the Monsoon season technically ends late October in Thailand.... JUST HOW RAINY is it in August?? An afternoon shower or flooding? We want to go for our honeymoon to Phuket + then explore up north. Thanks!

We spent the month of August in Singapore, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Phuket and the Golden Triangle area. We had only one day during the entire month that it rained all day. There were some days where we had afternoon showers for an hour or two. We had no days where rain made us change our plans. We were in Thailand a total of 18 days, and did something outdoors every day...circus training, horseback riding, swimming, beach walking in Phuket. Elephants, hiking, swimming and sightseeing in the Golden Triangle. Floating Market, Koh Kred, Fishing Village, city wandering, swimming in Bangkok.

It was our 3rd time to Thailand during August, and we've never experienced a rain out. It's green and lush, and prices are lowest of the year in Phuket. The north was very, very green, with lots of flowers, too. The river level was too high to take elephants in, but a pond was fine. No flooding when we were there.

wow - thank YOU! what a perfect response now - if we can just get a flight for august 2008 (olympics are making it tough). what specific reccomendations do you have for elephants, circus training, tigers......i'll take any suggestions you have we are thinking of Aleenta resort in Phuket + beyond that for other exploration, we don't know yet. many thanks

The circus training was for my daughter...it's part of the kids program at the JW Marriott Phuket. Adults can participate in trapeze lessons in the afternoon.

For elephants, we have done the 3 day mahout training at both the Anantara Golden Triangle and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang.

The Anantara program consisted of 3 identical days...fetch elephant in the early AM, wash her, ride around the camp and back to the hotel while practicing controlling the elephant on your own. In the afternoon, ride again and finish with a swim with the elephant and bring her to the night spot. Since the days are all the same, there is little reason to do it for 3 days. You get to stay in a hotel with good beds, AC, spa and pool and restaurant.

The TECC program is more varied. It includes the same basic plan, but adds to that a guided visit to the elephant hospital, making elephant dung paper, cooking dinner, learning about elephant eating habits, how to tell if your elephant is happy and healthy, aspects of mahout life, even have a beer with your mahout if you like. At the TECC, it's a learn about the elephant program that includes riding. You stay in a fan cooled thatched hut with hard and lumpy beds, finicky hot water, and help prepare your own dinner (but breakfast and lunch are prepared for you).

At the Anantara, it's basically a learn to ride an elephant program. We preferred the TECC program for the variety of things we learned. The Anantara's program we found disappointing...we had been promised intense for my daughter and not intense for me (because I am very afraid riding but otherwise love elephants), but instead we got not intense for both of us with nothing more than rides through the forest...no extra knowledge about the elephants or the mahouts, nothing about how to care for elephants or what foods are good for them and what foods are bad. I wondered if it was because I was afraid that it was so limited, but then another couple of children joined us on our third day, and they got the same treatment...get on and ride around.

One thing though, the setting at the Anantara is stunning, and the view from the top of the hill is beautiful. It just seems their elephant program, while modeled on the TECC's, took only the wash, ride, swim components and left out all of the knowledge and conservation components. If you need to have AC and good beds, the Anantara or the Four Seasons Golden Triangle are your choices (same elephant program at both, at the Four SEasons it is included in your rate, at the Anantara it is extra).

Tigers...there is much debate about the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi. We chose not to go there, but many have gone and enjoyed it. Many have also gone and left feeling that the place is less than good. If you were to go, I'd recommend going with Tong. [email protected]. She has a good relationship with the monks there and visits often with clients and can show you around and get you there with perfect timing for seeing the tigers go to the canyon and photos. She can also introduce you to the sun bear, which other guides are not allowed to do as they apparently were not reliable about latching her cage door (according to Tong).

The Aleenta in indeed a gorgeous resort...but it's not actually in Phuket, but a bit north in Phang Nga province...between Phuket and Khao Lak. The surf will be high, and currents strong, so no ocean swimming in August. We didn't mind that, but some do. There is little in terms of shopping and night life around the Aleenta, or in fact, in the area. Khao Lak is still sleepy and many places close during rainy season...but at any rate you won't find night clubs there, just a few shops and restaurants. Khao Lak will be about a 40 minute drive. Phuket Town and Patong have lots of action, bars, clubs, shops...very much in your face full on tourism...but if you like that, you might prefer staying somewhere closer to there. It will take you a good hour from the Aleenta to drive to Patong.

