LOW SEASON

One person’s holiday-dampener is sometimes another’s enhancer. For those who relish Koh Samui’s lushly forested interiors and wince at the searing midday sun, a visit to the island during the low, monsoonal season, from October to mid-December, might bestow unexpected gifts. While sky-darkening and thunderous tropical storms are the calling cards of the wet season, they’re often helpfully punctual and brief, barrelling in during the afternoon before clearing off rather promptly. In fact, they’re a spectacle in themselves, bringing palm-bending drama and hefty rain that bestows a sense of renewal in its aftermath. Watch from a sheltered position with cocktail in hand, then carry on with your holiday until it’s interrupted again at the same time the next day. You’ll find the sun is concealed often during the monsoonal season (particularly in November), but things remain warm and humid, making dips in those pristine waters as refreshing as ever. For activities such as spa and wellness, cooking schools, exploring local culture and hinterland hikes, the wet season doesn’t place road blocks between you and a good time, however, on high-wind days some water activities will be suspended and Ang Thong Marine Park is typically closed. Low season also comes with lower price tags and fewer crowds. Be prepared with wet-weather activities, such as an Island Organics cooking class, where you learn four traditional Thai recipes. islandorganicssamui.com

High season is the peak time for sunseekers with a cavalier attitude to sun exposure