Best Time to Visit Thailand

Seasons in Thailand

Most of Thailand has cool temperatures between Nov – March (winter and spring months) like most other Southeast Asian countries. The rainy season in Thailand begins around June and continues intermittently until around October. This rain occurs in bursts of heavy intensity and stops just as suddenly as it started. During this rainy period, the temperatures stay static and the air remains humid.

Peak season

Winter – November to March is the busiest time of the year to travel to Thailand with January being the most popular month among travelers. Temperatures are pleasant, humidity is low and the days are sunny.

Shoulder season

Summer – April to June is hot and humid but the popular Songkran Festival and the promise of relatively empty beaches pull many tourists. The months of September and October are good for visiting the northern parts of Thailand including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Off-season

Rainy season – July to October – This is generally not the ideal time for exploring Thailand. Heavy rains and high humidity levels across most parts of the country tend to keep tourists away.

Best Time to Visit Bangkok and Northern Thailand

Look in any Thailand travel guide and you can see that Thailand’s climate changes from the north to south, east to west. Depending on which area you are traveling to and when you might encounter monsoon rains or endless dry heat on your holiday. Here’s a simple guide to the weather and the best time to visit Thailand by region.

Bangkok

The big question for many people when they first approach a Thailand tour is when to visit Bangkok. Weatherwise, other than a high chance of sporadic tropical rain from July-September, most months of the year are sunny with temperatures ranging anywhere from 79-97°F. It’s important to note that whether or not rain is predicted, Bangkok is always warm/hot. The best time to visit Bangkok is between the relatively cooler months of November to January, especially during the holiday season in December.

Chiang Mai

Up north, the city of Chiang Mai has a very similar climate to Bangkok. Expect a tropical savanna climate with moderately warm days but do bear in mind that during certain summer months such as April temperatures can rise up to 101°F. For those who are sensitive to heat or have respiratory issues, it’s important to note that the months of March and April are when farmers burn the land to prepare for the next harvest and this adds to the heat and creates some smog. From July to October there are infrequent rainstorms. At night times, temperatures can drop, accompanied by a cool breeze.

Best Time to Visit Thailand’s Beaches

The southern provinces of Thailand, such as Krabi, Phang Na and the many islands including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, are known for their rainforest climate. You can expect a lot of humidity, clear skies and warm weather almost all year round. The Southern Thai beaches are faced with two weather systems, depending upon the region you choose to visit (Gulf of Thailand Vs Andaman side), which bring the tropical rains at different times of the year, so it’s possible to enjoy Thailand’s beaches year-round.

Gulf of Thailand

The coastal areas and islands in the Gulf of Thailand on the east, like Koh Samui or Koh Phangan are best visited between January and August, when you will have sunny skies and dry weather.

West Andaman Coast Region

From October to April the west Andaman coast, including Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta offers the best chance of getting an all over tan. Overall, dry season generally lasts from December to March and there is little change in the temperature over the course of the year with the thermometer hovering anywhere between 86-94°F.

Though it’s said that Thailand has three seasons–cool, hot and rainy (with little real variance between them compared to Europe and America), the west Andaman coast only has two: hot and cool. From May to October, temperatures drop a small amount down to between 75-88°F with increased chances of rain but visitors are unlikely to notice a significant difference from one ‘season’ to another here.

What to Pack for Thailand

Overall, Thailand is a fairly conservative country. Collared shirts, polo T shirts, cargo shorts or semi casual pants are recommended for men. For women, shoulder covering T-shirts and tops, skirts, shorts and dresses work well. Outfits made from cottons, linens and other breathable fabrics are best given the high humidity levels in the country.

For the beach, resort or modest swimwear is acceptable. Pack your sun hats, glasses, sunscreen along with a nice pair of flip flops. Women are expected to cover up with a sarong or wrap and men with shorts and a T-shirt with sleeves when they step off the beach. Evenings at the beach can be cool so pack a sweater or cardigan.

While visiting temples and other religious attractions, it is expected that visitors dress modestly – shoulder covering outfits, knee or full length dresses and pants are advised. It might be helpful to carry a wrap or cardigan that can be used to cover the shoulders.

Visitors are expected to leave their footwear outside before entering a temple or house so slip-on shoes that are easy to put on and remove are recommended.

Northern parts of Thailand can get quite chilly in the evenings during winter months so pack a jacket if you are traveling to Chiang Mai or other towns in the vicinity between the months of November – February.