Flights...to Thailand shouldn't be a problem because of Olympics in China. I just checked Thai Air nonstop from JFK - BKK, and it's available and priced the same every day during July and August...not sure where you are flying from, but I just tried that as an example.

One of the months that I go to Thailand in is August. I was just there this past August. For the most part, the rain hasn't been a problem, but I'm in Bangkok. And it's pretty short-lived.

However, this past August, I left my apartment building one day and it was gorgeous out, so I decided to skytrain it down to some malls and just hang out. Well, when I came out a few hours later the winds and rains were absolutely beyond belief. In almost a decade of going to Bangkok, I'd never seen it like that. There was also lots of lightening. That was the evening that I got stuck in the elevator in my building between the 29th and 30th floor due to a power failure caused by the rains, winds, and lightening. Happy Travels!

The awful rains usually

Oops....forgot to delete the bottom part of my post. Happy Travels!

Just adding to what Kim and Guenmai have said, weather is the luck, you can get a week of solid sunshine in Phuket, it might rain a few times, could be just a few thunderstorms. or you could also be flooded.

The sea can be dangerous and again this year people ignoring the warnings have perished in the waters.
It's a risk you take. However, the rainfall in the Gulf area around Koh Samui etc is muich less than south west in Phuket / krabi area.
Hotel rates are very low, that is the reason, though in August Samui tends to be absolutely 'full' as it's a peak time of year then.
Samui and Gulf side does not have the same weather system as the south west. Some areas of the Gulf north from Samui actualy are 'dry' that time, problem then is dust !


As Kim said, Aleenta is not on Phuket itself but in the Phang Nga area.

Rates on Samui would be higher in Auguest than Phuket because of the favorable weather. You can certainly get cheap bargains that time of year on Phuket, JW Marriott $150, good 4 star hotels around $100-120

For data on weather patterns over the years, www.weatherbase.com

Hi

As mentioned; weatherbase.com will give you the stats. I have been there twice in September and I think it is nice even in the rainy season. Most likely you will get some rain every day but my experience is that it very rarely rains all day.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

thank you for your helpful responses + links. i guess aleenta now has 2 locations; Phang Nga + Phuket - www.aleenta.com - friends recomended the phuket location - but they both seem lovely. any input? we would like to have a few nites there in luxury + then do an elephant safari - i was recomended to http://www.elephant-hills.com/ + http://www.siamsafari.com/gallery.php?album_id=15 - any preference? + then maybe to the eastern side for an affordable beach accomodation + then maybe to chiang mai. any suggestions for affordable chiang mai accomodations? we are looking for a low key (no crazy tourism), relaxing, romantic + adventurous trip!

oh + we are flying from SLC - thanks for the travel advice

ok - sorry, i was confused. any preference of Aleenta Hua-Hin Pranburi vs. Aleenta Phuket Phangnga? www.aleenta.com

Take a look at weatherbase.com for average rainfall. As noted above, the EAST coast of Thailand has very good weather in August and hotel rates are higher, it is Phuket and the West coast that is rainy as the monsoon is on that side of Asia (i.e. in India). While a solid week of sunshine is possible, a week of solid rain is also possible, I know people who have had this experience as well. Showers starting in the early afternoon and lasting through about dinner would be the norm rather than all day showers. It will all be a matter of luck. I wold also say that if you really want to dive and snorkel, August in Phuket is not an ideal month, as you will get more clouds in that month, which will of course affect the beauty of the coral, etc, and you will also get more winds which will affect tides, water clarity a bit and water choppiness.

Rain in Bangkok is not as much as issue, IMO, as you aren't there so much for the outdoor activities. It's fine to go in August as long as you are prepared for the fact that at beach resorts you may have less than ideal weather and not prime snorkeling or diving.

we plan to be outside + in the water as much as possible. we are not divers but would love to surf + snorkel if possible. good advice on the West vs East beaches - thank you. when it is perfect weather -- is the water turquoise + amazing coral + sea life? ...like in Tahiti??