What's the Weather like in Ko Samui in January
Temperature
Ko Samui, Thailand's third largest island, is an excellent tourist destination in January. The island enjoys a tropical climate throughout the year, which means that the temperature is constant throughout the year. Rainfall and cloud cover, however, vary drastically. In January, Ko Samui has an average daily high temperature of 28°C, while daily lows range around 24°C. Those daily highs and lows don't vary much in the course of the month. Average highs rise slightly from 28°C to 30°C throughout the month, while average lows rise from 24°C to 25°C. January is the 'coldest' month and January 11 is historically the coldest day of the year. The average daily temperature in January is 26°C. Despite being the coldest month of the year, January days are still warm by all accounts. Especially around noon temperatures are hot and you can find relief in the warm tropical seas that surround the island.
Average Sea Temperature
The sea temperature is a pleasant 26°C, as cold as the water ever gets in Ko Samui.
Daily Sunshine Hours
The length of the days is basically constant in January. January 1 is the shortest day of the year, with 11.34 hours of daylight, while January 31 is the longest, with 11.43 hours, a rise of only 9 minutes in the course of the month. January has an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day, just like December.
Cloud Cover
Cloud cover decreases significantly throughout the month. While at the beginning there is 78% of cloud cover, that number has fallen to 65% before the month is over. January 1 is the cloudiest day of the month; on January 31 the skies tend to be clearest.
Rain
January falls within the dry season in the resort and with clearing skies comes less rainfall. January receives an average of 90mm of precipitation and has an average of 7 rainy days, making it the fourth-driest month, after March, February and April. This is considered dry by the island's natives, who are used to much more precipitation during the monsoon season. The height of this wet season falls in November, which has no less than 430mm of rainfall and 15 rainy days. The chance of precipitation decreases in the course of January. January 3 is the wettest day of the month, with a 37% chance of rainfall. With a chance of 26%, January 31 is the driest January day. You may experience three types of rainfall this month. The most likely one is light rain, which happens on 57% of those 7 rainy days. Moderate rain occurs on 28% days of precipitation, and thunderstorms happen on only one day in January. There are 9 fog days in January, the highest number in the year.
Humidity
Because it is a tropical destination, the resort has an essentially constant amount of humidity throughout the year. In January, the humidity ranges around 85%, a percentage that doesn't change in the course of the month.
Falling in the middle of the dry season, which is also the high season in the resort, January receives lots of tourists this time of year. The seas are calm now, and temperatures at their comfortable lowest. This is the best time to go diving and snorkelling.
Ko Samui Hotels in January
Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa
A wonderful accommodation choice would be Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa. Located right at the beach in Bophut in northern Ko Samui, this four-star resort has fantastic personal bungalows, located amidst tropical gardens and near the beach. There are three types of bungalows: Garden Deluxe Bungalows, Garden Villas and Beachfront Deluxe Bungalows. They all have luxurious interiors, made up of wood and leather, which include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, an open-air bathroom and iPod dock station. Other amenities are a swimming pool, kayak rental, jeep and motorbike rental, a spa, restaurant and bar.
Fenix Beach Resort
is located on the shores of Lamai. These shores with their beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters are among the best places to sunbathe, relax and swim on the island. This four-star resort lies close to many attractions, shops, restaurants and bars, and offers family-friendly accommodation. It has 60 rooms and villas, all equipped with modern services, such as a private balcony, air-conditioning, TV and mini-bar. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre, massage and spa treatments, pool bar, restaurant, shuttle bus service, laundry service, a meeting room and complimentary Wi-Fi everywhere on the property. You can also go kayaking, snorkelling and play beach volleyball. Additionally, you may want to take a Thai cooking or fruit carving class. Every Monday night there is a movie on the big screen by the swimming pool.
Ko Samui Beach for January
Bophut Beach
A lovely beach is Bophut Beach, which actually consists of two separate places. First, there is Bophut Beach itself. This beach stretches for many kilometers between Big Buddha Beach and Maenam Beach, two other excellent beaches on the island. The second place is Fisherman's Village, located in the middle of Bophut Beach and possibly one of the oldest settlements in the resort.
This place is characterised by wooden Chinese shop houses and a few modern buildings. The whole beach area has a real Mediterranean feel to it. It used to be a French settlement after all. Besides sunbathing and swimming, you can also browse the shops and boutiques, selling things like jewellery, clothes and souvenirs. Additionally, there are also a couple of dive shops offering diving lessons and tours.
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Things to do in Ko Samui in January
Ko Tao
Thailand is a paradise for snorkellers. The seas and islands that surround Ko Samui offer fantastic opportunities. Especially the island of Ko Tao and its smaller neighbor Ko Nangyuan are particularly popular snorkelling destinations. Ko Tao is also known as 'Turtle Island' for its turtle-like shape. Ko Nangyuan actually consists of three small islands that are connected by a sandbar. These four islands have formed beautiful calm bays, lined with sandy beaches and filled with colourful coral reefs. The conditions for snorkelling are near perfect.
You can reach Ko Tao and Ko Nangyuan by high-speed catamarans or speedboats, both available through tour companies. The catamaran is your best option if you're travelling with children or have back problems, because the boat is more comfortable and the ride much smoother. The catamaran trip takes about 45 minutes longer than the speedboat journey, but there are a snack bar, sundeck and toilets.
More adventurous people should definitely consider the bumpy speedboat ride to the islands. This ride takes approximately 90 minutes. Going by speedboats also allows you to get to the snorkelling sites around Ko Nangyuan before the large afternoon crowds do. You'll have two full hours to explore the underwater world and the islands. All sites are well marked and lie within five minutes from the dock.
The most famous locations are the "Japanese Gardens", the "Ko Nanyuan Pinnacle" and the "Twins". You can also go for a hike up the hills for truly spectacular views. In the afternoon, the journey continues towards Ko Tao, where you can go snorkelling at Mango Bay. This is one of the lesser known and best preserved snorkelling sites around the island. An hour of swimming later, the tour continues to Mae Haad Walking Street, a traditional Thai market in Ko Tao.
Included in the price of the tour are a mask, snorkel, life jacket, hotel pick-up and drop-off, water, buffet lunch, insurance and an English-speaking guide.
Elephant Trek
A great land-based activity is going on an elephant trek. Elephants are the national symbol of Thailand and a ride on the back of a mighty, yet friendly elephant is a great way to see more of the island. As a tropical island, Ko Samui's interior is covered with lush and dense rainforest. Exploring the jungle on one of these ecological nature adventures, visiting coconut plantations, seeing exotic flora and fauna and stopping at thundering waterfalls are the ingredients for a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There really is no better way to see more of the area. After your elephant trek, you can enjoy an elephant show and even have the opportunity to feed the elephants by hand. Additionally, a 4WD jeep can bring you to lookout points, where you can enjoy phenomenal panoramic views.
