give 71 percent in March, up from 69 in February and 75 in April, and 204.6 hours of sunshine, about 6.6 hours a day. Phuket 101 puts the UV index at 12, labelled extreme, and says the heat is intense between 11 am and 3 pm. If you are used to a cooler climate, March is the month to build in rest.
The first showers, and a sea that stays calm
March is the first month with a noticeable amount of rain: 73.5 mm over 6.7 rainy days at the Phuket station, against 23.9 mm in February. The airport station in the north of the island is wetter, with 100.3 mm over 7.9 days, in the same 1981–2010 table. The Thai Meteorological Department's climate summary says thunderstorms in southern Thailand occur from March to November, and Phuket 101 describes the late-March showers as short and welcome, because they break the heat.
The sea does not follow the rain yet. Phuket 101 rates March as calm with occasional swells, with the water at 29 °C, and says all beaches remain safe for swimming, with only occasional mild currents. The summary from the Thai weather service adds that no tropical cyclone has crossed Thailand in January to March in its records for 1951–2015. A thunderstorm on the day is a reason to wait on the pier, not a sign of the monsoon.
A boat day in the March heat
Every classic boat day runs in March. The national park closes Maya Bay only from 1 August to 30 September, so you walk in from the Loh Samah pier. Our Phi Phi and Maya Bay speedboat tour is from $75 per person for about 8.5 hours: hotel pickup between about 7:00 and 8:30 am, the speedboat from Royal Phuket Marina at about 9:30, and back at about 5:30 to 6 pm. The timetable is fixed, so the midday sun is part of the day.
Dress for it. Phuket 101 recommends cotton or linen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water for March. On our tour, light refreshments are served at the marina and on board and lunch is a buffet on Phi Phi Don; towels are not included, so bring your own. The swimming stops at Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island are the relief, and Phuket 101's April guide notes that the sea breeze on boat trips brings some relief. Our tour schedule lists the packing in full.
The Similans: the last full month before the closing
March is one of your last chances for the Similan Islands. Phuket 101 says they close in mid-May and do not reopen until mid-October, and our Similan Islands speedboat day runs from 15 October to 14 May, from $105 per person. Phuket 101 calls March the last chance to go while conditions are still perfect. The Similan trip is a long day of 12–13 hours door to door, with pickup between about 5:30 and 7:30 am.
If the Similans are not on your list, Phang Nga Bay is the other classic day, and Phuket 101 says it stays beautiful all year. Our Phi Phi or James Bond Island comparison and the Similan season guide explain how to choose. Phuket 101's May guide adds that operators sometimes cancel Similan trips in the second week of May if conditions look rough, so a March date leaves more margin than a late one.
Crowds and prices: easing, but not yet low season
March sits between the peak and the low season. Phuket 101 calls it the transition from high season to hot season: crowds start thinning, prices ease towards the end of the month, and late March offers better value than early March. In its high-season guide, the same author names November, March and April as good compromises, with the weather still excellent but prices lower and availability better. For beachfront hotels it suggests two to three weeks ahead rather than the one to two months needed for December and January.
That does not make March empty. The month-by-month guide still expects roads and beaches to be busy, and Patong, Kata, Karon and Nai Harn are the busiest beaches in high season. Boat days fill less quickly than in January, but our Phi Phi day has a limited number of seats on a speedboat of up to 35 guests, so send your date and hotel on WhatsApp early and we confirm availability, pickup time and the total before you pay.
Events in March: the Heroines fair on 13 March
Wikipedia's Phuket Province page lists the Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon Fair, held annually on 13 March. It commemorates the two sisters who, according to the same page, mobilised the people of Thalang to repel Burmese forces in 1785, and who appear on the provincial seal. The Two Heroines Monument stands on Highway 402 in Thalang district, in the north of the island.
Phuket 101 lists no major tourist festival for March, so the month is a quiet one for events. Makha Bucha, a Buddhist observance on the full moon of the third lunar month, moves each year; Wikipedia's list of public holidays places it in February, so check the calendar for your year before you plan around temples or shops. The Songkran water festival follows in April; our Phuket in April guide covers it.
Who March suits, and who should pick a cooler month
March suits visitors who want calm water without January's prices, and those who like heat. Phuket 101 says the sea and sky stay spotlessly blue, and that the month offers the best of both worlds for people who cope with heat. It suits families too, with the usual limits: our Phi Phi speedboat is not suitable for pregnant women, infants under 1 year or guests over 70, and the open-sea ride can be bumpy.
It suits people who struggle with humidity less. Phuket 101 says visitors from cold climates can find the March heat overwhelming and that those who struggle with humidity may prefer the earlier high-season months. If that is you, read Phuket in February or Phuket in January. If you do not mind heat and want lower prices, March is a sound choice, with the beach best in the early morning or late afternoon.
Practical checklist
- Pack cotton or linen clothes, a hat, sunglasses and a refillable water bottle for the midday heat.
- Book the Similan Islands before the season closes in mid-May; our Similan day runs to 14 May.
- Send us your boat date and hotel early; the speedboat holds up to 35 guests.
- Plan beach time for early morning or late afternoon, and rest in the middle of the day.
- Check the Makha Bucha date for your year if you plan temple visits.
Questions and answers
Is March the hottest month in Phuket?
In the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 table for the Phuket station, yes: the mean daily maximum is 34.0 °C in March, against 33.9 °C in April and 33.6 °C in February. Humidity is 71 percent according to the Royal Irrigation Department.
Does it rain in Phuket in March?
A little. The Thai normals give 73.5 mm over 6.7 rainy days, mostly short showers and the first thunderstorms of the year. That is far less than May, which has 259.5 mm over 18.8 days.
Is the sea calm in March?
Usually. Phuket 101 rates it calm with occasional swells and gives the water temperature as 29 °C. On our tour the operator moves the trip to another date or refunds it if the sea is unsafe.
Can I still visit the Similan Islands in March?
Yes. Phuket 101 says the islands close in mid-May and reopen in mid-October, and our Similan tour runs from 15 October to 14 May. March is one of the last full months of the season.
Is Phuket cheaper in March than in January?
Somewhat. Phuket 101 says prices ease toward the end of March and that late March is better value than early March, but it still expects busy roads and beaches. The real drop comes from May.