Phuket's weather in November is the start of the dry season. The southwest monsoon fades out, the wind swings round to the northeast, and the Andaman Sea on Phuket's west side calms down week by week. Expect daytime highs around 31–32°C, a sea of about 29°C, and showers that are shorter and more scattered than in October. Most of the month's rain comes in the first half. By the last week, most days look like high season. Every Simba Sea Trips tour is running in November 2026, and the Phi Phi Sunset & Shark tour is back on the schedule for the dry season.
The first week can still be unsettled, and that's when the route matters more than the date. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered by limestone karsts and the mainland, so it's the smoothest ride early in the month. The open-water crossing to Phi Phi usually settles from the second week. We make the go/no-go call on the morning of each trip, using the marine forecast and what we can see on the water, not the calendar.
Simba Sea Trips has run small-group boat tours out of Boat Lagoon Marina since 2005, with a maximum of 18 adults on board. Twenty years of Novembers on this water is why this guide covers sea state and wind, not just rainfall. A light shower doesn't spoil a boat day. A leftover swell on an exposed crossing does.
Below: the weather numbers, how the sea typically behaves week by week, which tours suit which part of the month, and what to pack. If you're still choosing a month, start with our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Phuket.
Phuket weather in November at a glance
| What | Typical November | What it means on a boat |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | About 25°C at night, 31–32°C by day | Hot by midday, so early departures are the most comfortable |
| Sea temperature | About 29°C | Swim and snorkel as long as you like, no wetsuit needed |
| Rainfall | Roughly 170–250 mm for the month, mostly in the first half | Short showers that pass quickly, not all-day rain |
| Wind | Swings from southwest to northeast | Phuket's west side and the Phi Phi crossing get calmer |
| Sunset | Around 6:05pm all month | Golden-hour light on the run home |
These are long-run averages from published climate data, not a forecast. Any single day can be the exception.
Why November is the turning point
From May to October the southwest monsoon pushes wind and swell from the Indian Ocean straight onto Phuket's west coast and across the route to Phi Phi. In November the pattern reverses. Drier air arrives from the northeast, and the island's west side and the open water beyond it become the sheltered side. That shift is why the sea calms so quickly through the month. It's also why we stop talking about "good windows" and start running the full schedule again.
The handover isn't a switch, though. Leftover swell from the old monsoon can roll in for a few days in early November, even under blue skies. That's why we check the sea state, not just the rain forecast.
November week by week on the water
| When | Sea and sky | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (1–7 Nov) | Transition. Some showers and leftover swell on exposed water | Phang Nga Bay and Ko Hong first. Phi Phi on lighter-wind days |
| Weeks 2–3 (8–21 Nov) | Settling. Longer sunny spells, calmer crossings | Everything, with Phi Phi and the Sunset Shark tour increasingly reliable |
| Week 4 (22–30 Nov) | High season. Mostly dry, flat mornings | Every route. Loi Krathong falls on 24 November 2026 |
This is the usual pattern, not a promise. Some years the dry season arrives in late October, and some years the first week of November is still lively.
Which Simba tours run in November, and why
- Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island: the calmest choice in any week of November, and the one we suggest early in the month or if you're prone to seasickness.
- Phi Phi Sunrise tour: we leave Boat Lagoon early, so you watch the sunrise at sea on the way out, about 1 hour 10 minutes by speedboat, and reach Maya Bay before the day-tripper fleet. From mid-November the crossing is usually smooth.
- Phi Phi Sunset & Shark tour: back for the dry season, which runs November to April. We don't run it from May to October because afternoon thunderstorms are much more likely then, and it's an evening open-water crossing. November's clearing skies are when it returns.
- Private charters: your own boat for your group, with the day shaped around the conditions. Options include the Krabi private charter to Ko Hong and Railay, and Coral Delight in southern Phuket. See all private charters.
Prices are live on each tour page and all-inclusive, with national park fees already covered.
What about the Similan Islands?
The Similan and Surin national parks reopened on 15 October for the 2026–27 season (dates, hours and fees here). We don't run Similan day trips from Phuket. It's a long open-water run, and we'd rather not put guests through it at speed in a single day. Our Similan Islands page explains why and covers how to go another way.
Getting here in November 2026
November is also when long-haul access opens up. Virgin Atlantic's new direct London Heathrow–Phuket service started on 18 October 2026, and Edelweiss runs nonstop from Zurich for the winter season from late October. If you're flying in early in the month, book a sheltered-water tour for your first days and save the Phi Phi crossing for later in the trip.
What to pack for a November boat day
Keep it light: a thin long-sleeved top for sun protection, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat that won't blow off, and a small dry bag for your phone. A light rain shell helps in the first week. Snorkel gear, life jackets and floating aids are provided. A towel is optional, because the sun does most of the drying.
Planning a November trip
Want the calmest water? Choose Phang Nga Bay, any day of the month. Set on Phi Phi or the sunset trip? Aim for mid to late November. Chasing the light? Our guide to November sunsets in Phuket covers where and when. For the rest of the year, see what runs month by month. When you're ready, browse our join-in tours. Every trip leaves from Soho Pool Club at Boat Lagoon Marina.
Updated October 2026 for the 2026–27 dry season.
