The Different Seasons and Yearly Festivals of Patong, Phuket
October 30, 2018.
Tags: Phuket, Patong, Tips
Deciding on When to Visit Patong, Phuket
Practically everyone wants to visit Phuket at some point in their life. And Patong is one of the island’s most vibrant and colourful towns. Avoiding weather that doesn’t suit you and coming for specific festivals that you want to take part in may help you decide when the best time of the year to visit is for you in particular.There are numerous festivals and events in Patong throughout the year. There are also different seasons of heat, rain and calm, dry weather. Each of these seasons has it’s pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide what type of weather will allow you to thoroughly enjoy your holiday in Patong. So first, let’s talk about the weather.
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Although Thailand is within the northern hemisphere, its seasons don’t necessarily conform to the more northerly latitude countries in the sense of having a cool winter and a hot summer. This is because Thailand and most south-east Asian countries depend on the yearly monsoon season to define their weather patterns.This means that Thailand enjoys dry, sunny weather during the months of November through February which is referred to as the ‘high season’. This is followed by Thailand’s ‘summer’, the hottest part of the year that arrives at the beginning of March and lasts until the end of May. After that comes the ‘low season’ of monsoon rains which typically last from the beginning of June to the end of October.
This means that Patong is in the midst of a blustery and rainy season during June through August when most foreigners from the Americas and Europe take their summer holidays. Although Patong is less crowded and there are much lower hotel rates to be had, you may not be able to get in as much beach time as you hoped for. The sea is also fairly rough and dangerous to swim in at this time of year.
This doesn’t mean that it rains non-stop. There are still plenty of sunny days during these months. But if you’re looking for endless sunshine and calm weather, this is not the time to visit Phuket.
Thailand’s summer, the months of March through May, may also be outside your comfort zone. This is when the temperature can soar to around 40 degrees centigrade, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s bearable, but uncomfortable during the afternoons. Unfortunately, April is also when Patong and the rest of Thailand celebrate the Thai New Year, or Songkran. This is the world-famous ‘water festival’ that is commonly celebrated by the entire country engaging in the mother of all water fights.
The most favourable time of year to visit Patong, from a weather perspective, is during the high season months of November through February. The weather is mild and sunny and the ocean is calm with clear visibility for snorkelers and scuba divers.
Fortunately, the event organisers have taken their cue from the weather and scheduled most of the most interesting events during this time period.
The Can’t-miss Festivals and Events of Patong
The high season kicks off with a perfect storm of festivals in Patong with the combination of Carnival and The Patong Seafood Festival, which both take place over three days starting on November 1st. Sample more fresh seafood dishes than you could ever imagine while taking in all the pageantry, exotic costumes, music, dance, art exhibits and handicrafts that Thailand is known for. The entire town gets caught up in the celebration of the arrival of high season.This is followed in mid-November by the Loy Krathong Festival on the evening of the full moon. This consists of the ritual of casting a lighted basket decorated with flowers and joss sticks out on the waters surrounding Phuket in the hopes of bring good luck for the following year. This is also something that everyone should see and experience at least once in their life. Visitors and tourists are all welcome to take part in the ritual.
Avid sailors won’t want to miss the King’s Cup Regatta, which is held around the late King’s birthday, during December 4th-11th. Although the races are mostly held on the other side of the island, boats and yachts from all over the world converge on Phuket to take part in the regatta and there are plenty of magnificent boats to seen in Patong Bay.
If you are willing to brave the hot, Thai summer, Songkran, the Thai New Year’s celebration, takes place on April 13th to 15th. So get out your super-soakers and swimsuits and take to the streets to join in the water fights that are a regular and widespread happening in Patong during Songkran. At least you’ll be able to keep cool.
Rentals for the Holidays has lots of long-term apartments for rent, all over Phuket. They’re available whichever time of year you choose to visit. Call us today to reserve one for you.