If you’re a Northern Hemisphere inhabitant, January’s main excitement might be shuffling through the snow to your new gym. Do you remember what lush plants look like? Barely, right? So let’s consider this bleak misery grounds for your evacuation: time to head to Thailand and enjoy Koh Samui in January. What can you expect?

Don’t Miss: Where to stay on Koh Samui?

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Koh Samui in January

Is January a good time to visit Koh Samui?

Oh yes. While 2019 was a marked exception (thanks to tropical storm Pabuk), January is usually one of the best times to visit Koh Samui if you prefer balmy temperatures over strong heat. Want stronger heat and solid sunshine? Plan to visit later in the month. With good odds from the weather gods and balmy, barefoot days – it’s no hardship. January is one of my favourite months on Samui, especially when it quietens down from the Christmas rush.

Where to stay in January

My pick: Melia Koh Samui

If you’re coming as a family and need to be on, in, or near water at all times, Melia will delight you (and your kids particularly). Pool access rooms lead directly into the water. There’s also a 700 metre lazy river (aka The Loop Pool), a mini water park and shallow-entry spots for paddling. Bonus points: Melia won #1 Luxury Beachfront Resort in the World at last year’s World Luxury Hotel Awards.

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More hotel ideas

Tip: For an easy introduction to Koh Samui’s beaches, see Where to Stay on Koh Samui.

What to pack for January

Given the chance of rain and cloud cover in early January, I especially recommend bringing entertainment (like travel games or some good books), plus extra sun protection for the surprising skin-burnability of overcast days. Even if it’s sunny – it might be quite windy and the sea might be choppy, so you’ll want some land-based activities. I love to stick to shore and devour a stack of books. More than anything, pack quality mosquito repellent.

As of January 2020, plastic bags are now banned at all major shops in Thailand – including supermarkets, 7-Eleven and Family Mart. Bring your own packable pocket-sized reusable bag and sashay into the sunset with planet-saving smugness.

More packing tips: Every shred of knowledge I’ve accumulated in nearly twenty years of Thailand packing trial-and-error is in these two posts:

January events calendar

Events Calendar

As for big events (see the 2023 island calendar), January on Koh Samui is largely a case of “make your own entertainment” (something a pack of cards and a few Singhas will sort out very nicely). Much like elsewhere, it’s a low-key month after the parties of late December. Sounds pretty good to me.

Weather in January

January averages

Temperature: 26°C / 79°F
Sunshine (hours/day): 7
Rainy days: 7 days (90mm / 3.5 inches)
Sea temperature: 26°C / 79°F

What’s the weather like on Koh Samui in January?

Early January: You’ll probably experience two different types of January weather, depending on whether you come early or late in the month. For example, two recent New Year’s Eves included evening deluges of biblical proportions, both drying up at the perfect time for incredible fireworks and thousands of lanterns.

Later January: While early January on Koh Samui can be cooler (it is, statistically, the coolest month of the year), it warms up towards February.

Your questions

Is Koh Samui busy in January?

Christmas and New Year on Koh Samui are one of the island’s peak seasons, with visitors typically staying as long as they can stretch school holiday. It can also get busy at Chinese New Year (if the holiday falls in January – as it will in 2023).

Otherwise, expect a medium volume of (mostly European) retirees escaping their dreadful winter. Note that, even at peak times of the year, it’s always possible to find a quiet corner on Koh Samui – it only has to feel busy if you want it to. Plan your itinerary to suit introvert or extrovert preferences in The Koh Samui Guide.

Is January or February better on Koh Samui?

I’m assuming that “better” means “sunnier”, in which case it’s February. However, if you’re choosing between one week or the next, the difference will be minuscule. That said, once the Christmas/New Year crowd has gone home, you can often find the island to yourself in January. February on Koh Samui has, on average, fewer rainy days, and a slightly higher temperature.

Temperature (avg): 26°C in Jan vs 27°C in Feb
Sunshine (hours): 7 in Jan vs 8 in Feb
Rainy days (avg): 7 days (90mm) in Jan vs 5 days (30mm) in Feb
Sea temperature: 26°C in Jan vs 27°C in Feb

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

Usually, you can choose to do in fairly calm seas (obviously at your own risk). However, earlier in the month can have periods of ‘remnant rainy season’ where the sea is a bit rougher (certainly the case in 2017 and 2019 when beaches had to close for a few days).

What to expect on Koh Samui in January?

Early January: Certainly there are lots of people around following New Year – the busiest time of year on Samui – but it’s easily possible to get a seat at one of the island’s most popular bars the next day. A week or so later, as soon as schools resume, Samui really quiets down. Expect things to get busy again over Chinese New Year.

When are sunrise and sunset on Koh Samui in January?

On January 1st, you’ll need to be up before 6:36 am to see the first sunrise of the year. Sunset is 6:11 pm. (Push things back approximately 5-10 minutes by February 1st).

What are the best things to do in January?

Tend to your New Year’s resolutions? Happily, Koh Samui is the perfect place to start things properly. A cracking formula? Lots of fresh Thai coconuts (Vitamin C!) and plenty of ocean-front yoga. There’s no better place to maintain a healthy breakfast – with extra Vitamin D for free.

Is it sunny on Koh Samui in January?

Late January tends to be sunnier than early in the month. Is your brain fried with trying to make the perfect decision? No cause for concern. If it rains for an afternoon, you just get a massage or a pedicure or read another great book. Unless you only want to sun-tan all day every day, you’ll never notice the weather.

How much does it rain on Koh Samui in January?

Put it this way … (on average) it rains MUCH less than November, and much less than December. However, it rains more (almost twice as much) than in February and March, which are the two driest months of the year.

Floods? Much like fluke weather worldwide, January 2017 and again in January 2019 on Koh Samui saw abnormal and insane quantities of rain, which caused island-wide flooding. Locals with good memories suggest it was the most January rain in decades. Ain’t global warming a treat? Normally, your worst-case weather means overcast skies and a little rain. Note that January floods are the vicennial exception.

Is January a good time to visit Koh Samui?

As mentioned, 2017 and 2019 were very different from the norm and it rained Forrest Gump-style, non-stop, for many days. However, the occasional rain shower is very welcome; rain cuts the humidity wonderfully. Yet don’t let freak weather dissuade you: January is more likely to be nice than not. Taking the 2-in-20-year chance of mega-rain, I say yes. Typically (and what else can you offer where the weather is concerned), Koh Samui in January will be 945,809,348 times preferable to the cold, frozen place you’re trying to escape.

Is Koh Samui or Phuket better in January?

Choose your own adventure, my friends, or you risk me saying Koh Samui is always better.

Temperature (avg): 26°C on Koh Samui vs 27°C in Phuket
Sunshine (hours): 7 on Koh Samui vs 8 in Phuket
Rainy days (avg): 7 days (90mm) on Koh Samui vs 6 days (40mm) in Phuket
Sea temperature: 26°C on Koh Samui vs 28°C in Phuket

Behind the scenes

The Koh Samui Guide is newly updated for January 2023 and continues to receive fantastic feedback from new and repeat customers alike.