Holidays by the Andaman Sea
Limestone cliffs, longtail boats and bays framed by tropical vegetation give Thailand's Andaman coast its familiar scenery. Phuket offers established resorts, Krabi adds striking rock formations, and Phang Nga Bay invites exploration by boat. A good itinerary leaves time for the place you are staying, rather than turning every day into another island transfer.
Beach base or island stay?
Railay in Krabi brings the cliffs close to the beach, while Phi Phi Don offers an island base. When comparing accommodation, check the arrival route and whether the beach suits the activities you have in mind.
The Thai Andaman coast generally has its drier beach season during the northern winter. Monsoon conditions can change the sea and boat excursions even when the water remains warm. Koh Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, with a different rainfall pattern, so its travel calendar is not interchangeable with Phuket's. Choose the coast to match your month, then look at the local sea temperature and forecast.
Geography at a glance
Andaman Sea
- Location
- Southeast Asia
- Part of
- Indian Ocean
- Coastal countries
- India, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia
- Area
- ≈ 797,000 km²
- Max. depth
- ≈ 4,200 m
Locator map. Measurements are approximate and depend on the area’s definition. Fact source · Map: Natural Earth
Sea temperature by month (°C)
In October, the warmest sea is at Railay Beach (29.6 °C) and the coolest at James Bond Island (29.2 °C).
| Beach | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Bond Island | 28.7 | 29.1 | 29.7 | 30.2 | 30.4 | 29.8 | 29.4 | 29.4 | 29.1 | 29.2 | 29.2 | 28.8 |
| Ko Phi Phi Don | 28.6 | 29.1 | 29.6 | 30.5 | 30.8 | 30.2 | 29.9 | 30.0 | 29.5 | 29.6 | 29.4 | 28.9 |
| Railay Beach | 28.5 | 29.1 | 29.8 | 30.7 | 30.8 | 30.2 | 29.9 | 29.9 | 29.5 | 29.6 | 29.5 | 28.8 |
Average sea temperature in each month, 2021–2025 (Copernicus ERA5), at each beach. Not a forecast.
Andaman Sea – Sea temperature today
Current estimates for the selected beaches, not an average for the whole sea. Sea: NASA MUR with an hourly adjustment; air: Apple Weather. The update time refers to this page, not a measurement taken in the water.
Last updated:
| All beaches | Sea (°C) | Air (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| James Bond Island, Thailand · Phang Nga | 29.1 °C | 26 °C |
| Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand · Phi Phi | 29.2 °C | 28 °C |
| Railay Beach, Thailand · Krabi | 29.1 °C | 27 °C |