Short answer
November is the last month of the Phuket rains and the start of the boat season: the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals give 177.4 mm of rain over 15.4 rainy days, roughly half of October's 320.1 mm, and Phuket 101 says the west-coast sea is calming and usually swimmable by mid-month. Maya Bay and the Similan Islands are open, every boat day runs, and rooms are still cheaper than in December. Loy Krathong falls on the full moon, 24 November in 2026.
November: the last month of the rains
November is where the monsoon lets go. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for the Phuket station give 177.4 mm over 15.4 rainy days, against 320.1 mm and 22.5 days in October, and December drops again to 72.4 mm. The mean daily maximum is 31.7 °C and the mean minimum 24.7 °C. The airport station in the north records 207.8 mm over 16.6 days, and the newer 1991–2020 table on Wikipedia's Phuket City page gives 178.2 mm and 12.9 days with 1 mm or more.
Sunshine recovers to 174 hours, about 5.8 hours a day, and humidity eases to 79 percent in the Royal Irrigation Department's figures on Wikipedia's Phuket Province page. The Thai weather service's climate summary says cloud cover is normally lower from November to March. Phuket 101 says the risk of heavy rain still exists, but sunny days become more frequent. It also notes that in recent years the rainy season has been ending later than it used to.
The sea in November, and a word on storms
The sea improves through the month. Phuket 101 rates it as calming down with some waves still, says the first half of November can have rough patches, and says the west-coast beaches of Patong, Kata and Karon are usually swimmable by mid-month, while the east coast stays calm throughout. The water stays at about 29 °C. It still asks you to watch the red flags, because rip tides can be treacherous and accidents still happen.
Tropical storms are the other November question. The Thai Meteorological Department's table of cyclones crossing Thailand between 1951 and 2015 lists 24 crossings of the southern region in November, more than in any other month, against 15 in October and 9 in December. The three storms it names as examples hit Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan, on the Gulf side. The table does not separate the two coasts, so treat it as a reason to check forecasts, not as a forecast.
A Phi Phi day in November
Bangkok Airways' February 2026 guide names November to April as the peak season on Phi Phi, with calm seas and great visibility, and says the sea is generally calmer with the best underwater conditions then. Maya Bay is open, because the national park closes it only from 1 August to 30 September. Our Phi Phi and Maya Bay speedboat tour is from $75 per person for about 8.5 hours, with hotel pickup between about 7:00 and 8:30 am.
Phuket 101 says all tours operate normally in November and are cancelled only on exceptionally bad weather days, when you are refunded or offered another day. On our tour the operator moves the trip or refunds it if the sea is unsafe. The park fee is 400 baht per adult and 200 per child, collected in cash by the operator, and the speedboat is not suitable for pregnant women, infants under 1 year or guests over 70. Our tour schedule lists the packing.
The Similans in November: before the crowds arrive
Phuket 101 calls November a great time for the Similan Islands, which reopened in mid-October, before the peak-season crowds arrive. It warns that the ocean may still be rough on some days and that motion-sickness pills are a good idea. The Similan Islands speedboat day is from $105 per person and runs between 15 October and 14 May. It is a 12–13 hour day with pickup between about 5:30 and 7:30 am.
The park limits visitors: in October 2021 the Department of National Parks set the limit at 3,850 a day, including 525 divers, which our Similan season guide explains. If you cannot decide between the two classic islands, read our Similan or Phi Phi comparison. For other options, Phuket 101 says Coral Island, Racha Island and Phang Nga Bay all run in November; Phang Nga Bay is a day we sell too, from $85 per person.
Loy Krathong and what else is on
Loy Krathong is the main festival. Phuket 101 says it falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually in November, and that people release floating offerings with candles and incense, sometimes flying lanterns, anywhere there is water, from beaches and ponds to hotel pools. Its events list shows it as an island-wide festival on 24 November in 2026. The date moves each year with the lunar calendar, so check it for your trip.
The Vegetarian Festival, which the Tourism Authority of Thailand put at 10 to 18 October in 2026, is over by November. Wikipedia's Phuket page lists the Phuket Travel Fair, also called the Patong Carnival, as starting on 1 November each year, though we could not confirm the current programme. Check local listings once you arrive.
Prices and crowds: the best-value month of the high season
November is the shoulder. Phuket 101 says hotel rooms are easy to get and cheaper than in the high season, road traffic stays fluid, and that November is its personal favourite month: the rain is mostly gone, the island is not yet packed and prices have not peaked. In its high-season guide it names November, March and April as good compromises, and says two to three weeks' notice is usually enough for a hotel, against one to two months for December and January.
That is for rooms. Phuket 101 says popular tour boats fill up days ahead in the peak season, so send us your date and hotel on WhatsApp a few days ahead; we confirm availability, the pickup time and the total before you pay. It also says prices are climbing through November but have not yet peaked, so earlier in the month is the cheaper window.
Who November suits, and what to pack
November suits travellers who want near-dry-season weather without December prices, first-time island hoppers, and anyone who wants to see the Similans and Maya Bay with fewer people. It does not suit someone who needs a guarantee of dry weather: the risk of heavy rain still exists, particularly early in the month. Pack a light rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat, seasickness tablets and a dry bag.
For the stretch before it, read Phuket in October; for the one after, Phuket in December. If you are weighing Phuket against other places for the same dates, our guide to the best time to visit Thailand and Andaman or Gulf coast guide compare the seasons by region, which helps if your dates are still flexible between Phuket and the Gulf islands.
Practical checklist
- Book hotels two to three weeks ahead for November, or earlier for the last days of the month.
- Pack a light rain jacket, a dry bag, sunscreen and seasickness tablets.
- Keep a spare day for any boat trip, since the operator moves or refunds trips when the sea is unsafe.
- Check the Loy Krathong date for your year, which follows the full moon.
- Keep cash for the Phi Phi park fee: 400 baht per adult and 200 per child on our tour.
Questions and answers
Is November a good time to visit Phuket?
Yes, for most travellers. The Thai normals give 177.4 mm over 15.4 rainy days, the sea is calming and the islands are open. Phuket 101 calls it a good compromise, with cheaper rooms than December, though some heavy rain is still possible.
Is the sea calm enough for swimming in November?
Increasingly. Phuket 101 says west-coast beaches such as Patong, Kata and Karon are usually swimmable by mid-November, and the east coast is calm throughout. It still asks you to watch the flags.
Is Maya Bay open in November?
Yes. The national park closes it only from 1 August to 30 September. You walk in from the Loh Samah pier, and swimming in the bay is not allowed.
Are the Similan Islands open in November?
Yes. They opened on 15 October in 2026, and our Similan tour runs from 15 October to 14 May. Phuket 101 says November is a great time to go before the crowds arrive.
When is Loy Krathong in Phuket?
It falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually in November. Phuket 101's events list gives 24 November for 2026, and people release floating offerings on beaches, ponds and even in hotel pools.