Things to Do in Koh Tao in March

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Stay in Koh Tao in March

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The northeast monsoon typically dies out by late February, and March is when that becomes visible underwater: the east-coast bays at Tanote and Aow Leuk settle to glass, visibility at offshore pinnacles like Chumphon Pinnacle often stretches past 20 m (65 ft), and whale shark sightings at Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock start picking up, running through May. That combination is why so many divers choose this window.

Temperatures hold in a narrow band, with average highs of 27.8°C (82°F) and nights that barely drop to 26.4°C (80°F). March gets only 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain across 5 wet days, and a shower on Koh Tao usually clears in under an hour. The sun is the real force. By 11am on Sairee Beach the sand is hot enough that you'll hop to the water's edge, and at 77% humidity the walk up to any viewpoint will paste your shirt to your back.

This is still high season. The dive schools along Sairee and in Mae Haad run full boats, the long-tails to Koh Nang Yuan fill by mid-morning, and good bungalows in Chalok Baan Kao book out weeks ahead. March is quieter than the December and January rush, but it is nowhere near empty.

Why visit in March

At Chumphon Pinnacle, Sail Rock and Southwest Pinnacle, underwater visibility tends to hit its yearly best, often 20 to 30 m (65 to 100 ft).
Whale shark encounters at Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock typically start picking up in March and continue through May.
Once the rough December and January swells ease off, the east-coast bays at Tanote and Aow Leuk are calm enough for snorkelling from the shore again.
With rainfall at its second-lowest of the year, boat schedules and dive plans rarely get cancelled.
Thai mango season opens in March, and mango sticky rice at the Mae Haad and Sairee food stalls tastes noticeably better than it does in winter.

Worth knowing

Midday UV on the exposed trails up to John-Suwan Viewpoint and Mango Viewpoint is punishing, with almost no shade after 10am.
Night temperatures stay close to daytime highs, which means fan-only bungalows in Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao can be hard to sleep in.
High-season demand means dive courses in Sairee and popular stays near Freedom Beach and Shark Bay often need to be booked 2 to 4 weeks ahead.
Snorkel spots at Koh Nang Yuan and Japanese Gardens fill up between 10am and 3pm, when the tour boats from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan come in.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured 28° / 26°C 33mm rain · 5 rainy days · 77% humidity rains perceptibly ~0.6h/day · 90% of mornings dry

Crowds high

Pack Pack linen shirts, quick-dry shorts, two swimsuits so one can dry, a long-sleeve rash guard for boat days, a wide-brim hat and sandals with a proper heel strap for the dirt tracks down to Tanote and Aow Leuk.

March on Koh Tao is hot, steady and mostly dry, with average highs of 27.8°C (82°F) and lows of 26.4°C (80°F) keeping the whole day in a tight band. Rainfall averages 33 mm (1.3 in) across about 5 days, humidity hovers around 77%, and the sea runs flat on both coasts. On the rare wet day, a squall rolls in off the Gulf of Thailand in the afternoon, rattles the tin roofs in Mae Haad for 30 minutes, and the pavement is steaming dry within the hour.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Koh Tao
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	27	25	20
Feb	27	25	76
Mar	28	26	33
Apr	29	27	80
May	29	27	189
Jun	29	27	120
Jul	29	26	172
Aug	28	26	145
Sep	28	26	192
Oct	28	25	275
Nov	28	25	336
Dec	27	25	135

Best things to do in March

Whale shark dives at Chumphon Pinnacle

diving

This granite pinnacle sits 11 km (7 mi) northwest of Koh Tao, its peak at roughly 14 m (46 ft) down and ringed by schools of barracuda, trevally and batfish. Advanced divers drop to 30 m (100 ft) around the base.

Plankton blooms from March onward draw whale sharks in, and visibility at that time of year is usually at its annual best.

Booking tipAsk your Sairee or Mae Haad dive school which morning their big boat heads to Chumphon Pinnacle, since most run the trip 2 or 3 times a week.

Sail Rock day trip

diving

This lone rock sits between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, with a vertical chimney you can swim through from about 18 m down to 6 m (59 to 20 ft), and it's often considered the best dive site in the Gulf of Thailand.

Calm March seas make the 90-minute crossing comfortable, and the same whale shark window applies here.

Booking tipSail Rock trips fill 3 to 5 days ahead in March, so reserve your spot on arrival day.

