What's the Weather like in Ko Samui in May
Temperature
May in Ko Samui is a pleasantly hot month, similar to April. May falls in the hot season and is the hottest month of the year on average. The average daily temperature is 30°C, one degree higher than April, June, July and August, the other hot season months. The average daily high temperature in May is 33°C, while the average daily low temperature is 26°C, both as high as they ever get on the island. The month is characterised by an almost perfectly constant temperature; there is hardly any noticeable difference between temperatures throughout the month. 50% of the days in May are classified as warm and the other 50% as hot. The sea is also comfortable warm with an average temperature of 28°C, as warm as the waters of the Gulf of Thailand get in the course of the year, perfect for swimming and other beach activities.
Sunshine Hours
May sees a sudden drop in sunshine hours, as more clouds roll in and the weather gets wetter. While February, March and April had eight hours of sunshine, May only has six. The length of the days in May stays basically the same throughout the month. May 1 is the shortest day of the month with 12.28 hour of daylight; May 31 is the longest day with 12.38 daylight hours. This is an increase of only ten minutes, which is almost nothing. The length of the days is in fact pretty much constant year round. This is due to the resort's location near the equator.
The biggest reason for the decrease in sunshine hours is the increase in cloud cover. The percentage of cloud cover rises rapidly in the course of the month. With 68% of cloud cover, May 1 is the clearest day of the month. This percentage climbs steadily and by May 31 cloud cover is 80%.
Rain
Although May falls in the hot season and temperatures are comparable to April, the increase in cloud cover results in a lot more rainfall than the previous dry months. May receives a total of 160mm of rainfall in the course of the month, which is double the amount of April. In terms of total rainfall, May is the third-wettest month in the year. Only October and November are (much) wetter. May has nine rainy days. While the hot season lasts until August, May marks the beginning of the wetter part of the year. Although this is not officially monsoon season that season is from September to December it does get significantly wetter all of a sudden. This period is sometimes called the mini-monsoon season. The chance of precipitation increases in the course of the month. May 1 is the driest day of the month with a 36% chance of rainfall. The wettest day is May 31 with a 49% chance of rain. The most likely type of precipitation in May is thunderstorms. They occur on 47% of the days of rainfall. The second-most common precipitation type is light rain, occurring on 41% of the rainy days.
Humidity
The humidity is essentially constant in May, ranging around 80% each day. May has four days of fog.
Ko Samui Hotels in May
Ban Sabai Retreat & Spa
Ban Sabai Retreat & Spa is located right on Big Buddha Beach and combines secluded accommodation with relaxing spa treatments. There are two room types: standard and beach. You won't have to worry about a thing when staying in this resort; pampering you is what they do. They offer detox programs, rejuvenation programs and spa treatments, including aromatherapy, steam baths, Thai massages, herbal oil massages, body scrubs and many others. A place focused on health and wellbeing, located on a tropical beach, could you possibly want anything else?
Lanna
The four-star Lanna features luxurious hotel suites, located in the most popular area of the island, between Bophut, Big Buddha and Chaweng. This accommodation has 77 spacious and well-equipped rooms and suites, all furnished with decorations and teakwood. Room amenities include flat-screen TVs, Egyptian cotton towels and a balcony overlooking the swimming pool.
There are plenty of other services and facilities as well. The large natural stone swimming pool has hydrotherapy beds; there is a fitness centre with high-end equipment; yoga and chi gong classes; a couple of tennis courts and a tennis teacher; car, motorbike and bicycle rental; and a fantastic luxury spa the Secret Garden where you can enjoy traditional Thai and aromatherapy massages, ant-aging facials, natural body scrubs and detoxifying body wraps. The restaurant serves fusion cuisine with western, Asian, Thai and Mediterranean influences, and great cocktails. Their wine list is excellent as well. You can also opt to have dinner and drinks inside your room by using the room service.
Ko Samui Beach for May
Full Moon Party
Big Buddha is a fast-developing area on the island, mostly due to its proximity to Chaweng Beach and the airport. This is also where you can catch a ferry to Ko Phangan to experience a world-famous Full Moon Party.
Beach Of Big Buddha
The beach of Big Buddha is long and lined with bungalows and restaurants. This is a relatively quiet beach, still popular among backpackers, but also gaining in popularity among families and tour groups. Big Buddha's main feature is that it lies within walking distance from Chaweng and its vibrant nightlife, and the excellent restaurants and shops in Fisherman's Village, but still remains one of the calmest beaches on the island. The main road is lined with dive shops, beer bars, pubs, supermarkets etcetera, all catering to a large expat population.
Bars and Restaurants
Even though it is one of the quieter places on the island, Big Buddha does have lots of restaurants, eateries, pubs and cafés, offering everything from pub food to Thai and international cuisine.
Saboey Resort & Villas
Quo Vadis is a restaurant in the Saboey Resort & Villas, which serves fantastic South American tapas. Its specialties are pilaki (white beans with chorizo), spinach and machego cheese pinchitos (lamb, chicken or beef kebabs) and feta mousse with gazpacho soup. The restaurant has a romantic setting, with candle-lit tables next to the pool or beach. There is a Thai menu as well.
Secret Garden Beach Resort Beach Café
The Secret Garden Beach Resort Beach Café is part of a bungalow resort on the beach. This fun beachfront restaurant and bar is surrounded by palm trees and offers views of Ko Phangan. It is open from 8am to midnight every day of the week and offers Thai, European and Mediterranean food. This place is popular among both expats and tourists and has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Every Sunday evening there are live music, beach barbecues and special buffets.
Things to do in Ko Samui in May
Big Game Fishing
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about activities in Thailand, but big game fishing is definitely one of them. The waters of the Gulf of Thailand are home to countless fish species.
Big game fishing tours cater to everyone from expert fishermen to beginners. The traditional wooden Thai fishing boats have shade covers to protect you from both sun and rain, while the captain navigates to the best fishing sites. Sites may vary though; it's the captain decision where to go as he knows these waters best. Usually the locations lie south of Ko Samui, such as Wang Bay, Ko Taen and Ko Mudsoom.
Day packages include all fishing equipment, bait, hotel drop-off and pick-up, lunch including cold drinks and fresh fruit, insurance and snorkelling gear for those who want to jump in the water and take a peek below the surface. The boats also have barbecues on board on which you can grill your catch, but you can also take it home if you prefer. Boats generally have a capacity of ten to twelve people. The species of fish you may fish on are snapper, barracuda, shark, mackerel, sailfish, grouper and gar.
Na Muang Waterfalls
One of the most spectacular sights on the island are the Na Muang Waterfalls, a magnificent couple of waterfalls located about twelve kilometres south of Nathon Bay. They are easily accessed just off the main ring road, about halfway between Nathon and Lamai. You can reach the waterfalls on foot via a walking trail, but be aware that it can be wet and slippery. Na Muang 2 is eighty metres high and is the highest waterfall on Ko Samui. The waterfalls themselves are free to visit, but the way there is lined with stalls selling souvenirs, food and offering guided tours of the area.
Na Muang Safari Park
Namtok Na Muang means 'Purple Waterfalls' in Thai, a name they got because of the purple colour of their rock faces. The area around the waterfalls is a popular place to swim and relax or hike. There are several hiking trails that allow you to explore the dense jungle. Between Na Muang 1 and Na Muang 2 lies the excellent Na Muang Safari Park. There you can go on elephant rides, watch monkey shows and enjoy other kinds of entertainment. This is a particularly great place to visit with kids. The waterfalls are a great and quiet alternative to the beach. Make sure to bring swimwear, sturdy shoes and a camera when visiting!
