The safe bet
Water parks
It's the number one answer with kids, and nobody thinks of it: a water park works in the rain, you're already wet. Plan the whole day rather than two hours, and go early: the other families had the same idea.
Going out & exploringWhat to do in Phuket when it rains
Twelve answers, two of them better in the rain than in the sun. And first, some good news: in Phuket, it rarely rains all day and almost never everywhere at once.
First: is the day really ruined?
In most cases, no. Monsoon rain comes in short, heavy showers broken up by long sunny spells: it's not the drizzle of an autumn day back home.
The island is around fifty kilometres from north to south. A downpour drenching Patong tells you nothing about Rawai, Nai Harn or the other side, in Phang Nga Bay, which is sheltered and stays navigable when the west coast is choppy. Before cancelling anything, it's worth asking what the weather is doing elsewhere.
Second, and this is the one that matters for a day at sea: it isn't the rain that stops you going out, it's the state of the sea. A shower over a flat sea doesn't bother anyone. A clear sky with a big swell makes the day miserable, even risky. The decision is made that morning, by looking at the sea, not the weather app.
Twelve options, from the most obvious to the least known
Sorted by what they take: some fill a whole day, others two hours. The last two are the ones nobody thinks of.
Under cover
Go-karting and shooting ranges
The island's karting tracks run in all weathers, and shooting is done under cover. They're the two outings that rescue an afternoon for a group, especially among friends when the boat day has just been cancelled.
Better in the rain
White-water rafting
Counter-intuitive, but true: the region's rivers are at their best when the water level rises. A sporty or family run depending on the route, and the current water level opens sections you can't do all year round.
Better in the rain
Waterfalls
This is THE time of year when they're at their fullest: the pools are full, you can swim in them, and the jungle around them is at its peak. An hour's drive from the coast and the scenery changes completely.
A full day
A Thai cooking class
Three to four hours in the dry, with the market, the cooking and the meal. It's the activity people talk about most when they get home, and it's almost always available at the last minute.
The national sport
A Muay Thai camp
A beginners' class in a real camp, or tickets for the evening fights. The gyms are covered, and seeing a fight live is nothing like what you'd imagine.
Doing nothing
Spa, massage, and massage at home
The obvious option, with a twist few visitors know about: have the therapist come to your villa instead of going to the spa. No trip in the rain, and it's often the best moment of the stay.
Culture
Phuket Old Town
Sino-Portuguese façades, cafés, shops, the museum. You move from one covered arcade to the next without getting wet, and it's the part of the island most visitors never see.
Culture
Temples and the Big Buddha
Temples are lovely to visit under a cloudy sky, and there are far fewer people: it's even the best time for photos, without the harsh midday light. For the Big Buddha, we'll tell you that morning whether the sky is clear on the hill: the view is worth the trip.
For kids
Aquarium, trampolines, play centres
The island has added plenty in recent years: indoor parks, trampoline halls, play areas. With kids, it's the afternoon that saves the day: they burn off energy, and you get a breather.
Shopping malls
Cinemas and malls
The big malls have cinemas showing films in their original language with subtitles, and the food is very decent. An air-conditioned screening in the middle of a tropical afternoon is nicer than it sounds.
Switch coasts
Go where it isn't raining
The least-known and most effective tip: on a fifty-kilometre island, it rarely rains everywhere at once. A downpour over Patong tells you nothing about Rawai or sheltered Phang Nga Bay. One phone call is enough to know where to go.
The two activities at their best right now
Some things in Phuket can only be done well at this time of year. If you're here during the monsoon, you get what February visitors won't see.
The inland waterfalls, first. They depend entirely on recent rain: this is when they're in full flow, the pools are deep and you can swim in them. An hour's drive from the coast, and the landscape changes completely.
Rafting next, for the same reason. The water rises, the run becomes a real run, and the water level opens routes you can't do the rest of the time. It's the right season for it, by a long way.
Tell us which day you're free: we'll check the current water level and send you where it's worth the trip.
Our partner lives on the island all year round, monsoon included. If your day gets rained off and you don't know what to do with it, message us: we'll check what the weather is doing where, and tell you what to do with your afternoon. Even if you haven't booked anything with us.
FAQ
Phuket weather: common questions
What can I do in Phuket when it rains?
Water parks, which work in the rain, go-karting and covered shooting ranges, a Thai cooking class, a Muay Thai camp, spas and massage at your villa, Phuket Old Town and its arcades, temples, a cinema showing films in the original language, and the aquarium or play centres with kids. Rafting and waterfalls are actually better in the rain than in the dry season.
Does it rain all day in Phuket during the monsoon?
Rarely. Monsoon rain mostly falls in short, intense showers separated by long dry spells, rather than as continuous drizzle. A day forecast as rainy usually leaves several usable hours, and it often rains on one coast of the island while the other stays dry.
What are the rainiest months in Phuket?
The south-west monsoon affects the Andaman coast from roughly May to October, usually peaking in September and October. The dry high season runs from November to April. It shows at sea too: the Similan Islands close from mid-May to mid-October, and some boat trips are cancelled at the last minute when the swell picks up.
Should I cancel my boat day if it rains in Phuket?
Not necessarily: what stops you going out isn't the rain, it's the state of the sea. A shower over a flat sea doesn't affect a trip, while a clear sky with a big swell makes it unpleasant, even dangerous. The decision is made that morning, by looking at the conditions, not the weather forecast.
Planning your stay?
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Keep reading
More Phuket guides
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NaturePhuket's waterfalls
Bang Pae, Ton Sai, Kathu, Ao Yon: Phuket's four waterfalls, what you'll find there and the season when they're at their best.
FoodWhere to eat in Phuket
Phuket food isn't the Thai food you know: Chinese and Malay influences, and four dishes you won't find elsewhere. Where to find them, area by area.
Rain on your plans?
Tell us your dates and who's with you. We'll suggest what's worth doing that day, and book it.