Snorkelling Tanote Bay from the shore

snorkelling

Tanote is a small east-coast cove with a jumping boulder about 5 m (16 ft) high, coral heads starting a few metres from the sand, and parrotfish and blacktip reef sharks that turn up in the early morning.

December and January swells often make Tanote unswimmable, but by March the water is usually flat and clear.

Booking tipThe concrete road down is steep, so if you've never ridden hills, take a taxi from Mae Haad rather than a rented scooter.

Open Water course on the south-coast training sites

diving

Koh Tao certifies more divers than almost anywhere else, and the course runs 3 to 4 days, with confined sessions and 4 open-water dives at shallow sites like Japanese Gardens and Twins.

Flat March seas and good visibility take much of the stress out of buoyancy and mask-clearing for beginners.

Booking tipSchools in Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao cap classes at about 4 students, so book 2 weeks ahead for a guaranteed start date.

Sunrise hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint

hiking

This short, rocky climb above Chalok Baan Kao looks down on Shark Bay and Chalok Bay at once, a 20-minute walk each way.

March haze is usually low at dawn, and starting at 6am puts you back down before the heat builds on the exposed boulders.

Booking tipCarry at least 1 litre (34 oz) of water, and bring cash for the small entry fee at the gate.

Swimming with turtles at Shark Bay (Ao Thian Og)

snorkelling

Hawksbill and green turtles graze the seagrass in Shark Bay, while small blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows along the rocky edges.

The south coast stays sheltered and calm in March, and at around 3 m (10 ft) the water is clear enough to spot turtles from the surface.

Booking tipGo before 9am, when the round-island snorkel boats haven't yet arrived, and keep at least 2 m (6.5 ft) from any turtle.

What to eat in March

In season: fruit

Marian plum (maprang)
This small orange stone fruit has a short season from February into March, turning up at the Mae Haad fruit vendors for a few weeks before it vanishes.

Street food peaks

Mango sticky rice (khao niao mamuang)
Nam dok mai mangoes arrive from the mainland from March onward, and the dessert carts along Mae Haad's walking street and near Sairee's 7-Eleven junctions switch from so-so winter fruit to sweet, fragrant slices.
Grilled squid (pla muek yang)
Calm March seas mean the Gulf squid boats go out most nights, so the grills around Mae Haad pier serve squid caught that morning, brushed with chilli and lime sauce.

What to drink

Young coconut (maphrao on)
March heat makes a chilled coconut from the stalls behind Sairee Beach the most sensible drink on the island, and the water is at its sweetest in the dry months.
Watermelon shake
Thai watermelon peaks in the dry season, and the beach bars on Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao blend it with ice as the default cure for 27°C evenings.

Regular events in March

Makha Bucha DayFree

A Buddhist holiday marked by candlelit processions around temple halls on the evening of the third lunar month's full moon, with alcohol sales restricted nationwide that day, which quiets the Sairee bar strip.

Falls between mid-February and early March depending on the lunar calendar

National Muay Thai Day (Nai Khanom Tom Day)

Thailand honours the 18th-century fighter Nai Khanom Tom, and the island's small Muay Thai rings in Mae Haad and Sairee tend to stage special fight nights around the date.

March 17

Thai National Elephant Day (Wan Chang Thai)Free

A national day honouring Thailand's elephants. Koh Tao has none, but temples and schools on the mainland in Chumphon mark it, and the date appears on Thai calendars throughout the island.

March 13

Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan

An all-night beach party at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, about 1 hour 15 minutes away by high-speed ferry, with the extra ferries out of Mae Haad pier filling up on party day.

The night of or near the March full moon

Best places this March

Koh Nang Yuan
island
Three islets joined by a sandbar off the northwest coast, with a viewpoint above the sandbar; plastic bottles are banned, and there's a landing fee.
Sairee
Sairee Beach
beach
The island's longest beach, lined with dive schools, where sunset over Koh Nang Yuan is usually cloud-free in March.
Sairee
Tanote Bay
beach
An east-coast cove with shore snorkelling and a jumping rock, reachable again once the winter swell drops.
Tanote
Aow Leuk
beach
A deep, sandy east-coast bay with coral on both flanks, popular with families because the entry is sandy and gradual.
Aow Leuk
Freedom Beach
beach
A small south-coast beach reached on foot from Chalok Baan Kao, shaded until about 10am.
Chalok Baan Kao
Mango Bay
bay
A remote north-tip bay, usually visited by long-tail, where the coral garden is best on flat March mornings.
North coast
Hin Wong Bay
bay
A rocky northeast bay with boulders instead of sand, with the island's clearest shore-entry water when the east coast is calm.
Hin Wong
Mae Haad Pier
market
The ferry hub and the island's main village, where evening food stalls sell grilled seafood and fruit.
Mae Haad

