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To quote from Shania Twain’s lesser cannon: life’s about to get good. As for April on Koh Samui? Whether you’ll hunt for Easter eggs or get to enjoy Samui Songkran – there’s lots of sunshine and even more water coming your way.

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Koh Samui in April

Is April a good time to visit Koh Samui?

Yes, but it’s very, very hot. Like so hot that Thai people complain it’s hot. While this means that the sea and swimming pools are beautifully warm for swimming, you might have little interest in strenuous activities like hiking/biking. All the better for cheeky day-drinking, I say.

Where to stay in April

My pick: Hansar Samui

Besides the certain cooling properties of Hansar’s 28-metre (90-foot) saltwater infinity pool, every room has an ocean view and a large, comfy balcony (often shaded through the day). This means you’ll always have a comfortable place to cool off, without missing a minute of ocean (or … raise your hands … people-watching while pretending to read).

See Rates + Details

More hotel ideas

Mid-range: The Jungle Club
Couples: SALA Samui Choeng Mon
Families: Melia Koh Samui

Tip: If you’re coming to Koh Samui on a budget (and aren’t acclimated to Thailand’s heat), do yourself a massive favour and spring for an air-conditioned room instead of a fan-cooled room. You’ll save the difference in rehydration IVs at the emergency room.

Whether you want to live on the beach, or try life in the hills, see my best recommendations for where to stay on Koh Samui – with handy beach maps to get your bearings.

What to pack for April

1. Linen, more linen and a travel steamer

More than any other time of year, your packing focus should be on staying comfortable in April’s strong heat. When you pack for Thailand, pay close attention to bringing clothes made from the right fabrics. Tell your favourite denim or polyester clothing: you’re sorry, but it’s so not invited. Year-round, I rely on linen to stay cool in Thailand, especially so in April.

Tip: This dual-voltage travel steamer is the exact puzzle piece missing to take you from “crumpled linen heap” to “tropical casual” (AND it kills dust mites). See my full review to learn why I’m fully in love with this thing.

2. Avoid wilting

To keep your electrolyte supply up when you’re sweating so much, a few tubes of electrolyte tabs are good to bring. Keep a tube in your bag or pocket and they’re easy to add to a bottle of water when needed. Fresh coconuts and Gatorade are available, but a portable supply is a helpful backup when you’re wilting far from a shop or restaurant. I like to use them on long flights and – hellooo fellow cult members – on the Peloton, too.

3. Absolutely the best trick in the book

Put mosquito protection ‘up your sleeve’! Mosquito-repelling bracelets are the easiest, laziest way to protect yourself. They’re especially clever in April when you’ll sweat off a repellent spray and be left vulnerable. Also, they’re natural and DEET-free. (You know how I feel about beagles and bunnies).

4. Your face vs. Thailand’s heat and humidity?

Inescapable truth: It’s really hot in April and you’re going to do a lot more than ‘glow’. It was during such sticky weather that I first tried a konjac sponge – a magic, totally natural sponge made from a Japanese vegetable – that very gently exfoliates your face and neck. I could almost feel my skin thanking me after each use – it felt much cooler and happier. If you can start using yours a few weeks before you travel, even better. Given how much sunscreen you’ll be putting on your face (and how much you’ll sweat), I like to ‘win’ and get a headstart on happy skin. (Burn easily? Get my favourite sun safety tips).

Tip: For a total packing guide, see what to pack for Thailand (including toiletries, electronics, clothes for different seasons, cities and itineraries and your carry-on).

What kind of shoes to wear on Koh Samui in April?

Flip-flops or thongs. Havaianas flip-flop sandals are ideal for almost everything on Koh Samui. Given that it’s oh-so-very-hot, you won’t want anything but the lightest flip-flop on your sweet little feet. Why Havaianas in particular? Even when you leave them outside in the sunshine, the rubber doesn’t get hot (and they last forever).

How to avoid scary hair?

This is a very random suggestion for girls: No matter your hair’s natural state – April in Koh Samui has plans to turn it into Monica Gellar Barbados hair. In weather like this, Invisibobbles are invaluable to your victory: they hold a ponytail or a “get this hair off my neck or I’ll die” emergency-bun all day. Better still, they’re plastic so they don’t stay wet after you finish swimming. (A first-world problem but a problem nonetheless).

April events calendar

Songkran on Koh Samui

01 Koh Samui’s Jellyfish Petting Zoo (open 1 day only)
06 Chakri Day (Thai national holiday)
09 Easter (not a Thai holiday, some hotels participate)
13 Songkran (Thai New Year, through April 15)
22 Earth Day (beach clean-up parties)

Weather in April

Oh, it’s hot, hot, hot!

