I was intending to go to Thailand during October and November - what is the weather like then?
I heard that even though it's rainy season it doesn't matter much as it will be torrential downpour then sun again?
Will this affect diving in Ko Tao?
Reply to this The rainy season ends sometime in October.
November is the start of the tourist season. It is when the best weather is. Not too rainy and not too hot.
What you heard is true. The rainy season is not so bad and most of the rain conveniently falls at night. There can be a few hours of it during the day but there are also lots of warm sunny hours. Occassionally it will rain all day but that really is occassionally.
One problem you might have is getting to the islands. Sometimes during the rainy season the seas are too rough for the boats to go. But this wont be a problem if you go to Koh Tao in November.
Mel
Reply to this gotta respectfully disagree somewhat with the previous poster. on the koh samui/tao side, expect rain all through october and november. tourist season officially starts dec 15, not november. although november can be a nice time to visit if you are lucky enough to miss the rain.
also, anyone that says rainy season is not too bad in october and november and only happens at night is way off. october and november in the gulf of thailand you SHOULD EXPECT, although will not always experience, all day rain. it will rain continuously here for days and weeks at a stretch. roads flood. traffic comes to a standstill. business stops outside of the resort. it's not occassional , it happens every october and in great quantities. we just made cnn international broadcast last october when it rained for a full month straight.
i live on samui, lived here for years, that's what happens.
Reply to this Maybe I should aim for November then ?
Is October and November a bad time to head to SE Asia then ?
Perhaps I should add something to my itinerary before that like New Zealand.
Reply to this Aim to hit the islands that you want to get to by boat in November.
Go someplace else in October.
Reply to this So Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, etc. should be okay in October?
Are there many backpackers there during that time?
Reply to this I was there in November one year. There were plenty of backpackers.
I was also there in June. There were fewer but still enough to meet people.
I have not been to Cambodia or Laos so I am not sure about those. My Lonely Planet book does not say not to go to Laos and Cambodia during October so I think it would be OK. You could post specific questions about these countries to find out if anybody has been to them in October.
Reply to this try Australia - like the Gold Coast if you are planning to go in October.
New Zealand can still be cold and raining in October. The best time to visit NZ is Feb/Mar.
Reply to this November to December is the best for travel in thailand. Actually it is winter season but the weather is not so cold. 555
Accommodation in thailand
Reply to this I am trying to plan a last minute (like leave in 5 days from now) trip-- Is September not recommended for Thailand? I am pretty adventurous and would like to do a trek or tow...and definitely would like to head to the beaches. I would put off the trip if I am going to really be handicapped by the weather.
Reply to this Hello Peter 😊
I wouldnt let September rain stop me going to Thailand. Most of the rain falls at night and unless you get very unlucky there will be plenty of warm sunny hours during the day. The advantage is that there wont be as many tourists as during the high season and prices will be lower both for flights to get there and accomodation once you are there.
Mel
Reply to this 
