Phuket in September: Weather, Quiet Season and Tours

September is usually the wettest month of the year in Phuket, and the quietest. It is also when you find some of the lowest hotel prices, empty viewpoints and the greenest hills. The sea on the west coast is rough on many days and Maya Bay is usually still closed, but sheltered trips such as Phang Nga Bay run on most days. If you are flexible and do not mind rain, September can be very good value.

This guide covers what September weather is usually like, which of our tours are worth booking, the chance of catching the Vegetarian Festival and how to plan a week around the rain.

What the Weather Is Like in September

Phuket has two broad seasons: the dry season, roughly November to April, and the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October. September is late in the monsoon and usually the month with the most rain.

• Temperature: highs usually around 30 to 31°C, nights around 24 to 25°C.
• Rain: frequent and often heavy. Some days bring long spells of rain; others have heavy showers with sunny breaks. A run of grey days followed by a clear one is common.
• Sea: the west coast is rough on many days, and the swell can make open-water crossings uncomfortable or unsafe. The east coast and Phang Nga Bay usually stay calmer. The water is warm all year, usually around 28 to 30°C.

Red flags are common on west coast beaches such as Patong, Kata and Karon in September, and rip currents there are dangerous. Only swim where there are lifeguards, between the flags, and never when red flags are up.

Crowds and Prices in September

September is usually the quietest month of the year. Many hotels offer their lowest rates, famous stops are at their emptiest, and you can usually book a tour the day before.Some beach bars and smaller businesses keep shorter hours or take a break in the low season. For a wider look at the pros and cons, read why low season is not all bad.

The Vegetarian Festival

Phuket's Vegetarian Festival, also called the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, takes place over the first nine days of the ninth lunar month. That usually falls in late September or October, so in some years it starts in September. The festival is rooted in Phuket's Chinese Thai community: participants dress in white and keep a strict vegetarian diet, shrines in and around Phuket Town hold ceremonies, and street processions bring firecrackers and displays of devotion, including ritual piercing, that some visitors find hard to watch. Stalls marked with yellow flags sell vegetarian food across the island. Check the dates for your year. If you plan to watch a procession, bring earplugs and keep a respectful distance.

Which Tours Run in September

All our tours run in September, but the sheltered ones are the ones to build your week around.

James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay

The most reliable trip of the month. Phang Nga Bay is enclosed by the mainland and dozens of islands, so the water inside usually stays calm when the west coast is rough, and the karst scenery looks dramatic under clouds. The James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay tour (3,500 THB per adult, 2,200 THB per child) includes a sea canoe at Hong Island or Talu Island depending on the tide, lunch at Koh Panyee and a swim at Naka Island. The national park fee is paid on the day. Read the Phang Nga Bay guide first.

Private Phang Nga Bay charter

For a group, the quiet season is a good time for a private Phang Nga Bay speedboat (35,000 THB per boat). You get the whole boat with captain and crew, hotel pickup and up to 6 hours on the water, on the same sheltered route. National park fees and lunch are not included, and sea canoeing is arranged on request.

White water rafting

Rain fills the river, which makes September a lively month for rafting. The white water rafting, flying fox and waterfall tour (2,500 THB per adult, 2,200 THB per child under 12) is the natural plan B when the sea forecast looks poor. The guide decides on safety on the day, and after very heavy rain the program can change.

Jet Ski 7 Islands

The Jet Ski 7 Islands tour (7,500 THB per jet ski for 1 or 2 riders) stays on the sheltered east coast around the Naka Islands. It runs on many days, but strong wind and storms stop it more often in September than in the dry months.

Raya, Coral Island and Phi Phi

The Raya and Coral Island tour (2,400 THB per adult) runs on some September days, with the guide choosing the calmest bay at Racha, but rough days are cancelled for safety. Phi Phi is the least reliable trip this month: the crossing is long and exposed, and Maya Bay is usually closed until around the end of September. If Phi Phi matters, book it early in your stay and keep spare days. The Similan Islands usually reopen around 15 October.

How to Plan a September Week

• Build the week around sheltered trips. Phang Nga Bay, rafting and the jet ski tour are the most likely to run.
• Keep at least two free days. In the wettest month, spare days are what let you move a cancelled trip.
• Watch the forecast, not the sky. A grey morning can turn into a fine day, and a sunny one can end with a storm.
• Have indoor plans ready: Phuket Old Town, cooking classes, spas and cafes.
• Know the terms. If we cancel a tour for unsafe weather, you get a full refund or a new date at no extra cost. Most tours have free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. See our booking terms.

Sample 5 day plan

1. Day 1: arrive, spa or pool.
2. Day 2: James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay.
3. Day 3: Phuket Old Town and the Vegetarian Festival if the dates match, or a free day.
4. Day 4: white water rafting.
5. Day 5: the jet ski tour, or Raya and Coral Island if the sea is calm.

Check dates on our September tours page. For the months either side, read Phuket in August and Phuket in October.

What to Pack for September

• A good rain jacket or poncho, plus a spare pair of shoes that can dry out.
• A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch for every day out.
• Quick-dry clothes, and light white clothes if you want to join the Vegetarian Festival.
• Reef-safe sunscreen. Clear spells can be very sunny.
• Insect repellent for the evenings.
• Seasickness tablets if you plan any open-water trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is September a good time to visit Phuket?

It is the best month for low prices and empty stops, but usually the wettest. It suits flexible travelers who plan around sheltered trips.

Is Maya Bay open in September?

Usually not. The national park usually closes Maya Bay around August and September. Check the current dates, as they are set each year.

When is the Vegetarian Festival?

It runs for the first nine days of the ninth lunar month, which usually falls in late September or October. The dates change every year.

Which tours run in September?

All of them, sea conditions permitting. James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay, rafting and the jet ski tour are the most reliable. Browse all tours to check dates.