April averages

Temperature: 29°C / 84°F
Sunshine (hours/day): 8
Rainy days: 5 days (80mm / 3 inches)
Sea temperature: 28°C / 82°F

Your questions

Koh Samui in April at SALA Samui Choeng Mon Beach

Hi there! Would you recommend the Anantara Lawana or the Sala Choeng Mon Beach for a family suite with a pool? Kids are 10 and 5 Xx

I think SALA Samui Choeng Mon vs Anantara Lawana is a toss-up between the beach and a kids’ club. Choeng Mon is a better beach and is ideal for kids as it’s soft sand (good for sandcastles) and big enough for walks and paddling. You’ve also got enough to explore on foot. Anantara Lawana has a kids’ club and offers various family activities but the beach is quite small and rocky, you’d want to wear water shoes.

How to choose? Assign points: Round 1 – Soft beach vs kids’ club. Round 2 – How much you want to lock yourselves away vs wander around the resort vicinity. Round 3 – Will you be up at sunrise anyway? Might as well enjoy the view (+1 point for Anantara Lawana).

Is Koh Samui busy in April?

Songkran draws many visitors to Thailand in April – although Bangkok and Chiang Mai are better-known destinations. In the years that Songkran and Easter fall in April, yes, April will be busy. However, given the heat, few tourists venture far from their hotel swimming pool (or air-conditioning) during the day. Outside of holiday dates, hotel rates are very attractive in April.

Is April or May better on Koh Samui?

Temperature (avg): 29°C in April vs 30°C in May
Sunshine (hours): 8 in April vs 6 in May
Rainy days (avg): 5 days (80mm) in April vs 9 days (160mm) in May
Sea temperature: 28°C in April vs 28°C in May

Which is hotter? While the stats above put May on Koh Samui as hotter – everything I’ve ever read (and experienced) insists April is Koh Samui’s hottest month. However, as temperatures soar towards 30°C/86°F (with major humidity to match) perhaps it’s all relative. Given that both Songkran and Easter fall in April this year, May will likely be quieter – though slightly wetter.

Is Koh Samui or Phuket better in April?

Temperature (avg): 29°C on Koh Samui vs 29°C in Phuket
Sunshine (hours): 8 on Koh Samui vs 9 in Phuket
Rainy days (avg): 5 days (80mm) on Koh Samui vs 11 days (150mm) in Phuket
Sea temperature: 28°C on Koh Samui vs 30°C in Phuket

For absolutely no legitimate reason, I get excited when Samui “wins”. Unless you prefer rain to sunshine, Koh Samui is a better bet in April.

Is the weather too hot on Koh Samui in April?

For some, it might be. If you’re coming with a family member (perhaps an elderly relative) who typically struggles with heat, they might be more comfortable in a cooler month. I recommend booking air-conditioned accommodation in April – there’s no point coming all this way to melt and suffer.

Tip: Are you renting a villa? Double check exactly which rooms of the house have their own A/C units. Sometimes the kitchen and living areas are just fan-cooled, which doesn’t really cut it for sissies like me.

What’s the hottest part of April on Koh Samui?

Smack in the middle. April 16th is, on average, the hottest day of the year on Koh Samui. Isn’t Thailand clever to have scheduled the world’s biggest water fight during this period? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to cool off during Songkran on Koh Samui (whether you ask for it or not).

Tip: As April is so hot, I recommend bringing a stash of travel wet wipes so, when the heat gets the better of you, you can quickly refresh and feel like a human again.

What are the best things to do on Koh Samui in April?

Koh Samui Songkran in April — A Maenam garden in April

Without a doubt – enjoying Songkran’s festivities. Whether by luck or cunning, it’s possible your April visit will coincide with Songkran (the Thai New Year, celebrated as a water festival). Of all the annual events in Thailand, Songkran is a true highlight. Imagine an entire country of people enjoying themselves as though it were the last day of school. It’s a happy day. To make sure you completely enjoy yourself, see a few basic tips for how to stay safe on Songkran.

What can’t you do on Koh Samui in April?

I can’t survive without air-conditioning in April – both in rental cars and at night. You might have a higher melting point, but I doubt it. Just make sure your rental car has air-conditioning, and let The Koh Samui Guide take care of the destinations.

Can I swim in the sea on Koh Samui in April?

You’ll love the pool and ocean temperatures at this time of year – no wilful dipping of toes, but bath temperature. If you, like me, enter a swimming pool one millimetre at a time like a ridiculous sissy – April is your cannonball season.

Koh Samui in April

More questions? Want to arrive a total Samui expert? Use The Koh Samui Guide to find out what to do, where to stay, what to avoid, and how to have more fun – at sunset, on a rainy day, and more. Basically, it helps you to do everything for Koh Samui except choose a new bathing suit.

What to wear: Find out what to wear in Thailand
My favourites: Mosquito repellent
Hotels: Where to stay on Koh Samui

P.S. You can find every tip for Thailand packing and prep in the archive, or subscribe by email and get all the details straight to your inbox. Enjoy!

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