Your packing checklist

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Reef-safe mineral sunscreenThailand bans oxybenzone-based sunscreens in its marine parks, and March UV is harsh enough that you'll reapply every 90 minutes on boat days. Shop
Long-sleeve rash guardIt covers your back during 2-hour snorkel sessions at Shark Bay and Koh Nang Yuan, where sunscreen washes off fastest. Shop
Your own mask with a prescription lens if neededMarch visibility is too good to waste on a rental mask that fogs and leaks at 18 m (59 ft). Shop
Reusable water bottle, 1 litre (34 oz) or largerKoh Nang Yuan bans single-use plastic bottles, so the refill stations in Sairee and Mae Haad are how you stay hydrated through the humid afternoons. Shop
Oral rehydration saltsThree dives plus shore time at 27°C and 77% humidity drains electrolytes faster than water alone can replace them. Shop
Dry bag, 10 litres or largerLong-tail rides to Mango Bay and Tanote throw up spray even when March water is flat. Shop
Sandals with a heel strapThe dirt tracks down to Aow Leuk and up to John-Suwan Viewpoint are loose and steep. Flip-flops slide off. Shop
Light, breathable sleepwearNights barely cool below daytime temperatures, and many of the cheaper bungalows in Chalok Baan Kao run on fans alone. Shop

Insider tips

Ask for the afternoon boat at Koh Nang Yuan: most tour groups from Koh Samui leave by 3pm, and the sandbar is half-empty until sunset.
Dive schools in Chalok Baan Kao usually quote a little less than the Sairee strip for the same Open Water course, and their training bay is more sheltered.
Whale shark sightings on Koh Tao travel by word of mouth: if one turns up at Chumphon Pinnacle, the Sairee dive shops chalk it on their boards that evening, so check before you book the next day.
The walking trail from Chalok Baan Kao to Freedom Beach costs a small gate fee but spares you a steep scooter descent, and you'll cover it in about 15 minutes on foot.

Avoid these mistakes

Hiking to Mango Viewpoint or John-Suwan Viewpoint at noon. The rocks radiate heat in March, and dehydration cases at Koh Tao's clinics tend to rise through the dry season.
Assuming March is low season and arriving without a room booked. Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao often sell out on weekends, and late arrivals end up in rooms far up the hill.
Renting a scooter to reach Tanote or Aow Leuk without hill experience. Dry, dusty concrete on those gradients is slippery, and a large share of the injuries treated in Mae Haad come from these roads.

Practical tips for March

Book ferries from Chumphon, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan at least 3 days ahead, because March crossings run close to full, and reserve dive courses and air-conditioned rooms 2 to 4 weeks out. Carry cash in Thai baht, since many bungalows and long-tail drivers don't take cards and ATM fees are steep. Temples in Mae Haad expect covered shoulders and knees. If Makha Bucha falls in March, bars along Sairee won't serve alcohol that day. Plan dives for the morning, when the boats leave by 7am and the water is at its flattest.

FAQ

Is March a good time to visit Koh Tao?

Yes. March ranks among the two best months of the year on Koh Tao, mainly for diving: the seas are calm on both coasts, rain is rare, and whale shark season is getting started at the offshore pinnacles.

What is the weather like in Koh Tao in March?

Expect hot, humid days with plenty of sun and very little drop in temperature after dark. Afternoon showers pass quickly, and the Gulf of Thailand tends to stay flat.

Can you see whale sharks at Koh Tao in March?

It's possible, though never guaranteed. Sightings rise from March through May at Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock, and most divers who see one catch it on a lucky morning trip.

Is Koh Tao crowded in March?

Fairly, yes. The December and January rush has thinned out, but Sairee, Koh Nang Yuan, and the south-coast snorkel spots stay busy between 10am and 3pm. Early mornings and the east-coast bays are where you'll find the quiet.