When is the best time to visit Thailand?

When is the best time to visit Thailand? Generally the advice is the same – the best time to visit Thailand is from December until April. However, Thailand is a huge country and the weather varies in different parts, depending on the season. Plan your holidays properly and check when it’s best to visit your chosen destination.

I have been going to Thailand for over 10 years now. I have lived there and in recent years I visit it every year. For quite some time I thought that the best time to visit Thailand is when it’s winter in Europe. That was a perfect escape. As it turned out a few times, it’s not entirely true. You can go to Thailand in May or August and also have good weather.

Are you setting off on your holiday and are not sure if you will be caught by storms and rain? Find out more from this article and check if the place you’re going to will be sunny.

Your plan for your first trip to Thailand

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Thailand is a tropical country, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always sunny there. Just like any country in that region, Thailand has 3 main seasons. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.

Cool Season – December – March – The best time to visit

This is the best time to travel to the Land of Smiles. It doesn’t rain, it’s sunny most of the time and it’s hot. The north of the country enjoys lower temperatures, sometimes below 0 degrees in some areas. It’s also really green as this season comes after the rainy season.

During the cool season in Thailand, you can enjoy many activities, like hiking in Doi Inthanon in the north, or snorkelling in the south. Check out some private tours offered by locals in Thailand.

There are also some interesting events taking place during this time, like Loy Krathong – a beautiful festival of light, which is amazing in Chiang Mai, Chinese New Year or the New Year celebrations with fireworks and parties.

The disadvantage of it is that this is the high season. There are crowds everywhere and the prices are higher.

Hot season – From April until June

From my experience it’s already hot in March in the north and central Thailand, but officially we say that the start of the hot season is in April.

This is a really hot period. Temperatures can get as high as 50 degrees in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It’s very dry. The south is usually better to visit during this time.

The best places to visit during this time are the areas around Hua Hin.

During this time, you can still do a lot of sightseeing, just wear a hat, sunglasses, drink some water and try to stay indoors from 12 until 4pm. In the south you will be able to go diving and enjoy the beaches in most of the regions.

The disadvantage of coming to Thailand in the hot season are the temperatures for sure and the fact that in the north and in Bangkok the air quality is really bad.

Rainy season – From June until end of November

In my opinion rainy season is very unpredictable. It’s hard to say how much it will rain, or if it’s going to rain at all. Recent changes in climate change have really impacted the weather and it surprises us every year.

In general, however, it rains heavily a couple of times a day. Sometimes it can rain all the time for days. Fortunately, the rain is usually warm and pretty pleasant. It brings a bit of a relief from the heat.

Before you go, please choose the area wisely. There are places where floods occur. Phuket and Pattaya always have problems with them during August – October.

The best places to visit during the rainy season are the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

If you come to Thailand at this time, please remember that some attractions will be closed or will have reduced service. In some places, transport might not work due to storms and rains. Remember to have a good travel insurance in case of any flight cancellations or other unexpected events.

The advantage of coming here at this time are the prices, which are much lower than in other seasons and the fact that there are almost no people anywhere.

Regional differences in weather

The above are just generic trends in local weather. When planning your trip for the first time it’s worth considering the geographical location of your destination as even in the rainy season there are places where you have wonderful dry and sunny weather.

Bangkok

Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of the capital of Thailand. It’s always too hot and humid for me.

Most of the year the temperatures are around 30 degrees. The hottest are March-June. Then, the rainy season starts and it rains quite a bit. Some areas of the city get flooded.

You can still enjoy Bangkok, do sightseeing, visit the Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, but be aware that it can rain and be ready for it.

The best time to visit is November-March.

Chiang Mai and the north

Chiang Mai and the north of Thailand are slightly cooler. The area around the city during the months of November – March is very pleasant. During the day you can enjoy temperatures lower than 30 degrees. At night it might get as cold as 10 degrees. This is the best time to visit Chiang Mai.

The worst time is March – June, when the local farmers burn the leftovers from the crops. The air is really bad during this time and I don’t recommend visiting the north of Thailand.

