Phuket in November: Low Season Guide

November is arguably the most underrated month to visit Phuket. The southwest monsoon is winding down, hotels are still discounting shoulder-season rates, and by mid-month the Andaman Sea is calm enough for the big island trips to run every day. If you can be flexible with your dates, the first two weeks of November offer the best deal-to-weather ratio of the entire year.

What the weather is actually like

Early November still carries the tail of the rainy season. Expect short, heavy downpours — usually in the late afternoon — and humidity around 80%. By the third week, days settle into the classic Phuket pattern: bright mornings, a warm sea at 29°C, and only the occasional passing shower. Daytime temperatures sit at 30–32°C and it barely dips below 25°C at night.

Sea conditions week by week

• Week 1–2: Some swell on the west coast (Kata, Karon, Kamala). East-coast beaches (Rawai, Panwa) stay glassy.
• Week 3–4: Red flags come down across most beaches, longtail boats resume Phi Phi and James Bond runs daily.

Why November is the smart booking window

Hotels in Phuket typically raise rates on 1 December and again on 20 December. In November you can still book 4- and 5-star resorts at 30–45% below peak. Speedboat tours are ฿300–500 cheaper than December. Flights from Europe, Australia and the Middle East are also noticeably lower — this is the last month before Christmas fare inflation kicks in.

What to do (and what to skip)

Do: Phi Phi Islands, Similan Islands (season opens 15 October), James Bond Island, Old Phuket Town food walks, sunset at Promthep Cape, an ethical elephant sanctuary morning.

Skip in early November: Freediving off the west coast, remote snorkelling stops that face the open Andaman, and beach clubs at Surin/Kamala on windy days — the swell makes swimming unpleasant.

Loy Krathong bonus

One of Thailand's most beautiful festivals — Loy Krathong — usually falls in November. Floating candlelit lotus krathongs on Nai Harn Lake or Saphan Hin at dusk is a cultural highlight most Phuket visitors miss.

Pro tips from our specialists

• Pack a light rain shell; umbrellas are useless in tropical squalls.
• Book Similan liveaboards early — they sell out for late November.
• Choose a hotel on the south or east coast if you visit in the first week.

Ready to plan? Talk to a Thailand specialist and we will build a November itinerary around the weather forecast.