Koh Muk and Krabi Early May

Hi All,
We will be travelling to Koh Muk (from Trang) in early May and will then head up to Krabi for Railay Beach and Koh Yao Noi (for kayaking in Phang Nga bay). I know we will just miss the high season ending in April, which poses some challenges with boats, but I think we can get around that by travelling overland between Trang and Krabi. And I like things a bit quiet.
I am mostly worried that places will be shut (too quiet) and the weather will be poor. I know monsoon on that side is not consistently rainy, but will Koh Muk and Koh Yao Noi be completely dead? Or just quieter? Will the seas be too rough to snorkel or kayak at that time? Could we get over to Koh Ngai from Koh Muk, for instance, or are those trips cancelled then?
Thanks!

You'll probably be able to get from place to place (e.g. there is a daily public boat that goes from Kuentungu jetty to Muk all year round; from Muk to Ngai, you'd be able to charter a longtail no problem unless the weather is exceptionally bad).

The weather is generally still not bad at that time of year. Kayaking should be no problem. Snorkelling would likely be a bit murky. They'll still be a few people at the resorts.

If you like things quiet, it's a good time to go.

Not really completely quiet. It's good chance to have a more laid-back time!

Thanks very much for the quick reply. We will head to Koh Muk and play it by ear from there.

And following on from the previous...does anyone have any thoughts on Koh Yao Noi and Khow Sok NP that time of year?

Thanks!

Just for an example, we were on Koh Muk and Koh Lanta in late-April/early-May 2 years ago and it only rained twice, briefly, and only at night. Some resorts and restaurants will be closed, accommodation cheaper and there will be fewer people. But, you won't be alone.

There was one day when the ferries weren't running due to high waves. The very next day the ocean was calmer and we took the ferry to Koh Lanta. The waves were a bit rough, but I didn't feel unsafe. However, more than one fellow traveler vomited during the trip. Have some Dramamine handy if you are prone to sea sickness.

Snorkeling and diving was murky on both islands. We have snorkeled and dived there many times in the Nov-Feb period and loved it. We were a bit disappointing with April-May.

It will be very HOT!!! It was 35ºC almost every day during our visit and still humid enough to feel like a sauna. Personally I found it unbearable and vowed to never do that again. On the other hand, my Swedish friends love it and always go at that time! I hope you like it hot and damp.

"Will the seas be too rough to snorkel or kayak at that time? Could we get over to Koh Ngai from Koh Muk, for instance, or"

I've done a dozen snorkelling trips at that time. Not one was cancelled. Good weather apart from one 5 minute shower. Calm seas.

The bad months are August/September.

Yes the islands are quieter but that's good. Enjoy the beaches without masses of tourists. Hotel discounts of 50%.

Overland can be good too as Trang town and Krabi Town have good food markets.

There are caves, hotsprings and lagoons inland as well that in some ways beat the beaches.

Thanks very much.
Quiet beaches are perfect for us. Plus I had Trang and Krabi on the schedule, so as long as the weather holds even half the day, I'll be happy.

Will head to Koh Kradan and Koh Muk. In Trang I want to try the treetop walkway at some nearby botanical garden.

And the rest of the time we will spend eating :-)

Thanks for the info. A pity about the snorkelling, though maybe we will get lucky. We will do the bulk of our travelling overland, so as long as we can get between Trang and Koh Muk/Kradan, that's all I care about.

I don't mind the heat once I acclimatise. Humidity is always tough, but it's better than working!

I'm didn't mean to say that the snorkeling and diving was awful, just murky. I had to get closer to whatever I wanted to look at to see decently. This was a problem with fidgety fish, of course. Still, I enjoyed just getting in the water and looking at coral, sponges and slower moving sea-life when snorkeling. Even when I go in Dec-Feb it can be occasionally murky and then the next day clear. Hopefully you will have better luck.

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