June – November is the rainy season. Most of the time it rains in the evenings. During the day the sky is usually clouded. It’s a good time to visit as there are no tourists and the prices are lower.

The islands in the South

Most people who come to Thailand for the first time, worry that it will rain during their stay on the tropical islands. Fear not, because here you will always find some places where it doesn’t rain.

December – March are the best months to visit the East of the country. The best islands are: Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Mak and also Pattaya. This time is perfect for the Andaman Sea: the area of Phuket, Krabi and Trang.

During April to October visit the West Coast – Hua Hin, Sam Rot Yon or Prachuap Khiri Khan. It’s also a good time to go to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.

Consider the Thai Festivals

Depending on your preferences, the best time to go to Thailand will also depend on local festivals, which are famous all around the world and it’s great to experience them.

In the cool season Thais celebrate Loy Krathong. This is a beautiful festival commemorating the gathering of Buddha’s students and his last sermon. Celebrations in Chiang Mai are really nice with floating candles on the river and mass lantern release at Mae Jo University.

This season is also the time where you will find New Year’s parties all around Thailand. Best are in Bangkok, or in the south.

My favourite Thai festival is Macha Bucha, which commemorates gathering of Buddha’s students. It’s a religious holiday and not very well-known among tourists. In the North people go to the local temples to light candles. It’s amazing in Chiang Mai, but in Phayao it takes place on boats on the river and it looks stunning.

Songkran – the Thai New Year – takes place in April. It’s best to see the huge water battles and parties in Chiang Mai, where the festival lasts for a whole week. Bangkok would be also a good location, but the water fights are only near the tourist areas, like Khao San Road.

Travelling tips for different seasons

Your packing list

Packing for your trip to Thailand will be the most important. First of all, don’t worry because in Thailand you can find everything you need. If you forget something, you can always buy it.

Travellers who choose to go to the Land of Smiles in the high season from December to April, should bring their Summer clothes, but if they choose to go to the North a pair of long pants, long-sleeved shirt and a jacket will be crucial. During my last trip to Doi Suthep the temperature was 5 degrees. On a scooter it really felt like it was -1.

For hot season, you won’t need much, even in Chiang Mai it gets really hot at that time. So, Summer clothes will be enough. However, always remember about a hat, sunglasses and SPF.

Rainy season in Thailand will require you to pack a waterproof jacket. It is hot in those months, so you won’t need anything warm.

I recommend checking out clothes from BAM, which has amazing products made out of bamboo fabrics. Tropicfeel is more for adventurous people, who don’t like to overpack. I recommend their backpacks and shoes.

Booking your accommodation and transport

I’m a planner, so I like to know where I’m going and what I’ll be doing. Normally, I book some things in advance, but I also leave myself some space for being spontaneous. I have a rule that if I go somewhere more popular, I book why ahead. However, I do travel to less known places and then I’m sure that I can wait with buying tickets and booking accommodation.

This rule changes depending on the season as well. If I want to go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train in the high season, then I know that it’s best to buy my tickets a few months before. In other seasons I can wait a bit with booking my travel.

If you are anxious and not sure whether to book ahead or not, then I’d encourage you to do it. You’ll just feel better and during your trip you’ll figure out what the trip planning method for Thailand is best for you.

Seasons and prices of accommodation and transport

One last thing to remember about when it comes to different seasons is that the prices for accommodation and flights are lower in the rainy and hot seasons. Some hotels have great promotions, Booking.com also lowers their prices and they run sale campaigns. The weather in Thailand might not be ideal during those months, but if you like saving, then it’s good to consider going outside of the high season.

The best time to visit Thailand is November – March. That’s my favourite time for travelling there, too. You can be sure that you will have good weather in most places. But, it’s worth considering other months, too. As you saw in this article, there always some islands, where you’ll get good weather and will be able to relax.

There are advantages and disadvantages of any season in Thailand and once you choose your destination and the time to visit, book your flight and accommodation, make sure that you have your visa sorted and be ready for the best holiday you have ever had.