About Koh Chang
Our Weather, Winds & Tides
The Best Time to Visit Koh Chang
Southeast Thailand only really has two seasons, a dry period that runs from November to May and a wet season from June to October.
Temperatures are 'coolest' from November to December with daily maximums averaging around 30C.
Just before the beginning of the monsoon in June this can rise to the high thirties when even the seasoned locals start to feel the heat.
The busiest period for visitors to Koh Chang is December to April and there is very little rain during these months.
Global weather patterns are changing and so to on Koh Chang. In 2005/6 there was well above the average rainfall for the dry season with a heavy downpour on Christmas Day.
The Monsoon
It can rain heavily in the wet season but rainfall is by no means constant. Indeed sunny days are still common.
All of the resorts and facilities on Koh Chang remain open and this can be a good time to visit for those seeking a quieter holiday.
In the 2006 monsoon during August we almost forgot it was not the dry season but in September the rains returned with a vengeance. There is a good reason rainfall is quoted in averages.
Winds
During the monsoon the prevailing winds are onshore on the West Coast and can bring quite high waves to the beaches. Swimming at this time is considered quite dangerous due to very strong rip tides. In the dry season the winds are onshore on the East Coast. Locals know when the monsoon is over by observing this phenomenon but there is always argument about the actual day!
The best time for sailing is probably from the end of the Monsoon through early January when the winds are pretty constant from the East. From mid January the winds tend to be light and variable and only pick up again from the West once the Monsoon sets in again around May.
Tides
Koh Chang has just one tide per day. Actually it is two but the second is almost imperceptible. The term is diurnal for the scientifically inclined.
The tide is in most of the day time during the dry season and changes in the monsoon season when it is in most of the night. The highest tides are in November, December and January and are usually 4 days after the full and new moons. Here are the Tide Tables through the end of 2007, taken from the Royal Thai Navy Website (as an Excel download).
