Boat tours in Krabi in the rainy season: what works and what does not

Two things are often confused in the rainy season: rain and swell. For a boat trip, swell matters most. A tropical shower that passes after a while is unpleasant but harmless; a day with strong wind and long swell, on the other hand, is a real factor for comfort and safety.

Typical for the Andaman coast: showers often come in the afternoon or at night, and many mornings are calm and sunny. In the wettest months, usually September and October, the balance shifts, with more overcast days and more wind. That does not mean every day is lost.

How the months differ roughly is described in our guide to the best time to visit Krabi. Here we look at the boats: when is it feasible, when not, and how can you tell whether a day will be good?

Reputable operators cancel a tour for safety reasons when conditions require it. Typical triggers are strong wind, heavy swell or an official warning, for example for a storm. We deliberately name no fixed threshold above which “we never go”: the decision depends on the boat, route, wind direction and the captain’s experience, and figures from blogs are rarely documented.

With us: safety comes first. In case of a storm warning we reschedule free of charge or refund 100%. Light rain alone is no reason to cancel, because in the tropics it is often over after a short time, and we adjust the route flexibly.

How often tours are cancelled depends heavily on the year. We therefore give no rate. Simply plan so that a lost day is manageable, and do not book important days on your very last holiday day.

In the rainy season some destinations are fully or partly inaccessible. This has nothing to do with our tours but with the protection concept of the national parks. Two cases are important to know before you book.

Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh was closed from 1 August to 30 September in recent years and reopened on 1 October. You can find details in our guide Is Maya Bay open? The dates are set by the national park authority.

According to several sources, Koh Rok and Koh Haa in Mu Ko Lanta National Park are temporarily closed during the monsoon, roughly from mid-May to the end of October. The periods can change, and we have not built a primary, current notice into this article. That is why our Koh Rok & Koh Haa Snorkel Safari is seasonal: it makes most sense in the dry season, and we clarify the status for your date when you enquire.

The rule of thumb: the more sheltered a destination, the more likely it is reachable even in monsoon weather. Phang Nga Bay in the north in particular lies behind islands and mainland and often offers calmer conditions than the open sea towards Phi Phi or Koh Rok. Whether it works on your day still depends on wind and waves.

The bays off Ao Nang can also work well, such as the Hong lagoons or the islands of the Poda group. Depending on the wind direction there are sheltered sides, and captains choose the route according to the day. That is the advantage of short distances: you lose little time on the water, and changing the route is easier.

Open waters, on the other hand, are the most weather-dependent. Phi Phi, Koh Rok and deep-sea fishing on the outer reefs are a pleasure on calm days and a poor idea on rough days. If you plan your holiday around exactly these destinations, build in buffer days or move to the high season.

In the rainy season a private boat shows its strengths. Unlike group tours with fixed timetables, we follow you and the weather. The captain checks wind and waves in the morning and decides whether and where to go. If the morning is calm but showers are expected in the afternoon, we leave earlier.

A maximum of five guests on a white hardtop cabin boat with two 300 hp engines, a bench and comfortable boat seats: the hardtop provides shade and cover during a shower. A whole group does not have to take part in the decision, it is only about your plans.

In practice this also means: you can move your day flexibly if forecast and reality do not match in the morning. How the rescheduling works exactly, you clarify with us when booking. In case of a storm warning our free rescheduling or refund applies.

If you go out on the water in the low season, you pack differently. A light waterproof jacket is part of it, because even in sunshine the fast ride can be cool and wet. Protect your phone, camera and documents in a waterproof bag or dry bag. Swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen are mandatory anyway, and even under an overcast sky the sun can be strong.

Plan B matters: do not place boat days on your last days, leave a buffer and have an alternative on land ready, for example a café, a spa or a temple visit. A detailed list of what belongs on a boat day can be found in our packing list and etiquette guide.

Evening tours in the low season are a matter of clouds. A sunset off Phra Nang or Koh Poda depends on a clear horizon. With dense cloud the colour show is missing; with broken cloud it can be especially dramatic. Do not plan with a guarantee but with an attempt, and book with a fallback date if possible.

For the plankton tour, dark nights matter most, with the strongest effect around new moon. Cloud cover disturbs less than moonlight, but the sea has to be calm enough for us to enter the bay and swim safely. Whether that works in the rainy season is decided by the evening; we talk openly with you beforehand about what is realistic.

If you want to combine day and night, the Sunset & Night Glow Combo (19,500 THB per boat, from 3:30 pm) is a good choice. It is designed as a double chance: if the sunset turns out flat, the plankton remains, and vice versa.

Honestly, there are constellations where we tend to advise against it: if you have only a single day and want to see exactly one open-sea destination like Phi Phi, if you get seasick very easily and expect a smooth ride, or if your trip hinges on an exact date you cannot move. In these cases buffer days or a different destination are the better choice.

If a tour cannot take place because of the weather, we get in touch as early as possible, once the situation is clear. We then offer you another date or a refund, as described above. A decision against going is never a question of occupancy with us, but of safety.

Ask us about the current situation for your date when you book.