This is the warmest month of the year in the spectacular destination that is Southeast Asia. However, although the hottest part of the year typically consists of dry weather and extremely high temperatures, in the month of April rain showers usually begin to occurostly in the afternoons and in the eveningss the weather makes its way toward the rainy season.
The average rainfall experienced this time of year is about 176mm, and normally the rains will fall for a couple of hours a day, bringing cool weather into the island and providing a welcome, although brief, relief from the scorching heat. There are 12 days with rainfall. Thunderstorms are the most prevalent precipitation type, occurring on no less than 83% of those 12 days. Moderate rain happens on 9% of those days; light rain on 8%. As the weather moves into the wetter part of the year, which starts in May, the chance of rainfall rises in the course of the month. April 1 has a 41% chance of precipitation, while April 30 has a 56% chance.
During the day, the average temperature high in April is about 32°C, which is the highest afternoon temperature of any month. At night, the temperatures are lower, but still very high, averaging 23°C. Make sure that your hotel room has air-conditioning! Those two temperatures remain basically constant throughout April. The average temperature is 28°Che highest monthly average temperature of the year in Ko Chang. The sea water temperature, too, reaches its annual high and now averages a bath-like 30°C.
There is still plenty of sunshine and visitors should expect to enjoy 9 hours of sunshine per day on average. This is the last month with this amount of daily sunshine before the dry season arrives again in December. Starting in May, the number of sunshine hours will decrease to 8 and, later, 7.
Enjoy restful nights at the Ko Chang Cliff Beach Resort. You can either choose to stay in one of the resort's bungalows or suites. The rooms have great sea views, cable television, private balconies and air conditioning. This is a child-friendly resort, boasting a children's pool and an infinity pool, a speedboat and kayak rental service, free Wi-Fi, fun outdoor activities and a great restaurant.
The Chill Resort and Spa is another good option for a place to stay in April, with its great spa treatments, delicious local and international cuisine, and a myriad of water sports on offer, such as snorkelling and kayaking. Other enjoyable activities in the resort's vicinity include hiking, elephant trekking, and an amazing treetop adventure.
Also recommended is the Chang Park Resort, which is set amid beautiful tropical gardens and is made up of 118 guest rooms in cosy bungalows that overlook the island's western coasthe sunsets are rather amazing!
Although April is the beginning of the rainy season, that doesn't mean that beach-going is out of the question. With water temperatures of about 30°C, rather the contrary is true. It is possible to swim and sunbathe all-year long on this island, although the daily window of sunbathing conditions is shorter during the wet season. There are a number of superb beaches to choose from, depending on what you're after. White Sand Beach is the most popular beach area and filled with restaurants, shops and accommodations, while Lonely Beach is where you can find most backpackers and budget travellers and is best for beach activities and partying. Scenic Klong Prao Beach is great for hiking, water sports and boating; Kai Bae Beach has plenty of dive shops and tour companies. In addition to these, there are about ten other beaches worth visiting.
After an eventful day, unwind at one of the island's exquisite restaurants, The Cove Terrace, which has amazing views of the sea, and is surrounded by beautiful palm trees, stunning flowers and lush green surroundings. Enjoy the restaurant's à la carte menu, which offers a broad range of international cuisine fusion-style of cuisine that combines Mediterranean and Southeast Asian flavours.
Next to the bungalows of Paradise Cottage lies a classy restaurant and beach bar. This is an extraordinary place to go for Thai food and cocktails, served right at one of the island's best beachesonely Beach. Live music is played on a regular basis, while this is also a fun place to start the day with a cup of coffee.
The World of Tapas is part of the BB Lonely Beach, a popular place to hang out among backpackers. This is truly one of the best, relaxing eating and drinking venues on the island, serving no fewer than 30 Belgian beers, a huge variety of tapas and several pastas. They also have a swimming pool and dorm-style accommodation.
One of the main events taking place in April each year is the traditional Thai New Year, known locally as Songkran. The locals celebrate this event by throwing water at each other, so get ready to be super-soaked. Generally there is a lot of merry making, involving people walking the streets with buckets of water, water guns and balloons filled with water. Locals sometimes simply stand alongside the road with garden hoses, ready to spray passers-by. It's just a great deal of fun.
While Ko Chang's beaches are the undeniably most popular places on this island paradise, the inland jungles and rainforests offer a welcome alternative to the lazy beach activities. Jungle trekking has become increasingly popular on the island as more and more visitors opt for more active holidays. Jungle treks are done with knowledgeable local guides who know the island like the back of their hands and are able to spot and point out wildlife, mostly birds, and interesting flora. Treks may lead to spectacular waterfalls, which begin growing in volume in April as this is the start of the rainy season, or to the tops of tall hills, offering amazing views. Keep in mind, however, that these treks are no mere strollshey include water crossings, rock scrambling, steep ascents and lots of sweating.
